Goslings Black Seal Rum

Other than Beefeater Gin, I can’t think of a bottle we have consumed so many of as Goslings Black Seal Rum.  Rum purists will argue this rum is dosed (has added sugar), but who gives a damn.  You’re not drinking it straight, you’re putting this bad boy in all sorts of Tiki inspired drinks, and you should enjoy it.  Plus, it’s cheap, and widely available.

Goslings Black Seal Rum

Sight:  A deep cola brown.

Smell:  Cola and orange zest leap out, followed by molasses, brown sugar, hints of cherry, and a slightly herbal/medicinal note.  Light touches of rum ester join along with a bit of alcohol and caramel.

Sip:  The same notes of cola, brown sugar, orange zest, spice, and touches of cherry join in on the palate.  The mouthfeel is slightly thick, but very smooth (most likely due to the dosage).  It’s a touch sweet, almost noticeably so with a hint of candied sugar.

Savor:  The ending carries out more molasses, brown sugar, citrus zest notes.  It’s a muddled finish, with a slight burn and drying character.

Goslings Black Seal Rum is unapologetic about being a brown sugar bomb with some fruity flavors.  There’s nothing refined going on in the palate, it’s a straightforward smash and grab of flavors.  Truth be told, while I could sip it straight, I think I’d get bored and overwhelmed by it’s ‘look at me’ character.  That same character makes it a show stopper in Tiki drinks.

In Cocktails

Goslings Black Seal Rum stands up to even the strongest flavors, and unleashes a bombastic hit of brown sugar, molasses, and spice back in return.  This results in a warm, inviting flavor profile that syncs well with both tropical flavors and dessert like sweetness.  In a Cuba Libre, it takes the cola and lime to another level, adding a caramelized character to the overall flavor profile.   A classic Grog also shows off the molasses and spice notes well.

It’s versatile for making your own creations too.  In our Lump of Coal, it provides the brown sugar background notes to help carry the linkage between coconut milk stout and other rum funks present.

Goslings Black Seal Rum In Review

As you can probably tell, we love Goslings Black Seal Rum.  At $17 for a bottle, we recommend you get one to try, specifically in a Dark & Stormy, Smuggler’s Cove’s Piñata, and in a Cuba Libre.  If you find you like it, it’s cheap to keep around,  and extremely versatile.