Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum is where it all began for the Diageo-owned brand. Introduced to the world in 1984, the Rum can actually trace its origins back to the 1940s in Jamaica, when Seagrams purchased the recipe from the Levy Brothers.
Made by combining yeasts, molasses, water and mash, the Rum is aged for up to one year. After the aging process, herbs and spices indigenous to the Caribbean are added. The recipe remains a closely guarded company secret.
The nose is sugary and sweet on the nose with notes of vanilla and caramel. On the palate there is a rich, sweet cola flavor with subtle spiciness. The rum is medium bodied with a distinctive finish.
The Original Spiced Rum isn’t something you sip or pour on the rock, and is almost exclusively used in cocktails. If you’re looking to mix something up, the company recommends its take on Colombia’s iconic Lulo drink, called the Lulada:
Lulada
- 1.5 oz Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum
- 1.5 oz lime juice
- 1.5 oz Lulo pulp
- 5 oz water
- 1 tsp panela (unrefined cane sugar)
Muddle the lulo pulp and panela in a glass. Add the water, lime juice, and Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum and stir until combined. Fill each glass with crushed ice. Garnish with lime slice and more panela
While boen in Jamaica and, for all intents and purposes, raised in Puerto Rico, today Captain Morgan is produced exclusively in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Rum is named for Sir Henry Morgan, a Welsh admiral in the Royal British Navy and one time Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica, who is most famed for his time as a privateer. Originally produced by Seagrum, the brand was sold to Diageo in 2001.
Other spirits under the Captain Morgan umbrella include White Rum, Black Spiced Rum, 100 Proof Spiced Rum, Private Stock, Silver Spiced Rum, Coconut Rum, Pineapple Rum, Apple Smash, Loconut, Gingerbread Spiced and Orange Vanilla Twist.
Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum Ratings:
- Rum Ratings: 5.1/10
- Drinkhacker: B+
