I tend to do multi-part reviews when there are multiples of basically the same rum of different ages, so I did Appleton Signature, 8, and 12 together in one review, and as soon as I take an international trip, I’ll try to do a Havana Club 3, 7, and Añejo Reserva comparison. For this one, Captain Morgan original spiced and Captain Morgan 100 proof spiced are like siblings, and as for Sliced Apple— after tasting it and taking notes, I really didn’t want to do a whole separate review, I wouldn’t have reviewed it at all, but it made it into the photo, there’s 3 Captain Morgans at the party, and 3 is just such a nice number!

Review

Smell

It smells like gasoline and isopropyl alcohol. The alcohol smell is just intense and overwhelming.

Taste

If you told me that I was drinking straight Everclear, I would believe you. I don’t even taste any spices, it just burns and numbs my palate. Even mixed with diet pepsi, the spices and flavor don’t come through as strong as they do in the original. I know that higher ABV spiced rum can be done right— Kraken is the prime example. This one tastes a lot more neutral and a lot more “hot” than the original, though it does still have some of the same flavor.

Verdict 4/10

(Edited from 5/10 on 12/14/25)

It’s not a great rum, but maybe my opinion of it is boosted by the Kirkland that I had 15 minutes ago. Either way, I give it a 5/10. Like Bacardi Superior, it’s a whole lot of booze flavor and not a whole lot of rum flavor.

The value proposition is a bit tough for me, because at $20, original is just scratching the start of actually decent cheap rums like Appleton, Angostura, W&N, etc. and it’s not even the full 40%, whereas 100 proof, at $27, is now well in the range and even more expensive than some of these, so, I just don’t get the desire to buy Captain Morgan other than pure brand recognition. If you are someone who buys Captain Morgan and are reading this review to get some ideas— what are you scared of!?

I think that I’ll bring a bottle of Appleton Signature to a room party and see what happens. Do you think that no one will drink it because they’re unfamiliar with it, and reach for the Bacardi or Captain instead?

December 14, 2025 Update:

I don’t know why I thought that Captain Morgan is better than bacardi when I was at this party. It’s just not. I don’t hate it, but literally, if I had to choose between captain morgan and bacardi, it’s bacardi every time. Pushing both the original and 100 proof down to a 4/10 because they don’t deserve to be above bacardi.