Bacardi Black.  Along with Bacardi Gold, the two rums have recently been re-released into the UK market at 40% ABV rather than 37.5%.  For whatever reason Bacardi Black is not as readily available as the White Superior or Gold.  In most supermarkets and many off licenses the White Superior and Gold can be picked up at entry-level prices.  However, the Black is largely absent from these outlets.

As a result it has been fairly difficult to get a bottle other than online.  Fortunately on the continent the rum is more readily available and I was able to obtain a 1 litre bottle whilst on holiday.  The other bonus of this is the price which was considerably lower than if I had ordered this online (£29.95 for a 70cl bottle as opposed to 19 euro’s approx. £16 for a litre bottle).

There isn’t really much to say about Bacardi that hasn’t been said before.  I’ve reviewed a few Bacardi products and whilst I doubt I will ever review the flavoured efforts (Razz, Limon etc) the “real” rums haven’t been that bad overall so far. The Bacardi Black comes in the standard Bacardi bottle which will be familiar to anyone who has seen the White Superior.  I like the attention to presentation and strong brand identity that Bacardi uses.  I like to see consistency in presentation.  This is their entry-level dark rum like the Gold and the White Superior and is housed in the same bottle.  Immediately I am not confused or unsure as to what to expect from this rum.

The rear label states that the rum is bottled in Germany for Bacardi International Ltd, Hamilton, Bermuda.  I found this a little confusing.  I understood that Bacardi had a distillery in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.  However, it was unclear which distillery transported the rum to Germany for bottling.  After looking on the Internet I’ve only ended up even more confused.  It seems that Bacardi Black may have also once been Bacardi Select? Both have been bottled at 37.5% ABV and 40% ABV.  I suspect the rum is from the Puerto Rico plant but I could be wrong!

The rear label also states “mit Farbstoff” (Zuckerkulor).  So it would seem that caramel is added to give the rum its black appearance.  The rum is aged for only 4 years so this is not a surprise.  To be perfectly honest I would imagine all young Navy and Demerara style rums that are as dark must also use caramel.

When poured the rum remains very dark brown in colour.  As a very heavy looking dark rum I’m a little surprised when nosing the rum that the sweet nose is more of a cane juice/agricole grassy note than a deep dark molasses like rum.  There is a little hint of plum/prune and a little hint of treacle.

I don’t really know why I continue to sip these entry-level rums but the Bacardi Black doesn’t burn too badly.  That’s not to say its pleasant, it’s just bitter really.  Another surprise is how dry it is.  Adding cola (the rum is marketed as a mixer and cola is the key) it still tastes quite bitter and too dry.  The appearance of the rum made me expect a dark Demerara rum or Navy style.  It is nowhere near as sweet or flavourful as either style.  I’m a little puzzled as to why they have decided to darken this relatively young rum to look like either of those styles.

It’s dryness reminds me a little of Bacardi Reserva, however this is much rougher.  It’s like a rum in disguise to me and I just don’t get it.  I’m not sure at whom the rum is aimed?  Your left with a kind of harsh dry Puerto Rican style rum which looks like a British Navy Rum.  It’s a terrible rum and has a nasty dry tobacco note which is also present in their Spiced Oakheart.  It’s awful stuff.