Bacardi Gold

Category: Gold
Country: Puerto Rico
Aged: Unknown
Alcohol: 40% (80 proof)
Availability: Everywhere
Price: $11-$14 (750 mL)

Appearance (0-5): 3
Aroma (0-25): 16
Taste (0-35): 15
Smoothness (0-10): 4
Body (0-5): 2
Overall Quality (0-20): 9
Machete Rating (0-100): 49

Notes: The light amber color in the bottle looks promising, but when poured it's a bit thin and cheap and a little uinviting. On its own the soft molasses and spice aroma is not bad, but once the sucker hits your lips, it's all downhill. It's harsh (not quite 'mellow and smooth' as the label would have you believe) and has no specific flavors except maybe standard molasses and wood, which is overpowered by a general taste of alcohol. The burn carries down your throat where it finds a soft seat in your belly and starts preperations for a hangover party. Neat and on the rocks, not surprisingly, are horrible and not how this rum should be drank (drunk?). And despite it being such a standard in frat house rum and cokes (I know it was a staple of my liquid diet once upon a time), I don't think it even cooperates that well with sodas. In mixed drinks where it can blend with other spirits, such as Zombies, it's fine. Though overall, even for party drinks, there are better options at around the same price (e.g. Flor de Caña Gold).

Reviewed: May 2007