Favorite Rum

[GilaMinumBeer]

Bought myself a bottle of Ron Zacapa 23. ~$45 a bottle. 375mL, IIRC. Damn good sipper. Very distinct and smooth. MUCH better than the Appleton I've been clinging too.

May very well have to try some of the Mt Gay.

 

[static]

Sounds like i have a shopping list for this evening.

 

[knuckleheadbrewing]

Bought myself a bottle of Ron Zacapa 23. ~$45 a bottle. 375mL, IIRC. Damn good sipper. Very distinct and smooth. MUCH better than the Appleton I've been clinging too.

May very well have to try some of the Mt Gay.

Skip the Mt Gay....If you like sipping go for Zaya 12 Gran Reserva.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Skip the Mt Gay....If you like sipping go for Zaya 12 Gran Reserva.

Was on my list but not on the shelves. And, honestly, I had my reservations about the 23. It seems a common theme between spirits is that longer aged products tend to be less enjoyable than the younger offerings (especially in the context of Whiskeys).

 

[starrfish]

Cruzan Black Strap
Appleton Estate Extra 12 Year Old

Cruzan silver or amber for mixing.

Ron Zacapa is on my list of ones to try, I haven't seen it on the shelves at my usual place.

 

[motobrewer]

the only mt gay i'd really sip is the xo. others are great rums but work best in cocktails.

also they will be completely different from zacapa. zacapa is dangerously close to liqueur territory. i still like it though.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

zacapa is dangerously close to liqueur territory. i still like it though.

Not sure I follow you here. Do you say this in regards to density? I did not find the Zacapa to be any more or less syrupy than others. Definitely not the same density as a Chambord, DiSarrono, or TripleSec.

Or do you mean lack of dryness?

If this is the case, I may agree. It was NOT a dry drink. Not cloying either. Had a very distinct "cane like" twang too it at the end. Something I only recall from having raw cane drinks in Asia.

 

[knuckleheadbrewing]

Was on my list but not on the shelves. And, honestly, I had my reservations about the 23. It seems a common theme between spirits is that longer aged products tend to be less enjoyable than the younger offerings (especially in the context of Whiskeys).

Are you sure you have that right? Longer aged sprites tend to be much smoother and much better....Like the difference between a 12 year old Glenlivet and the 18 y/o Glenlivet are vast...the 18 is far superior

 

[rifraf]

Being originally from there, it warms my little Guatemalan heart to hear praise for Zacapa! I know I'm biased but I think it's the best and it's got 4 gold medals to its name.

I'll never forget when my dad gave me my first taste of it and said "Son don't you ever even dare think about putting Coke in this, I'll disown you". Most I'll do is a little squeeze of lime .

 

[rifraf]

Was on my list but not on the shelves. And, honestly, I had my reservations about the 23. It seems a common theme between spirits is that longer aged products tend to be less enjoyable than the younger offerings (especially in the context of Whiskeys).

I believe Zacapa has a 15 year as well. Their super premium XO is amazing, I save it for super special occasions.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Are you sure you have that right? Longer aged sprites tend to be much smoother and much better....Like the difference between a 12 year old Glenlivet and the 18 y/o Glenlivet are vast...the 18 is far superior

Ahh. Supposed to be, yes. But very often I hear the opposite from teh connoisures. That "the 18 year such and such is not worth the price and thuis the 12 year such and such is sooooo much better anyway" (paraphrased of course). I see this frequently with other spirits too.

 

[Getzinator]

Personally I'm not a fan of things that are too sweet. My palate just doesn't agree with them. Things like Mt. Gay (I could be entirely mistaken on the name, don't quote me.) are just coyingly sweet.

I will drink Captain Morgan Black Label no problem. Only a few dollars over regular Captain Morgan Spiced Rum and way cheaper than the fancy ones.

 

[knuckleheadbrewing]

Ahh. Supposed to be, yes. But very often I hear the opposite from teh connoisures. That "the 18 year such and such is not worth the price and thuis the 12 year such and such is sooooo much better anyway" (paraphrased of course). I see this frequently with other spirits too.

I get what you mean....I've read some places of 18's being better the 25's and so on and so forth. In my limited experience with spirits (I just this year started dabbling in 'sipping' whiskys, whiskeys, bourbons and rums this year), I have found my longer aged drinks to be better then the younger. They are slightly smoother, sweeter, more enjoyable IMHO.

I have however, had some 10 year Old's (Glenmorangie) that were Better then 12 year olds (glenlivet/Glenfiddich)...just like with beer, it's all subjective

 

[motobrewer]

Not sure I follow you here. Do you say this in regards to density? I did not find the Zacapa to be any more or less syrupy than others. Definitely not the same density as a Chambord, DiSarrono, or TripleSec.

Or do you mean lack of dryness?

If this is the case, I may agree. It was NOT a dry drink. Not cloying either. Had a very distinct "cane like" twang too it at the end. Something I only recall from having raw cane drinks in Asia.

i personally think it's more viscous than other rums, or other 80 proof liquors in general.

i agree that its not cloying but definitely on the sweet side.

if you want "cane", try Saint James. or Rhum Barbancourt. Barbancourt 8yr, at ~$21/750ml, is probably THE best value in spirits.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Broke down and bought some Zaya and some Don Julio Blanco. I'm going on a 16 day vacation on Santa Rosa beach in Florida next Friday and I'll prolly just leave them capped and sealed until then.

 

[motobrewer]

so???

i've never had zaya

 

[sweed]

No clue on what rum's are good. But a dark rum and ginger ale, dark n stormy's, are great!

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

so???

i've never had zaya

Ha. Sorry. The Zaya is tolerable. Very tannic and not really my thing. Taken neat, it hits me like a Oked Bourbon or Scotch (of which I am not a fan at all unless in a sour).

But, it goes down easy too. Not very hot at all.

Between Ron Zacapa and Zaya, I'll mix the Zaya to tone down the oak and I'll take the RZ with a cube of ice.

As for the Don Julio, wow. If it weren't for the huge lip on the bottle I'd skip the glass and to save wasted time. Wife started to mix a margarita and went for the Dj bottle. I told her I'd cut her brake lines if she ruined it like that.

 

[Sir Humpsalot]

Ron Botran Reserva is my twenty-dollar beats Bacardi and Captain hands-down choice. Most Captain drinkers try Ron Botran and prefer the spices in it... And then you get to explain that it's not spiced... It is traditional barrel aging that gives it its spice. Sometimes then the lightbulb goes off and they realize you don't need artificial flavors to make a good spirit.

Rum Barbancourt 15 is my all time favorite though. The 8yr isn't anything special, IMO.

And Ron Pompero Anejo is a Venezuela Rum, complex and oaky and nice to sip as well.

There was a time when I could identify a rum's origin by taste alone and would frequently prove it... Though occasionally I would be off by a couple hundred miles for landlocked rums.

 

[Curtis2010]

Being originally from there, it warms my little Guatemalan heart to hear praise for Zacapa! I know I'm biased but I think it's the best and it's got 4 gold medals to its name.

I'll never forget when my dad gave me my first taste of it and said "Son don't you ever even dare think about putting Coke in this, I'll disown you". Most I'll do is a little squeeze of lime .

Being a gringo living in your wonderful home country, I am also partial to Zacapa....and give similar advice to those who even think about mixing it! I tell them they will go straight to Rum Hell. The Reserva is quite nice too.

We keep Ron Botran 12 year on hand for mixing use. Its also a very good rum, almost good enough to be a true sipping rum. We mix it with a bit of agua de coco and it is wonderful.

Some of the higher end (older) Flor de Cana products from Nicaragua are quite nice too, but finish with a bit of a bite to my palate. Although I do have a few Guatemalteco friends who prefer them (Traidores!). They can be found, in limited quantities (some sort of import/export quota) here in Guate, but I was in Granada, Nicaragua recently so got to sip them in their native country.

Ron Pompero Anejo (Venezuela) ranks very near Zacapa for me.

Ive asked at Licores de Guatemala (Zacapa distributor) about purchasing some of the old barrels used to age Zacapa and that is a possibility. I plan to buy one or two this year and try it out....maybe a Porter or a Barelywine would be nice....

Also, we have a few other home brewers in Guatemala on the forums and created a group here named "Cerveceros CA-4" (https://www.homebrewtalk.com/groups/cerveceros+ca-4/).

 

[rifraf]

Also, we have a few other home brewers in Guatemala on the forums and created a group here named "Cerveceros CA-4" (https://www.homebrewtalk.com/groups/cerveceros+ca-4/).

No way! That's awesome. If I could clone Gallo, I'd be a happy camper. Also let me know about the barrels. I'd be extremely interested in one of those...

 

[Curtis2010]

No way! That's awesome. If I could clone Gallo, I'd be a happy camper. Also let me know about the barrels. I'd be extremely interested in one of those...

Hey join up, you're not living here, but you are from here.

A Gallo clone should not a be a tall order. Not sure when you were last in Guate, but Gallo now makes "Moza" and "Moza Gold" which are not too bad. Still a long way from "craft brews" but at least a step in a nice direction.

 

[ceannt]

Pusser's
Room temp.... straight

 

[Curtis2010]

So, who likes to have a good cigar with their rum?

I was in Grenada, Nicaragua recently and visited the Dona Elba cigar factory. At the end of the tour they gave me a nice tasty cigar (maduro) and a glass of Flor de Cana 18. Yum...

 

[paulster2626]

I live in Ontario, so my selection is limited to what the government-owned LCBO decides I should be allowed to purchase.

So it's Mount Gay. XO for sipping, regular for coke/others. Liquid gold.

 

[motobrewer]

some things I've picked up recently:

English Harbor - haven't given it a through tasting, but the quick nips I've had have been very promising. lots of raw cane, especially on the aroma. pot still
Westerhall Plantation - haven't opened it, but pretty excited for this. Apparently they only produce 3 barrels a day. mostly? pot still? unsure.
Saint James Ambre - I have the Hors d' Age, and that is pretty fantastic. hoping it works well in a mai tai.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Grabbed a bottle of Ron Solera Bacardi 1873 this weekend. $15. Makes for a very decent everyday sipping rum. Has a bit of first sip bite to it but otherwise very easy to sip neat.

 

[motobrewer]

I've been wanting to try that - actually what I'd really like to try is the Bacardi Limited Edition.

anyway I cracked open the Westerhall - it could be my new favorite rum, at least by taste. not sure how it's made, I think at least part of it is pot-stilled. aroma was light, but then again, i don't have a very good sense of smell. banana, hit of oak and tobacco - taste was dominated by delicious fresh sugar cane. not sure how long it's aged, light color tells me not that long, maybe 4/5 years at most. at 43%, it's quite possibly the smoothest rum I've ever tasted - over zacapa and more aged rums like el dorado 15 and flor de cana 12. the limited production aspect scares me, lol! i only saw 2 bottles at the local liquor store. it's gonna be hard not to go grab the other bottle asap. All this for $29.99!

right now i'm enjoying a Mai Tai:

• 1oz Saint James Hors d'Age
• 1oz Smith and Cross
• 1oz Lime Juice
• 1/2oz Rhum Clement Creole Shrubb
• 3/4oz Orgeat Syrup

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I'm trying to remember if I have the FDC 8, or 12. Can't recall for certain. I'm not really liking it much. I think the tannins are too prominant for me to enjoy.

 

[motobrewer]

i had a bottle of FDC 7 (I think you meant 7, ) a while ago, i don't remember sipping it straight. made a pretty interesting mojito though.

i toughly enjoy the 12 though. that's high up on my list of rums I like neat.