Comparing the "Single" Barrels...
As promised to the requester, I imposed on Sue Sea to accomodate a couple of member questions. As shocking as it might be I'm not gonna do my usual bullshit ramble, but actually get to it...
Cruzan Old Bottle
This refers to the oldest version, pictured at the top of the previous post in the tall, textured bottle with the sailing ship label.
Sue Sea:
"Since Jim asked me to help compare these rums, as always I'll begin with the bottle as I like a good presentation, although in the end this has nothing to do with the score. The old bottle is simply lovely. The tall and crackled or pebbled bottle gives an wonderful Old World appearance, almost historica and certainly rum-like. In comparison the newer bottles become progressively marketing modern and offputting.
The old version of Single Barrel is beautiful, clear light amber like a honey, and with the thinnest of green edges. The opening aroma is a light and pleasant orange blossom honey, a near marmalade with a touch of orange zest, over a light background of vanillan, leather and a very distant hickory like smoke.
With such a nice beginning, the rest of the ride was choppy and bumpy. The palate opened with the briefest honey, then bam! A hot cinnamon kicks in, reminding me of those little "Red Hot" red candies. The late palate then turns to a altered feeling deep and almost overripe purple Bing cherry, almost medicinal like a cough syrup. I was left with a tongue and throat coating combination of vanilla cream and leather, which fight one another.
I honestly cannot much recommend this rum for anyone. Having now tasted several hundred spirits I've come to more and more appreciate real quality and this rum is too simple, too constructed and choppy. It is not at all distinguised.
Moi:
To the point. Sue Sea and I had exactly the same opening nose. Single Barrel presents as a light and sweet rum, fresh but not at all complex. Just lightly pleasant. However, after some airing we both agreed that a deep nose revealed a slight sourness reminiscent of sauerkraut or asparagus.
The palate is likewise simple but surprise! The lovely light orange honey is simply absent. A light quick honey moves into astringent leather and cinnamon heat leading to a fine ground white pepper finish. The aftertaste is a lingering and coating combination of honey and newer leather. As far as Sue Sea's "choppy" goes, here's why in terms of what happens, in order:
1. Sweet light orange honey or marmalade
2. Briefest honey
3. Eruption of cinnamon heat
4. Cloying dark Bing cherry medicine
5. White pepper
6. Coating vanilla cream and sour leather
Ouch. Double ouch!!
Score (ten is best): 6. Maybe.
Cruzan Newer Bottle
This comparison refers to the second tall bottle (above) - not the lowest, squat bottle. Again I'll STFU...
Sue Sea:
"I'd like to start with my love of comparisons, which I can't recommend enough to anyone. Invariably Jim and I end any tasting by comparing a rum to others that suggest themselves and especially to a reference rum. By doing so I'm able to understand differences that otherwise can be missed.
As far as the newer Single Barrel is concerned, this newer version is an improvement over the old and its unpleasant choppiness. The newer is a darker, clear amber, near mahogany with the green edge now more apparent but only because of the increasd contrast with the darker color. As far as the bottle is concerned, it smack of modern marketing.
The newer Single Barrel's opening is much more subtle and the orange honey is gone, replaced by a predominant vanilla cream candy, over a very distant bit of pruney raisin. Now the transition to palate was more appropriate with an early vanillan, and without the spike to heat of the older version. The newer is warm, but the transition is much gentler and balanced, moving to a mid palate of light ginger and cinnamon, and continuing to a short white pepper finish and surprisingly, a pleasant coconut cream aftertaste. Think of Coco Lopez.
In sum, the newer version of Single Barrel is smoother and more balanced and without the spikes and changes of the old version. Although I hate to use the terms, the newer is a good easy sipper, but I'd relegate the old version to mixed drinks where the choppiness won't matter. I think the newer would work for beginners and casual parties, but may appeal to some Cuban style lovers."
Moi:
There is no difference that the newer Single Barrel is better, but it too has its failing beginning with the nose which is so subdued that it's barely there: less vanillan, almost no orange. The palate opens wispy sweet, then transitions nicely to a light tarry leather, with a growing cinnnamon heat and a nicely glowing white pepper finish. Gone too is the unpleasant and contradictory coating aftertaste of the old version.
I'd never buy this one again and to be fair, buying the newer bottle was a mistake. But of the two, the newer is better, more balanced, more consistent. The newer's score suffered greatly though from the near invisible nose, a major failing.
Score (ten is best): Sue Sea - 6.5 Moi - 7.
