Rhum agricole substitution?

[Patapouf]

Hi all,

I've been wanting to try a ti-punch recipe for a while (yes I've never tried one yet), but liquor stores in NB don't stock any type of 'french' rhum.

I'd love to have suggestions as to what type of rum you would try to emulate a rhum agricole...

Thanks!

[bluewave6]

Barbacourt White is a good substitute. I find it has the nice raw grassy flavor of a rhum agricole.

[donknotts]

Not sure if it's available in NB, but I find the new Seagram's Smooth Brazilian White Rum is reminiscent of rhum agricole at less than half the price.

[rumdog007]

The new Seagram's Smooth Brazilian Rum would do a good job of making something that approximates a rhum agricole. The context of which I make this suggestion is framed by the strong grassy notes flavor of the Seagrams without being too cachaca-y. At the same time, there are hints of the vegetal taste of a true agricole. Will your you and your guests be missing some of the simple splendor of the Ti Punch? YES. But, given the lack of AOC Agricole minis (nips, for you Brits!), I travel with the Seagram's minis and still get to enjoy a reasonable facsimile.

[Patapouf]

Hmm, this is not going to well. We have none of those you suggested. I keep realizing how limited our selection is. :(

I'll try to list off what the NB liquor corporation has :


Appleton's (full lineup)
Bacardi (full lineup)
Black Diamond
Cabot Tower Demerara
Captain Morgan Dark
Captain Morgan Deluxe
Captain Morgan Gold
Captain Morgan Private Stock
Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
Captain Morgan White
Cruzan Aged Amber
Cruzan Black Strap
El Dorado (ED3 to ED25)
English Harbour
Fernandes White Star
Flor de Cana (5 to 18)
Gosling's Black Seal
Gosling's Gold
Havana Club 7 years
Havana Club Anejo Blanco
Havana Club Anejo Reserva
Iceberg Gold Rum
Iceberg Silver Rum
Lambs Navy
Lambs Palm Breeze
Lambs White
Lemon Hart Demerara
London Dock
McGuinness White
Mount Gay Eclipse
Newfoundland Screech
Old Sam Demerara
Plantation Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad
Ron Carioca
Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum


Pretty pathetic, i know... Anyways, any suggestions based on that list?

[rumdog007]

Sorry to say that the Ti Punch's charms will elude you for now.:(

Nothing that you have will serve as a proper substitute. Please mind you, I was really stretcheing it when I suggested the Seagram's Smooth Brazilian.

The Ti Punch is really something special.

[forrest]

Hmm, this is not going to well.
****Pretty pathetic, i know... Anyways, any suggestions based on that list?

Yes make a Daiquiri out of the HC Aсejo Blanco....
It is not a Ti Punch, but it is delicious!

[Rum Runner Imports]

Im really shocked at the lack of "french" rum...Doesn't NB have a pretty solid french polulation?

[donknotts]

Don't feel bad - here in Kansas I can't get any kind of Demerara rum, Havana Club, or any Flor de Cana! We all have our limitations and have to work within them. Do you think a neighboring province would have a rhum agricole?

[Patapouf]

Im really shocked at the lack of "french" rum...Doesn't NB have a pretty solid french polulation?

Yes, about a third of the population, and half in my city!

As a whole, I don't think New Brunswickers have ever been introduced to the great rums, namely of the 'french' kind. You'd find more facings of Bacardi, Captain Morgan and Lamb's, although I'm happy to see Appleton's garnering more attention.

My friend, who got into rum with me at the same time, came back a few weeks ago from the US with a bottle of St. James Ambre. He had no idea what the heck it was except that he had never heard about it. Now I realize he may have one of the few rhums in NB... I must visit him soon. :)

I should make it my mission to bring some rhum in my area... any suggestions, since I know some of you are in the biz?

[forrest]

I should make it my mission to bring some rhum in my area... any suggestions, since I know some of you are in the biz?

Well considering what you are up against, i'd recommend smuggling.

[rumdog007]

..... i'd recommend smuggling.

Yes!

My heart goes out to you, Patapouf.

As a rum smuggler (nothing illegal, mind you :p), myself, I can say the risk/reward is worth it!

[Patapouf]

Yes!

My heart goes out to you, Patapouf.

As a rum smuggler (nothing illegal, mind you :p), myself, I can say the risk/reward is worth it!

Ha ha ha!

Thank you all for the pity party!! :)

I was thinking of bringing up this subject with someone in our local liquor store (not sure who though...), but smuggling might be a viable option (considering I can get some in Maine). ;)

cheers.gif

[Rum Runner Imports]

From what I can see we have:

RHUM BARBANCOURT
15 YEAR OLD ESTATE RESERVE

This may be a good start as it already has the CFIA stamp of approval and proper biligual labels. I have no idea who brings it into BC though. If you're serious give them boys in Haiti a call.

[Patapouf]

From what I can see we have:

RHUM BARBANCOURT
15 YEAR OLD ESTATE RESERVE

This may be a good start as it already has the CFIA stamp of approval and proper biligual labels. I have no idea who brings it into BC though. If you're serious give them boys in Haiti a call.

Great! Thanks for the info rum runner.

[angelsword]

From that grouping, I could highly recommend the Plantation Trinidad as being the closest in flavor.

[Patapouf]

From that grouping, I could highly recommend the Plantation Trinidad as being the closest in flavor.

Well I can't seem to find it on the listing anymore, but at least it was available so I'll keep an eye out for it.

As well, I've sent an email to Barbancourt. Here's to hoping they'll jump on my market!

Cheers!

[Hank Koestner]

Based on your list, It does not look like you will get the flavor of a Ti Punch.
Enjoy classic daquiri's with the HC, it is one of the best for this cocktail, especially the Anejo Blanco.

[Patapouf]

Based on your list, It does not look like you will get the flavor of a Ti Punch.
Enjoy classic daquiri's with the HC, it is one of the best for this cocktail, especially the Anejo Blanco.

It was suggested to me earlier.

I tried it and turned out great! I used the recipe on espacecocktail.com

[forrest]

I tried it and turned out great! I used the recipe on espacecocktail.com

What a tasty drink!! espacecocktail has a good recipe (tho it did push the limits of my French;) ).

[Edward Hamilton]

My friend, who got into rum with me at the same time, came back a few weeks ago from the US with a bottle of St. James Ambre. He had no idea what the heck it was except that he had never heard about it. Now I realize he may have one of the few rhums in NB... I must visit him soon. :)

A few years ago I had the same dilemma and bought a bottle of that rum and was so disappointed that when I got back to Martinique a few weeks later I went to the distillery and discovered that their younger rhums are bottled in France and are a far cry from what is sold in Martinique. Seems it is a lot cheaper to ship high proof rum to France and bottle it with the finest French water.

The problem with most of the French rhums is that they won't pass the chemical analysis required to be imported to Canada. For your protection, of course.

[Patapouf]

Ed:
Well that's encouraging. Good 'ol government regulating and taxing everything it can get its hands on! Sorry, let's not go there...

Forrest:
I guessing you didn't notice that you could view the website in english? ;)

[forrest]

I guessing you didn't notice that you could view the website in english? ;)

See that must have been on the other side of my lame French. . .;)

[Patapouf]

To conclude this thread...

While in a quick vacation in Quйbec I was able to pick up a bottle of St James Ambre. I searched a few SAQ's and nowhere could I find a white agricole.

Anyways, I should be able to make a decent ti-punch vhieux right?

[Edward Hamilton]

A ti punch made with rhum vieux is called a punch vieux. I'm not sure what you should call a ti punch made with rhum ambre.

A few years ago I tried to make a ti punch with St James Ambre and was very disappointed, then I was told by the managing director in Martinique that the younger St James rhums destined for the US was bottled in France.

I can only hope that that isn't the case for Canada. I understand that there are some provinces/cities where you can buy St James Ambre, but my guess is that it isn't the same spirit as it is in the French West Indies for reasons discussed above and in previous posts in this thread.

[Patapouf]

I thought the ambre was a rhum vieux?!

I surely hope that's not the case with their rum in Canada. At least i don't know what a ti-punch should taste like, so I might not be as dissapointed... unless it turns out the rum is terrible.

[Edward Hamilton]

vieux refers to rhum agricole that has been aged more than 3 years. Ambre, paille and dore are some of the names used for rums aged less than 3 years, typically 19 months or so.

[dom]

Here is the web site of Saint James Rhum where you can see all of their products. http://www.saintjames-rum.com/saint-james.html

In Quebec we only have the White (50%), Paille and Ambrй. Next time you are here try www.saq.com to locate the rhum you are searching. Some Quebec City stores have the White.

If you want the Vieux and the Hors d'age you might have to go to as far as NYC. That's where I got my bottle.

Dom

[Patapouf]

Thanks for the info Ed. My knowledge is limited in rhum agricole.

Here is the web site of Saint James Rhum where you can see all of their products. http://www.saintjames-rum.com/saint-james.html

In Quebec we only have the White (50%), Paille and Ambrй. Next time you are here try www.saq.com to locate the rhum you are searching. Some Quebec City stores have the White.

If you want the Vieux and the Hors d'age you might have to go to as far as NYC. That's where I got my bottle.

Dom

Merci Dom!

I was in the Sherbrooke region hunting for a white rhum. I searched an SAQ, an SAQ Dйpфt and an SAQ Sйlection with no luck... So I had to settle for the ambre, which I, knowing little about argicoles, thought would make a decent ti-punch. Next time I'll remember to use the internet!