Brugal Gold Label Dominican Rum

Shocked to find my liquor cabinet devoid of rum recently, I made my way down to my friendly neighborhood Wino-mart to pick up a bottle of whatever they had in stock. I found myself with two options: Myer's Dark Rum; a delicious standby that I have had great luck with in the past, grossly over-priced at 49.95 for a 750ml bottle, or Brugal Gold Label Dominican Rum; at 12.99 for a harmless-looking 750ml bottle, I figured I'd save my pennies and go with the unknown. I wonder when I will learn my lesson... if it's priced like the hobo's choice, I'm rolling the dice.

Zombies were on the menu that night, and my houseful of guests quickly went through the Mount Gay white rum (to this day, the single best white rum I have ever had) and the Gosling's Black Rum (My usual choice for the aforementioned cocktail), leaving me to crack open the Brugal Gold Label. I was greeted with the charming aroma of rubbing alcohol and what I can best describe as sour melon rind. I passed the bottle around to gain consensus and was greeted with a parade of grimaces. By itself, the rum tastes like slightly sweet garbage juice and pure ethanol. Even in a powerful, fruity, and multidimensional cocktail like the Zombie, Brugal still rears its foul head. I cannot recommend purchasing a different brand of rum enough. Apparently, Brugal does make some quality premium rums, and they do describe the Carta Dorada (Golden Label) as their golden low-tier offering, so they know better, and so should have I. It is, without hesitation, that I deem Brugal Golden Label Dominican Rum the single worst golden rum I've ever had and it has undoubtedly earned the dubious title of Hobo's Choice.