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Jack Tar Superior
www.berniko.com

Rum is made with molasses. As such, molasses is a common factor in the very nature of the rum flavor. Sure, there are often other subtle facets - fruits, spices, leather, etc. But molasses is so much a part of rum that many folks don't seem to differentiate one from the other. But sometimes a dark rum comes along that transcends - and escapes - the molasses and becomes wholly and truly rum.

Jack Tar smells cool and heavy - and shamelessly of rum, plain and true. It's not brown sugar, it's not molasses - it's rum. And just a bit peppery. It has a hint of undefined sweetness - not fruit or sugar, just sweetly rum (there's that word again.) To the taste, Jack Tar is a whole-mouth experience. Where some rums seem to settle on one part of the tongue or another, Jack Tar envelopes and conquers it all, spreading instant warmth and spice throughout. It's surpisingly smooth, but is followed with a wonderfully satisfying bite after you swallow, leaving the roof of your mouth all happy and tingly. Subsequent sips build on the first, leading to an increasingly warm and deep experience.

Jack Tar's website boasts that their rum holds up well to another Jamaican rum, Appleton V/X (certainly a decent rum, especially for new inductees.) Sadly, they do themselves a disservice with this statement, as Jack Tar actually holds it's own against Appleton's superior Extra, or even Pusser's Blue Label. Like these premium rums, Jack Tar is upfront and uncomplicated, and yet it boldly captures so much of what a top shelf rum should be.

But here's the kicker... Jack Tar isn't top shelf, or premium. At least, not if you look at the price tag. At $15 a bottle, Jack Tar is a steal and handily trumps my staple Gosling's Black Seal as a best buy - it's easily on par with rums two or three times its price. I sincerely recommend snagging a bottle and giving it a try - pick one up for me while you're at it.