I really feel like I don’t must cowl the historical past of British Royal Navy Rum once more since Jigs already did a very good job at it. With the British navy having discontinued day by day tots because the Nineteen Seventies, all that’s left are manufacturers utilizing that historical past to assist construct their identification. Elixir Distiller’s Black Tot is at present’s latest and, I feel, present hottest navy rum model on the block. For the longest time, Pusser’s dominated this house.
Aaspect from being a navy rum, cocktail geeks might acknowledge Pusser’s as that rum model that, unnecessarily, got here down onerous on a New York Metropolis bar known as Painkiller in 2011. They slammed the bar with a lawsuit due to the identify. At the moment, Pusser’s was a 31 12 months previous firm that additionally sells rum, cocktail mixers and rum merchandise reminiscent of muffins underneath the model identify “Painkiller.” Pusser’s received the lawsuit. Painkiller, the bar, needed to rename itself to PKNY. Their web site known as Painkiller went to Pusser’s.
Painkiller additionally primarily refers to a cocktail that’s made by mixing rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, coconut cream, pineapple wedge, and nutmeg grating. It’s a cocktail that was invented on the Soggy Greenback bar within the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Personally, I feel there’s some type of hubris right here for suing an entity over the identify of a cocktail that you simply’re capitalizing on however didn’t even invent. Manufacturers like Pusser’s and Goslings – who’re recognized to be overprotective over the respective cocktails they become profitable off of – simply scream insecurity. (Goslings has claimed the cocktail Darkish ‘n Stormy to be theirs. So, within the US, Goslings can also be recognized to be actually prickly with bars who put Darkish ‘n Stormy on their menu however don’t use their rum).
15 12 months previous me might need giggled on the identify Pusser’s – since it’s spelled near one thing else – however the identify is simply slang for the ship’s purser. Pursers have been chargeable for the ship’s shares of rum, and ensuring the day by day tot of navy rum got at navy power (54.5% ABV).
Initially, sailors would drink their day by day tot of rum straight, however this might lead to them being drunk. To counter this, Admiral Vernon would challenge orders that the rum be combined with lime, water and sugar. The drink can be referred to as a grog due to the grogram coat the admiral was recognized to put on. Unknowingly, the addition of lime solved the problems of scurvy that plagued the navy. The grog can also be stated to be the world’s first cocktail.
Being styled after navy rum, Pusser’s sources rum that has been distilled in varied islands fairly than distilling it. I purchased this bottle round 2017. So, this needs to be their older mix consisting of rum from Guyana’s Diamond Distillery’s totally different stills however primarily from their Port Morant double picket pot nonetheless and rum from the Angostura Distillery in Trinidad. They’re stated to have lately modified the recipe round 2019. I don’t understand how totally different it’s now.
Regardless of their vigilance, they managed to drop the ball in opposition to Elixir Distiller’s Black Tot when it comes to being the Navy rum. For one, Black Tot began celebrating and making an occasion out of Black Tot Day each July 31 since 2020. Elixir Distillers have additionally been extra aggressive with advertising Black Tot.
Not solely that, however Black Tot exhibits extra willingness to comply with fashionable tendencies. Their primary expression is bottled at 46.2% ABV vs. Pusser’s 40%/42% ABV (relying available on the market) bottling. Black Tot can also be significantly extra clear in the case of the mix in comparison with Pusser’s. It’s additionally unclear whether or not the assorted Pusser’s expressions are the identical mix however have totally different ABV and age statements, or if every expression is a unique mix.
After realizing all of this, one has to surprise if Pusser’s getting overtaken as the Navy rum is karma, or in the event that they have been simply being too vigilant with watching out for bars to bombard subsequent.
Pusser’s Rum Blue Label – Evaluate
40% ABV. £27.95 from The Whisky Alternate.
Shade: Caramel.
On the nostril: I get mild aromas of funk, leather-based, licorice, previous picket furnishings, nuts and nutmeg. In-between are even lighter aromas of honey, caramel and vanilla.
Within the mouth: A bit hotter than the nostril. I get mild and brief tastes of funk, leather-based, previous picket furnishings, licorice and honey. In-between is a really silky and lasting style of mocha.
Conclusions:
There’s not a lot occurring on this rum. It tastes like they diluted the funk and extra full bodied-ness of the Port Morant rum with the Trinidad rum to make it extra simpler to get pleasure from and cost-efficient. I’d have scored this a 4 if not for the inexpensive value and that delicate style of mocha to make it appear rounder.
Nevertheless, remember the fact that that is extra of a rum meant for cocktails. Like most expressions meant for cocktails, the fascinating components are upfront so it might stand as much as the mixers. That stated, this typically finally ends up being a rum drinker’s saving grace once they’re in a metropolis that doesn’t have a very good rum choice.
Rating: 5/10
Black Tot Best Caribbean – Evaluate
46.2% ABV. £42.75 from The Whisky Alternate.
Shade: Honey.
On the nostril: Peppery and sharp all the best way. I get a fleeting but enveloping funk. It makes me consider the leathery, previous picket furnishings and licorice a part of Port Morant rum. After it are mild tastes of nutmeg, vanilla, honey, caramel, darkish chocolate, espresso, and banana flambe.
Within the mouth: Not as sharp as on the nostril. The enveloping funk continues to be right here however it comes with an astringent texture. I get mild tastes of espresso sweet, darkish chocolate, banana flambe, caramel, honey, vanilla and previous picket furnishings. These flavors mixed makes me consider these sizzling darkish chocolate brownies served with vanilla ice cream topped with caramel syrup and aged funky rum.
Conclusions:
This has extra occurring than the Pussers. As a result of their web site exhibits the totally different rum that goes into the mix, I can pick the totally different flavors coming from the Jamaican and Guyanese rum. The Barbadian rum on this appears to be the filler, and what makes this rum lighter, but not too mild.
I additionally suppose the flavors are a bit too mild for the ABV. However, that would simply be my senses being too used to the funk coming from these rums. Tasting this makes me extra assured that their larger finish expressions are value it.
This expression is likely to be principally relegated to cocktails, however it can actually do as a sipping rum. It exhibits the diploma of care that was put into mixing this rum.
