Cockspur Fine Rum
Review: Cockspur Fine Rum 83.5/100
a review by Chip Dykstra (Aka Arctic Wolf)
Revised May 27 2019
I had the good fortune to once again sample Cockspur Fine Rum when a friend of mine brought me a bottle after a recent trip through the United States. I thought this was a nice opportunity to revise my older review review first published in 2011. Cockspur Fine Rum is the flagship brand for the company. It is distilled from Island cane molasses, aged in American Oak at the Cockspur facilities in Barbados, and brought to bottling strength with Barbados’ own coral filtered water. Both column still and pot still rums are used to in the distillation of the rum which bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.
In the Bottle 4/5
The sample bottle provided to me for review is a typical bar style bottle pictured to the left. In size and shape it is similar to many other bottles in use by other spirits companies. This design is based upon a size and shape which will fit most bartender’s shelves and is easy to hold and pour.
The label is quite eye-catching with the large logo of a rooster ‘strutting its stuff’ on the front of the bottle. The only disappointment for me is the metallic screw cap closure. I dislike these metallic caps as I have had too many experiences of bottle leakage and of the flimsy cap stripping and then providing an inadequate seal.
In the Glass 8.5/10
Cockspur Fine Rum is an amber coloured spirit which displays a pleasant yellow/orange hue in the glass. When tilted and twirled the crest which forms on the inside of the glass slowly releases slender legs which amble back to the rum at the bottom.
The aroma from the glass is filled with charred brown sugars, tobacco and dark molasses. Allowing the glass to breath reveals the scent of pungent baking spices (cinnamon, allspice, and cloves) and treacle which I have come to recognize as typical aromas of Bajan rums. I sense a touch of mustiness as well as a light briny seaweed in the breezes as well.
In the Mouth 50/60
I began by sipping the Cockspur Rum in my glass, neat, without ice. The mouth-feel was slightly oily, and the flavour was complex bringing a bevy of pungent flavours forward. I tasted charred caramel (treacle) and dark molasses as well as dry fruit flavours of prunes and dates. There is an impression of musty leather and tobacco smoke welling up thew combination of which makes the rum seem dry in the mouth. Bits of orange peel provide a little spiciness, and flavours of roasted nuts and charred coconut provide an additional light bitterness which adds to that dryness. I found that I enjoyed the Cockspur Fine a little more each time I tasted it.
Several years ago I discovered that I was not fond of mixing this particular rum with cola. It does make a swell Brooklynite however. It is also well suited for rum punch, and I have shared a simple recipe below.
In the Throat 12.5/15
The finish is of moderate length, slightly dry and slightly bitter. Smokey tobacco and charred coconut seem to leave their imprint on the palate the longest. There is a very light warming at the end with some light spices finding their way to the back of the throat.
The Afterburn 8.5/10
This is a rum which walks on the less traveled side of the flavour path bringing a dry, semi sweet, earthy experience to the palate. If you are a fan of dry pungent rums, then Cockspur Fine Rum will be right up your alley. I found I preferred to mix punch style recipes; but I certainly would not be surprised by those who prefer this rum flavour straight up with or with ice.
If you are interested in comparing more scores, here is a link to my other published Rum Reviews.
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Suggested Recipe
A Simple Punch For Two
3 oz Cockspur Fine Rum
1 oz Triple Sec
1 oz of Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
1 oz of Fresh Squeezed Pineapple Juice
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
Lots of Ice
2 oz Ginger ale
Mix everything over ice in a large glass and garnish as you wish
Note: If you are interested in more of my cocktail recipes, please click this link (Cocktails and Recipes) for more of my mixed drink recipes!
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My Final Score is out of 100 and you may (loosely) interpret the score as follows:
0-25 A spirit with a rating this low would actually kill you.
26-49 Depending upon your fortitude you might actually survive this.
50 -59 You are safe to drink this…but you shouldn’t.
60-69 Substandard swill which you may offer to people you do not want to see again.
70-74 Now we have a fair mixing rum or whisky. Accept this but make sure it is mixed into a cocktail.
75-79 You may begin to serve this to friends, again probably still cocktail territory.
80-84 We begin to enjoy this spirit neat or on the rocks. (I will still primarily mix cocktails)
85-89 Excellent for sipping or for mixing!
90-94 Definitely a primary sipping spirit, in fact you may want to hoard this for yourself.
95-97.5 The Cream of the Crop
98+ I haven’t met this bottle yet…but I want to.
Very loosely we may put my scores into terms that you may be familiar with on a Gold, Silver, and Bronze medal scale as follows:
70 – 79.5 Bronze Medal (Recommended only as a mixer)
80 – 89.5 Silver Medal (Recommended for sipping and or a high quality mixer)
90 – 95 Gold Medal (Highly recommended for sipping and for sublime cocktails.)
95.5+ Platinum Award (Highest Recommendation)
The Rum Howler Blog 
Fat Rum Pirate said
This is my “cheap” gold rum that I enjoy. It’s very pleasant and easy to drink. Definetely better than the likes of Bacardi Gold or Appleton Special (or XV).
It’s available in England at around £13 a bottle which is only slightly higher than supermarket standard issue.
As an introduction to rum this is a good start much better than Captain Morgan or Bacardi
paul said
hi
IV go a bottle off cockspur clear rum and i cant see any off them on ur site,just wondering is it off value?
Arctic Wolf said
Probably no more than what you paid for it. To be honest I do not track values of spirits and have no real interest in that aspect of the industry. I just like to taste and decide if i like something. What it might be worth doesn’t interest me in the least.
joe morenzi said
Mr Wolf…..we are trying to get this brand going in Rhode Island. Is there soemthing funny going on with the company? I cannot get to the website..
Thank you, Joe
Arctic Wolf said
Hi Joe
I just used the link in the review to go to the website and it worked fine. So your query has me rather confused.