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At my 9-to-5 I have a friend who is wildly into tattoos and loves a good drink. It’s with great pleasure, then, that I am reviewing his favorite rum, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum.

Inspired by the tattoo work and legacy of Norman Keith Collins (a.k.a. “Sailor Jerry”), this rum is produced by Sailor Jerry Ltd., a Philadelphia-based company that also sells clothing and other swag. Sailor Jerry comes in a fun bottle that includes a peel-off label with pinup art that’s reminiscent of early sailor’s tattoos. The back label suggests that you “Mix it with something, or just pour it over ice and let ‘our work speak for itself.’” For this review, I am letting their work speak for itself and enjoying the evening sun on my deck.

When you first crack open the bottle and take a whiff, you’ll notice the immediate sweetness that this rum offers. For a moment you may even be lulled into a false sense of security–at 92 proof, this is no rum to sneeze at. Upon first sip, you’ll notice the caramel and spice right away. Sailor Jerry goes down smooth, with only a small amount of bite on the finish; certainly not something one would expect from a mid-shelf rum.

As you get more cozy with Jerry, you may be tempted to take larger sips– that’s fine, go right ahead. I am personally not a rum guy. I prefer my whiskey and my gin, and that’s usually where it ends. That may have to change now that I’ve discovered Sailor Jerry, it’s just so damn good. Full of flavor and very bold, this is a rum that I would have on any given party night. On the rocks, as a shot, or mixed with Coke (not Pepsi, NEVER Pepsi), Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum is a clear winner.

I’ll be honest, I was tempted to add a squeeze of lime juice to the drink for this review. I’m very glad I didn’t. It would have tainted the flavor and I’m sure it wouldn’t have been nearly as enjoyable. That’s the beauty of this rum; the surprise. You might imagine a rum that’s based on the legacy of a tough-guy tattoo artist to be the kind that would kick you in the teeth and snatch your wallet as you tip the bartender WAY too heavily. Not this one. Try it, you’ll be glad you did.