Tuesday Traveler - Mike's Rum Review - 12 April 2016

Let’s Talk About Rum

This posting is very different from those normally found here.  It’s one I’ve been studying for quite a few years now, and those that know me personally will vouch for the results.  I must preface this with a few disclaimers.  First, all the testing was done by me, there were no controlled or scientific methods applied, and it was all done responsibly (to an extent) in confines of my home or that of friends.

If you elect to conduct a test similar in nature, do so responsibly, don’t drink and drive.

Before we get into the review of rum, let me give you a little background.  As some of you know I lived, worked, and traveled to a lot of Latin American and Caribbean countries; the vast majority of which have their own ‘national’ rum. 

Turning 60 this year, I’ve been a rum drinker since before some of you were born.  “Back in the day”, the legal drinking age was 18, and most of us in my area, we were drinking beer before that.  In those days, I preferred mixing my rum, and other hard liquor with cola or juice. 

Having had one of those nights that I got a ride home, I felt like hell the next morning.  Meeting dad at the coffee pot, he noticed my hungover state and said something like ‘boy, I’ve told you, don’t mix your liquor with anything but ice or water’.  He went on to explain that the sugars in colas and juices is the reason for a hungover.  Now while this is not totally true, it made me do some research and what I found out was the sweetness hides the taste of the liquor and inadvertently we drink more.  Even so, I took his advice and now only mix rum with ice. 

With that said, the only thing you need to remember is the last five words, “only mix rum with ice”.  Now, let’s review a few of my favorite rums.  My review is in no special or ranked order, here are a few of the rums I call my ‘top shelf’; by the way, they’re all empty.  Why do I keep empties on my top shelf?  Because they’re good and I drank them; why buy good rum to let it sit around?

Okay, let’s get started.

Basically rum is described as “light” and “dark”.  The light rums are generally used in mixed drinks, while the dark rums, my rum of choice, is consumed without mixers, except of course ice.  Both blends are made with sugarcane or sugarcane byproducts, and processed to a clear liquid, which is then aged in oak barrels to give them color and additional flavors.  Check out Wikipedia for more details.

Capt Morgan – Limited Edition, Spice Rum, Sherry Oak Finish

Although this rum wasn't aged in a sherry oak cask, it definitely has a smooth, distinctive taste of sherry.  The first thing you notice is the semi-sweet smell, followed by the sherry.

 According to the bottle itself, it’s produced in St. Croix of the US Virgin Islands (most other sources place the country of origin as Puerto Rico), and distributed by the Captain Morgan Rum Company in Rochester, NY.  


The cost of a 750ml bottle is about $25.

Capt Morgan – 1671

I’m not sure if the ‘real’ rum coinsures consider this a black rum, but I do.  It’s another smooth product from Capt Morgan that is worth trying.  

It has a pleasant taste, goes down easy, and is equally as good with or without ice.

This is one of those rums gentlemen would be sipping while telling stories and smoking cigars.  It would probably lead to some embellishment, and possibly a couple outright lies, but the thought of sipping rum and smoking a cigar with friends, well it may be worth it.

A bottle of 1671 costs about $30.

Capt Morgan – Private Stock

This is rum is aged for two years in ex-bourbon barrels.  Even using these barrels, the distinguished Morgan spicy flavor, is noticeable.

It has a smooth taste, no bourbon aftertaste, and with the cost being around $30 a bottle, you still can’t go wrong. 

This is the type of rum that can be mixed.  Friends of mine say it mixes well with dark and light colas.

Ron Zacapa – Solbra Gran Reserva 23

This rum is a premium product of Guatemala, made from “Virgin Sugar Cane”; the first squeeze in the process.  


It’s a darker rum, it is still one of the smoothest rums I consumed.  This is not a spicy rum, it has good taste, no aftertaste, and is another sipping rum.  Many of the younger locals in Guatemala choose to mix their rum with colas, but the older drinkers simply poor it in a small glass. 

Cost for a 750ml bottle is about $45.

Botran - Reserva

This is another Guatemalan rum, that is also made of virgin sugar cane.  It's aged between 5 and 14 years.  This rum is also distilled by the makers of Zacapa that I mentioned above.

The initial smell is of a charred oak barrel which leads to a slight fruity taste that is smooth on the palate.

Cost is between $25 and $35.







Atlantico – Private Cask

This is one of the finer rums from the Republica Dominicana (Dominican Republic).  It's smooth, very little noticeable spice, with a hint of sweetness.  It’s a blend of small batch rums that have been independently aged up to 25 years, resulting in its unique and pleasurable taste.


 While its better than the more popular Dominican rum Brugal, at about $30 a bottle, it’s more expensive.







South Bay – Limited Edition, Small Batch No. 18

This is another Domincan rum that is worth getting.  Since distribution just began in the US (April 2016), it may be a little hard to find, but keep searching, you'll enjoy it.

South Bay is an example of  the "small batch rums" used to create Atlantico, Private Cask (mentioned above); although I'm not sure if it is actually one of the rum in the process.

This is a smooth rum that brings different tastes with each sip.  You'll notice a fruity and sherry smell as you open the bottle.  And each sip will bring forth a variety of smooth distinctive tastes.

Cost is between $30 and $35.

Ron Matusalem – Gran Reserva

Originally, this rum was was made in Cuba, but now, it too is distilled in the Dominican Republic.

This has a sweeter smell of fruit, spices, with the slight aroma of tobacco. The taste is equally as smooth as the two previously mentioned Dominican rums.

The cost is around $35.

 
El Dorado – Reserve 21 Year

This rum is a product of Guyana and one of my first tastes of a ‘premium’ rum.  It’s a darker rum, but don’t be fooled by the smooth taste, it has some kick.  

The taste is fruity and spicy with no aftertaste.  Before you taste it though, you'll be enticed by the warm smell of tropical fruits and spices.

It's a sipping rum.  Because it costs about $90 a bottle, sit back and enjoy it; save the chugging for the cheap stuff. 

Just for the record, all the above rums have corked tops, no metal or plastic screw caps for this stuff.  In my years of drinking rum, it’s has become my opinion, the better tasting and higher quality rum comes in corked bottles.  Now, that doesn’t mean screw capped rums are bad, they just aren’t as good.

And a final note, DRINK RESPONSIBLY...

Until next time,
Mike