Pusser’s Rum Gunpowder Proof

Introduction

Pusser’s Rum Gunpowder Proof is the liquid history of the Royal Navy. Well at least thats what their website says anyway………

For over three hundred years, the daily rum ration was a fixture of life at sea, and Pusser’s is the brand that holds the rights to the original Admiralty blending recipe. The Gunpowder Proof is a modern expression of that heritage, bottled at a higher strength to reflect the historical proof used to ensure the rum would not ruin the ship’s gunpowder if it leaked into the stores.

This expression hits the traditional 54.5% ABV mark exactly. This is a heavy, dark, and uncompromising spirit. It is not an entry level sipper for those who prefer their drinks clean and subtle. It is a bold, industrial style of rum built for intensity.

While the blend has historically relied on a combination of Guyanese and Trinidadian components, recent sourcing changes have shifted the focus toward a totally Guyana dominant profile.

The heart of this new blend relies heavily on the output of the iconic EHP wooden Coffey still, a piece of equipment that is arguably the most vital tool in the Demerara Distillers arsenal. This transition has noticeably altered the character of the final liquid.

It stands as a reminder of what rum used to be before the industry became obsessed with making everything taste like vanilla syrup, though the current iteration lacks the nuance of previous bottlings in my humble opinion at least.

Tasting

In the glass Pusser’s Rum Gunpowder Proof is a deep, varnished mahogany that practically absorbs the light in the glass.

On the nose, it is a classic British Navy rum profile. You are hit with massive, thick notes of treacle, burnt sugar and dried fruits like raisins and blackcurrants.

This then moves onto a slightly damp wood and a touch of funkiness with a hit of oak spice.

No hold that thought. That’s my memories coming through. That’s what I got from this rum up until around 2020.

Surprisingly the re-blend and the removal of the Trini element seems to have removed all that.

The “menace” and meatyness I spoke of previously when reviewing this rum is gone.

It smells dense, oily, and slightly medicinal still but its very much more like a lot of other dark Demerara rums on the market. In itself that is not a bad thing. However, for me it has lost what made it a 5 star rum.

On the sip the higher ABV makes its presence known immediately, providing an assertive prickle that prepares the palate for what is to follow. Pusser’s has never been an easy going elegant sip.

The palate is still pretty heavy like the nose. The texture is quite syrupy and coats the tongue with a wall of molasses and dark, charred oak. It’s rich, bringing forward flavours of Dark chocolate, Raisin and a slight, drying bitterness that keeps the sweetness from becoming cloying. Like the nose though, sadly its missing that “menace”. That slightly off kilter kind of funky/mustiness that made it so interesting and intriguing.

Sadly the mid palate just doesn’t seem to involve much from the intial sip. It’s now a lot more one dimensional with no real development.

It’s starts and finishes in pretty much the same shape. Which is disappointing. The finish is still a decent length but that was never really its strong point. It’s still nice and warming with plenty Dark Chocolate and Raisin.

Verdict

Overall, a re-visit to this rum in 2020 and now in 2026 has been rather disappointing. Its still a good rum but sadly not a great one.

Its now more of a must try to say you have rather than a try must try rum. It fails now to really stand out from other cheaper (sub £50) Demerara rums. I’d opt for Wood’s now in all honesty.

A shame really but they really need to try and get the Trini element back.

Final Thoughts: A once truly great rum that is now becoming more of a curiosity