Earlier this year (2016), I found myself staring at all the spiced rums on my rum shelf in my tasting room. I had a little over 20, and most of them were barely touched. I had done my review for each, made a cocktail or two, and then sealed the bottles and moved on. I even had several full bottles that had were still sealed as often when samples are sent to me, the producer sends two bottles rather than one. While staring at the spirits the thought occurred to me that perhaps I ought to do something constructive with my spiced rum selection. So, I decided that I should re-taste all of these rums, create new tasting notes, and update my reviews especially as I was curious how the older reviews would stand up.

So I began several weeks ago, re-tasting each brand, and hand writing tasting notes and scores. Those who are regular readers know that I like to present the results from these types of exercises in a ‘Countdown’ format, and so during the next few months I shall be present the results, one spiced rum at a time, beginning with the rum which ranked 20th on my newly created list, then work my way down to the spiced rum which I feel is the best in my tasting room. As I publish the new reviews, I will be replacing my older review with the newer ones such that by the time I am done, all of the reviews will be updated with the new tasting notes and scores. (In a few cases when the older review stands up well with my current thoughts (especially when the published review is current) I have left the older review as it is.)

Here is the ranked listing (in reverse order) of twenty of the spiced rums I selected from my Rum Shelf. (Note: I will be adding to the list, one rum at time every few days until the list is complete.)

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20) Kraken Black Spiced Rum    (Score =  78 pts)
19)  VooDoo Spiced Rum       (Score =  78 pts)
18)  Wild Geese Spiced Rum   (Score =  78 pts)
17)  Lamb’s Blacksheep Spiced Rum     (Score =  80 pts)
16)  Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum      (Score =  81 pts)
15)  Captain Morgan Silver Spiced Rum     (Score =  81 pts)
14)  Brinley Gold Shipwreck Spiced Rum    (Score =  81.5 pts) 
13)  Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum      (Score =  81.5 pts)
12)  Sailor Jerry Spiced Navy Rum     (Score =  82 pts)
11)  Siesta Key Spiced Rum     (Score =  83 pts)
10) Blackheart Spiced Rum     (Score =  83.5 pts)
09)  El Dorado Spiced      (Score =  83.5 pts)
08)  Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum      (Score = 83.5 pts)
07)  Captain Morgan 100 Spiced Rum    (Score =  84 pts) 
06)  Pusser’s Spiced Rum      (Score =  84 pts)
05)  Bayou Spiced Rum      (Score =  84.5 pts)
04) Lemon Hart Navy Spiced Rum     (Score =  84.5 pts)
03)  Screech Spiced 100 (Proof) Rum     (Score =  85 pts)
02)  Bacardi Oakheart Smooth Spiced Rum      (Score =  86 pts)
01)  George Street Spiced Rum       (Score =  86.5 pts)