Rum: The Kraken


Name: The Kraken

Type: Rum, Spiced Rum

ABV: 40%

Rum is inextricably linked in myth, legend and marketing with the Caribbean.  With Pirate captains like Long John Silver and the British Navy.  The origins of the name are unclear and one strain of thought according to etymologist Samuel Morewood is that it may have been derived from slang for the best, as in "having a rum time".  
In days of yore the navy used to issued a daily ration of rum to its sailors and indeed only stopped in 1970.  A double ration was issued at special times following the order to "splice the mainbrace", an order which could only be issued by the Queen, a member of the royal family or by the Admiralty.  In order to reduce the effects of the alcohol the rum was diluted with water and was known as grog, a term for booze that is still in use.

The Kraken is a legendary giant sea creature which reputedly lives off the costas of Norway and Greenland.  It's also a black spiced rum from Kraken Rum of Lawrenceburg, IN, USA. Lawrenceburg  to the best of my knowledge is not renown for rum production.
Kraken is as it claims to be, a black spiced rum.  Slightly sweet from the addition of caramel colouring it is none the less an easy drinking rum appropriate as both an aperitif or digestif.   The company website suggests an array of cocktails from the classic rum and cola to black mojitos.  I'm a straight up kind of guy, I like mind just poured over ice.  Have yours whatever way you please.

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