Bacardi Carta Negra

Bacardi Carta Negra is a light, column-distilled Puerto Rican rum in the Spanish-heritage style, aged four years in ex-bourbon wood and bottled at 40%. It is a sweetened, budget dark rum where the dark colour and name suggest more depth than the light, easy spirit actually delivers, and the character leans on soft sweetness rather than oak or age.

The nose is alcoholic, fruity and sweet with light wood; the palate gives honey, caramelised sweetness and a roasted, fruity touch, finishing hot, sharp and caramelised. It reads soft and easy, with cocoa and caramel, but stays simple and a little alcoholic, which is why drinkers keep it for longdrinks and cocktails rather than neat appraisal. As a sweet, cola-friendly mixer it does its job, and for anyone who likes basic dark rum in a Cuba Libre it is a familiar option, but drinkers who already enjoy more characterful rum will find it flat as a sipper.