Gone But Not Forgotten Rums

[UnkleNeeko]

I am interested in the prevalence of discontinued rums, for example, those which are no longer produced like Zaya Gran Reserva from Guatemala or Planters Gold Pyrat XO Reserve, or others in the recent past you care to mention.

Do you still have these rums? And if so, what will you do with them?

[RonJames]

I've got a couple of bottles that I am saving for special occasions, and special people. Generally I open more expensive bottles with my family/friends, but only those bottles that despite the cost I can get. If its something that isn't made anymore or from a location that is next to impossible for me to obtain from again, then I generally try to open it with people who KNOW rum. For instance, opened up a bottle of bacardi reserva limitada (I fly to PR every year and its accessable) and made a small rum and coke with it for my mother for a celebration, everybody else sipped it. Now I did not open up my bottle of Guatemalan Zaya because they wouldn't have appreciated it, and because I wish to share it with a forum member that I know well but haven't met in person yet.

[Arctic Wolf]

I have one bottle of The Ron Zacapa 23 Anos, which may or may not be the same as the 23 Solera, which I am saving for the right moment. I also have several rare whiskies which are now unavailable, as well as a few single cask offerings that are sold out.

It must be just my peculiar nature, but I really do not care whether the people I share them with are connoisseurs or not. To me what matters is that they appreciate the effort. Last summer, I brought out a bottle of Single Cask Bunnahabhain 30 year old for two friends. Now these guys were not primarily Scotch drinkers, so the nuance of the spirit was maybe lost on them. But what was not lost was the ambiance of sipping something which was special. And yes both of them sipped it straight, then they added a touch of Sprite and enjoyed it thoroughly.

About a week later, these guys filled a pickup truck with firewood (I have an outdoor firepit) and brought it over just out of the blue. They hauled it and stacked it without asking help.

I never regretted sharing with these guys.

[Edward Hamilton]

Over the years, I've been given a number of bottles of rum which are no longer bottled. I generally open them and enjoy it, or not. I'll share this with friends who appreciate rum and/or other spirits.

I don't have the space to store a lot of spirits so I enjoy them when I have them and look for something else when I'm out.

[Ben]

I'm not a real collector in the sense of trying to get every bottle ever made, but I try to have the largest collection as possible.

The thing is I drink almost as fast as I can buy party1.gif

Anyway I have a few bottles that are not available anymore, and let's say that while I'm not trying to hide them away, it makes the heart cringe a little more when I open the bottle.

[CorvallisCracker]

When I found out Cruzan was going from two years to 14 months, I went out and bought six bottles of the white. I'm about halfway through these.

I also have a bottle of the old Zaya. I'm slowly working my way through that.

[itsme_timd]

Being new to collecting I don't have much and have nothing that would be considered extremely rare. I have a bottle of HC7 that a friend from Canada sent me and for the moment that is my 'treasured' rum. I'd gladly share it with any of my friends who enjoy rum.

At this stage I'm enjoying learning what to look for and growing my meager collection. cheers.gif

[Jason]

I've stashed 2 bottles of the now old bottle of Mount Gay XO (even though it's still widely available here) since that will be unavailable soon. I also have stashed a bottle of Cockspur VSOR since I believe that's been discontinued. In the grand scheme of things these are low hanging fruit in collecting terms and I don't expect them to ever be worth anything. Mostly just for the novelty of it.

Most of the more expensive or harder to find (in this part of the world) rums I have I'm saving for special occasions or good friends, but not necessarily hoarding with the intent never to drink them.

Now if I bought something like Havana Club Maximo I'd likely never drink it. That'd be more of an investment, unless I hit the lottery and could buy another :)

[martybmccabe]

I have an unopened bottle of Cruzan Estate Diamond and a couple bottles of Inner Circle Red. Honestly, they'll get opened sooner or later...

[Calgaryx]

I found three bottles of Zaya Guatamala before they disappeared. I will keep them for special friends and special times.

[sailor22]

I have most of a case of old Zaya and a case of Zacapa 23 anjos that I am sipping my way through. I share both whenever I have a friend over who might appreciate them. I have a couple of older Planters XO's that I share and sip also.
There is plenty of great Rum currently available but in all three cases I knew I wanted to have that expression around for a while, and when they started to disappear I stocked up.
Now it's kind of like spending time with an old friend who won't be around much longer.

[gatomalo]

I have three bottles of the palm-weave Zacapa 23 stashed away, one of which is earmarked for my (potential) wedding day.

I also have one bottle of English Harbour Extra Old to crack open one of these days.

[havanitascigars]

Just finished a bottle of the old Zaya. I learned from years of collecting cigars that holding onto them just because they are no longer made spoils the joy of having them. They should be had when you have them so you can have the experience.

I learned the hard way with some Montecristo cigars. A brand that does not particularly age well as they mellow too much. I had a particular blend that is not made anymore and held onto them. At 4 years they were at their peak and wonderful. At 12 years, they had lost their allure and flavor. It was sad because I had half a box of these cigars that were very special to me, but because I hoarded them I missed out on what could have been some truly memorable occasions.

So when I buy rum or cigars, I enjoy them as I feel like it without a thought of saving them... even if they turn out to be rare or no longer made.

Just my 2 cents....

[JMac]

I generally purchase several bottles of a rum that is or about to be discontinued.

A couple of bottles I'll keep for sharing. One bottle I'll put in my collection as a tribute to that rum in particular and as part of an overall 'archaelogical record' in the world of rum.

[Tiare]

I can`t buy more than one bottle of a rum as thereґs almost no selection here and shipping to sweden is very expensive and so i just enjoy the rums i have until they are finished. Some i work my way through quite slowly.

I do have a bottle of LH151 stored away though - in the US..;-) for now.

[BaltRumFan]

I'm glad you started this thread. This is a topic that is only recently starting to become something of interest to me. I have three spirits consisting of two rums and one limited bourbon (my other favorite spirit) and I find myself trying to determine when is appropriate to open them.

In a perfect world I would LOVE and give anything to share a bottle of bourbon with my Dad but he is strictly non-alcoholic so I will never have that once in a lifetime memorable experience.

That leaves me to close friends who enjoy alcohol for more than numbing their senses...sadly I only have one close friend who I would gladly share any spirit on earth. In fact he will probably be the only person who will share most of these experiences with me, LOL :). How appropriate he is also the one who first introduced me to rum.

For some it sounds as thought the question of 'when' to open a rare/limited/discontinued spirit such as rum is easy. I find myself Now trying to decide when are the special occassions to pop open say a botle of ORVW 23yr or Appleton 30yr to truly enjoy the spirit and make a memory to be remembered for a lifetime.

This is a fascinating and very enjoyable thread.

[Skulman]

I have an unopened bottle of Cruzan Estate Diamond and a couple bottles of Inner Circle Red. Honestly, they'll get opened sooner or later...

SO what the signifigance of the Cruzan Estate Diamond? My wife just found me a bottle of it recently. Very Tastey but far from empty

[Skulman]

I generally purchase several bottles of a rum that is or about to be discontinued.

OK so I will ask, how does one find out when a rum is about to be discontinued? :confused:

[rum bluff]

Be a rum junkie and visit sites like this daily and rarely will you miss anything about discontinuence. Cruzan Diamond was known for probably nine months.
Best of luck.

[Jolipapa]

When I get a bottle of rum, it is to drink it, but I keep some bottles as they are no more produced (1998 Guadeloupe Plantation) or because they wiill probably very close to another from the same origin (i.e. I open the 12 years St James, and keep the 1998 single cask for a later opportunity).
In the case of the Estate Diamond Cruzan, I craked it open as Ed recommended, and that was a very good idea! (and also because I can get another bottle from the next street liquor shop by chance, for the not negligible sum of 38 Euros - this explains that-).

To Tiare:
I can`t buy more than one bottle of a rum as thereґs almost no selection here and shipping to sweden is very expensive and so i just enjoy the rums i have until they are finished. Some i work my way through quite slowly.
Are you that far from the Kobenhavn ferry? I had a relative in Malmö and the bags were tingling happily and loudly on the return journeys, a good souvenir. True to say it was mostly Carlsberg, any color and custom officers were rarely present.

[roodad]

I didn't realize Zaya G R was no longer being produced. I have 1.5 bottles left, and I will cherish them. sigh

[Rutherford H Mountbatten]

Zaya is still being made -- it is just a different Zaya than the old (Guatemala) version, instead being produced in Trinidad.

[chrism76]

Does it still taste the same?

[Rutherford H Mountbatten]

It is different. It uses different stills, sugar, and aging conditions.

I haven't tasted the Guatemala version as it hasn't been widely available for quite some time, but most of the comparisons I've seen prefer the old version.

[Demomonkey]

I have never tried the old one. Judging the new one purely on it's merits, I was not impressed. Thin and lacking any note but vanilla.

In a number of blind taste tests my friends (of varying levels of rum sophistication) have consistently chosen Captain Morgans Private Stock over "New" Zaya, and I daresay I agree with them.