Product: Brinley Gold Coconut Rum Producer: Brinley Approximate Retail Value: $22 per bottle Category: Rum Country of Origin: Caribbean/St. Kitts Reviewer: R. Pietsch The F Words: Flavor – Sweet and right on with natural flavor (in the typical style of Brinley Rum). Feel – Heavy and luscious viscosity. Finish – Long but delicious.

Rating:

In a word, it’s flawless. But that’s no surprise. Brinley Gold is, hands down, the most incredible-flavored rum we’ve ever encountered. With three unique flavors currently on the market (Coffee, Vanilla, and Mango) adding one more to the lineup can’t possibly be a bad thing. In fact, we welcome it! Each flavor is as exceptional as the one before, and they haven’t missed yet. It seems to be too easy for them, though; I’m half convinced that now they’re just showing off.

Brinley Gold are high proof, complexly flavored rums. This one is no different. It even makes more sense than some of their other flavors—I definitely scratched my head the first time I heard (not tasted, mind you) “coffee rum.” But Coconut… well, it’s just so logical—and delicious.

The same principles apparent in their other rums are here as well: shockingly high alcohol content that’s barely perceptible behind the depth of the all-natural flavor profile. But there’s something a little different this time. It’s lighter on the palate than the rest. What’s impressive is just how complex the flavors are. It’s easy to pick up hints of vanilla and cream right along side, but at the same time it’s lighter and cleaner than its predecessors.

Brinley rum has a knack for not needing to be mixed with anything. If you ask the Brinleys for a serving suggestion, they will no doubt say “chill it in the freezer and sip it neat.” But if you fancy something a little more than just ice-cold coconut rum in your glass, shake it with crushed ice and a nice splash of cream. It will no doubt be the simplest, strongest, tastiest Pina Colada you’ve ever had.

The Brinley family has a winning formula. Maybe it’s the quality of the rum they start with. Maybe it’s the attention to developing such intriguing flavor profiles. Maybe it’s some un-namable factor that comes from the sweet life in the Caribbean. Whatever it is, they need to stick with it. Who knows what’s next: Chocolate? Lime? Kiwi? Orange? Whatever it is, if they make it we’ll drink it.