Rum manufacturer Captain Morgan has released two seasonal rum flavors for the holiday season. Liquor stores now sell Jack-O-Blast of Pumpkin Spice and Captain Morgan Gingerbread Spiced.
Coming in a pumpkin-shaped bottle, Jack-O-Blast was originally released in September 2016,. it has returned to popularity seasonally. This is ordinary Captain Morgan spiced rum is mixed with pumpkin, cinnamon, and other fall spices.
Jack-O-Blast has 30% alcohol by volume or 60 proof and tastes like the boozy version of Starbuck’s pumpkin spice latte. Its retail price for $15-$20, depending on the store.
Captain Morgan Gingerbread Spiced was first released in 2019 in a smaller bottle than the 750 ml bottle released for the 2020 holiday season. The drink is a sweeter rum with a pronounced cinnamon taste from the gingerbread flavor added to the spiced rum. This rum costs $12-$15 depending on the location.
Both rums taste excellent mixed with eggnog, and while not tried one could imagine they would also taste great it horchata. Although the two rums have a common cream mix, they each have their own cocktails that have the most amazing mixes.
The gingerbread rum tastes great when mixed as a Rum & Coke but with a lower proof than the normal 70-80 proof spiced rum it is easier to hide the alcohol taste behind the coke and the gingerbread and cinnamon flavor mixed with the rum gives the Rum & Coke a slight spice to the sweetness.
Jack-O-Blast was released with the intention to be used for shots and it fulfills that purpose well, it makes a good shot for a quick hit of alcohol. However, if one is creative enough, they can mix a delicious cocktail with it.
The Jack-O-Blast is great when mixed with orange soda and ginger beer. When mixed with equal parts it was well balanced embodying strong autumn flavors. One could replace the orange soda and/or ginger beer with other seasonal ingredients like cranberry juice or apple cider.
Captain Morgan’s website gives a recipe for the Gingerbread Spiced rum where one mixes 1.5 oz of the rum with .75 of Bailey’s Irish Cream and .5 oz of cold brew coffee. This drink has more alcohol than the other cocktails mentioned, so it is not surprising it is the strongest. It’s not a drink for everyone because it has the taste of coffee, which is something that not everyone likes, and it has the kick of liquor and people who don’t like strong drinks will probably be turned off by it.