Black Magic Black Spiced Rum
Black Magic Rum is imported and bottled by the Sazerac Company. Few details are provided about the actual product; instead, we the consumers are given a fantasy dreamt up by the creative minds behind the rum. The only clues we have is that it is imported rum with natural flavors and caramel color. Another detail I discovered is that it is a blend of light and dark rums. So let us dive in and see what this mysterious dark 47 abv liquid reveals.
Appearance
Black Magic Black Spiced Rum
On the shelf this inky black rum is housed in a 750 ml bottle with simple black and white label with interesting artwork. I remember picking it up off the shelf and the more I looked at the art, the more things I kept finding in it including the dual image of a ship that turns into a skull and creatures hidden in the waves. (I later found out that the artist behind the label is Dave Welker). Also wrapped around the neck was a cardboard holder with a ceramic shot glass that displayed another piece of art from Welker.
When the black rum is held up to light it glows with a lovely chestnut color. So it was no surprise when I poured the rum in the glass that it had a chestnut color with lighter amber hues.
Nose
The aroma of the rum delivers notes of vanilla, cinnamon, clove, coconut, kola, wintergreen, with a little alcohol vapor tweaking the nose.
Palate
Sipping the rum is interesting: there is an initial rush of vanilla, which shifts to caramel, and as the spices take over forms a toffee base. I quickly dissect some of the flavors from the aroma – a swirl of kola, cinnamon, clove, minty wintergreen, with a hint of nutmeg. As the rum flavors begin to fade, a sugary sweetness takes over and lingers is a brief finish.
Review
When I first saw the dark liquid in the bottle I thought this was a product obviously going for a share of the Kraken market. Luckily I found the actual flavors gave this spiced rum its own unique identity in the Spiced rum market. I like the fun and fantasy angle that the marketing company ran with for the product. The only major turn off for me was the sugar sweet finish along with the residue left across my teeth and tongue. Otherwise it is a fine addition to my spiced rum selection. Visiting the Black Magic rum website I found an interesting array of cocktails that would appeal to any imbiber’s palate. Good luck finding the skull!
-Rum Review by Mr. Paul Senft-
paul,senft
My name is Paul Senft - Rum Reviewer, Tasting host, Judge and Writer. My exploration of Rums began by learning to craft Tiki cocktails for friends. I quickly learned that not all rums are created equally and that the uniqueness of the spirit can be as varied as the locales they are from. This inspired me to travel with my wife around the Caribbean, Central America, and United States visiting distilleries and learning about how each one creates their rums. I have also had the pleasure of learning from bar tenders, brand ambassadors, and other enthusiasts from around the world; each one providing their own unique point of view, adding another chapter to the modern story of rum. The desire to share this information led me to create www.RumJourney.com where I share my experiences and reviews in the hopes that I would inspire others in their own explorations. It is my wish in the pages of “Got Rum?” to be your host and provide you with my impressions of rums available in the world market. Hopefully my tasting notes will inspire you to tr y the rums and make your own opinions. The world is full of good rums and the journey is always best experienced with others.