Tried Cruzan Light - Surprised and a question

[kbuzbee]

So I've always thought of darker, aged rums as my sippers and white for mixing.

But looking in the pantry the other day I came across a bottle of Cruzan Estate Light Rum. So I poured a bit. Delicious! I was really surprised. I guess I just didn't expect that much flavor in a white distallate.....

So it got me thinking... How does this compare to Oronoco? I know there is a lot of discussion on Oronoco here but is it similar to CELR? Better? Different? How?

Thanks for the input everyone!

Ken

[Rum Runner]

I wonder if you have the old bottling which stated aged 2 years? The new iteration states aged 14 months. Either way Cruzan makes a very good rum. You may also notice that it carries more color than most "clear" rums.

Oronoco, along with the new Diplomatico Reserve Blanco and the Flor de Cana 4 year old Blanco may really knock your socks off. There is a lot going on in these aged clear rums and the category seems to be up and coming.

[kbuzbee]

I wonder if you have the old bottling which stated aged 2 years? The new iteration states aged 14 months. Either way Cruzan makes a very good rum. You may also notice that it carries more color than most "clear" rums.

Yes, it was the 2 yo. I actually have no idea where this bottle came from. 6-7 years ago we were in San Juan and picked up over a dozen bottles of various things I'd never seen.... May be the end of that run?

I assume of these two the 2 yo is superior? Regardless it was delicious.


Oronoco, along with the new Diplomatico Reserve Blanco and the Flor de Cana 4 year old Blanco may really knock your socks off.

I've seen the first and last here. Will have to pick them up today.

There is a lot going on in these aged clear rums and the category seems to be up and coming.

So it would seem. Nice to discover.

Appreciate the input.

Ken

[Edward Hamilton]

Rum Runner pretty well summed it up, but I'd add that Oronoco has more of a vanilla flavor than the Cruzan rum, but it may finish a bit smoother since it is made primarily of sugar cane juice as opposed to molasses though the Cruzan you have has been aged which removes most of the sulfur bite associated with molasses based rums.

[leisure master]

Not to sound like I work for Shopper's Vineyard, but if you're interested in getting some Oronoco, those same folks that are selling Zacapa XO for $50 are selling Oronoco for $15 - when I have never seen it for less than mid-$30's anywhere else (and up to $43).

It may not be the best thing you ever had, but it is most certainly worth $15 - and you get a great re-usable bottle for bar syrups, etc!

[Edward Hamilton]

That is a deal that probably won't last long. I understand that the parent company, Diageo, isn't giving up on Oronoco, but $15 is not a price that anyone can sustain for an imported product in that kind of bottle.

Thanks for the heads up, leisure master.

[kbuzbee]

Rum Runner pretty well summed it up, but I'd add that Oronoco has more of a vanilla flavor than the Cruzan rum, but it may finish a bit smoother since it is made primarily of sugar cane juice as opposed to molasses though the Cruzan you have has been aged which removes most of the sulfur bite associated with molasses based rums.

Thanks Ed. Picked up a bottle today (for a lot more than $15!). Will try it tonight and order some from LM's reference if it is as I expect.

I was wrong that they had Flor de Cana. I was thinking of the 10 Cane, which I picked up a bottle of as well. We'll see how they compare. I wish we had the Diplomatico here as I've tried their Reserva Exclusiva and love it.

All's well when there's rum!

Ken

[kbuzbee]

Oh yeah, they also had a different Cruzan Aged Light that didn't say 14 months. It said a year.... I know, only 2 months less but....

Ken

[kbuzbee]

Not to sound like I work for Shopper's Vineyard, but if you're interested in getting some Oronoco, those same folks that are selling Zacapa XO for $50 are selling Oronoco for $15 - when I have never seen it for less than mid-$30's anywhere else (and up to $43).

It may not be the best thing you ever had, but it is most certainly worth $15 - and you get a great re-usable bottle for bar syrups, etc!

Thanks LM. Okay, I fess up. I was GOING to wait until tonight to try it but I just couldn't. So I broke out my nosing glass to give it a run.

Really, really tasty. Ed's right, it's totally smooth. Nice nose! Subtle flavors and a gentle sweetness.

Tried the 10 Cane too and it has a much more pronounced ethanol nose. Not quite as smooth as the Oronoco (though still good).

This one is going in the glass tonight. AND, I went to SV and dinged them for some at the sale price. Thanks much for that! Even with shipping it's like 1/2 off.

I don't know what their deal is. The write up made it sound like a war or something. Have you ordered from them?? Anyway, once it arrives I'll be set for some cold winters nights that are sure to come! Appreciate the heads up there.

Cheers to you and all the fine folks that make this such a great site.

Ken

[Edward Hamilton]

Have you ordered from them?
I ordered a few bottles of rum from Shopper's Vineyard and got it faster than I expected to. Other than the usual Fedex run around, I found dealing with them to be a very good experience.

Like LM says, not to sound like I work for SV, but when you find a good product or company to deal with, you tell your friends and go back.

Cheers to you and all the fine folks that make this such a great site.
We're glad you found it and look forward to hearing about how you like the rums.

[Edward Hamilton]

Oh yeah, they also had a different Cruzan Aged Light that didn't say 14 months. It said a year.... I know, only 2 months less but....

Ken

I haven't seen that one yet. Last month I was in NY and caught up with Gary Nelthropp, the president and distiller at Cruzan. Now that you've got some Cruzan rum in your glass, you might be interested in the interview (http://www.ministryofrum.com/forums/../interviews.php) I did with him. Just scroll down below the interview with David Morrison.

[Dood]

I'm a big fan of the Cruzan light, though I still default to the El Dorado 3 Year Old for white rums when possible.

[kbuzbee]

It may not be the best thing you ever had, but it is most certainly worth $15 - and you get a great re-usable bottle for bar syrups, etc!

Well, I spent some time with the Oronoco last night and I think your summary is dead on. It's good. Quite good. Very smooth. Light and easy to drink. Not overly serious or complex but a nice, easy drink.

I actually didn't get much vanilla out of it (some but not like a couple of my favorite bourbons). There is an odd undercurrent that seems to come from woody notes (but not the charred oak I'm used to - something else). Does anyone else get that?

Would I buy another bottle for $40? Probably not. But for $15 it's definitely worth keeping on the bar.

I haven't seen that one yet.

Gary addressed it in your interview. He says the label says one year but it's actually a blend of 14-24 mo.... I'll have to try the newer expression.

Last month I was in NY and caught up with Gary Nelthropp, the president and distiller at Cruzan.

That's a good interview. He's very personable.

I still default to the El Dorado 3 Year Old for white rums when possible.

I'll have to try that one.

Thanks all,

Ken

[smedley61]

"Gary addressed it in your interview. He says the label says one year but it's actually a blend of 14-24 mo...."

Owing to my 'connection' with St. John,USVI, Cruzan Estate Light has been my 'house' white rum for a number of years. So, is there a difference in aging between the 'old' 2yr and 'new' one year ? (One would think that the 2 year had rums at least two years old.....) If so, I wonder what Cruzan's reasoning was for a younger bottling of their Estate Light.

Thanks,

Smeedley61

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[Stamina1914]

"Gary addressed it in your interview. He says the label says one year but it's actually a blend of 14-24 mo...."

Owing to my 'connection' with St. John,USVI, Cruzan Estate Light has been my 'house' white rum for a number of years. So, is there a difference in aging between the 'old' 2yr and 'new' one year ? (One would think that the 2 year had rums at least two years old.....) If so, I wonder what Cruzan's reasoning was for a younger bottling of their Estate Light.

Thanks,

Smeedley61

cheers.gif


Don't know if it wasn't more a product of a need than a choice. Cruzan has been doing extremeley well with US Sales; maybe they just could not afford to age their rums as long as they wanted to to keep up with demand.5

[smedley61]

Don't know if it wasn't more a product of a need than a choice. Cruzan has been doing extremeley well with US Sales; maybe they just could not afford to age their rums as long as they wanted to to keep up with demand.5

That's an interesting thought; also, I preferred their previous packaging.
All this being, said, its still and excellent product. All of the Cruzan rums are incredibly inexpensive in the USVI, and they rule the mixed drinks market there.


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[Joe Riley]

While probably less available, the Sunset Light Rum from St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a bargain, less expensive than Bacardi, though I prefer their Captain Bligh Gold Rum myself.

[smedley61]

While probably less available, the Sunset Light Rum from St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a bargain, less expensive than Bacardi, though I prefer their Captain Bligh Gold Rum myself.


A few months ago, I went to a charity event that had a table hosted by
the distributors of those St. Vincent rums. They were quite good;unfortunately, they are not found in the Virginia ABC stores (They have a rather pathetic selection of quality rum vs., say vodka....). So it will have to wait until I make into DC and get to Ace Beverages and see if they have it (I also will get a bottle of Angostura 'Royal Oak' so I can replicate some classic Trader Vic cocktails that called for 'Siegert's Bouquet'). In the mean time, I'll just have to 'suffer' with Cruzan Light.

http://ministryofrum.com/forums/images/smilies/glass.gif

[Rum Runner]

Don't know if it wasn't more a product of a need than a choice. Cruzan has been doing extremely well with US Sales; maybe they just could not afford to age their rums as long as they wanted to to keep up with demand.5

If the proposed expansion in capacity of Cruzan takes hold then perhaps they will be able to lay down some stocks for further ageing.

[Edward Hamilton]

That's part of the plan. It's difficult to put more rum away when you don't have the production capacity to do so.