The Kraken Black SpicedRum is a 94 proof alcoholic punch that has a much higher proof than other spiced liquors. You can expect high-octane flavorings of cinnamon, burnt caramel, and dark chocolate.
Quick Facts
ClassificationSpiced Rum
Company Proximo Spirits
DistilleryUnconfirmed. Many sources claim Trinidad & Tobago is at the TDL distillery. Others say the Virgin Islands.
Type Cask Oak casks, most probably ex-bourbon
Still type pot still
Published2010; ongoing
You can see the proof 94 (47% ABV)
Aged1-2 Years
MSRP $25
Pros
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Its 47% ABV makes it an effective and bolder mixer for cocktails.
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The Kraken’s distinctive jug-style bottle and black-and-white label featuring the sea monster of the same name make it extremely recognizable on the shelf.
Cons
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TheSpiced-rum enthusiasts who love spiced rum for its sweet, easy-to drink expressions might be put off by high proof. While unadulterated rums with higher octane rums will still enjoy their flavor, the added flavors and colors could turn away rum-lovers.
Taste Notes
Color: TheDark-brown cola color with almost opaque ruby hue in the glass and bottle is due to a healthy amount caramel coloring after distillation. This caramel coloring was added to reflect the mythical black ink. Kraken sea monster.
Nose: It’s a dead ringer for a spiked root beer or perhaps a cherry cola. Once you get past the alcohol, it’s sweet vanilla with hints of dark fruit all the way.
Palate: It’s drier than the nose lets on, probably owing to the fact that it’s 47% alcohol. There are lots of cinnamon, dark chocolate, and burnt caramel, along with vanilla, brown sugar, and a little bit of bitter coffee. TheIt is almost syrupy in texture.
Finish: The rum has a strange, long finish that is reminiscent of charred oak. Given that the rum is only aged one to two years before bottling, it’s likely that the finish comes from something besides the barrel in which it was aged.
Our Review
Before The Kraken was launched—er, released—in 2010, spiced rum was a more genteel affair, with the rum at lower proof and the most notable “spice” being vanilla. The KrakenSpiced Rum brought a new style to spiced rum, with its higher alcohol content, darker color, tongue-in-cheek allusions about the mythical sea monster and tongue-in cheek associations with pirates. The result is one of the world’s most popular and ubiquitous spiced rums.
It is a common problem for many people. The Kraken is everything that’s cool about rum, from its name and bottle to its dark and opaque color and high proof—unusually high for a spiced rum. For rum purists, The Kraken is everything that’s bad about the category, from its marketing campaign to all the added color and flavor that totally distorts the base spirit. Comparing is a good idea. The Kraken to, say, a Jamaican pot-still rum is like comparing listening to Spotify to playing a vinyl record: It’s kind of the same thing but not really.
If taken on its merits, The KrakenStill, it comes up short. All that alcohol seems like it throws things off-balance. If there are spices here besides cinnamon, they’re tough to taste, and the dominant flavor is burnt caramel or charred wood. Mix it with some water or on the rocks. RumIt tastes slightly like Coke & Coke. “off.” It’s not bad if the objective is to get drunk quickly, but if the goal is to have an enjoyable drink, other darkly colored rums such as Gosling’s BlackThe best choice is Cruzan or Seal black straps. Spiced rums: The Kraken’s own 70-proof bottling is a viable alternative along with other options like Sailor Jerry.
An Interesting Fact
The Kraken has entered into a partnership with the NHL’s newest hockey team, the Seattle Kraken. It has a website that tells the story of the terrifying giant Squid and the single barrel of ink-stained, rum that survived a terrible attack. It’s not true, of course, but it’s fun to read while sipping the rum.
TheBottom line
The KrakenThis is a fantastic bottle. The liquid looks mysterious and cool, and adds a powerful alcoholic punch in cocktails. Alas, it doesn’t have much else going for it.
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