Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum (bottled in the UK as Original Spiced Gold) is the drink that put spiced rum on the map. Built on a base of Caribbean rum, it is blended with warming spices, caramelised sugar and a touch of real Madagascan vanilla to create a smooth, golden spirit that's every bit as at home mixed with cola as it is sipped over ice. It's produced by the Captain Morgan Rum Co., a brand steeped in Caribbean rum-making tradition since the 1940s.
The nose opens with allspice and vanilla, followed by big notes of cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg, a whisper of black pepper and rich, dark honey. On the palate that spice carries through alongside demerara sugar and smoky molasses, with more clove and warm cinnamon rounding out a full, rounded mouthfeel. The finish is medium in length and gently sweet, spice lingering long after the last sip - easy-drinking, versatile and immediately recognisable.
Named after the 17th-century Welsh privateer Sir Henry Morgan, who made his name (and fortune) raiding the Caribbean, Captain Morgan has grown from its Jamaican roots into one of the biggest rum brands in the world. Its swashbuckling branding and approachable, mixable style have made it a go-to choice behind bars and at house parties alike, cementing spiced rum as a category in its own right along the way.
