Myers's Original Dark Rum 40% Vol. 0.7 L

Discover the bold Caribbean character of Myers's Original Dark Rum 40% Vol. 0.7L, a traditional Jamaican dark rum with a heritage dating back to 1879. Produced from Jamaican molasses and carefully blended from pot-still and column-still rums, this distinctive spirit combines rich caramel, dark chocolate, coffee and warming spice with a deep, full-bodied character.

Its characteristic flavour develops through traditional Jamaican rum production, maturation in American white oak barrels and careful blending of different rum styles. With inviting aromas of dark molasses, roasted nuts, tobacco and tropical fruit, Myers's Original Dark offers the aromatic intensity associated with classic Jamaican rum. Its rich flavour remains particularly noticeable when combined with citrus juices, tropical fruits, aromatic syrups and other cocktail ingredients. For Drinkero, it is an excellent choice for Planter's Punch, Jungle Bird, Mai Tai variations, Rum Punch and other cocktails that benefit from a bold and expressive dark rum.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Deep dark brown with attractive amber, mahogany and reddish-brown reflections.

Aroma: Intense notes of blackstrap molasses, caramel, freshly roasted coffee and dark chocolate, complemented by allspice, toasted hazelnuts, ripe pineapple and gentle oak.

Palate: Rich and buttery, combining brown sugar, sweet sugarcane, caramel, honey and dark chocolate with hints of tobacco, leather, raisins and dried figs.

Finish: Long and warming, with lingering dark chocolate, brown sugar, smoky oak, dried fruit and pleasantly spicy notes.

The Heritage of Myers's Jamaican Rum

Myers's is one of Jamaica's most recognisable historic rum brands, with roots dating back to the late nineteenth century.

The brand was founded in 1879 by Frederick Louis Myers in Kingston, Jamaica, during a period when the island's rum industry was developing an international reputation.

Fred L. Myers established a business focused on bringing authentic Jamaican rum to a wider market, building a reputation for rich flavour and consistent quality.

Over the following decades, Myers's became associated with the bold, full-bodied style of dark Jamaican rum that developed from the island's long sugarcane and distilling traditions.

Its distinctive bottle and characteristic dark rum profile helped establish the brand as a familiar choice for professional bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts.

Today, Myers's continues this heritage under the ownership of Sazerac, maintaining its position as a traditional Jamaican dark rum used in bars around the world.

Myers's Original Dark represents this history through its combination of Jamaican molasses, traditional distillation methods and distinctive aromatic richness.

Made from Jamaican Molasses

Myers's Original Dark begins with molasses sourced from Jamaica, a traditional raw material used in the island's rum production for centuries.

Molasses is a concentrated by-product of sugar production that provides the fermentable sugars necessary for making rum.

During fermentation, yeast converts these sugars into alcohol while developing aromatic compounds that contribute to the finished spirit's character.

Jamaican rum production is particularly associated with expressive fermentation and distillation methods that create a distinctive range of tropical fruit, spice and rich molasses-derived aromas.

Myers's uses a combination of continuous distillation and traditional pot-still distillation to produce complementary rum styles.

Pot-still rum: Typically contributes greater body, aromatic intensity and the expressive character associated with traditional Jamaican rum.

Column-still rum: Provides a lighter and more refined component that helps balance the richer pot-still distillates.

These different rum styles are carefully blended to create the distinctive richness and versatility associated with Myers's Original Dark.

Oak Maturation and Traditional Blending

One of the defining characteristics of Myers's Original Dark is its combination of oak-aged Jamaican rum components and carefully controlled blending.

The rum matures in American white oak barrels, where the spirit develops additional depth through its interaction with the wood.

The blend is commonly described as containing rums aged for up to approximately four years, although Myers's Original Dark is not marketed with a formal age statement.

During maturation, the barrels contribute flavour characteristics associated with vanilla, caramel, toasted wood and warming spices.

At the same time, the rum's natural molasses and fermentation-derived aromas develop a more integrated character.

Myers's is traditionally described as a blend of multiple Jamaican rum components, with some product descriptions referring to as many as nine different rums.

The rum's distinctive deep colour is also associated with added colouring, rather than being determined by oak maturation alone.

The finished blend combines the richness of traditional Jamaican rum with an intensely dark appearance and a flavour profile designed to remain expressive in cocktails.

What Makes Jamaican Dark Rum Different?

Jamaica is internationally recognised for producing some of the world's most aromatic and distinctive rum styles.

Traditional Jamaican rum production places considerable importance on fermentation, pot-still distillation and the development of expressive aromatic compounds.

These techniques can create flavours ranging from ripe banana and pineapple to rich molasses, spice and more complex fermented fruit characteristics.

Myers's Original Dark combines elements of this Jamaican tradition with a richer profile emphasising caramel, coffee, dark chocolate and brown sugar.

Compared with lighter Cuban-style rums, it offers a deeper colour, greater flavour intensity and a more pronounced molasses character.

Compared with traditional Barbados rum, Myers's has a bolder dark-rum profile with stronger chocolate, coffee and brown sugar notes.

Its character also differs from Guyanese Demerara rum, offering a distinctly Jamaican combination of rich molasses flavours and aromatic distillation character.

These qualities make Jamaican dark rum particularly useful for tropical cocktails, classic rum punches and drinks where a bold rum flavour is essential.

What Makes Myers's Original Dark Special?

Myers's Original Dark stands out through its combination of historic Jamaican heritage, traditional rum-making methods and an unmistakably rich flavour profile.

Its aromas of blackstrap molasses, dark chocolate, coffee and caramel give the rum a distinctive identity among everyday mixing rums.

The combination of pot-still and column-still distillates creates a balance between aromatic intensity and versatility.

Its deep colour and rich flavour are particularly well suited to cocktails that traditionally call for dark Jamaican rum.

At 40% alcohol by volume, Myers's provides enough character to complement tropical fruit, citrus, ginger and aromatic bitters without requiring an unusually strong spirit.

Its long association with classic Caribbean drinks also makes it a practical choice for home bartenders building a versatile rum collection.

For Drinkero, Myers's Original Dark is an excellent affordable Jamaican dark rum, offering a noticeably different cocktail experience from lighter white rums and more oak-focused aged expressions.

Perfect for Cocktails

Myers's Original Dark is particularly suitable for classic Caribbean cocktails, tiki drinks and rich rum-based long drinks where its molasses, chocolate and spice character can remain prominent.

Planter's Punch: Combine Myers's Original Dark with freshly squeezed lime juice, sugar syrup and a touch of aromatic bitters. Its rich Jamaican character brings depth to this traditional Caribbean cocktail, while citrus balances the rum's dark molasses flavours.

Jungle Bird: Mix Myers's with bitter red aperitivo, pineapple juice, fresh lime juice and sugar syrup. Its dark chocolate, caramel and coffee notes create an interesting contrast to the cocktail's tropical sweetness and distinctive bitterness.

Mai Tai: Use Myers's Original Dark as part of a rum blend alongside a balanced aged rum. Its rich molasses and spice character complements lime juice, orange curaçao and orgeat, creating a fuller and more expressive tropical cocktail.

Rum Punch: Combine Myers's with pineapple juice, orange juice, fresh lime and a carefully measured sweetener. Its bold dark-rum flavour provides richness beneath the bright tropical fruit ingredients.

Dark Rum and Ginger Beer: Serve Myers's with chilled ginger beer and freshly squeezed lime over plenty of ice. The rum's caramel, chocolate and spice notes complement the refreshing heat of ginger.

Piña Colada Variation: Combine Myers's with pineapple juice, cream of coconut and ice for a richer variation of the traditional Piña Colada. Its dark molasses and caramel notes introduce additional depth to the creamy tropical flavours.

Hot Buttered Rum: Mix Myers's with butter, brown sugar, hot water and warming spices. Its natural chocolate, caramel and molasses character works particularly well with cinnamon, nutmeg and rich brown sugar.

Serving Suggestions

Myers's Original Dark is especially enjoyable in tropical cocktails, refreshing long drinks and warming rum creations where its distinctive dark-rum flavour is an important part of the finished drink.

For a simple tasting serve, pour approximately 40–50 ml into a suitable glass and allow its molasses, coffee, dark chocolate and oak aromas to develop before tasting.

For a classic Planter's Punch, combine 60 ml Myers's Original Dark with 25 ml freshly squeezed lime juice, 15 ml sugar syrup and two dashes of aromatic bitters. Shake with ice and strain into a glass filled with fresh ice.

For a Jungle Bird, combine 45 ml Myers's with 22.5 ml bitter red aperitivo, 45 ml pineapple juice, 15 ml fresh lime juice and 15 ml sugar syrup. Shake thoroughly with ice and strain over fresh ice.

For a refreshing dark rum highball, combine 50 ml Myers's with approximately 120–150 ml chilled ginger beer and 10–15 ml fresh lime juice. Serve over ice and garnish with a lime wedge.

Its rich combination of caramel, chocolate, coffee and warming spice also makes Myers's an interesting companion to desserts featuring dark chocolate, banana, roasted nuts or caramel.

Product Details

• Brand: Myers's
• Product: Original Dark Rum
• Country of origin: Jamaica
• Region: Caribbean
• Brand established: 1879
• Founder: Frederick Louis Myers
• Brand owner: Sazerac
• Spirit type: Dark Rum
• Style: Traditional Jamaican Dark Rum
• Raw material: Jamaican molasses
• Distillation: Blend of pot-still and column-still rums
• Blend: Multiple Jamaican rum components, traditionally described as up to nine different rums
• Maturation: Oak-aged rum components, commonly described as aged up to approximately 4 years
• Barrel type: American white oak barrels
• Age statement: No formal age statement
• Colouring: Contains added colouring
• Colour: Deep dark brown with reddish-amber reflections
• Flavour profile: Molasses, caramel, dark chocolate, coffee, tobacco, honey, brown sugar, dried fruit and warming spices
• Alcohol content: 40% Vol.
• Bottle size: 0.7L (700 ml)
• EAN: 088004038328
• Recommended use: Planter's Punch, Jungle Bird, Mai Tai variations, Rum Punch, dark rum and ginger beer, Piña Colada variations and Hot Buttered Rum

Storage: Store upright with the bottle tightly closed in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and excessive heat.

Discover more with Drinkero: Explore classic Jungle Bird, Mai Tai and Hot Buttered Rum recipes, discover the differences between Jamaican dark rum and traditional aged rum, and use the Drinkero cocktail calculator to prepare perfectly balanced cocktails at home.