J. Wray Gold

Was pleasantly surprised by this rum especially since it is often found under the $20 mark. Great to spill for bars, parties, and guests but I would probably go with another rum if you are making cocktails for yourself.

I had low expectations due to some of the reviews on this site and the low cost of this rum, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised. It's not a bad sipper - not great - but not bad. It adds a nice layer to cocktails, but it doesn't shine through like one of my Plantation offerings. I have so many better rums that I won't waste much time drinking it. I think its' best use will be for guests at my home tiki bar who are not big rum drinkers.

The nose is a very unobtrusive banana and light ginger. Taste is a subtle honeysuckle and clove but ultimately is anemic compared to other Appleton expressions. Would recommend as a mixer to stretch more expensive rums or to sip of you're not feeling up to the headier stuff.

This is a non-confrontational gold rum. Just a hint of funk and no real burn. I would probably use it in mixed drinks but I am afraid it would not add much besides the alcohol.

There is very little that would be remarkable about this rum. It has a little dundery funk, which is great. But only a very little. It is otherwise very tame, a bit of spices, a bit of orange or lemon maybe.

But it is quite dry. I do not think they added sugar to this. Or if they did, it is very little only. And this is great and deserves some credit.

Plus it works great as a mixer and it is inexpensive. Hard to recommend for sipping, unless one is looking for a very tame Jamaica experience. But a great choice if the goal is to get a little drunk and not spend to much time or effort on this.

Tasted side by side with Appleton Reserve. This is much lighter.
Strong banana taste.
Could use as a cheap mixer.

Nothing fancy here, just a decent Jamaican rum with just the tiniest hint of funk.

With me having awful memories from when I bought my first and last bottle of J Wray & Nephew Overproof, I was very hesitant to give this one a try. Then after reading reviews here that showed this to be an exact replacement for Appleton Special, I decided to give it a try at only $14 US. Heck, the little paper note around the neck even showed that this is an exact replacement.

In the snifter, it is pale yellow with aromas of hogo funk. The hogo continues on the palate. It is not a neat sipper, but could do well on the rocks or as a mixer. If you are making a large batch of Mai Tai's for a Tiki party, this one could do the trick while saving you money. It is also nothing at all like that awful Overproof that they produce.

Not bad.. however I enjoyed it better before the renaming. Seems to me the flavor changed somewhat. I could be wrong but seems like it did.. maybe better for a mixed drink..

Appleton special with a new badge, Jamaican funk, not my friend but a nice neighbor to party with.