Cockspur Fine Rum
Bajan Rum
Final Grade: B+
Price: $18 (750ml)
Cockspur 12 Rum
Bajan Rum
Final Grade: C
Price: $30 (750ml)
Barbados is the original home of rum, and one of the better known Barbadian (or Bajan) producers of the spirit is Cockspur. They currently make two rum expressions that are distributed in the United States: Cockspur Fine Rum and Cockspur 12.
Both of these are gold or amber rums, distilled from fermented molasses. They are typical of the Bajan style: more dry than sweet, with a toasty, floral aroma.
Cockspur Fine Rum is the "entry-level" bottling. It is lighter in color than the Cockspur 12, and has a spicy, brown sugar smell. Its taste is smooth, with an initial burst of caramel, followed by a dryer flavor of oak. The finish lingers a bit on the tongue, with a nice, tingling presence, but not an overhwhelming amount of heat.
Although the Cockspur Fine is primarily intended as a mixing rum, it was still quite suitable for sipping neat. It would go well with a little Coke or ginger beer, if you'd like something on the sweet side. I mixed it in a Daiquiri and it was delicious. A very sold rum, especially for the price.
The Cockspur 12 Rum, however, did not accord itself so well. When compared to the Fine Rum, I found it lacking in most ways.
The Cockspur 12 starts off well. It is beautiful in the glass, a gorgeous dark amber color with medium body. Its smell is close to the Fine Rum: brown sugar and alcohol with a little oak. Once I took a sip, however, the disappointment set in.
This rum was very hot and rough for a blend of spirits aged so long. (Cockspur 12 is made from the oldest rums in the distillery. It is not technically a 12-year-old spirit, but some of the rums in it are that old.) The flavor is dry and oaky, with a touch of vanilla. There is almost no sweetness to this rum. It has a bitter, almost leathery flavor that I didn't care for.
Even after some time in the glass, I found it less than ideal for sipping. I did try mixing it in a cocktail -- a Daiquiri, naturally -- and it was very tasty like that. However, a rum like this has to rise or fall when drunk on its own.
The Cockspur 12 does have some things to recommend it. It has a lot of complexity to its flavor profile -- there's a lot going on here -- and a long finish. If you're used to drinking single malt Scotch, this is a rum you might like to try. For my taste, however, I'll be reaching for a different bottle.
Report Card: Cockspur Fine Rum
Quality Grade: B+
Value Grade: B+
Final Grade: B+
Report Card: Cockspur 12 Rum
Quality Grade: C-
Value Grade: C+
Final Grade: C
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