Crusoe Organic Spiced Rum comes from the Greenbar Collective guys, makers of TRU Organic Vodka, IXA Tequila, FruitLab liqueurs and several other products. This is our first encounter with the company’s rum. They produce both a silver and a spiced rum, the latter being our focus for today.
Crusoe Organic Spiced Rum is distilled from organic molasses. And unlike many of the bigger spiced rum brands, every spice that goes into Crusoe is the real deal. They hand crush whole allspice, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and vanilla, and they hand zest a bunch of California oranges. And that’s it.
On the nose, there’s some alcohol up front, but give it a minute to settle in the glass and you’ll find lots of allspice and cloves. Take a sip and there’s more of the same, plus more prominent vanilla and cinnamon notes mingling with a background of orange peels. It’s medium-bodied and fresh on the palate, and it finishes with plenty of dry spice.
The allspice and clove are a bit overwhelming compared to the spirit’s other spices, but overall there’s a lot to like here. Crusoe went the opposite route of most spiced rum makers, who overwhelm the drinker with too much vanilla and cloying, artificial spice flavor. You’ll pay more for this than Captain Morgan or Bacardi Oakheart, but you’re paying for a better product that’s more expensive to produce. So if spiced rum is your thing, we say give this one a try.
Stats:
– 35% ABV
– $30
CE Rating: ★★★
