Old Hopking Dark

Bought on a budget camping trip around Scotland, easily downed by the tent.

For the price this is a good rum. I've tried it with coca cola or soda water. First dark rum I have tried. Insure there is better but this isn't bad.

I've given this five stars, compared to four stars for the Captain Morgan's and Lamb's equivalents, due to the lower price. In terms of quality and flavour, it is on a par with them, so at only £9.99 per bottle it's a good budget option for mixing.

I was most impressed with coke it was better than many

I picked up a bottle of this, figuring that I'd try it out at just under £14 (it's more expensive north of the border due to minimum pricing laws in Scotland).

Its a dark mahogany colour with some faint notes of sweetness and caramel on the scent. These continues through to the taste as when sipped there are tastes of these, but again they are faint. It is surprisingly mellow when sipped neat: no burn at all. However when it is mixed the rum taste is wiped out completely.

Overall its drinkable, but it certainly isn't memorable and is sadly simply too bland for me. Ideal for introducing somebody to dark rum, or if your not a fan of the taste of rum and just want a drink to have with a mixer. Comparable to the likes of Captain Morgan, Skipper, OVD etc, but for good mixing rums I'd look to Trawler, Watsons Demerara, Gosling or Woods (if you like your rum a bit stronger).

This rum is great for taking to a party, or sharing with people who don't really drink rums normally. It is not harsh, and has quite a light taste, it is not a sipping rum, but mixes well with coke or in a cocktail.
I would buy this before any spiced rums.

Dark, slightly treacly, warming, probably better for cocktails, indeed now drinking it as a grog

In these expensive times Aldi's Old Hopking delivers. I prefer this to rums at a similar price point (Captain Morgan for example) and at just over £10 a 70cl it is great value. Not too sweet and I drink neat (sometimes with ice) a nice rum at a great price.

Some people won't touch supermarket own brands but this Aldi bottling is excellent value. You could pay double or treble the price and not find a better rum.
Of course it's no single estate, long aged, premium offering but stacks up well against some famous brands.
Drinkable neat but better over ice or with cola. Smooth, sweet, long and warming finish.

If you have to mix it with coke it won't kill you, bit it isn't good rum.