Review: Langs Banana Rum    77.5/100
Review by Chip Dykstra
Published June 26, 2023

Gavin & Alexander Lang were wine and spirit merchants based in Glasgow Scotland in the 1860’s. They originally produced Scotch whisky; however, they also began to experiment with rum producing recipes that expanded their portfolio after being influenced by the imported goods arriving at the Clydeside docks from the Caribbean.

Today, Langs Banana Rum is produced by Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd who are Registered In Scotland. This is a flavoured rum with a Jamaican base spirit produced from both unaged and aged molasses based, pot and column distilled rums. The portion that is aged was matured in ex-bourbon American white oak casks. The blended Jamaican spirit is infused with banana flavour when it arrives in Scotland.

Apparently Ian Macleod has kept the original recipe in order to bring back the award-winning Banana taste as it was in the original rum which won a gold medal at the Edinburgh International Exhibitionin in 1886.

Langs Banana Rum is bottled at 37.5 % alcohol by volume, and sold primarily in the European market.

In The Bottle 4.5/5

The bottle presentation for Langs Banana Rum is shown to the left. It is a stubby bottle with a mid-length neck which makes for easy gripping and pouring of the spirit. The label carries a few features that tie the rum to its historical past, namely the original import of 1861 (this was original launch date of Langs Banana Rum by the Langs Brothers in Glasgow) as well as the gold medal recognition the rum received at the Edinburgh International Exhibitionin in 1886.

I would prefer if the bottle had a heavier base for more stability on my rum shelf, although I shouldn’t quibble too much, as this is a nicer presentation overall than I normally see with respect to flavoured rums.

In The Glass 8/10

Colour: Pale Gold

Nose: Obvious ripe banana (real banana!) aroma with building butterscotch/toffee and hints of baking spice (vanilla and cinnamon). Maybe a touch of orange peel and hints of pineapple. I should note that as the sweetness in the glass builds, notes other than banana and butterscotch are hard to confirm.

In The Mouth 46.5/60

Palate: The sweetness of the dram is maybe a little too strong as even the ripe banana is becoming obscured by butterscotch. There is a surprising spicy bite which I have an impression is a combination of spicy cinnamon and the brashness of young alcohol.

Cocktail Impression: I have included a recipe suggestion below which combined the banana flavour of the Langs Rum with orange and lime in a tall serving meant to be enjoyed on those lazy afternoons or evenings when you just want to relax on your back deck.

In The Throat  11/15

The nose and the front end of the delivery is where banana is the dominant flavour. In the exit, butterscotch/toffee, orange peel, and cinnamon are dominant. There is an echo of banana at the end; but it is the sweetness of butterscotch and the heat of cinnamon that lingers the longest.

 The Afterburn 7.5/10

Lang’s Banana Rum was difficult to evaluate. I liked what I perceived to be real banana on the nose and at the front end of the sip. But, a building sweetness and heated spice seemed to dominate the flavoured rum by the end of the tasting experience. I think if the sweetness and spice were tempered, I would have been able to enjoy the banana flavour more fully throughout.

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

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Suggested Recipe

Banana Rum Punch

2 1/2 oz Langs Banana Rum
1/2 oz fresh Lime Juice
1/2 oz fresh Orange Juice
1/4 oz Sugar Syrup
dash Angostura Bitters
Soda Water
ice
Orange Peel for garnish

Add the ingredients into a mixing glass and stir
Pour them into a rocks glass filled with ice
Top with soda water
Garnish with orange peel

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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)