Spytail Black Ginger

I found this rum in Reno, Nevada at a large liquor store that had an entire rack of it. I had never saw it before and it was from France, so I thought it would be an interesting rum to try.

I opened the bottle and out came a strong smell of an unpleasant aftershave, with a strong infusion of ginger.

The taste was a massive hit of ginger and spice, with a little brown sugar, licorice, and some lime. Surprisingly easy drinking for 42%abv, but just not great tasting to me. Way too much ginger imho. Probably intended as a mixer.

It's Saturday night and time for the rum review. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was inspired by the French submarine designs of old. One particular plan was found by the distillery owned by Biggar and Leith's distillery of New York. The plans were found near where they blend and age the rum, in Cognac, France. The namesake comes from the name of that ships planned name call the Spytail. France is where the first mechanical submarines were invented and tested within the Charente River which flows nearby the distillery.
The production of Spytail is actually based on a 19th century recipe using fresh ginger aged with spices and rum. Blended and bottled using Carribean rumthen placed in the charred aging barrels with the fresh ginger and spices. Spytail Black Ginger Rum is a good black spiced rum for the money, 24 dollars at my local store. They've given black spiced rum a new spin using ginger instead of the pepper and cinnamon most others use to "spice" it up. 84 proof and a great taste with this one, I can see the crew of the Nautilus drinking this during the days at sea. Even the bottle itself is reminiscent of the old style Bathesphere, a spherical vessel made and used for deep water exploration and observation.
Deep dark amber in color typical of black spiced rum, the legs are slow to drop and taper as the alcohol evaporates.
Sweet aromas of ginger, vanilla, caramel and orange peel are apparent to the nose.
The entry is slightly astringent but I'm thinking it's due to the spicy ginger flavor more than the alcohol. It rounds out to a light taste of brown sugar and that spicy oriental ginger.
The finish has notes of freshly prepared orange marmalade just off the stove as the peel is added. Light cinnamon and of course the all familiar vanilla from the oak barrels.
A card on the side of the bottle gives suggestions for mixing and drinking Spytail. Neat, over ice, with cola, and ginger based soda. I'm drinking this 4 ways neat for the taste description, over ice in the skull glass, with my golden ginger ale from the local Atlanta company Red Rock. I also decided to experiment with it and try it with a new root beer I found from Stubborn Soda Company and will describe that now. The ginger melds with the rootbeer perfectly, a definite summer drink to enjoy on the top side of the deck or in that secret cove while waiting out the english to pass you by.
So for the remaining weekend keep that weathered eye on the horizon and watch for sails and the other eye on the prize. I'll just say, stay safe stay alert stay alive and drink responsibly. Till the next week, down the hatch.

This is a lovely rum that reminds me of a weaker rumbullion. It's a good sipper but for cost there is a lot more quality stuff Available at this price point ....

i dont like ginger but this is cool and people who dont like rums like it.

well, a lot but this is not bad, for a mixer. not so good alone. fusel aroma that hits the nose first but the ginger follows right behind with hints of spices and dark brown sugar and vanilla. not bad at all for the price.

Little bit of ginger on the nose, perhaps a little medicinal. Straight it tasted quite herbal and was not very pleasant. Mixed with coke it was drinkable and the ginger was quite upfront. Overall quite acceptable but would not bother again

I don't like the ginger Taste in rum. Reminds me of the homemade coughsyrup.

I love ginger, especially mixed with rum, and was very eager to try this. Either my expectations were too high, or this isn't as good as it should be. The bottle is great, but the contents are not as good as they could be.
Nice is about as good a description as I can give. It's a bit perfumy on is own, but tastes ok with ginger ale. I wouldn't discount it, but there are better rums out there.

Well it is definitely as the name implies ginger, on the nose, mouth and a heated finish when tried neat. Better with orange juice. Interesting with coke. I would only have this as a summer drink if offered. Not my style to have in my cabinet.

To sweet for me. Has a weird taste on back of tongue. When put on ice the ginger flavour finally comes out