rum 'n00b' looking for advice

[Alistair]

hello chaps, I hope this message finds you all in good health. I also hope you are sitting comfortably whilst I spin the yarn as it were....

So my name is Alistair and what follows is the tale of how I became involved with rum. I've been a fan of quality alcohol for many years, enjoying fine ales, beers and wines, though never particularly bothered about spirits save for the odd single malt whisky or premium tequila. Whilst at university my friends and I stumbled upon a rather charming bar (charming in a rather dingy sort of way) and we quickly became regulars there after sampling the fantastic drink they had on offer. The bars owner was fond of making cocktails but only using the best ingredients. I'd had rum in the past but nothing special (the odd havana club or morgans) but one night I asked the owner to make me something rummy... it came in the form of a Dark 'n' Stormy which was a taste sensation to me.

The more of these I had over the following months the more rum and less ginger was used and by this time I was getting a taste for rum. New years eve 2007 was the night that finally turned me to rum once and for all after sampling a few top-shelf bottles.

Over the months that followed I got strong cravings for rum so I hit www.thewhiskyexchange.com (a site that I'd found rather useful for some time) and started looking for something exciting, eventually settling for Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva (which to my horror seems to be out of stock and I've not got much left). Words could not describe how I felt about this drink but as supplies started to run low I looked to order something else (going back to what I was saying about stock I wish I'd just bought another bottle but never mind)... so as of tomorrow I will have two new bottles: Zaya and Pyrat XO (quite like pyrat but never had Zaya).

So down to my main reason for joining you all here: I need advice.

If anyone could suggest a few of their favourite rums that would be great. My new love of rum is running blind and given that most the descriptions of the rums I've looked at have been by the companies that produce them I'm after some more impartial views.

Thanks in advance, Alistair :)

[Tiare]

Welcome to the forum!

Here are four not too over pricey very good rums:

Appleton 12
Pampero Aniversario
Zacapa 23
Banks XM

Here is a good agricole:

Clèment Vieux

[Alistair]

Welcome to the forum!

Here are four not too over pricey very good rums:

Appleton 12
Pampero Aniversario
Zacapa 23
Banks XM

Here is a good agricole:

Clиment Vieux


Thank you :) I was looking at the Pampero and Zacapa (as well as El Dorado 12) before I made my mind up. I've had Appleton 12 before and it did seem quite nice (though I was a bit drunk at the time which may have hindered my decision somewhat).

As for the agricole how does it compare with rum? I've had a couple in the past (can't remember the names) but I wasn't too impressed. I did actually see a bottle of Clиment Vieux on saturday night but didn't go for it given my past experience.

[Count Silvio]

In before anyone says El Dorado 15 (http://www.refinedvices.com/El-Dorado-Special-Reserve-15-Year-Old-Rum-Guyana-South-America). Fantastic flavourful rum. Cruzan Single Barrel (http://www.refinedvices.com/Cruzan) is also pretty good, it never requires me to be in a certain mood like some rums.

[Don Piero]

Alistair, you should be a writer.

May I suggest for sipping, my favourite is the El Dorado 21yr old.

[Dood]

First: Welcome.

Second: For inexpensive excellent rums, I recommend the Appleton Estate Extra (12), the El Dorado 15, and the Matusalem Gran Reserva. You say you're getting a bottle of Zaya...you should enjoy that a great deal...it's especially good with ginger beer.

That should be enough to get you started. ;)

[Freeki_Tiki]

Welcome,
I am going to echo the others and say El dorado 15 year, I think we have a consensus that this one is great. I also like the 12 year version, as well as Coruba, for mixing drinks and Gosling's Black Seal in the dark and stormy. There are som many different types of rum, you should try them all ;).

[Alistair]

Thank you all for your replies :) You all seem to like El Dorado 15 quite a bit so I think I shall check that out on my next order however at the moment its a toss up between that a Zacapa 23... though given that the El Dorado is cheaper and its been praised so highly I think I'm leaning towards that.

[Tiare]

I think I shall check that out on my next order however at the moment its a toss up between that a Zacapa 23...

I would choose the El D15 before Zacapa..it should have been in my list, don´t know why it wasn`t.

[primate77]

For your Dark n Stormies, nothing will beat the taste of Goslings Black Seal, though I also like the Flor de Cana 5 year old in my ginger bev as well.

The Zaya is nice, I like Ron Botran 12 yr better though, as it is a bit drier and not as sweet. Hints of honey and vanilla.

Mount Gay XO is very nice, but pricey (well, pricey by rum standards that is).

Nice mixer rums for mojitos - Don Q Cristal, Ron Ocumare Light Dry.
Inexpensive and dark - Whalers Dark

Flavored - Brinleys Gold (pick your flavor)

[Tiare]

Oh yes, the Zaya as well, it should also have been on my list..what was i thinking? Zaya is a wonderful rum!

[RobertBurr]

I understand from several sources that Zaya Rum will no longer be made from the stocks of Industrias Licorere de Guatemala. It's going to change, or perhaps be retired.

[Tiare]

It's going to change, or perhaps be retired.

Is that true? :eek:

[Hank Koestner]

Welcome to the forums. Those before me have recommended some of the same choices I would have. Add Babancourt to the list and a Rhum Agriocle from Martinique or Guadaloupe, one you find in your price range.

[tym2relax]

I understand from several sources that Zaya Rum will no longer be made from the stocks of Industrias Licorere de Guatemala. It's going to change, or perhaps be retired.

Can you give more info on this? Time frame? This is not good...

[Michael]

Will Montecristo also have to find an alternate source?

[MaxS]

In my limited, but enjoyable, experience, Zaya has proven to be my favorite rum for sipping. El Dorado 15 is a close second, and Pyrat XO and Cruzan Single Barrel make great summer mojitos. I'm trying to track down Ron Zacapa, and I'm sipping some Sailor Jerry (cherry overtones with a slight sting) which is not bad for the price. I got started on this journey when some friends returned from an island vacation with a bottle of Bermudez Anniversario, which I decided to have a few sips of one night...it was a revelation! I haven't found any Bermudez here in the US yet, but hope to find that and other great rums. Best of luck...

[RobertBurr]

Bermudez rums will now available in the US through an importer in North Carolina. I believe the Matusalem Gran Reserva 15 is made in the Bermudez distillery in DR.

I assume Monte Cristo and Zaya will find new sources, but no hard info.

[Michael]

Twenty years ago I was drinking Matusalem rum made in the Bahamas according to a Cuban recipe. In the 90s it was being produced on St Croix, then production moved to the Dominican Republic where it is bottled today. After scouring the Dominican Republic over the course of several months on various trips to that island I have never met anyone who would show me one bottle of Matusalem being distilled, blended or bottled there.
...

... I believe the Matusalem Gran Reserva 15 is made in the Bermudez distillery in DR.
...

Have you solved the mystery of the Dominican origin of Matusalem? Do you believe that the other Matusalem offerings are made at the Bermudez distillery as well?

[Hank Koestner]

If info on Zaya becomes reality, let us know so I can pick up another bottle before it disappears.:eek:

[Michael]

I've not verified with the company Infinum Spirits, but I've heard from two very reliable sources that Zaya received their last shipments from Guatemala not long ago.

Call Carl if you want to know for sure. Carl Carlson, President, Infinum Spirits. 949.389.3710

The foregoing message with respect to Zaya availability was posted by Robert in another thread.

[Alistair]

ok so I finally got my Zaya and Pyrat today (and about time too... been having to stop myself finishing my diplomatico exclusiva which has been a difficult task).

First time with Zaya and at first I wasn't all that blown away by it but its growing on me. I think its a little too smooth for me but I love some of the flavours.

Pyrat on the other hand, I've had before and with a little more rum experience under my belt I was able to get more from it. Its a bit more to my liking than the Zaya due to its more full-on flavour and after-taste.

On this basis is there anything else anyone can think of that would be more to my taste? And how is El Dorado 15 in comparison?

[Lew Barrett]

.

On this basis is there anything else anyone can think of that would be more to my taste? And how is El Dorado 15 in comparison?

No way to know but to try. ED15 will be different again from Pyrat and Zaya. And, if my experience is anything to go by (and it may not...I prefer Zaya by far to Pyrat XO) ED15 will take some exploring. At first I thought ED15 was just another "too sweet" rum. No longer. It has a full range of flavors and subtleties that took me some time to uncover. Demerera. The word alone is intoxicating. You won't regret trying this one, and you'll have to in order to explore the full range of rums available to us.

[Tiare]

It has a full range of flavors and subtleties that took me some time to uncover.

Demerera. The word alone is intoxicating.

You won't regret trying this one, and you'll have to in order to explore the full range of rums available to us.

That`s what is so special about the El D15..its so complete! it really has a full range of flavors..

And the word demerara...

I have myself embarked on a "exploring as many demeraras as possible" journey...

(without forgetting all the other rums of course.)

[RobertBurr]

I have myself embarked on a "exploring as many demeraras as possible" journey...

I'm with you. One of my favorite regions to "explore."

[hughz]

On this basis is there anything else anyone can think of that would be more to my taste? And how is El Dorado 15 in comparison?

Belated welcome! I'm a rumnoob as well, but as I sit here sipping Zaya, I know what you mean about being smooth. I haven't had the Pyrat yet but if no one mentioned it yet, you might like Matusalem Grand Reserve. It's a tad drier than Zaya with a little bite so that might be what you're looking for. My favorite so far, and the local liquor just put it on sale, so I've got a stash of it now! - Don