{{Short description|Rum producer in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands}} {{Infobox factory | name = | image = Cruzan Rum.jpg | caption = Cruzan Rum bottle at Mountain Hill, St. Thomas, USVI | alt = | location_map = USA VI Saint Croix#US Virgin Islands | location_map_size = | location_map_caption = | location_map_alt = | coordinates = {{Coord|17.7047479|-64.8281485|display=inline,title}} | built = <!-- {{Start date|1760|df=y}} --> | operated = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}}-<br />{{End date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}}--> | location = | industry = | products = | employees = | architect = | style = | buildings = | area = | volume = | address =3A, Frederiksted<br />St Croix 00840, USVI | owner = | defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> }} thumb|Cruzan Rum Distillery thumb|Cruzan Rum Distillery '''Cruzan Rum''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|r|uː|ʒ|ən}} {{respell|KROO|zhən}}) is a rum producer in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands and owned by Suntory Global Spirits, a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings of Osaka, Japan. Founded in 1760, it claims the distinction of being "the most honored rum distillery in the world." For eight generations, and through various changes in corporate ownership, it has been managed by the Nelthropp family. <ref>{{cite book |last1=Mindar |first1=Barbara |last2=Mindar |first2=Ken|title=500 Caribbean Rum Recipes |date=2008 |publisher=Distrib2U |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gYhevgUf8bsC&pg=PT17 }}</ref>

==Background== The distillery is also the largest supplier of American private and distributor label rum. Cruzan Rum also makes a pure cane distillate alcohol (in 189-proof), which can be found for sale in the medicine sections of many grocery stores in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Cruzan is one of two rum distilleries which, due to their place in American history, are part of the American Whiskey Trail.

Cruzan rum is made similar to a traditional Cuban style that produces an exceptionally clean, and lighter bodied rum. Although Cruzan rums generally have had mixed success at international spirit ratings competitions, the single-barrel has performed extremely well. Cruzan's most notable showing was from 2009 raters at the Beverage Testing Institute who gave it a 96 (out of 100). Proof66 rates the single-barrel amongst the Top 20 rums in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.proof66.com/best-rum/top-rated-best-rum.html |title=Proof66.com Top 20 Rums |access-date=2012-10-19 |archive-date=2012-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002222439/http://www.proof66.com/best-rum/top-rated-best-rum.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Distillery== The ''Cruzan Rum Distillery'' (formerly known as Estate Diamond)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://inthemix.on-premise.com/2011/06/cruzan-rum/estatehouse/|title=Cruzan Rum Estate Diamond Great House|access-date=2013-03-01|archive-date=2016-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220605/http://inthemix.on-premise.com/2011/06/cruzan-rum/estatehouse/|url-status=dead}}</ref> has been in operation for more than 250 years. Tours of the distillery and its historic grounds including original sugar mill run 6 days a week in Frederiksted.

==Rums== *''Cruzan 151°'': aged for a minimum of one year in American oak barrels. The winner of silver medal at the 2011 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and gold medal at the 2002 Beverage Testing Institute. *''Cruzan 9'': spiced rum named for the 9 different herbs used to make it and also the 9 districts of St. Croix. *''Cruzan Rum Cream'': a blend of Cruzan light rum, pure Irish cream, caramel, vanilla and other flavors. (discontinued) *''Cruzan Velvet Cinn'': a traditional horchata blend of Cruzan light rum, rich dairy cream, and cinnamon.

===Estate=== *''Cruzan Estate Light'': aged two years. *''Cruzan Estate Dark'': aged two years, available in both 80- and 151-proof. *''Cruzan Estate Diamond'': aged five years. Back in production - now available as both a dark and a light.

===Single barrel=== ''Cruzan Single Barrel'': a blend of rums aged 5-12 years then rebarreled in new oak barrels for additional aging.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alan Brenner |first1=Wayne |title=Can't Keep Mum About This Single Barrel Rum: Cruzan |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/chronolog/2015-12-11/cant-keep-mum-about-this-single-barrel-rum-cruzan/ |website=www.austinchronicle.com |publisher=Auston Chronicle |accessdate=30 January 2020}}</ref> The winner of double gold medals and the title "World's Best Rum" at the 2000, and 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, as well as numerous other gold medals at various spirits competitions.

===Black strap=== ''Cruzan Black Strap'': a heavier bodied version of Cruzan light rum with the addition of blackstrap molasses from tropical sugar cane.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mckurdy |first1=Tim |title=Blackstrap Rum Is Rich, Complex, and Impossible to Define |url=https://vinepair.com/articles/blackstrap-rum-explainer-guide/ |website=vinepair.com |date=August 2019 |publisher=Vine Pair |accessdate=30 January 2020}}</ref> According to Gary Nelthropp, Master Distiller for Cruzan, there is no blackstrap molasses in the flavoring component. It is named after blackstrap molasses solely for marketing purposes.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Punch|title=What Is Blackstrap Rum, Anyway?|url=https://punchdrink.com/articles/what-is-blackstrap-rum-anyway/|access-date=2021-08-19|website=PUNCH|language=en}}</ref>

===Light rum=== ''Cruzan Light Aged Rum'' is aged in oak for at least one year and then carbon filtered for clarity.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vorel |first1=Jim |title=10 of the Best Bottom Shelf, Cheap White Rums, Blind-Tasted and Ranked |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2019/05/10-of-the-best-bottom-shelf-cheap-white-rums-blind.html |website=www.pastemagazine.com |date=28 May 2019 |publisher=Paste Magazine |accessdate=30 January 2020}}</ref>

===Flavored rum=== Branded as Cruzan Tropical Rums, white rum blended with flavorings. Available in raspberry, coconut, mango, vanilla, pineapple, banana, black cherry, citrus, guava, key lime, passion fruit, orange, peach, blueberry/lemonade and strawberry.

A watermelon variety was introduced in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cruzan Rum Introduces New Watermelon Flavor |url=https://www.bevnet.com/news/spirits/2019/cruzan-rum-introduces-new-watermelon-flavor/ |website=www.bevnet.com |date=16 July 2019 |publisher=BevNet |accessdate=30 January 2020}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category|Cruzan Rum}} *[http://www.cruzanrum.com/ Official website ] *[http://historyofcruzanrum.com/history/ The history of Cruzan Rum] {{Suntory}} Category:Suntory brands Category:Rum produced in the United States Category:1760 establishments in North America Category:1760s establishments in the Caribbean Category:Sugar industry in the United States Virgin Islands Category:Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands