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Sugarfield Spiced Rum
Sugarfield Spirits is based in Gonzales, Louisiana, where it operates a distillery, winery, and cidery. They produce thirteen spirits, four wines, and six ciders. Among them they produce an original rum, a barrel-aged rum, and a spiced rum. The spiced rum is created using the original rum as a base. This rum is created by the company fermenting Louisiana cane sugar and molasses and distilling the liquid in onsite stills. The rum is then infused with whole spices and bottled at 40% ABV.
Appearance
The rum is packaged in a short-necked 750 ml bottle with a detailed burgundy, gold, blue, and white label that provides a good baseline of information about the rum. The rum is a pale amber in the bottle and glass. This is notable as it is lighter in color than other spiced rums currently in the market. Swirling the rum created a medium band that thickens quickly, dropping fast-moving legs before evaporating and leaving a thick band of residue around the glass.
Nose
The aroma of the rum delivers a vibrant swirl of cinnamon, cardamon, allspice, and ginger, with a touch of vanilla coming in at the end of the experience.
Palate
The first sip lays a strong foundation of alcohol, with a swirl of vanilla, cinnamon, and allspice coming in, followed quickly by cardamom and a punch of ginger. Additional sips revealed the cinnamon taking on some heat similar to a hot cinnamon-flavored candy; the sweetness is grounded and balanced by the cardamom and an herbaceous note that might be chicory. The spice notes linger on the palate and take quite a bit of time to fade.
Review
Usually with spiced rums, the lighter the color, the more subdued the flavor profile. This is far from the case with this spiced rum product. The array of spice notes is similar to other products, but they hit differently, and the cardamom in particular provides a grounding twist that gives the rum a unique identity. The way it subdues and balances the hot cinnamon flavor keeps this product from being a one-note experience. American Craft rums can be a hit-and-miss affair, but this one did well as a sipper and in a rum and coke. If you are looking for a new spiced rum for your cocktails, this is a good pick if you spot it on the shelves.
