Captain Morgan Black Label Rum (Old Version)

This is the old version of Captain Morgan Black Label, a dark Jamaica rum distilled on column still and bottled at 43%. It belongs to an earlier era of the brand, before later reformulation, and is squarely a mixer rather than a sipping rum, a sweet, dark style aimed at long drinks.

The nose brings molasses, coffee, brown sugar and a burnt note, the palate molasses, coffee and lemon peel with a clear alcohol edge, the finish bitter with espresso, nuts and wood. There is a recognisable dark, slightly bitter character, with hints of dried plum and blackcurrant, but the body is thin and the bitterness can intrude when sipped neat. Its strength lies in cola and similar mixers, where the sweet molasses and coffee notes carry. An old-school, undemanding dark Jamaican for drinkers who want a straightforward dark mixer and don't mind a bitter edge, best kept to the highball.