Brinley Gold Shipwreck Coconut

While I still prefer Bacardi Coconut for mixed drinks, I was surprised at the very pure coconut flavor in the Shipwreck Coconut. Very clean but it could use just a little more rum flavor.

This is my first high ester rum and it’s not like anything I’ve tried before. The funk is very strong, and it also exhibits subtle characteristics of traditional molasses rum, some oak, and some dryer sugar cane style. It was like a party in my mouth with popping complexity, but it went down heavily. Definitely only a sipper, just difficult to have a lot in one sitting, and doesn’t pair well with anything besides itself.

Agree with other reviews here; very good at its intended purpose. Got it by default for mixed drinks-- what my local liquor store had vs Malibu, etc.; been a staple since. It is quite sweet but the coconut flavor seems genuine and it goes very well in my many mixed drink concoctions-- its main purpose, in my view. Do not deign myself worthy to rate it straight/for sipping, which is even more subjective, due to its sweetness.

I had been wanting to try this coconut rum from St. Kitts for a long time, and there it was on the shelf of the store begging to be bought at only $24 for the bottle, so I gladly brought this puppy home. It is almost as good as my favorite Koloa Coconut rum, but comes with a slightly less ABV. This is real coconut with nothing fake. Since it is now much easier to find than Koloa, this will become my go-to coconut rum.

Update March 8, 2020: I finally got this rum in a side by side comparison with Koloa Coconut Rum from Kauai. This one wins! They probably add a tad bit of vanilla to the mix, but the flavors are far more pronounced than the Koloa. This one is now my top coconut rum and is readily available within 200 miles of where I live. This one also evokes more of the tropical island vibe and makes the Koloa version seem bland by comparison.

Update July 23, 2024: This may be my top rated coconut rum, but all of them have way too much added sugar. For my island vibe to go with sea breezes waving the leaves of palm trees, I simply pick my best plain white rum like Yolo Silver (no longer available) or Diplomatico Planas and pre-mix it with premium coconut water like Goya. I simply strain out the coconut bits from a 17 ounce can of Goya Coconut Water into an empty bottle of rum. Only the coconut water is first added to the bottle. This will leave about 8 ounces available for the best white rum. This is the perfect blend for the perfect coconut rum. Just place this bottle in the fridge or transfer it to a plastic bottle for the freezer. Then head to your favorite beach with it and bring some good island music!!!

As previously noted and well put, this for those who seek the enjoyment of and the a whimsical taste of the Caribbean. It is truly delightful in its taste as sweet as it maybe and filled with the totally satisfying but not 'over the top' flavor of the Coconut. Enjoy!!

Not much in the way of tasting notes, since this is a coconut rum that's pretty darn good at its job. This rum is essentially coconut syrup that comes in at 36% ABV. Surely the Added-Sugar-Police would love to hate this rum, and probably all the other BGS's out there, but take this for what it is: delicious! No, it's obviously not a "rum" by anyone's purist standards, what with the copious sugar and flavoring (which does taste like it was steeped with genuine coconut!), but if you pick up a coconut rum and then hate on it for not being a rich, dark, aged rum... well you kinda had that coming! If that's what you're looking for, look elsewhere. But if you want an instant vacation to tropical decadence, this is the place to go!