From the Captain’s iconic pose to the catchphrase “Got a little Captain in you?” Captain Morgan is an instantly recognisable brand. The best Captain Morgan rums range from the classic Captain Morgan Dark Rum to their tropical Tiki Rum.
Captain Morgan was founded in 1944 by Seagram using an authentic Jamaican spiced rum recipe for spiced rum. The rum is named after real-life Welsh privateer and plantation owner Captain Henry Morgan, who later became the Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica.
Best Captain Morgan Rums
Coming up are 5 of the best Captain Morgan rums to get acquainted with for tasty rum cocktails, easy-going sundowners, shots or sipped neat.
1. Captain Morgan White Rum
Overview
- Distiller: Captain Morgan
- ABV: 37.5% (75 Proof)
- Country: Caribbean
- Colour: White
Review
Although Captain Morgan has been around since 1944 as a manufacturer of spiced rum, they only launched this white rum in 2014. The white rum category has been dominated for many years by Bacardi Superior, but that may soon change.
Captain Morgan White Rum is a relative newcomer in the white rum category; the brand has put a lot of thought into this easy-going white rum.
Made from cane molasses, this is a column distilled white rum (marketed as five times distilled) and aged for a year in ex-bourbon barrels. It is then filtered to produce a completely clear white rum.
Taste Notes
Initial sweet and soft molasses, vanilla, black pepper, and citrus lead to grassy menthol with banana. The finish reveals smooth vanilla and caramel.
Best Served
Captain Morgan White Rum is ideal for Daiquiris and Mojitos or a Mai Tai to remember.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
2. Captain Morgan Dark Rum
Overview
- Distiller: Captain Morgan
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: Caribbean
- Colour: Dark
Review
With several names, this rum is known as Captain Morgan Dark Rum, Captain Morgan Original Rum, and Captain Morgan Jamaica Rum in various territories. It is offered at both 40% and 37.5% alcohol by volume.
Although it has since been overtaken in recognition by the Original Spiced Rum, this is the original signature rum from the Captain Morgan brand. Not in the same league as Plantation rum but still a quality rum.
Produced from a molasses base, Captain Morgan Dark Rum is column distilled in Jamaica, Barbados, and Guyana. It is then aged in charred oak barrels and blended to create a dark, richly-flavoured rum in the navy style.
Taste Notes
Opens with spiced caramel and liquorice, leading to a mid-palate of over-ripe banana and brown sugar. The aftertaste is relatively short, with lingering dark sugar and smooth oak.
Best Served
The brand themselves recommend Captain Morgan Dark Rum in a Captain and Coke. My cheeky suggestion (that takes me back to clubbing in the late 1980s) is the classic rum and black. Also, consider using it in a Dark ’n Stormy.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
3. Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold Rum
Overview
- Distiller: Captain Morgan
- ABV: 35% (70 Proof)
- Country: Caribbean
- Colour: Gold
Review
Sticking to the original Levy Brothers 1944 recipe, Captain Morgan still uses vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves on a molasses base to create this distinctive spiced rum.
Captain Morgan Original Spiced (known in the United States as Captain Morgan Spiced Gold) is a spiced rum produced from molasses, vanilla, and spices, then continuously column distilled before being lightly aged in oak.
Taste Notes
Leads with sweet vanilla and soon reveals spices, brown sugar, citrus zest, and light oak mid-palate. The finish is smooth with plenty of dried fruit.
Best Served
Enjoy Captain Morgan Original Spiced neat over ice, in a Captain Sp-Iced Tea or the rum variation fn the classic Sidecar, the Cable Car.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
4. Captain Morgan Tiki Mango & Pineapple Rum
Overview
- Distiller: Captain Morgan
- ABV: 25% (50 Proof)
- Country: Caribbean
- Colour: Light Gold
Review
Classic Captain Morgan column distilled molasses rums are blended with natural mango and pineapple. It creates a summer rum liqueur perfect for summertime vacations and party nights.
This easy-going rum is only 25% ABV, making it more of a rum liqueur than a full-bodied rum. Nevertheless, this is an enjoyable tipple and well worth trying for your summer mixing.
Taste Notes
A sweet and smooth tropical opening with ripe pineapple and juicy mango. Mid-palate becomes more complex and fruity, leading to a clean finish.
Best Served
I would say this rum is ideal for any Caribbean style cocktail whilst relaxing in a hammock between two palm trees! The brand itself recommends mixing Captain Morgan Tiki Rum with lemonade.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
5. Captain Morgan Sliced Apple Rum
Overview
- Distiller: Captain Morgan
- ABV: 35% (70 Proof)
- Country: Caribbean
- Colour: Light Gold
Review
What do you get if you take the brand’s Original Spiced Gold rum and blend it with juicy, fresh apple and ginger? Cue Captain Morgan Sliced Apple Rum.
Unlike most of their other rums, which are pretty much aimed at mixing, Captain Morgan Sliced Apple Rum leans more towards an easy-going sipper or enjoying as shots.
Continuously column distilled from molasses and lightly aged in oak before flavouring with sliced green apple and ginger, Captain Morgan Sliced Apple was better than I expected.
Taste Notes
Opens with crisp apple leading into a mid-palate of brown sugar, oak, and a generous dose of ginger spice. The apple lingers nicely during the clean finish.
Best Served
I recommend trying Captain Morgan Sliced Apple as shots or mixing it with lemonade or ginger ale to bring out the apple flavour.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
Andrew’s Top Pick
Captain Morgan Dark Rum
My top pick is Captain Morgan Dark Rum because although most of the brand’s rums are more for mixing, the caramel, spices, brown sugar, oak and banana tones of this rum stand up well on their own.
Captain Morgan Q&A
Is Captain Morgan Rum Any Good?
Captain Morgan is an internationally famous brand with an immediately recognisable mascot. Does that translate to the brand making good rums, or is it more a case of a mediocre rum with a clever marketing campaign?
I would say that Captain Morgan is not really a rum for sipping, but the flexibility of the Captain’s rums makes them excellent for mixing into various rum cocktails. And the bold and distinctive flavour of the Captain makes it highly suitable for blending into a rum and coke or a rum and ginger ale.
Is Captain Morgan A Top Shelf Rum?
Whether you consider Captain Morgan a top-shelf rum depends on what you compare it with. It is certainly not a premium rum designed for leisurely sipping on its own.
Captain Morgan can generally be considered a middle-shelf or “call” drink, so-called because customers in a bar call for them. You wouldn’t just ask for a rum and Coke if you wanted some of the Captain. You’d ask for a Captain and Coke.
Is Captain Morgan Expensive?
Captain Morgan is not expensive compared to other major players in the rum market, selling at prices comparable to Bacardi and Malibu, slightly cheaper than Sailor Jerry, and somewhat more costly than Kraken rum.
Captain Morgan rums usually retail for between $13 and $19 (£14 to £21) a bottle, depending on the retailer and the variety of rum you are buying.
Conclusion
So there you have the five best Captain Morgan rums and a surprisingly varied bunch of spirits they are! They range from crisp white rum suitable for mojitos, full-bodied navy rum, and the iconic original spiced rum to summer tiki and fall sliced apple.
Whatever your taste in mixing rum, you’re sure to find a Captain Morgan rum that pleases you! If you want to take your tastebuds to the next level, check out my article on the best spiced rum brands.
Further Reading
Below are some additional articles from The Drinks Geek blog. We write articles on several fascinating areas of drinks, including different brands, drink types, cocktail recipes and more.
