Product: Myer's Dark Original Rum Producer: Myer's Rum Approximate Retail Value: $22/ 750 ml Category: Rum Country of Origin: Jamaica Reviewer: R. Pietsch The F Words: Flavor – Slightly abrasive. Bright alcohol overpowers any other flavors. Feel – Light, bright and warm. Finish – Short and to the point.

Rating:

Rum. What can I say about it? God, I love rum. Generalizations really should be put aside, but rum is probably the most versatile liquor available. You can find a rum cocktail for every season. Of course, the finest rums need no mixers, but they often carry a heavy price. Then there are your white and dark rums. White rums are perfect for those heavily favored drinks where the flavor of the alcohol is masked in the same way as most vodka cocktails. Dark rums, generally aged, hold more character and body.

Tonight we focus on Myer’s Jamaican rum. Believe it or not, this is the rail dark rum for many bars. It’s with this knowledge that I approached the product. It’s unfortunate, though, that there has been a direct connection made between being a well liquor and being crap. I think that anyone who is willing to give Myer’s a try will be mildly surprised.

Myer’s is aged for four years in fresh white oak barrels. This imparts a slightly smoky flavor, but doesn’t give it much depth. Myer’s is about as sweet as you’d expect. No real tones of caramel or burnt sugar. Instead, the nose of the alcohol overpowers most other flavors. It is not nearly as refined as other rums such as Appleton Estate or Flora De Cana (but once again we’re talking about the hefty price tag). It doesn’t have a harsh bite, but you will feel that pleasant burn go straight to the back of your mouth.

Myer’s has such a light viscosity that it really has no aftertaste. The finish is quick, and if you’re looking for a distinct flavor then it could only be described as alcohol. Now, if you drop in a few ice cubes you will find that the nose is much improved as there is almost a citrus quality. As with most straight liquor, adding a few ice cubes removes the most unpleasant aspects of the cutting alcoholic flavor. This is still the case. Myer’s then becomes quite sip-able.

My recommendation is that if you are looking for nice dark rum to sip on while you enjoy the nice breeze at the end of a hot day, this might not be the way to go. But if you are in the mood for the most astounding Rum Runner you can throw together, this is a marvelous basis. The imperfections form a perfect contrast to the sweet juices.

Myer’s therefore finds itself in a perfect position to stand in as the “dark rum” in your cocktail. Throw the bottle to the limes and let the fruits do their work.