In the Scuttlebutt section I lamented on the tendency of r(h)um snobs and certain websites to dump on lifestyle products, often without even tasting the rum in question. Now if such commentary was directed toward the many "tweaked" rums that contain unadmitted adulterants and flavorings, that might be fair.
As a result, Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville rums didn't stand a chance. Distribution suffered, and few if any real reviews can be found. Now as it turns out, the good folks over at the Beverage Tasting Institute did indeed review this rum last year and it did surprisingly well, scoring a very credible "86". Not bad for what is surely a younger rum.
Now you'd think that here in south Florida, and on our many trips to yes, Key West, we'd be awash in all the Margaritaville rums. And we are - except for the dark. This is surely the result of the aforesaid negative buzz, and the tendency to position a Parrothead rum as a party mixer. Finally, leaving Duval St. we saw a pirate themed discount liquor store, and voila!
A lone bottle of Margaritaville Dark Rum. Paid more than I'd meant ($24 as I recall, but), but I've been on a crusade to find and review the dark, and a deal was struck.
Sue Sea:
Me:Margaritaville Dark Rum come in a hefty traditional bottle with a lovely large, old worldly, islandy label featuring a faux leathery, weathered paper, compass, tall palm and island shrubbery. It does set the mood.
This rum is a deep red mahogany, as befits a "dark rum". Lots of caramel color in this one. Margaritaville presents a with a deep, sweet aroma, featuring leather, dunder, molasses, deep fruit - possibly plum, or raisin - all over a vanilla background. There is no doubt this is a Jamaican rum, as the label promotes.
The early palate reflects the aroma, with the sweet dark fruit that reminded me of dark bing cherry. The midpalate releases a heat that grows over the fruit and crecendos into late tones of cinnamon, ginger and a hot cinnamon clove, fairly short finish. I was left with a reflective aftertaste.
I see Margaritaville Dark Rum as an after dinner accompaniment to coffee and dessert. I have little doubt the Jack and Coke drinkers will transition nicely to Buffett and vanilla ice cream. Still, it's a sip-of-water rum that will require palate clearing. Personally, I find Margaritaville Dark Rum to be a little sweet for me, but it is still excellent and is totally delicious, exhibiting the Jamaican style with Barbadian balance.
A nice rum, different and memorable.
Sue Sea and I are in close agreement on this pleasant Jamaican rum. My first nosing was of a deep sweet molasses and leather. Dunder tones are apparent (keep in mind that dunder really represents a complex combination of a large number of congeners). I'd call the deep fruit a black plum.
The early palate is completely consistent and leads with a soft, smooth deep fruit. At the mid palate a growing heat becomes apparent, along with a growingly astringent leather, and finishing with a gingery, white pepper finish, and leaving a deep astringent sweet leather aftertaste.
Sweet and heat in balance can be quite pleasant, and Margaritaville Dark Rum achieves this. Is this rum too sweet? Maybe. Less experienced drinkers may like this, party hearties will too - but aficianados may reach for their water.
Bottom line: Margaritaville Dark Rum exceeds expectations. A must buy for Parrotheads and south Floridians.
Score (ten is best): solid 7.5.