Review: Cargo Cult Navy Strength Rum

Cargo Cult is a brand started by Jonny Croft (Small Batch Spirits Company) and was inspired by the stories told to him by his father who was a doctor at an Australian base in Papua New Guinea during the 1960s. Apparently with the arrival of the US troops in the South Pacific islands during World War II and their cargo that was being dropped for them (cigarettes, Cola, chewing gum, etc.) the islanders started a new cult, believing that they were gifts sent from the sky sent by the gods. Even to this day there are still some that are waiting for the cargos to once again fall from the skies – hence the name, Cargo Cult.

Now that you know the story, you’ll probably understand how impressed I am with the care package I received from them (thank you Jonny Croft and Steven Magarry). The box literally looks like some sort of ammo or tool box you’d find in a cargo crate and I’m very much here for it – I love collecting stuff.

Inside there is a full bottle of their newest addition to the range, the Cargo Cult Navy Strength rum along with some minis of their spiced offerings. Cargo Cult uses rums sourced from both Papua New Guinea and Fiji which are then taken to a small distillery in South Australia to be further aged, blended, spiced (not for the Navy Strength) and bottled. Their Navy Strength is sourced solely from a distillery in Fiji (pot still only) which they are not allowed to disclose, but it really isn’t rocket science to figure it out.

Cargo Cult Navy Strength is molasses based, pot still distilled and aged for 3-4 years in ex-Bourbon barrels. Bottled at 54.5% ABV without any additives.

On the nose it feels quite intense. Candied bananas, damp cardboard, fresh pineapple juice and furniture polish. Mints, guava juice and feijoa fruits. It smells like a mix of tropical and industrial, but not in a bad way. Apricot liqueur with some medicinal notes as well.

On the palate the ABV really carries the flavours through. Feijoa fruits, blueberry jam, menthol and a hint of anise. Candied bananas, overripe pineapples and vanilla. I like its unique flavours. Unripe stone fruits, nutmeg and some ground coffee. Cacao nibs, cinnamon and mango. The finish is long with bananas and aromatic cacao.

This is not bad at all! I wouldn’t call it a sipper, but it works great for mixing and the ABV is a really nice addition – you should try it in a Planter’s Punch. It has intensity and complexity, albeit with some rough edges, but I’m happy to be the owner of a bottle.