|
|
Ah, Rum, also known as Rumbustion, Rumbullion, Rhum, Ruma and Kill Devil;
it was the drink of choice (although pirates generally were not all that picky).
The fact was that rum was plentiful and cheap in the Caribbean. It, also, had
the benefit of not going 'off ' as fast onboard ship as beer or wine
would.
I won't pretend to have an extremely cultured taste for rum, but I do know
what I like. I, also, take pleasure in being a little adventurous in trying
a variety of labels and mixes. As I form an opinion (it might take a bottle
or two, just to be sure), I will post a rating and perhaps some rum based
recipes that I like. P-)
Anguilla Rums, Planters Gold Pyrat XO Reserve (Anguilla, British
West Indies)
- dark amber coloring, smells of berries with a sweet butterscotch like
flavor, good for sipping or mixing, distinctive bottle if you are into
bottles
Appleton Estate (Jamaica)
- medium amber coloring, not quite the smoothness or complexity I enjoy in
a sipping rum, it still offers good flavors when mixed in a Mai Tai
Bacardi, Superior (Puerto Rico)
- clear coloring, slight sweetness to the taste, not at its best sipped
straight, this rum is best for mixing, I recommend using it in a 1:1 ratio
with a dark full flavored rum when putting together a rum drink of your
choosing
Captain Morgan, Private Stock (Puerto Rico)
- I know Captain Morgan, mass produced swill right? Not so the Private Stock,
it is very smooth, perfect for sipping neat, I would not waste this in a mixed
drink,
dark amber coloring
Cruzan Black Strap
Rum (St.Croix, U.S.V.I.)
- nice dark rich coloring, very sweet flavor with strong molasses scent
and flavor, I could see sipping this one neat or mixing it [thanks for the
taste Bill]
Gosling's Black Seal Bermuda Black Rum (Bermuda)
- rich dark color and flavor, a little harsher than the Morgan Private
Stock above, but still good sipping neat, would mix well in drinks calling
for dark rum [thanks for the taste Bill].
Official site
Havana Club, 7 Aņejo (Cuba)
- where to start, of the rums I have tasted, this puts all of the others
to shame, smooth only begins to describe it; this rum is for sipping, it
would be a waste to dilute it in a mixed drink; rich amber in color, the
sugar of the cane drifts in as you savor each sip [for now, I can only
dream of what the 15 Aņejo must taste like]
Kilo Kai Spiced Rum (Curaįau)
- Amber or pale caramel in color, rich flavor probably due to the aging in
old bourbon barrels, definitely a bit of a twist in the flavor over
normal spiced rums, good sipping neat, mixes well in drinks
Myers's Rum, Original Dark (Jamaica)
- rich dark color and flavor, strong molasses flavor, but good sipping neat, mixes
well in drinks calling for dark rum
Mount Gay Eclipse Rum (Barbados)
- touted as the oldest of all rum brandings, light amber color, good sipping
neat although a tad harsh, but better mixed as a light rum
Pampero, Ron Aņejo, Aniversario Reserva Exclusiva (Venezuela)
- dark color and strong flavor, very, very woody, fairly good sipping neat, mixes
very well in drinks calling
for dark rum [the woodiness gives a nice extra dimension to a Mai Tai]
Pusser's Rum (British Virgin Islands)
-
purported to be the recipe the British navy used for some 300 years until
1970 (Black Tot Day) when the practice of a daily rum ration was discontinued.
Strong stuff, 95.5 proof (most rum is only 80 proof), burns on the way down if drunk neat, nice amber
color, mixes well
Ron Zacapa Centenario, 23 years (Guatemala)
- medium coloring, a smooth rum with a rich sugary scent, an excellent
choice for sipping
Rum Barbancort (Haiti)
- medium coloring, like a fine cognac, smooth, not quite as sugary as the
Zacapa above
Rum Flor de Caņa Gold - Aged 4 Years (Nicaragua)
- Caramel coloring, the molasses flavor comes through, a little rough
sipped neat, not as smooth as some others listed here, suitable for
mixing
Sea Wynde (Jamaica & Guyana)
- light amber color, over proofed at 92, this rum is a bit harsh if drunk
straight, it fairs better as a mixer
|
|
