How do you assess a new sugar cane spirit?

[Edward Hamilton]

With new cane spirits coming to the market almost every week, what is it that makes you want to try a new spirit?

[angelsword]

Many people seem reluctant to ever try much of anything different. While others, like myself, are always looking for something new.

Those that seldom move out of the slot take the most persuasion. But it seems to me that the sales people in the liquor store have the most effect on the general buyer.

This last Friday I watched the salespeople in a local liquor store move a client from their preferred vodka, Tito's, to the newest local vodka that they were pushing, Dripping Springs. It was quite effective even though they were using misleading statements to sell an inferior product.

[Seahound]

Generally I look to websites like this one and Bilgemunky for my next buy. I only go with the liquor store owner if I trust him. I knew a guy when I lived in Oklahoma who knew everything about even the most obscure products and he was reliable, but I don't just walk in to a random store and buy whatever they tell me to. Packaging will sometimes get me too, but I'll usually see a fancy package then go home and look it up before I buy it.

[Scottes]

I think there are far too many rums - ones known to be good - that I have yet to try. So I almost always grab one that has somehow been recommended to me. But I will grab a bottle from another distiller if I like the distiller's other products. Very very rarely will I grab a rum on a whim, unless it's a nip or something small.

Eventually - once I've sampled a dozen fantastic and a few dozen excellent rums - I would probably grab most anything that somehow caught my eye. But I've got enough "work" ahead of me for a while.

[Roger]

If it's rum, I'm always looking for something new to try. Sometimes I will just impulsively buy what's new if it's aged over 8 years and looks interesting. I'm more confident with new products from brands or distillers I know. Many times I'll see what a store has and go look up on other review sites to see what they say if we've not reviewed it yet. Generally I have about 25-30 rums in my cabinet and with about 10 in queue to review.

If it's un-aged rum I'll generally just stick to my few standby rums unless something really looks interesting.

For other spirits I stick to favorites or ask the store personnel.

Roger

www.RnDrumreviews.com

[Count Silvio]

I usually read a lot of different reviews before making my decision and the product presentation also matters somewhat.

[Hank Koestner]

I have been known to purchase bottles blind if they look interesting, or have some age on them. But, mostly, I look to different sites and publications, especially if the purchase is pricey. I do have some brand loyalty, I think i would buy anything from Neisson, La Favorite and El Dorado. Now, of course, there is this forum, and all the reviews and links, and the valued opinions of all of you. I would have to say I would not purchase a Rum I was not sure about before posting it here! I love trying new rums. I must be close to 100 bottles after my trip.

[junkhauler]

usually will check in with other collectors, and this and Beachbum berry's site. Sometimes going in blind yields a nice score, but i have picked up a few bottles that are now shelf ornamentation. Seems to me when it comes to agricoles, reccomendations really are not too helpful, this is where personal taste really comes into play.

[Rumpelteazer]

Being fairly new to the fine rum world, I have set three goals.

One, to collect rums from each of the major rum producing nations, that are somehow characteristic of that country's style.

Two, for each of the rums that I particularly like, to obtain other fine rums from that country. Some of my favorites so far have been the Zaya, Zacapa 23, and Appleton V/X, so I am always on the lookout for other Guatemalan and Jamaican rums.

Three, to collect rums from places I have visited. So far, this includes Bermuda (Goslings Black & Gold), St. Thomas/St. John (none yet), and the Dominican Republic (Brugal Anejo).

Of course my search is limited by the Pennsylvania alcohol cartel.

[RobertBurr]

I have never been impressed with recommendations by liquor store employees. Tasting rum is far and away the best way to know if it's worth purchasing.

I am interested in learning the stories behind the brands and how these relate to the flavor and profile of the products. Anecdotal tales related to me by friends and acquaintances in the islands are a good start toward discovering unearthed brands. Visiting bars and liquor stores on islands is great way to learn some of the more obscure players if you can engage those with local knowledge in conversation. Family and friends know to call when they're in a liquor store in another country and brief me on some lesser known or potentially outstanding brands.

Comparing notes on forums such as this one is an invaluable new tool for gaining knowledge.

Participating in a rum tasting competition is always a learning experience. I usually recognize some of my favorites but am often fooled when trying to play "guess the rum" in a blind tasting.

[Lew Barrett]

I just voted, and see that I (like to think) that I make my decisions based on research, and in accord with the majority of those who have voted before me. I read the websites....all of them...voraciously....and then go ahead and buy based on the reviews and how that lines up with my taste as it evolves. SO far I have not been taken in solely by pretty packaging, but it's an added plus when I like something and the bottle is attractive on the shelf.

[Paul C]

I voted for website info. I'm just getting started and finding this board was a godsend. For now my fave is Zacapa 23 and I can tell from my reading here that as my journey continues, this will probably end up seeming a bit "manufactured" as I search for the spirits of the cane. Or maybe not…

pbc

[TheRumelier]

I like to add any new rum to my collection, so I am prepared to try anything once. Obviously there are times when I know I am buying a bust, but it joins the others on the shelf. I like to think I have enough rum knowledge to fiqure out what I'm buying. You can't experience a rum unless you taste it. I admit there are several bottles in my collection that have not been touched. Then when somebody asks me a question about it I will go and try a sample, maybe some years later after I initially purchased it. One or two "busts" have turned into pleasant surprises. Then there are the rums I search out after hearing good things about them, on this site or others. This again can be mis-leading as everybody has their own tastes. At the end of the day, if it's rum in the bottle, it has a great chance of taking up residence in my house!!drool.gif

[Edward Hamilton]

I've heard you were easy Rumelier, but your approach and experience is very similar to my own. It is a rare rum that I won't try once. And like you I've had a few bottles around for a while unopened until prompted by friends to open it. And like you wrote, sometimes my instincts were confirmed but the pleasant surprises keep my accumulating more of my favorite spirit.

Years ago I was in Barbados and asked by a local reporter which was my favorite rum in the world. My reply surprised him, he was fishing for a recommendation for one of the new old rums from his island. In Barbados my favorite is the one in my glass. Sometimes I wish I had a bigger glass, sometimes not.

[Rum Runner]

I don't see Rumelier (or should that be Rhummelier to reflect the obvious reference to Sommelier) as easy. Rather as curious to taste everything. I share that instinct. I HAVE to try it once at least. Good ,bad ,or indifferent.

It keeps one's palate tuned. It remains a wonderful journey. Why limit oneself by price, or bottle shape, or age statement. It's all part of the fun of discovery.

[TheRumelier]

I've heard you were easy Rumelier.

Years ago I was in Barbados and asked by a local reporter which was my favorite rum in the world. My reply surprised him, he was fishing for a recommendation for one of the new old rums from his island. In Barbados my favorite is the one in my glass. Sometimes I wish I had a bigger glass, sometimes not.

Don't tell my wife!!

I'm often asked the question of what is my favourite rum. I never know what to say, but your answer in Barbados always springs to mind every time I'm asked it. I was once asked by an Immigration Officer in Jamaica why I was coming to her country. I answered that I was coming for some rum training, she broke down laughing and called the other officers over to hear my story. It took me another ten minutes to get out of Immigration added onto the two hours I had already been in line!!
However, if I had a gun pointed to my head, I think I would have to say my favourite rum right now is Angostura Single Barrel Reserve. Next week it will probably be different.glass.gif

[TheRumelier]

It keeps one's palate tuned. It remains a wonderful journey. Why limit oneself by price, or bottle shape, or age statement. It's all part of the fun of discovery.

I couldn't have put it better myself. I hope you have some nice surprises for Ed and I in Puerto Rico. Local knowledge always helps!!:D:D

[Edge]

I've had some luck finding rums that I got because the label was pretty (Sailor Jerry's and even Cruzan SBE) but most others I've gotten after receiving a recommendation from a friend, fellow rum-drinker, or from sites such as MoR.

[Perkeo]

I love to try new things/rums. If it sounds interesting I'll try it at least once. If I really like it I'll keep a bottle on hand to share with friends.

[guayames]

I do cruise around the Caribbean a lot and also done world cruises. Wherever I see a new aged rum, I buy it and sip it with two ice cubes. I have to say that my favorites up to now are Don Q Añejo and Pyrat XO. I am looking forward to opening others I just bought and will let you know if they are any better.

[Ruminsky Van Drunkenberg]

My personal thing is that there are four things that make me consider a purchase of a new rum not previously tasted, assuming I have the cash to flash that day, and only four:

1. My own knowledge of what's coming from a particular maker. For example, I'll absolutely get any El Dorado estate rum if I have not already got it.

2. Word of mouth from a person whose opinion I respect (this immediately excludes any 18-yr old clerk at Sobey's trying to flog a new purchase on me)

3. The expense. Fine, I'm a shallow fella. But if it's a choice between a $25 bottle and a $40 bottle, it'll probably be the $40 bottle that gets me because I'm making an assumption - rightly or wrongly - that the production quality is reflected in the price. Note that in a conflict between #1 and #3, #1 wins - the Tanduay Superior 12 yr old is a perfect example of this in action.

4. Have I reviewed it and is it of a kind - geographical, age or otherwise unique - that I would want up on my site ASAP?

I must also state that I buy old favourites constantly (not least because they are almost all cheap) - I always have a Young's Old Sam and a low-end Appleton on hand in my house for casual imbibing, for example.

cheers.gif
R van D