Malibu Sundae Rum Review

Last week, we mentioned that Malibu Rum, famous for its coconut rum had recently launched two new flavors; Malibu Sundae (Chocolate Ice Cream Flavored) and Malibu Swirl ( Strawberries and Cream). Little did we know that we would get our hands on a bottle so soon. Today we’re reviewing Malibu Sundae.

Malibu Sundae, along with its tag team partner Swirl, are Malibu’s first attempts at entering the confectionery spirits category. I’m sure by now you’ve seen them before; those indulgent flavored spirits like “cake vodka”, “red velvet liqueur”, “peach cobbler liqueur”, and “cookie dough vodka”. Walking down the aisle at the liquor store now looks more like walking through a neighborhood bakery. But that’s where the taste trend takes us. In the past, the confectionery spirits category has been dominated by vodka, and liqueur brands, but now it’s Malibu’s chance to take a stab at out. How does it stack up?

First Impression: Have to give them an “A” for effort on the bottle design. Its half the reason it I was so interested in trying it, and it caught my eye easily.  When I think of Summer I think things like beaches, rum, and ice cream. Malibu’s altering of their classic bottle with enticing imagery of chocolate, and waffle cones brings those images to mind perfectly. One thing I have to mention though, the name “sundae” to me brought images of a traditional ice cream sundae: Vanilla ice cream, with chocolate syrup, nuts, and other assorted topping. However, under the Sundae title on the bottle it clearly states “chocolate ice cream” as the designated flavor of this product. Why not just call it Malibu Chocolate? or Malibu Chocolate Ice Cream. A bit misleading, and at the same time we all know the name “Sundae” is slightly more fun to market. Anyway, once we finally popped this one open, any misconceptions about the flavor was thrown out the window. The aroma it gives off is very reminiscent of Hershey’s chocolate syrup; commonly used to make chocolate milk at home, or a classic ice cream sundae. Its a pretty rich smell, and for me personally, I don’t notice an alcohol aroma at all.

The Taste: Well, going into this I wasn’t sure what to expect. As with all products, we tried this one first on its own at room temperature and straight. I’ll be honest, it was  a bit overwhelming in chocolate flavor. And although it is infused with coconut rum, I get little to no taste of the coconut. I tried pouring it over ice, and there’s where it hits its stride. Served on the rocks, allowing the ice to melt slightly into Sundae actually mellows out the intense chocolate flavor and makes it taste pretty damn good. Its literally like eating a spoonful of chocolate ice cream, with a bite. It’s 21% in alcohol, which makes it perfect for easy sipping, and for me personally, it makes a great after dinner cocktail.

Price: $14.99 (750/ML, depending on location)

Final Thoughts: We were a bit skeptical at first on whether or not Malibu was positively contributing to the category or just shoveling poop in our driveway. In the end, Sundae is pretty sweet, tasty, and still has enough of a kick in it from the alcohol that you’ll get a buzz. We didn’t find much of a coconut flavor in this one as they suggest, but given the flavor choice, most consumers picking this up probably just want to see how closely it resembles chocolate ice cream anyway. At 41 proof, its about half as potent as most spirits, but right about the same as most flavored spirits. Although Malibu is usually a great beach buddy, this flavor screams after dinner or night cap, but we’ll let you be the judge. Be sure to try the Ice Cream Sundae recipe below, courtesy of Malibu.

Cheers!

Be sure to stay on the lookout for our review of Malibu Swirl coming soon. For more recipes of Malibu rum drinks be sure to visit them online at www.Maliburumdrinks.com For more updates on the latest brand launches, cocktail recipes, and industry news, make sure to Like Us On Facebook, or Follow us On Twitter.

Photo Courtesy of Malibu Rum