Hello from Northern Virginia

[lperry]

Hello-

I live just south of Washington DC where I work as an archaeologist. I'm a fairly recent rum drinker mainly due to a few trips to the Caribbean in the past year. I find that I enjoy rum much more than other spirits.

Right now the cabinet contains Flor de Cana extra dry white, Appleton Estate Reserve, and Ron de Barrilitos two star. I also have a mystery bottle of Vieux Labbe rhum from Haiti - it was picked up in the duty free by my boyfriend, and I can't find any information on it out there. I'm guessing it is an agricole (?)

The Ministry of Rum was suggested to me by a member of another food board when I posted about the Vieux Labbe and received no responses. I've already spent a couple of hours reading the forums, and I look forward to spending more time here!

[Lew Barrett]

I don't have any insights to offer on your Vieux Labbe, but as a newbie to these pages myself, I bid you greetings and happy sipping.

[RobertBurr]

Berling S.A produces Vieux Labbe premium rhums in Haiti in memory of Labbe Barbancourt grandfather of late Jane Barbancourt, who was married to Rudolf Linge a perfume maker in France, who had settled in Haiti during World War II.

Today their son Herbert Barbancourt Linge, President of Berling S.A, still preserves original formulas and well kept secrets created by his ancestors.

The company also produces Coffee, Anisette, Coconut and Orange flavored rhums, and a line of rhum cremas flavored with Coconut, Rum Raisin, and Cocoa.

[Dood]

Welcome to the Ministry!

[Hank Koestner]

Welcome to the forums!!

[lperry]

Hi everyone and thank you for the welcome!

Hi Robert- I found this same sort of information about the Vieux Label on a website about a food and rum festival in St. Lucia last fall (which really sounds like it would have been amazing). I'm *very* new at the whole rum thing, so I am guessing that something labeled "premium" should be sipped and not mixed? Or mixed with just a little water or ice? I know these probably seem like naive questions, but never having been much of a spirits drinker, it is all pretty new to me. :) So along those same lines, what are rhum cremas?

Thanks,

-Linda

[lionel47]

I just came back from Haiti and picked up a bottle of the 10 year old Berling Vieux Labbe. I plan on doing a comparison against the 5 star Barbancourt tonight. I will let you know.