Review: Lamb’s Navy Rum  (80 Proof)   77/100
Review by Chip Dykstra
Published June 22, 2022

In Canada, Lamb’s is one of the most popular rum brands. This brand traces its history all the way back to 1849 when Alfred Lamb opened his wine and spirits business in London. His original Navy Rum is reported to have been a blend of 18 separate rums from various parts of the Caribbean. Alfred Lamb’s method of aging his rum in cellars under the Thames River is said to be one of the secrets behind the unexpectedly smooth taste and popularity of his rum.

During World War II, the Alfred Lamb & Son premises on Great Tower Street were unfortunately a casualty of enemy bombs. One of their major competitors, White Keeling Rum Merchants suffered the same fate, and as a result in 1946 both Alfred Lamb & Son and White Keeling Rum Merchants moved to 40 Eastcheap, London where they joined with Dingwall & Norris who were already located there. The triumvirate became the company known as United Rum Merchants.

The Lamb’s brand was licensed for North American production to Corby Distillers in 1952 and since that time Lamb’s rum has been part of the Corby portfolio of spirit brands. (Halewood Artisanal Spirits hold the license to bottle the brand in Europe, Africa and Asia.)

In North America, the main portfolio of Lamb’s Rums includes, Lamb’s Classic White Rum, Lamb’s Spiced Rum, Lamb’s Palm Breeze, and Lamb’s Navy Rum (which is sold both at 80 proof as well as an overproof 151).

This is the review for Lambs Navy Rum (80 Proof)  sold at 40 % alcohol by volume.

In the Bottle 4/5

As stated in my preamble, Lamb’s is one of Canada’s most popular rum brands. One of the reasons for this is the competitive price, and the other reason is the attractive bottle display. Although the labeling has changed over the years, the distinctive hexagonal tall long necked bottle is seen by most as an upgrade over the cylindrical counterparts on the economy shelf at most retail vendors. As you can see, the Lamb’s bottle is attractive.  The bottle holds true to the bartender’s creed being easy to store on the bar shelf, easy to grab and hold, and most importantly easy to pour. The plastic screw cap on the bottle is much preferred over those pressed on metal caps I still see on many other bottles. All in all, the presentation is quite nice considering this is an economy brand.

In the Glass  7.5/10

Colour:  Tarnished Copper (Not nearly as dark the provided bottle shot would indicate)

Nose: Molasses and caramel, treacle, licorice, cinnamon and cloves.

The Rum is a typical dark rum where the colour, nose and flavour have more to do with enhancements than the effects of an aging barrel. I do notice some impressions of oak in the air, but those impressions are covered over by the scents of molasses and treacle.

In the Mouth  46.5/60

The first sip brings firm impressions of sweet molasses and caramel with ribbons of licorice and tobacco running right through. I also taste impressions of vanilla, cinnamon, cloves and brown sugar. My feeling is that the rum is a fairly standard dark rum which relies on added caramel and/or molasses to achieve the desired colour and flavour profile.

This style of rum is suitable for tall rum and cokes with plenty of ice.

In the Throat 11/15

The eixt is firm with flavours of baking spice (vanilla, cinnamon and clove) and caramel.  There is a bit of unwanted alcohol heat which drops the score just a little.

The Afterburn  8/10

Lamb’s Navy Rum is a mixing rum destined to be mixed with cola. The flavour is kind of puchy, and it suits my mood on warm days in the sunshine when I don’t want anything really complicated. A squeeze of lime helps cut the sweetness a little (see below).

If you are interested in comparing more scores, here is a link to my other published Rum Reviews.

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Suggested Recipe

Dark Rum and Cola
(the classic Rum and Coke recipe)

2 oz
4 oz Cola
dash of Angostura Bitters
Lime Slice
5-6 Large Ice Cubes

Rub the rim of a standard rocks glass or highball glass with lime
Fill with the glass with ice
Add Rum and bitters, then fill with a splash of Coca Cola
Stir Lightly, then drop in a lime slice

Please Remember to enjoy your libations in a responsible manner!

Note: If  you are interested in more of my original 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)