606401 Tue Mar 24 10:40:49 -0700 2009 49 36 Spirits 0 4533589 Does anyone have a good recommendation for deep, round, smooth, tasty rum that you can sip? I have tried some here and there and all rums seem to have a bitterness that hits me in the back of my tongue. I've dropped cash on Pyrate OX, tried Zaya, had Appleton's Estated Xv and they all were yummy with a little sparkling water and lime juice, with coke or a biting ginger ale. But why can we sip scotch, enjoy its round flavors but we don't ask the same from our rum? I imagine a rum that is able to be drunk neat, has a wide complex flavor that passes over the tongue without making me cringe as it makes its way down to my stomach. I'm almost embarrassed to say that the closest thing I've found is actually a $12 bottle of Bacardi Añejo. It doesn't come in as cool a bottle as Pyrate, it's a little simple, but not half bad. I can think of nothing inherent in rum that would make it unable to be as enjoyable as a fine single malt. Why drop $40 or $50 on a bottle of rum that you can only stand to drink mixed with a bunch a soda that's supersaturated with sugar or corn syrup?? How do you feel? Tue Mar 24 10:40:49 -0700 2009 93758 BeanBoy 1 4533616 I feel that if you want a beverage you can drink like scotch...drink scotch. Different beverages have different characteristics, and it may simply be that rum is not for you. Tue Mar 24 10:46:26 -0700 2009 4533589 17548 BarmyFotheringayPhipps 2 4534699 Fungy! Where have you been? I'd have to agree, although (and this part is directed at you, BeanBoy) one of the aged Nicaraguan Flor de Cana might be what you want. Tue Mar 24 15:21:41 -0700 2009 4533616 36661 Sam Fujisaka 3 5058930 Just wanted to thank Sam and everyone else on the boards who recommended the Flor de Cana. Just got a bottle of the 4yr and can't wait to try the 12. The 4 yr cost me like $15 and would be very good at twice the price. A real gem, and yes, a good sipper too, though not so complex you couldn't mix it. Anyhow, thanks folks, I'd never have found it without you. Fri Sep 25 16:24:52 -0700 2009 4534699 68210 andytee 1 4533737 Try Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 year, about 40$ and definitely sippable. Tue Mar 24 11:17:32 -0700 2009 4533589 255734 swobohe 2 4534622 Centenario I like Brugal Rum Anejo El Dorado Rum Tue Mar 24 14:59:02 -0700 2009 4533737 232829 kchurchill5 3 4539620 Second the El Dorado. The 15yr is about $30 here and is a screaming bargain. Thu Mar 26 05:59:16 -0700 2009 4534622 12626 ted 2 4571739 Yup, the Ron Zacapa.Havana Club 7 years. Mon Apr 06 09:51:01 -0700 2009 4533737 128722 streetgourmetla 1 4533760 Real Demerara 20 year from Guyana, or Barcelo Anejo from DR, both priced around $30.00 if you can find them. Tue Mar 24 11:24:11 -0700 2009 4533589 151072 currymouth 1 4533847 you need to find a demerara rum or a Rhum Agricole. I would say a good aged Agricole is as complex, though differently, as some Scotch. Tue Mar 24 11:45:41 -0700 2009 4533589 124704 Icantread 1 4534492 Old Monk rum is tasty for around $17 in MA. Rhum Agricole is a good suggestion - Clement makes a nice one that seems pretty widely available. Dogfish Head rums, if you can get your hands on a bottle, are great. 10 Cane is nice but a little pricy. Some of those brands you listed are "sipping" rums. Maybe you just don't like rum the same way you like scotch? Tue Mar 24 14:28:03 -0700 2009 4533589 261382 mrgrotto 2 4534667 the 10 Cane I've tasted has a real funk to it that makes for good interesting cocktails but I would not recommend sipping straight. Tue Mar 24 15:11:03 -0700 2009 4534492 124704 Icantread 2 4536981 I haven't seen Old Monk in stores around Boston. Where are you getting yours? Tried it at Drink, and would be thrilled to land a bottle (or two). Wed Mar 25 10:12:35 -0700 2009 4534492 40636 jkv 3 4632109 I'm pretty sure that I saw it at Liquor World the toher night (where I spent waaaaay too much money stocking up on stuff) Mon Apr 27 08:37:15 -0700 2009 4536981 111910 jgg13 1 4535605 Have you tried Cruzan's Single Barrel? It's a nice, if not overly complicated, rum that would be a good intro to sipping rums... It sells for around $30 near me. Also, you mentioned Appleton V/X. They also make some longer-aged rums which might be better straight than the V/X, which consensus (of rum bloggers, at least) suggests is better in cocktails. But, if you like your rum mixed with ginger ale, there's nothing wrong with that either. I personally would rather drink rum neat and drink White Horse w/ a bit of ginger ale... Tue Mar 24 20:47:09 -0700 2009 4533589 243219 craigasaurus 1 4539626 I love all good aged rums, but not neat. I drink them on the rocks with a splash of water to open them up. Just like how I drink my whiskey and gin. You really can't taste the full range of any spirit until it's lowered to around 60 proof, until that point the alcohol deadens much of your taste. But once it is lowered enough with water your taste buds can access the full range of flavors, the nuances, aromatics, etc. I feel that people who drink spirits neat are losing out on what the spirit really tastes like. When I am judging spirits I taste them neat, but I feel that it does an injustice to the spirit because it's all tight and closed down and you have to imagine, based on experience, what it really tastes like opened up. When I am distilling, rum, brandy, whiskey, whatever... I taste the spirit straight, just a drop on my finger, wiped across my tongue. But then I mix it with water and drop it to around 80 proof and taste it. Then to around 50-60 proof. That's when I know what is really going on. Thu Mar 26 06:00:56 -0700 2009 4533589 10732 JMF 2 4539938 The Classic Rum series from Bristol Spirts is what you need. I drink the Port Morant regularly, in fact when last in LA i bought the remaining stock @ Wine & Liquuor Depot in Van Nuys and I live in NYC. From the web site it looks as if they've repackaged them. You can also try Renegade Rums, they're from one of the prvate labellers of fine Scotch. http://www.simonaskey.com/media.html http://www.simonaskey.com/port%20morant.html Thu Mar 26 07:45:21 -0700 2009 4539626 10491 MOREKASHA 3 4540062 A fav of mine is the Ron Matusalem Gran Reserva ($26-$32 depending upon market)-my friends have nicknamed it "Liquid Gold". The above mentioned Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 Yr (high 30's $-wise) is excellent, as is the Ron Pampero Anniversario ($30-35), IMHO. As for the Monk, I do dig it greatly as a mixer but find it a bit too bitter and molasses-ey for my sipping preference (though it IS sippable). In Boston, jkv, Old Monk can be found at Marty's (now, sadly, only located in Newton) and Martignetti's. Thu Mar 26 08:22:07 -0700 2009 4539938 160067 Scortch 4 4540258 Nice! Thanks for the heads-up. I had been using the Zaya as an exotic sub-in for my wife's sidecars. It had this booming vanilla thing going on that made it a beautiful sipping rum, but also an interesting addition to a cocktail. My most recent bottle I found is completely different (and no longer from Guatemala, I noticed), and not nearly as distinctive. I figured that the Monk would work just as well, at less than half the cost. Viva la recession! Thu Mar 26 09:06:41 -0700 2009 4540062 40636 jkv 1 4540953 This topic has been discussed several times over the past few years. Rhum Clement from Martinique is very sippable. Here is a link to one of the prior discussions: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/558663?tag=search_results;results_list Thu Mar 26 11:59:10 -0700 2009 4533589 23776 DavidT 2 4540959 Here is a direct link to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle on this subject: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/25/WI1MVOKPT.DTL&hw=rhum&sn=001&sc=1000 Thu Mar 26 12:00:49 -0700 2009 4540953 23776 DavidT 3 4541157 Thanks for that link. The tasting notes and recipes look great, and I can't wait to try the "Coin Toss" - I'd never thought of mixing any of my prized Carpano Antico w/ rum, but I need to try it (although I'll need to find a sub for the Scarlett Ibis...) Thu Mar 26 12:45:39 -0700 2009 4540959 243219 craigasaurus 1 4541241 I have been a disciple of Havana Club blanco, 3 year and 7 year, and have smuggled it back from Cuba and C.A. for a couple decades. Then they discontinued the delicious, yellow, 3 year, which sent me scurrying for a replacement. Sam directed me to the Nicaraguan Flor de Cana line, which is excellent. My newer find, and best value, is Abuelo anejo and Abuelo 7 year, from Panama. Both are drinkable neat, but like others above I prefer a splash and a cube with it. Thu Mar 26 13:04:50 -0700 2009 4533589 57170 Veggo 2 4554843 your'e just bragging - i love havana club too, but it's not too easy to get a bottle in the US. i have now heard about the flor de cana enough that i have no excuse for not having tried it - better get to that. Tue Mar 31 12:17:59 -0700 2009 4541241 68210 andytee 3 4554912 at, it is simple to bring back Havana Club. Example:you can buy it at the duty free shop at the Cancun airport, at a good price, and you carry it on because you are in the secure area. On your customs declaration, simply say "2 bottles liquor". I have never had a customs guy go through my dive bag or peek in the duty-free bag, in 20 years. Tue Mar 31 12:37:59 -0700 2009 4554843 57170 Veggo 4 4555536 veggo - i'm just jealous. it's not that it's hard to get a bottle or two into the US, it's that it's hard to get a bottle if you are IN the US. i had a friend who went to cuba a lot and would bring back bottles of havana club, but now we live on other sides of the country from each other. Tue Mar 31 15:44:57 -0700 2009 4554912 68210 andytee 5 4555641 at, you reminded me of my brother in Vermont. I sent him a bottle of Havana Club anejo for Christmas a few years ago, and he wouldn't drink it because he didn't want to run out (the ole' drawer-full-of-warm-socks New Englander). I had to send him another bottle to get him to crack one open! He likes it. Tue Mar 31 16:19:24 -0700 2009 4555536 57170 Veggo 6 4555811 if you want to send me one, promise i will open it. Tue Mar 31 17:09:49 -0700 2009 4555641 68210 andytee 4 4571735 Alright Veggo, let's not broadcast! I have a bottle of 3 year HC at home, no importation label. I loathe the customs and they hate me back.Just got pulled into secondary AGAIN, they were so busy grilling me they never checked my bags with excess booze. Mon Apr 06 09:49:58 -0700 2009 4554912 128722 streetgourmetla 5 4571945 sg, lucky you! I haven't seen the delicious, golden 3 year HC in so long I thought it had been discontinued. It is perfect in mango,strawberry, and pineapple daiquiris, or a cuba libre. Mon Apr 06 10:48:59 -0700 2009 4571735 57170 Veggo 6 4571970 AH, those daiquiris at El Floridita......... I'm saving my bottle for daiquiris, for sure. Mon Apr 06 10:54:13 -0700 2009 4571945 128722 streetgourmetla 2 4585367 Veggo, have you had El Dorado rum? The 12 and 15 yr old are fantastic and are my go-to rums. Had a weekend cigar get together with fellow habanos fanatics. Lots of rum on the table the entire weekend. Plenty of HC anejo and 7 that hardley got touch compare to many other rums. Diplomatico Reserva is another winner. Vizcaya VXOP is an interesting rum. I currently have a bottle of Abuelo anejo in my bar. The 7 is better and both a good bang for the $. I get my fill of Cuban rum when down in the Islands but I don't miss it when coming home as there are so many good rums, great rums thar are easily accessible. I have my limits and don't have the same feeling about my cigars. Fri Apr 10 14:17:39 -0700 2009 4541241 89493 scubadoo97 3 4592636 Did you mean the Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, or just the Reserva? The Exclusiva's by far my favorite rum out there, and while the plain Reserva's not a terrible rum, it really seemed like more of a mixing rum. Mon Apr 13 15:50:26 -0700 2009 4585367 97825 Coconuts 4 4598047 Yes the Exclusiva. Wed Apr 15 09:52:41 -0700 2009 4592636 89493 scubadoo97 3 4592681 S97, no, I have not tried. A Flor de Cana 7 didn't make it through Easter weekend, so I'll be on the lookout when I restock. I am encouraged that rum is getting so much shelf space and with so many new brands being imported in recent years, from so many countries and islands. Who knows how many undiscovered brands of "ron" are quietly ageing at this moment, for our pleasure a decade or two from now (if WE last so long!). Mon Apr 13 16:10:43 -0700 2009 4585367 57170 Veggo 1 4543492 I have had Oronoco several times, neat, and it is incredibly smooth. Even stranger is it is clear. It is from Brazil. They don't include it in their flight of rums but I struck up a conversation with the bartender at Cuba Libre in Atlantic City I also recently had Zaya, which even my wife loved neat. The bottle was from Guatamala but it is my understanding is while it has the same name it is now made somewhere else. Fri Mar 27 08:23:41 -0700 2009 4533589 216123 folprivate 1 4547428 Rhum Barbancourt Reserve - aged 15 years. Product of Haiti - $40 to $50 Pure sippin' rum. :) Sat Mar 28 18:46:21 -0700 2009 4533589 95137 mcsheridan 2 4569831 amen to the Barby 15, Also the El Dorado 15 and the Clement 15. Appleton 15 is also very nice to sip. What is it about 15 years aging in Rhum? it seems just the right age. Sun Apr 05 16:06:28 -0700 2009 4547428 106255 chazzerking 3 4583664 When did Appleton start making a 15 year again? I know of the VX, 12 year, and 21 year, but not the 15... last I knew, Trader Vic went through all of the 15 year back when they were bottling as J. Wray & Nephew, making Mai Tais with it in the 1940s and 50s. Fri Apr 10 02:07:09 -0700 2009 4569831 10996 JK Grence the Cosmic Jester 4 4671457 I don't know. A friend broght me a bottle from the distilley about two years ago. it was clearly marked 15 y/o not the XV(which someone tried to give me when I asked for the 15. Sun May 10 15:59:52 -0700 2009 4583664 106255 chazzerking 2 4986371 Barbancourt would have been my rec, really the ultimate sipping rum. Brugal Anejo is not bad either. Ironically both from the island of Hispaniola. Fri Aug 28 12:00:57 -0700 2009 4547428 10169 StriperGuy 1 4550173 Bump up to the Appleton Estate Extra. It's a 12-year, and is very nice. If you can afford the 21-year, by all means try it. One sip of that and the angels were singing! A very nice one that's rather tricky to find is Lemon Hart rum from Demerara. If you want to sip it, make sure you find one that does not have a little red triangle in the top left corner, as that denotes the 151 proof bottling. Mon Mar 30 02:40:17 -0700 2009 4533589 10996 JK Grence the Cosmic Jester 1 4569806 One I really like, and that is available in NYC (and I've seen it on occasion in L.A. as well) is Ron de Barrilito three stars. According to info on ministryofrum website, R de B is: Brown rum distilled from molasses. [Aged] minimum of 6 to 10 years in used whisky and bourbon barrels. The older of the two rums from Barrilito, the extra time [the three star label] spent aging is evident in this heavier rum with a slightly smoky flavor that doesn't overpower the rum flavor. Bottled at 43% alcohol by volume. I enjoy sipping it as I do a nice Scotch - makes for a nice change up! Sun Apr 05 15:58:42 -0700 2009 4533589 75879 Pigeage 2 4986378 Barrilito is awesome, but the OP wanted something with no bite and Barrilito, even the 3 star has got quite a bit of bite. Fri Aug 28 12:01:44 -0700 2009 4569806 10169 StriperGuy 1 4570805 Try the Venezuelan rum Diplomatica Reserva. I brought a bottle to a dinner birthday party, and once a few people had tried it neat the rest of the bottle evaporated quickly. This was in a mixed crowd of mostly non-spirits drinkers. I hated Pyrate OX. Appleton's wasn't compex enough to drink neat. Mon Apr 06 01:05:11 -0700 2009 4533589 244390 hotlipshoagie 1 4593659 Would you guys laugh if I said Captain Morgan Private Stock? Tue Apr 14 02:18:16 -0700 2009 4533589 74905 jaykayen 2 4632628 We won't laugh, but we'll encourage you to try harder... Mon Apr 27 10:35:30 -0700 2009 4593659 243219 craigasaurus 1 4632052 old monk, hard to find, i think they dropped their distributor, but it can be ordered online Mon Apr 27 08:17:19 -0700 2009 4533589 135229 thew 1 4634935 Having spent time in barbados recently i would have to go with Mount Gay. I dont tend to drink much rum but when i do it would have to be that. I actually had the opportunity to visit the distillery out there. The old version of the mount gay rum is by far the best. Stick it over rocks and away you go Tue Apr 28 04:25:30 -0700 2009 4533589 286766 BeefeaterGin 1 4981487 Sailor Jerry's is good, it's a little heavy on the vanilla, but good. Wed Aug 26 21:01:00 -0700 2009 4533589 244649 Sporkman