Admiral’s Old J Spiced Rum - 35 Percent ABV - 70cl Bottle

Product Information

Admiral’s Old J is brought to us by Signature Brands who also have the likes of Birra Morena (never heard of it and no I haven’t mis-spelled Moretti), Cruzcampo and Agnes Arber Gin (not familiar with that one either). Instead they focus a little on Admiral Vernon or Old Grog as he is more widely known. Most famous for (in rum circles at least), in 1740 reducing the size of a sailors daily rum ration. Ensuring it was mixed with lime and spices to try to prevent scurvy and excessive drunkenness on board ship. It’s so “grainy” and artificial it really jars on the tastebuds. It has that nasty graininess in the cheap spirit that I find so disagreeable in certain supermarket white rums. In the end it doesn’t even taste like cherry.

Admiral’s Old J 151 Overproof Spiced Rum Tiki Fire. Sometime in the late noughties there was a brief craze for Sailor Jerry and Cola here in the UK. It was before I seriously drank rum in any shape of form. I confess I did take part. A little. It’s a novelty, let’s be fair any bartender worth his salt will know this stuff isn’t good. Well, they should anyway. It’s a bit of an embarrassment to Tiki but sadly no surprise it is so popular here in the UK. Since its launch, Admiral Vernon's Old J Rum has carved out a niche in the crowded spiced rum market. It has garnered a following among rum enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike, praised for its unique taste and quality. The brand's success is also indicative of a broader trend in the spirits industry towards flavoured and spiced rums. There was a bit of a grumble about this, as we English like to do. Just grumble not actually do anything about anything constructively. you understand. Heaven help us that we should take any action. No just have a little natter on to Betty next door about it. Or tell Bert what a disgrace it is next time we go down the club. We are not like the French, we don’t bring the entire of Europe to a standstill when we don’t get our own way. No we make memes and grumble on Facebook. Then we go and have a nice cup of tea. Maybe a nice biscuit or some cake. Action? We aren’t savages you know! Admiral Vernon's Old J Rum is best known for its spiced variant, which is a blend of Caribbean rum with a mix of spices, sweet vanilla, and Persian lime. This combination results in a distinctly smooth and well-balanced rum with a flavour profile that sets it apart from the typical spiced rums on the market.The defining characteristic of Admiral Vernon's Old J Rum is its flavour profile. The addition of Persian lime gives the rum a refreshing citrus twist, while the vanilla adds a layer of sweetness that complements the spices. The result is a harmonious blend that is versatile and appealing to a wide range of palates. It has a distinct sweetness but is balanced enough to avoid being overly cloying, making it enjoyable both on its own and as a mixer. This is bad and not just in a stupidly over the top ABV way. The spices or rather flavourings used are just so synthetic and just so cloying and OTT. It’s just utter garbage. So what do I actually have in my glass? Well this is just one of the 6“Old J Signature Brands” in their portfolio. TIki, Gold, Spiced, Cherry, Silver and Dark. Despite the inclusion of a Gold, Silver and Dark rum they are all actually Spiced and/or flavoured rums. All of them seem to have a dose of the “Persian Lime and Smooth Vanilla” An initial burst of vanilla, ginger and toffee is then followed by your lips turning inside out as the Lime comes from nowhere along with a massive hit of burning, rubbing alcohol. I won’t even call it boozy. It’s like pouring molten lava onto your lips. It burns like nothing else before and the spices and the sweet toffee just heap on the misery to your mouth and throat.

There is nothing remotely rummy about this drink. It could be made with neutral spirit – I doubt the rum is aged in anyway whatsoever. If it is, all I can to the producers is save yourself the money and just use the cheapest white spirit you can get. It’ll be easier to colour as well. Old J are omnipresent at most of the Rum Festivals throughout the UK and they are hugely popular at such events. Admiral Vernon's Old J Rum actively engages with its community of fans and customers through social media and events. This approach has helped the brand build a loyal customer base and maintain its relevance in a competitive market.In the glass it looks like a glass of rose wine – well a small glass anyway – I’m not that boozy. Nosed it is undoubtedly cherry. Cherry flavour though. The kind of cherry you will experience with the cherry on the stork shaped gummy sweets you get for your children and eat yourself. Further nosing reveals the burnt caramel and vanilla nose that seems to dominate the Old J offerings, their signature spices if you like or more like likely artificial essences.