Cruzan Single Barrel

After trying this out a few ways - neat, rocks, aired out - I can’t say there’s much that makes me want to come back. Not smooth or complex enough for my sipping preference, but good with cola. There’s others at this price point I prefer to keep around - I like just a little more sweetness on the tongue, but this leaves a lingering oak and astringency that feels like a younger rum.

With the ever growing popularity of Bourbon among a great number of imbibers I'm surprised how overlooked this rum is in the eyes of many within the bar/spirits/collector circles. For half the price of a 750ml bottle of Blantons single barrel Bourbon you can get an equal amount of another great American product of similar taste and refinement in this single barrel offering from Cruzan which is distilled in the USVI & aged in American white oak barrels that previously had held Bourbon. Now other bottles, other than the one I purchased, may not have the same familiar caramel/vanilla/oak + Bourbon flavor meld as mine did as it comes from another barrel. Yet, I'd wager the difference is negligible.

The bottle notes say balanced blend of caramel sweetness & oak with a warm buttery finish. Some of each is in this light orange rum but it doesn’t deliver the goods to me. Sorry it doesn’t taste/rate like the other premium extra aged runs I have tasted. This bottle goes to mixers.

With a deep golden hue the nose accumulates tastes of leather , oak, molasses and just a hint of fruit. There’s little alcohol burn as the smooth liquid flows across your tongue. This is a fine example of the traditional Virgin Islands Caribbean rum. Steeped in history; touched with the golden sun.

Un ron que me gustó mucho. Mucha fruta en boca, suave y toffee. De los rones promedios sin lugar a dudas de los mejores. Deja un agradable sabor en boca por buen tiempo.

This is a wonderful straight run with not a lot of added flavors. You get the rum ness of rum without a pantry of spices or flavors

I honestly had low expectations when I purchased this rum. I love using cruzan light in cocktails as I believe it stands up extremely well in mojitos and the like...but given the low price point I figured the best that cruzan had to offer at $35 a bottle would be just OK. Nope, totally wrong. I'm new to the rum game but can appreciate the goods when I run across them. This is a very balanced rum with enough complexity to keep you interested. It drinks like a bourbon without that whiskey kick. Very smooth and silky in almost every way, I'm astonished that it only costs $35. It is tremendous on it's own and would do well in any rum-forward cocktails. Very happy with this expression! Great job Cruzan!

Let me start by saying that I like this rum, but unlike most rums every bottle is a little different. I guess this proves that this is truly a single barrel rum. I have had several bottles of this one so my ratings are base on all my tastings. Now for the real rating. COLOR: The color is a little on the light side, but honestly color is not that important to me. NOSE: The aroma is strong. Definite alcohol smell. LEGS: The legs are really nice. Long legs that run slow. TASTE: Nice, does not taste like it smells. Smooth entry into mouth with a hint of fruit. The taste lasts in your mouth as it runs down your throat. No after burn. PRICE: About $30. OVERALL: 7 Definitely one I keep in my cabinet.

Cruzan and RL Seale (Foursquare) have always been my favorite brands due to taste, consistency and price. Cruzan Single barrel hits the mark with its deep flavor (although not “anejo” or scotch like). Nice and smooth on-the-rocks. Not a daily go-to but not a save for a special occasion, Will always have a bottle in my arsenal.

Pas mon type de rhum. Beaucoup trop fort en alcool

In the late eighties, I drank cheap Cruzan rum as if there was no tomorrow and it was still way better than Bacardi. One of my ex-girlfriends even accused me of drinking "two thousand bottles of Cruzan rum" which was a gross exaggeration. Guess what? I kept drinking the rum!

A few years ago, I happened upon a bottle of this at a music festival and tried a sample. I was quite impressed at what Cruzan could do, but had yet to enter the world of the finest rums. So this one wound up on my wish list and I recently found a bottle on the bottom shelf of my favorite specialty liquor store. A major HINT on the lowest shelf!!!!

It smells and tastes like alcohol with no added sweetness, but leaves a bitter taste at the back of my throat. Sipping neat was passable and adding an ice cube did nothing to open up the flavors. At $24, this one is also a bit expensive to use as a mixer, since Mount Gay Eclipse is a much better and cheaper gold mixer.

Update Feb 17, 2018: When browsing another liquor store for a rum that they did not have, I came across two different shaped bottles for this Cruzan Single Barrel. There was one new bottle in the shape of the Estate Diamond Dark 5 Year placed in front of the old round bottles. My old round bottle rated as a 5 due to harsh after taste. I eagerly bought the bottle with the newer shape for only $25. When I got home, I compared side by side with my Diamond Estate Dark 5 Year. This single barrel is orange in color and the other one is amber. This newer version has a wonderful after taste that out does it's faint aroma and taste. Is it worth the extra $5 over the Estate Diamond Dark 5 Year? Yes, but either one will serve the purpose as a very inexpensive sipper that will never rate higher than a 7. As with any single barrel spirit, it is all in the luck of the draw. And as bad as this sounds, this is the best that Cruzan has to offer.

If this is Rum you could have fooled me. It’s nose smells like an emergency room and the mouth was very woodsy. I thought I was drinking cologne laced with wood. I personally would not recommend this Rum as it tastes more like whiskey. The bottle is awesome as is any bottle with a cork.

Very smooth, glad I got to try it. I would have it again.

At first was going to give a 7 but the more time I let this one sit the better
it was.

We thought this was a fantastic choice for the price ($17). Like most Cruzan rums this has even flavor with a buttery finish. Overall mild taste with a light burn on the end. Enjoyed this on the rocks.

A handcrafted blend of multiple rums aged up to 12 years with secondary aging in single oak casks. Medium-bodied taste with brandy-like characteristics. A good nose if left to breathe for a while, taste is earthy and woody with little burn and a very good aftertaste.

Cruzan Single Barrel is one of those rum bottles where the tourists coming to the Caribbean for the first time can be easily fooled to think this is quality aged rum. It's anything but quality. Strong alcohol smell and taste and a harsh burn at the end to finish your 'aged rum' tasting experience.

Good Rum!! new fancy bottle, Pick Cruzan over Bacardi any day

I visited the distillery on St. Croix and fell in love with cruzan. Sadly not the rum but the place. Whem I tasted this rum in yhe atmosphere of St. Croix it tasted very good but when i returned to Denmark and tasted it again it was a different story. This rum is the most non sweet rum i have tasted. To me its a bit of a cleanser. Sorry Cruzan

A very versatile rum that is easy to share. Can be used with making more traditional cocktails or served on the rocks. A great starting rum for those interested in higher end aged rums.

This is very similar to the Penny Blue but heaps cheaper. Nice oaky vanilla. Highly recommended I think this is an underrated Rum!! This one will have a permanent place in my cupboard if I can find places that stock it

Has Tina by flavours if you really want to find out you need to do the swuirl test and you could be noting so many different flavours

This is a drinkable rum. I like my rum neat but with this on it went the way of the rum n coke.

Ok sipping rum, probably better mixed (haven't tried), easy on the wallet. I'd put it in front of better rums when company's coming over.