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Coruba Dark rum

Coruba Dark

Jamaica | Dark | 40% ABV

6.5/10
40 ratings
Tasty, but not quite great
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40 Coruba Dark Ratings

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Beukeboom 🇺🇸 | 304 ratings
Posted almost 8 years ago

First off, I admit up front I'm a bit confused...the label says this is an "imported 100% Jamaica rum" and the neck label reads "The Rum Co. of Jamaica" but their website has a New Zealand address and from what I have read online via multiple sources Coruba is a very popular source of rum in New Zealand and it is produced by J. Wray and Nephew. So it's kind of all over the map.

It's color is a dark, rich mahogany and it has a strong yet satisfying aroma. One point needs to be made at this time: according to some online sources, their website says caramel was added for color and flavor however as of the time of this review I do not see that indicated on their website. In fact, I don't see any mention of the Coruba Dark rum anywhere on their website. Could it be that this is a discontinued rum? If it is then it's a shame...but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Rums from Jamaica tend to be fuller in flavor and not sweet. This rum is no exception. It is a rum with character and punch. It is a blended rum that has been aged for a few years in American oak barrels (not sure if charred, toasted, or plain -- or whether bourbon, whisky, rye, or what was initially aged in the barrels). There is evidence initially of molasses in the flavor rapidly overtaken by the oak tannins. So there is a bit of initial sweetness and a little vanilla/toffee undertone but then the oak nature becomes apparent. There is a decent burn with this rum but it does not last. The finish is a bit drier than expected with a little metallic aftertaste.

Definitely not a sipping rum but a very usable mixing rum. Admittedly my current favorite dark rum is Cayman Reef Double Black but that's more of a sweeter/spicier dark rum. This one is more pungent and full-flavor. Both are good mixing rums worth adding to one's rum cabinet. And it's quite inexpensive as well.

jru 🇺🇸 | 113 ratings
Posted 1 year ago

I think closer to 20... anyway the quality is high for such a low price, it's a no brainer.

I usually only use it for mixing but when I had it straight, it's fine. A bit bland, whatever

Flavors are fairly low key but it has some of that Jamaican funk and aroma, certainly some dessert like tastes but nothing stands out. Has flavor for certain tiki drinks.

I guess the exact source has been somewhat of a hidden thing ... I forgot but it's from a reputable distillery right...

Five0 🇨🇦 | 1 rating
Posted 1 year ago

Smooth tasting with outstanding aromas. Perfect with many mixes.

DrinkDrankDrunk 🇺🇸 | 20 ratings
Posted over 1 year ago

Very nice rum for mixing. Great in a Mai Tai or just with soda. Beautiful dark appearance.
Cheers!

Zackdickary 🇺🇸 | 4 ratings
Posted over 1 year ago

Coruba is just the best black rum I've ever tasted. It has all the rough edges filed off of it that make the standard blacks (Myers's, BlackSeal, Blackwell) a bit sharp to sip, and add an edge that is noticible even in cocktail mixes. Coruba is smooth as silk.

I learned about this rum because it was part of Lost Lake's zombie blend. When they closed down my friend got his hands on a bottle of their zombie blend, and we set about recreating it with rums that we could actually find. I was using Blackwell as my black rum, as it's marginally better than Black Seal, IMO. It did OK as a replacement for Coruba in the LL blend, but our blend just wasn't the same. Once I got my hands on Coruba, however, our blend was virtually indistinguishable from Lost Lake's, even though two of the three rums are still different.

stonytokes 🇺🇸 | 25 ratings
Posted over 1 year ago

Honestly? Not bad as a sipper since at that potency it still retains a certain amount of character and flavor. An exceptional mixer to smooth out overproof rums in a cocktail, for some reason it just doesn't stand up on it's own as a mixing rum like Myers or Appleton. Really unremarkable in that respect.

Edfueler 🇦🇺 | 1 rating
Posted over 1 year ago

I had low expectations of the ol’ Coruba. I remember West Indian cricketers advertising it in the early 80s but had no other references. Having put it side by side with a Goslings, I find it subtler and more complex. Beneath the brown sugar and treacliness, there’s a dry cocoa, a little earthiness and some oak is apparent. As a cheap rum ($48 AUD) this is going to be my go-to for colour, depth, or a float in a Mai tai or a navy grog.

Skipper Joe 🇺🇸 | 37 ratings
Posted over 1 year ago

Coruba is a but hard to find retail (around here) but is a staple behind the bar at tiki and tropical haunts across the US. I finally snagged a bottle for my own bar by chance. On it’s own, Coruba is surprisingly sipable - though not a smooth a more premium rums of course - tasting of rich molasses, hint of dried fruits, and a respectable punch of that characteristic ripe banana “funk” that comes from Jamaican rum It’s fairly inexpensive, but has a depth that is atypical for other rums in the price point - when used in tiki and tropical cocktails, I find it lends an agreeable character and body, conceivably taking the place of two rums in a mix, and lending an interesting “mouthfeel”, which I understand can be attributed to added glycerin. Very pleased that I was able to snag a bottle and will avail to make this one a workhorse of my home bar 🍹

mdkempfert 🇺🇸 | 46 ratings
Posted almost 2 years ago

Good for what it is. Did a blind side-by-side vs. a similar competitor that's been a staple on my shelf and they're neck and neck. Not quite a sipper but functions very well as a mixer in a category any serious tiki drink fan will be sure to need.

DB 🇺🇸 | 70 ratings
Posted almost 2 years ago

I like it! Yes, you know it is Jamaican, but not overly funky. Nice notes of pineapple and baking spice on the nose and palate. Sweet but not overdone. Some alcohol heat and pepperiness, but reasonably smooth. Sipper? Only you can decide, but I've had worse! For sure a great mixer. Works nicely in the Jungle Bird, with some solid molasses notes.

ScottN 🇺🇸 | 35 ratings
Posted 2 years ago

The start of this rum is fine, particularly in a cocktail like Queen's Park Swizzle or with some ginger ale. But then all I get is a burnt taste. This just isn't the rum for me, but maybe others might like it.




Brand Details

Type: Dark
Company: Coruba
Country: Jamaica
Name: Dark
ABV: 40%
Raw Material: Unknown
Process: Unknown
Distillation: Unknown
Women Led: No