Angel's Share Title
Bounty Premium Dark Rum
In 1972, Saint Lucia Distillers formed after the last two distilleries, Denney Distillery and Roseau Bay Distillery, merged. The first rum line the company launched was Bounty Gold Rum. Over the years, a lot of brands have come and gone, but Bounty has remained a steadfast brand for the island, expanding over the past 50 years to seven expressions. The Bounty Premium Dark rum is made using Guyanese molasses and is a blend of three-year column and six-year pot still rums aged in used American White Oak Bourbon barrels and blended to 43% ABV.
Appearance
The one-liter bottle has an orange and black metal screw top. The front label has the basic information about the rum, while the back label provides a bit more information, such as that there is pot still rum in the blend and that caramel is added during the production process. That bit of information easily explains why the rum is such a dark amber color in the bottle and glass. Swirling the liquid creates a thin band that quickly thickens and releases several waves of fast-moving legs, leaving behind a ring of beads and residue around the glass.
Nose
The aroma of the rum begins with the expected hit of alcohol, followed by bitter char and toffee. After the liquid rested for a few minutes, I discovered additional notes of raisins, dried papaya, and pineapples, ending on a light spicy note.
Palate
The first sip was a swirl of sweet cacao, and dark toffee took the high notes, while the foundation was loaded with charred oak notes, cinnamon, and toasted tobacco leaf. Additional sips reveal the dried fruit notes I found in the aroma and help form a medium-sweet caramel finish.
Review
During my first visit to the island of Saint Lucia, I discovered Bounty Gold Rum and enjoyed the rum punch made with that product. So, when I found this rum on the shelves while shopping in Atlanta, I had to pick it up to review it. Unlike a lot of rums that are coming out right now, the Bounty brand is a line of workhorse rums engineered to be used in cocktails. Bounty Premium Dark Rum by design is recommended to be used in tropical cocktails; even the back label recommends that it be used in a Mai Tai. For those who are used to sipping Admiral Rodney and Chairman Reserve vintages, you will find some of the flavor markers of those products in this rum, but you should manage your expectations accordingly and enjoy the rum in a punch or fruit juice-based cocktail.
Cheers!
