Keeping with the month’s theme of rums so far, let’s take a look at Brugal which aside from the placement, and a tiny text doesn’t really say ‘rum’. Overall Brugal is a Dominican rum that’s certainly not as terrible as it could be, but it isn’t going to win any awards either by our standards or others.
There is a singular aspect to this rum that sets it apart, and weirdly it has a friend in Poland. This taste almost like a Zubrowka vs a vodka in comparison as a white or silver rum. The problem is that the sheer burn here is enough to ‘burn’ away all the goodwill it’s built.
What they Say: “Distilled for purity and aged in the finest American oak casks that previously held bourbon and then charcoal filtered for unparalleled smoothness. Brugal Extra Dry Supremo is a versatile spirit full of character with hints of coffee, cacao and vanilla”
Taste: 6.5 – It starts off rather smooth tasting and clean, but with the nice sugar as well.
Aftertaste: 6.0 – It has a nice sugar almost wheatgrass like flavor. Despite the burn it’s actually nice.
Burn/Smooth: 1.0 – We’ve had 151 recently but damn if that don’t burn nearly as bad. You see extra dry
Aroma: 6.0 – That is a very potent smell, there’s a hint of sugar there, but it’s medicinal than tasty.
Honesty: 4.0 – This rum doesn’t use an Oxford comma – who does that? Bad people. The string look is weird as it’s doubtful at this size it does much good. At that to the name Brugal which sounds both European and not, and like a brand of cream cheese and there are many annoyances here with nothing to move it forward.
Mixability: 5.5
W/ Rocks: 5.0 – You get more of that wheatgrass almost Zubrowska flavor, but at a heavy cost ruined by other flavors and burn.
Mojito: 5.5 – It’s an okay Mojito.
Rum and Coke: 6.5 – This like many others is not a ‘Pepsi’ rum – meaning it’s sweet enough. It feels less carbonated and almost flat, but it’s still tasty.
Value: 5.0 – That’s not a bad price, but compared to the DonQ it’s not the best deal.
Google Shop Average: $17
Website: https://us.brugal-rum.com/
Reviewer Scores:
BuffaloJern: 4.5
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Metric Score: 34/70 |+| Metric Average: 4.86 |+| Reviewer Average: 4.5
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Final Thoughts: At the very least this works well enough in coke that its stint in the lounge will not be in vain or pain. However much like other rums have fallen before on this site this fails not for being too sugary sweet, but just not being good enough – and frankly not being smooth.
