Rum is one of the most important liquors produced in the Caribbean region. It is distilled with sugar as its main ingredient, and since the Caribbean is ripe with sugar production, it makes sense that this type of liquor is so common and so important to the local economies.

Light and dark rums are produced throughout the Caribbean, but there are also some flavored rums making a splash in the market. One of these is Cruzan Coconut Rum, a liquor made for those who love the sweet taste of coconut.

Basic Characteristics of This Liquor:

This rum is clear and watery in consistency. It offers a pungent, tropical aroma that combines sugar, coconuts, and alcohol, with the alcohol dominating.

This product has a flavor that is unmistakably rum- like, but with the added dimension of coconut taste. The coconut flavor is not as strong as I originally expected it to be. It is there, but the taste of coconuts doesn’t really come through until the end. It is most noticeable in the finish, where you can also detect vanilla flavor.

Each 1 oz. (30ml) serving of this run contains 51 calories, 5.3 grams of carbohydrates, zero protein, and zero fat. The proof rating on this liquor is 55, which means it contains 27.5 percent alcohol by volume.

Drinks Made with This Liquor:

Cruzan Coconut Rum can be added to many drinks that call for ordinary rum to give a new dimension to the taste. It can also be used to create some new and interesting drinks. Check out the ones listed below:

Latin Love

1.5 oz. Cruzan Coconut Rum
1.5 oz. Banana Rum
3 oz. Pineapple juice

Combine above ingredients with ice and blend until smooth.

Coconut Dew

1 oz. Cruzan Coconut Rum
1 oz. Melon Liqueur
2 oz. Orange Juice
2 oz. Seven- Up

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Coconut Cola

1.5 oz. Cruzan Coconut Rum
6 oz. Coca- Cola

Pour ingredients over ice in a highball glass and serve.

Pina Colada

3 oz. Cruzan Coconut Rum
3 oz. Coconut Milk
3 oz. Pineapple Juice

Combine ingredients in a blender with ice and blend until smooth. Serve in a Collins glass.

Barbados Grog

1.5 oz. Cruzan Coconut Rum
.5 oz. Coffee Liqueur
Coffee

Combine ingredients in a cup and top with whipped cream.

Final Thoughts:

Cruzan has been making rum products for decades. It originally started production in the Virgin Islands in 1760 and it still has a major presence there. Nowadays, the company’s main branch office can be found in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Coconut rums are generally very sweet, but this particular brand is a little less sweet than the competition. There is more sweetness than regular light rum, yes, but only a small amount more. And the alcohol flavor is, of course, less intense than with regular rum, making this product a little smoother to drink. I was surprised to discover that the coconut taste isn’t overwhelming. It is actually rather subtle, and you notice it most in the finish.

Rum is often used in tropical drinks and this rum seems to fit well with tropical beverages. Substituting Cruzan Coconut Rum in place of regular rum can help enhance the flavor of your favorite mixed drink. This is especially true in drinks that are coconut flavored already (like pina coladas) or with ones where the flavor of coconut is compatible with the other liquors or mixers present. Thus, for many rum drinks, this liquor makes a good –tasting substitute. I like adding it to pineapple juice and in tropical fruit punches because the coconut taste is a natural accompaniment to these drinks. But with other mixed drinks, this rum cannot be substituted. You wouldn’t want this taste added to, for example, a rum martini. Coconut isn’t a good tasting companion to the flavor of vermouth.

This rum is less alcoholic than regular rum, making it a good choice of liquors to use when you want to limit the alcoholic strength of your favorite drink. Ordinary rum contains 40 percent alcohol. This product contains only 27.5 percent alcohol. This can prove to be a significant difference when you’re trying to limit the alcohol content of a beverage.

Overall, this flavored rum is a tasty one from the people at Cruzan. The frosted bottle gives the packaged product a unique look and the price is lower than most other rums on the market. A 750 ml bottle sells for only about $6 to $8 (depending on where you live and the prevailing market prices), making it one of the least expensive rums on the liquor store shelves. It makes a good mixer for many drinks. I’m enjoying mine right now mixed with a glass of Coca- Cola, making for a sweet and refreshing taste that is like vanilla Coke spiked with ordinary rum. It’s a nice variation on regular rum, and it’s worth a substitution in your favorite rum drink.


Be Sure to Click on the Links Below to Read More Reviews of Other Liquors:

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Stolichnaya Vodka
Seagram’s Orange Twisted Gin
Seagram’s Extra Smooth Vodka
Seagram’s Extra Dry Gin
Myer’s Rum


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