The Kraken Black Spiced Rum

My fiancée Jenny made me aware of The Kraken Black Spiced Rum months before it was actually available in stores, drawn as she was to the old-time steampunk nautical graphic design that is the trademark of this brand. I had to wait a couple months before I was even able to see a bottle of this rum in person and a month from then until I found a store that wasn't sold out it. For $21 per 750ml bottle, it is easy to see how these works of art could fly so rapidly of store shelves.

Scents of vanilla, really good tobacco, chocolate, and butterscotch waft of the open bottle emanating from the deep mahogany brown rum held therein. Alcoholic vapors sting the nose as I smell a freshly poured shot; the sweet notes are more muted now. The first sip has me incredulously picking up the bottle looking for alcohol content... 94 proof. This heavy hitter needs a more subtle approach, or perhaps a smaller taste.

Opting for the latter I go in a second time, there is a caramel sweetness with warming spices like nutmeg and vanilla present, followed quickly by a powerful sting of the rum's alcohol which proceeds to deaden the taste to a mellow sweetness and a sharp burn. The aftertaste is very pleasant, like a crème brûlée.

I can say with little doubt that this rum wasn't meant to be imbibed straight up. It would go exceedingly well with cola or ginger beer, but in the spirit of its benthic namesake, I have invented a drink to utilize both the powerful punch and imagery of this rum and I call:

The Terror from the Deep!

1 pint Baltic Porter in a pint glass with a little room at the top

1 heavy shot Kraken Black Spiced Rum in a shot glass

Much like a Boilermaker, drop the shot glass into the pint glass and drink, but be careful, more than 3 of these leviathans will surely drag you down to Davey Jones' Locker!