From Seattle

[Lew Barrett]

I've thrown a few feelers up on the forum but I should like to formally introduce myself. We live here in the Northwet. I've had a preference for rum most of my adult life, but only recently realized that it is MY drink. For years, I have received gifts of rum from people, perhaps because I have an old wooden boat I restored over the years. Rum seems to be the right liquid gift for an old tar.

Last summer, I was treated by a friend to some Zacapa 23, and it made me revisit my modest locker. In it I found unopened, almost forgotten gifts of Barrilito 3 Star, Pampero, Pussers and a bottle of Virgin Island gold rum in a frosted bottle from Reiss's (?) with a little straw hat. With renewed interest, I played with those, and realized; "hey, new hobby!" Since then I've been adding to the shelves.
This is a lovely site, nice people, no contention. My collection is expanding thanks in measure to recommendations here. l have a special taste for Pampero, Angostura 1824, but I enjoy the field. Of my old gifts, most were great. Maybe my preference for Pampero is because while Zacapa drew me in, Pampero (and Barrilito) hooked me.
Oh, having rushed out and gotten some Zacapa 23, the rum that started it all for me, my taste for it seems to have tailed off. At the moment, I rather prefer some of my other discoveries.
I'm a long time and experienced cigar smoker and a terrible typist.

[RumBarPhilly]

Welcome aboard! Couldnt help but notice the gifts of rum youve received over the years, nice selection, youve got good friends! That virgin island rum from Riise, I have the same thing, if its got a straw hat and a necklace and a newspaper shirt on. The rum is kind of plain, but has a nice finish. I should have left it dressed up though, haha.

Anyways, welcome!

[Edward Hamilton]

Welcome to the forum Lew. A man in the northwest with a wooden boat and a rum locker with some special rums has to have been living right. The bottle you describe as being in a frosted bottle was originally purchased at the A. H. Riise store in Charlotte Amalie, the only place that rum was sold. It is either a blend of 3-6 year old rums or a blend of 6 - 12 year old rums distilled at the Cruzan Rum distillery on St Croix.

I'm out of that rum. I left my last bottle with an old girlfriend. I should have taken that bottle of rum with me when I left.

[Hank Koestner]

If nothing else, always take the rum if you leave!!

Hello Lew, and welcome. There are other cigar lovers on the forum also, and a thread for rum and cigars. I love to find good pairings, and post them when I do, (and sometimes even if there are bad). Looking forward to your input!

[Lew Barrett]

Hank,
I have a long and somewhat sordid history with cigars, having started as a kid in college when it was still....just, by a matter of months....possible to buy the now long illegal golden oldies from "there."
I have a certain reticence discussing the depth and nature of my collections as regards cigars, but they are more varied, and deeper, than my rum locker, and my knowledge of cigars is based on more time in rank. I'll look forward to yaking it up with you too.

[Dood]

Welcome aboard!!!

[Paulipbartender]

Welcome aboard Lew. Enjoy the rum musings.......

I'll be watching the Hawks game in Green Bay with interest today, too :)