What it tastes like
Molasses, dark caramel, dried fruit, gentle spice, a long warm finish. Full-bodied without being syrupy. Less sweet than most dark rums of similar weight.
Drinks rich. Goslings Black Seal has more body than Captain Morgan and more dryness than Kraken.
How to drink it
Dark and Stormy, every time. Goslings, ginger beer, fresh lime, in a tall glass over ice. The drink the brand was built for, the drink that built the brand.
Also good in Rum Punches, Painkillers, and any tropical drink that needs a darker rum spine. Decent for sipping if you like dry, molasses-heavy rums.
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The Bermuda dynasty
The Goslings family started importing rum to Bermuda from England in the 1800s. The Black Seal recipe came together in the late nineteenth century, named for the black wax-dipped seal on the original bottle.
The family still owns and runs the brand, six generations on. Bermuda’s only major rum brand, and the one drink (Dark and Stormy) Bermuda actively claims as its own.
The Dark and Stormy trademark
Goslings holds a US trademark on the name Dark and Stormy when applied to a cocktail made with their rum. Use any other rum and technically the drink is just a rum mule. Most bartenders ignore this; Goslings does not.
Best cocktails to make with Goslings Black Seal
Goslings Black Seal is the Dark and Stormy rum. Also good in tropical drinks needing a darker spine.
How it stacks up
How Goslings Black Seal compares to other dark rums.
| Rum | Character | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Goslings Black Seal | Dark, dry, molasses-heavy | Dark and Stormy, Painkiller |
| Mount Gay XO | Toasted oak, balanced | Sipping, stirred drinks |
| Appleton Signature | Apricot, Jamaican, oak | Sipping, Mai Tai |
| Captain Morgan Original | Sweet, vanilla, light | Cola |
| The Kraken Black Spiced | Dark, sweet, cardamom | Cola, dark drinks |
Substitutions and swaps
Goslings is the dry dark rum default.
Goslings is the safe, characterful pick.
Goslings is the only legal answer (US trademark). Other rums make it a mule.
Mount Gay Black Barrel or Appleton Reserve are honest Dark and Stormy substitutes.
The Kraken Black Spiced is sweeter and more aromatic.
Goslings is unspiced. Use Sailor Jerry or Captain Morgan for spice.
You want a sweet, easy mixer. Goslings is drier than Captain Morgan or Kraken.
You want light Cuban-style rum. Goslings is the opposite end of the spectrum.
You’re sipping neat and want polish. Mount Gay XO or Appleton are smoother sippers.
Where to buy Goslings Black Seal
Where to buy
Goslings Black Seal is at most bottle shops, often in the dark rum section near Captain Morgan. Always priced fairly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people ask about this bottle.
What is Goslings Black Seal rum?
Goslings Black Seal is a Bermudian dark rum blended by the Goslings family in Bermuda since the late 1800s. Bottled at 40% ABV. Family-owned for six generations.
Is Goslings good rum?
Yes for what it does. It is the canonical Dark and Stormy rum and a good base for any tropical cocktail that needs a darker spine. Not a craft sipper at this tier.
What does Goslings Black Seal taste like?
Molasses, dark caramel, dried fruit, gentle spice, dry oak finish. Drier than Kraken, fuller than Captain Morgan, less oaky than Mount Gay XO.
Goslings vs Kraken?
Different jobs. Goslings is unspiced, drier, more traditional. Kraken is spiced, sweeter, more aromatic. Goslings for Dark and Stormy; Kraken for cola and dessert cocktails.
Why is Goslings the only Dark and Stormy rum?
Goslings owns the US trademark on the cocktail name. Bartenders frequently use other rums; Goslings frequently sends cease-and-desists. The cocktail tastes the same with most dark rums.
Can you drink Goslings neat?
You can, though it is more of a cocktail rum than a sipper. Goslings 151 and Goslings Family Reserve Old are the sipping bottles from this distillery.
Is Goslings gluten-free?
Yes. Sugarcane-based, no grain.
What is the best cocktail to make with Goslings?
The Dark and Stormy: 60ml Goslings Black Seal, top with ginger beer, big squeeze of lime, in a tall glass over ice. Don’t stir, let the rum settle dark on top.
