Objective notes
Very Smooth (on the RnD scale of Harsh-Smooth-Very Smooth-Extremely Smooth)

You know you’ve got hold of a genuine spiced rum when you pick up a bottle of St. Lucia Spiced Rum. The clear bottle is full of pieces of bark, sticks, seeds, and leaves. It looks very different than the mass produced "flavored" spiced rums you find back home or even on other islands. St. Lucia Spiced Rum is a light golden amber color and slightly cloudy. Opening the bottle immediately releases aromas of cinnamon, cloves, and star anise. Each bottle varies a little depending on when it was bottled and how long it has sat prior to being enjoyed. My bottle had been sitting for awhile (weeks?) and had intense flavors true to the aromas. The cinnamon almost overpowered the other flavors and gave it a slight spicy kick. It is very smooth and more viscous than you would expect of a young rum as this is. The finish is a slightly warm and sweet, spicy blend that stays with you for a few minutes. I added in a whole vanilla bean to make it even more complex. I liked the results.

Anecdotal notes
RnD decided to purchase this rum while on an island tour at the Great View Souvenir Shop at the top of the hill overlooking Marigot Bay. The small shop offered samples – a wise marketing move since we purchased some to take home. It was in a clear, nondescript bottle with small white label that simply said “spiced rum.” I've discovered that this rum possesses a special ingredient, bois bandé, the bark of a tree similar to allspice, and alleged to possess aphrodisiacal properties. Some say its better than Viagra! Well, drink to your health, it’s the island way!

We liked this rum so much that I started to work on getting another bottle or two as soon as we arrived home, because it would be a year or more before I returned. Fortunately, some friends were going to St. Lucia. A few well placed phone calls to RnD’s contacts on the islands got the spiced rum delivered to our traveling friends while they were in port in Castries. The effort was worth it – St. Lucia Spiced Rum has become one of the most popular rums I have let friends try.

Taster’s Opinion
Roger - This is an exceptional example of spiced Caribbean rum. Compared to other "genuine" spiced rums it has much more variety and volume of spices included in the bottle. I've had spiced rums from other islands that contained only a couple of cinnamon sticks. And don’t even get me started on the mainstream flavored rums so widely available in the US. Those are made in thousand or tens of thousand gallon batches with some natural and artificial extracts and color added.

St. Lucia Spiced Rum is the real deal; some might even rate it on the extreme end of the spectrum. It is unique, smooth, spicy, and oh so good. I love offering it to those who have only tasted mainstream spiced rum and rum newcomers, as it is always much liked and a great conversation starter.

Update:  If you do get to the Great View Souvenir Shop at the top of the hill overlooking Marigot Bay  and try the free samples of the spiced rum. Don’t walk away if you like it thinking you’ll get it somewhere else as it isn’t available anywhere else on the island.

Taster's Rating (10 is best):  Roger - 9 Flasks

Most recently reviewed by: Roger in January, 2007 at RnD's North tasting room in USA.

*750ml unless otherwise stated.