Some assistance please

[PyratSteve]

I'm putting together a evening where I'm inviting around some friends that have no experience with quality rum and letting them have a sample of my current crop. I have a couple of questions for those that have introduced rum to non rum drinkers.

Firstly, the rums that are on the shelf are:

Pyrat XO
Ron Zacapa XO
English Harbour 5yo
Cadenhead's Green Label Demera
Inner Circle Red
If any one is a pain I will serve them Bundy
Others will bring what they have if they have it.


What order would you serve these? and Secondly, I typically drink these rums neat or on ice but appreciate that this may be a bit much for some. I'd drink the Bundy or Inner Circle with Coke but surly there is something better for tasting? Water?

Another thought is to start them off by serving a Mojito to start. Any other tips or advice is welcomed.

Thanks

[angelsword]

The order of tasting should move from lightest and driest to biggest and sweetest.

Inner Circle
English Harbor
Cadenhead
Zacapa
Pyrat

[RobertBurr]

not one to argue with our resident mad scientist and genius, but I'd savor and appreciate the Zacapa XO last - or maybe just leave the others for another night.

[RonJames]

I would normally go with what the mad scientist said, and this is what I do with myself and others that appreciate rum. But with newbies, especially if these people aren't booze hounds, I would change it around. Remember most of these people have never drank straight before so to them it is going to come on strong. I like your idea of a mojito to begin with and then I'd go for the pyrat. Only reason is because it is super strong on the orange scent and flavor and people get excited when they can taste and smell a nuance with spirits or wine. For beginers I usually have them smell at a distance, look at the rum in the glass, put the nose to the glass, then have them just touch the rum to their lips. Then have them lick their lips. They can then for sips if they'd like or if they so wish Bundy and Cokeparty1.gif. I hope this helps, and it is just my IMHO, and doesn't discount what others say.

[angelsword]

The human palate does not like to go from sweet to any other flavor. After the sweetness of Zacapa and/or Pyrat, everything else will register poorly on the palate in comparison. But if one can appreciate the the driest first, then there is a good chance that that whole group could be appreciated for their divergent qualities.

[rumdog007]

The human palate does not like to go from sweet to any other flavor. After the sweetness of Zacapa and/or Pyrat, everything else will register poorly on the palate in comparison. But if one can appreciate the the driest first, then there is a good chance that that whole group could be appreciated for their divergent qualities.

Well put, angelsword.

I get your point, though, RonJames. At any one of my parties, I have only a select group which actually is "tasting". BTW, they sort of select themselves, based on your method, whether to enter the area which I have for the bottles of rum. Those which have drunk straight spirits (maybe some other type...) are those which want to participate. There are the occasional first-timers, too. But, mostly the group has to have some receptiveness or it's not really a tasting.

You can always, informally, get a non-spirit-drinker to take a few nips of, say, Zacapa as an introduction to rum. But, in those situations, I just keep pouring the Zacapa. If afterwards, they go out and buy some rums, try them and come to another party, I'll coax them into the tasting. But, I always go from dry/bitter to sweet.

That said, do what works for you! cheers.gif

[RonJames]

I've never tried the dry to sweet for beginers...but I should. I know my 1st experience was with a dry anejo and it only turned me off for a little while. One thing is for certain, if you have experienced sippers in the group got to go dry to sweet. Cheers.cheers.gif