nice rums?

[replicant_argent]

So I'm coming back from Mexico today and stop by the duty free. Hmm, Zacapa 23. I remember seeing it mentioned in this thread so I grab a bottle. Go to pay and find out two bottles are a special deal price. Okay, so I bought two. Having my first taste right now. :dr

That was about half an hour ago, so I bet you are smiling right now.

[Chainsaw13]

That was about half an hour ago, so I bet you are smiling right now.

Oh yes, that's really good stuff. Very glad I bought two bottles.

[Frodo]

Oh yes, that's really good stuff. Very glad I bought two bottles.

Pairs brilliantly with Anejos (among others) IMHO...

[replicant_argent]

Pairs brilliantly with breathing

Fixed that for you.

[yourchoice]

Happened to be in PA today and popped in a Total Wine and Spirits. Zaya was on sale for 32.99 which is cheaper than I've seen in NJ. Not my #1, but for that price I should have bought two!

[Wanger]

I am sadly out of a good sipper right now (aside from my cherished bottle of Guat Zaya). Need to get some soon...the weather is much more conducive to having a rum and cigar on the deck...when it hasn't been raining (which is rare these last couple weeks).

[RGD.]

Sea Wynde - 92 proof pot still rum.

So on Saturday Dave (N3UKA) was over for my daughters 21st birthday and brought along a bottle of Sea Wynde that he picked up and hadn't had before (while I have-still had one bottle on the shelf.)

So there we are out on the deck enjoying a smoke and doing shots while watching the short skirts and various female parts trying to escape from their tops. It all proved to be a very enjoyable night.

As I said we did shots all night with this bottle. After the first one, you let the initial burn subside and then you are good to go! Your mouth and throat are bathed in a nice honey, slightly fruity and subtle sweetness. Suffice to say that we may have shared 5 or 6 shots with others but the rest was ours and the next morning less than a 1/4 of the bottle was all that's left.

For some reason I can't remember the smokes that we had - :ss

So if you run across this very cool looking bottle with the pewter label on it - grab a bottle. Makes a nice addition to anybody's rum shelf.

Here is the website: http://www.castlebrandsinc.com/sea_wynde.php

I'm sure that it would make an excellent mixer if you choose - but use something that's not heavy on the syrup/sweet side.

Ron

http://www.vin-dome.com/product_image.php?id=11313&for=list

[big pete]

I had a glass of the Zacapa XO last week and it was outstanding. If it wasn't so darn expensive, I would have bought 2-3 bottles already...

[Ciro]

El Dorado 15 Year is a great rum

[dwoodward]

Still loving the Appleton Estate Extra 12yr... it's about the best you can get here. Pretty tasty!

[BC-Axeman]

Sipping on some Zaya right now. It's still good. They upped the price on the Zacapa Solera 23 at my liquor store. I may let it set on the shelf for a while.

[SvilleKid]

Grabbed these a week or so ago. They arrived today.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc403/svillekid/Cigars/F26AD118-E577-494D-9E2B-A46E3CF0BCBD-7695-0000070E26AC7B81.jpg

About as dark of a naturally spiced rum as I've seen (clear bottles). Ready aroma of Vanilla. Unlike many "spiced" rums that have the spices added after distillation, this rum IS NOT sweet. It has a bite, but that bite is short and easily enjoyable. Then, there's a very long after taste of dried fruit (maybe black cherry?). And retro-exhaling gives nice notes of vanilla. Glad I grabbed 2 of these!!

[pnoon]

Oh my!
Those look goooooood.

[cobra03]

Wow. Never heard of/ seen it before. Sounds pretty good though.

[emopunker2004]

Picked up my first bottle of Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 year old the other day. Tis good stuff :dr

[yourchoice]

I picked up a bottle of "Ron Barcelo Imperial" this past week, and had some tonight, with an 06 HU No.2 while watching hockey. A very nice rum!

[SvilleKid]

Oh my!
Those look goooooood.

Just so you know, those are CLEAR bottles the rum is in. The rum is that dark!!!!

[pnoon]

Just so you know, those are CLEAR bottles the rum is in. The rum is that dark!!!!

Why do you torture me?

[SvilleKid]

Why do you torture me?

I checked for it at a place called McScrooges in Knoxville today. They haven't heard of it. And they have about as good of a selection as I've seen outside of a "superstore" liquor retailer. I will say that their whiskey and Scotch selections cover about three times the space as their rum. Which is OK with me!!!:D

[pnoon]

I checked for it at a place called McScrooges in Knoxville today. They haven't heard of it. And they have about as good of a selection as I've seen outside of a "superstore" liquor retailer. I will say that their whiskey and Scotch selections cover about three times the space as their rum. Which is OK with me!!!:D

The places I usually shop at don't carry it but I have found a couple places not too far away that do. Just have to get my ass in gear and go get some.

[hammondc]

I suppose I will add Koloa to my shopping list.

[tsolomon]

Local liquor store had both the Ron Zacapa 23Yr and Ron Zacapa XO rum on sale, so I bought one of each. The XO is the best rum I have ever tasted. :2

[madwilliamflint]

Local liquor store had both the Ron Zacapa 23Yr and Ron Zacapa XO rum on sale, so I bought one of each. The XO is the best rum I have ever tasted. :2

I've been very happy with the 23. Near as I can tell it's the best rum I can get with little trouble. Thanks for the tip on the XO. I'll keep an eye out for it.

What's the price point?

[big pete]

Recent pick ups
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/secretaznman58/57368C15-1738-41AA-968D-3602D14B21F6-15352-000012F6566209CE.jpg

[hammondc]

NICE haul. I need to get some of that Zaya. Are you drinking straight or mixed?

[big pete]

Most of them neat. The sangsom is a bit sharp (to me) for drinking by itself. It's great with some Coke plus it was dirt cheap in Thailand (around $7-8)

[SvilleKid]

My wife picked this up for me this past week in Nassau, Not distributed outside of the Bahamas at this time. This is the oldest aged they currently offer, at 5 years old (I believe that's the length of time they have need making rum). I've got two different rums open right now, so this one goes on the shelve for the future.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc403/svillekid/EA8530AF-678C-42C1-B1FF-07F243B247A4_zpsaahtcphl.jpg (http://s1210.photobucket.com/user/svillekid/media/EA8530AF-678C-42C1-B1FF-07F243B247A4_zpsaahtcphl.jpg.html)

[8zeros]

I'm more of a whiskey drinker, and not so picky about it, but I've tried some of the nice rums mentioned in this thread and loved them. Now I have a list of more to try. Oh great, another slope.
Gotta figure how to present this to my wife, is all.

[big pete]

At least rum is quite a bit cheaper than whiskey :)

[SvilleKid]

At least rum is quite a bit cheaper than whiskey :)

It can be...... But then again, some good, aged rums can cost as much as good bourbons!

[8zeros]

I liked Zaya a lot when I first tried it. I was my favorite sippin spirit for a while. Someone just brought me a bottle this weekend and I thought something was wrong with it. It was harsh, thin, medicine flavored and rougher than cheap vodka. I looked it up to see if it has changed and found this article... http://www.therumcollective.com/2015/02/from-top-shelf-sipper-to-no-thanks-fall.html.
It seems there is a bottle and blend change. If you can't find the smooth sided bottles I wouldn't buy it. Anyone else noticed this?

[Don Fernando]

Anybody mention Dictator yet? Especially their older rum is fantastic

[Old Sailor]

Ron Matusalem :dr

[icehog3]

Roger, from what I understand, Zaya changed their blend a few years back, and possibly switched the country in which it's produced. Definitely inferior to the old blend, too much artifical vanilla flavor now. Disappointing, I prefer Zacapa over it now.

[8zeros]

Roger, from what I understand, Zaya changed their blend a few years back, and possibly switched the country in which it's produced. Definitely inferior to the old blend, too much artificial vanilla flavor now. Disappointing, I prefer Zacapa over it now.
Yeah, Tom, they changed it from Guatemala to Trinidad before I even tried it the first time. I liked the Trinidad version, and when I got a taste of the older blend I thought it tasted like Zacapa Solera which I also like a lot. This new change is something else. I'm going to use the rest of the bottle for mixing or cooking and never buy it again. It is not sippable.

[8zeros]

Anybody mention Dictator yet? Especially their older rum is fantastic
Is this the one in the squat green bottle? I like that one.

[Don Fernando]

Is this the one in the squat green bottle? I like that one.

http://sr1.wine-searcher.net/images/labels/93/80/dictador-solera-system-insolent-x-o-rum-colombia-10419380.jpg

[8zeros]

Oops, the one I was thinking of was Diplomatico. Slight difference in name there.

[Don Fernando]

Yeah a Dictator doesn't use a lot of Diplomatico :)

[sigsauer]

waiting on 2 bottles
Santero and Varadero
never had either..

[Gabe215]

Plantation XO (20th Anniversary) is exquisite!! Think I'm gonna buy some El Dorado 15 while I'm in NJ this weekend!

[MarkinAZ]

A few years back, Eric (Smokin5) bombed me with a bottle of 8 year old El Dorado Rum. Shortly thereafter, I traveled to Las Vegas for four days of work. As you can see, the bottle remained in Vegas:r

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/markinca1953/ElDorado002_zpscfeddb6f.jpg

Let me just say it's "good stuff...":tu

[Gabe215]

Just picked this up while I was in NJ today!!

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a588/GabeP215/Mobile%20Uploads/8351C21E-BA54-4751-98CD-F3E2FAEEF825_zpstt1zxg4r.jpg (http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/GabeP215/media/Mobile%20Uploads/8351C21E-BA54-4751-98CD-F3E2FAEEF825_zpstt1zxg4r.jpg.html)

[MarkinAZ]

^^^ Great pick-up Gabe:tu

[HailTheBrownLeaf]

Is there a little ball or anything at the bottom of a bottle of Havana Club 7 rum??

As I took a sip out of the last not even mouthful of the bottle and I feel like I swallowed something I shouldn't have...

It didn't feel like jagged plastic or broken glass though.

[pnoon]

Is there a little ball or anything at the bottom of a bottle of Havana Club 7 rum??



In a word, No.

[HailTheBrownLeaf]

In a word, No.

Then what the hell did I feel like I swallowed?? Lol.

[markem]

Then what the hell did I feel like I swallowed?? Lol.

Have you seen the move, "Alien" :banger

some presents open themselves.

[HailTheBrownLeaf]

Have you seen the move, "Alien" :banger

some presents open themselves.

Yes I have.

In all seriousness...should I be worried or concerned??

[Flynnster]

Should you be? Probably not. Will you be? You bet your ass.


In all seriousness. That seems strange. Maybe just a bit of sediment? Or a fly?

[Porch Dweller]

Fingernail?

Mouse eyeball?
:D

Flynnster's right: try not to sweat it.

[Willem2]

Flor de caña

[massphatness]

Tried Ron Santiago 11 Year when I was in Havana last week. Holy sh!te is that stuff good!! Silky smooth -- no real bite on the back end. Delicious.

[HailTheBrownLeaf]

Finally opened my bottle of El Dorado 12 Year Old earlier tonight. I had two glasses of it, one with an ice cube in it and one without ice. As usual, I used my Glencairn glass for it.

It's pretty good although a tad sweet IMO. Plus I wasn't crazy about the "orange peel" aftertaste on the finish. To be fair as a rum noob, I've only had the Havana Club 7 Year Old (Cuban) rum to compare it to.

Still for $40 it's not too bad. I might enjoy it the more I drink it. I wish I could pair it with a cigar...stupid winter. :(

[Navydoc]

Had a wonderful Rum Gradevole in NC a few weeks ago. If you want a great refreshing run drink try this:

2 oz. Zaya 12 yr
3/4 oz. Cardamaro
1/4 oz. Grand Marnier
1/2 oz. Orgeat
2 dashes or orange bitters
Flamed orange peel for garnish

Enjoy!

[Gabe215]

Just replenished my stash of both Plantation 5 and XO.
IMO the 5 is the best every day sipper bang for ur buck at $20 a bottle. And XO is sooo smooth

[Prefy]

Been working my way through a bottle of Barbancourt 15 the last couple of weeks and I have to say I have been enjoying it quite a lot. Its an Agricole so a definite change up from most of my other rums but to my palate it 100% pairs well with a cigar.

Also been treating myself to some Diplomaticos Single Vintage 2000...couldn't be any different he aforementioned but WOW!!! :dr:dr:dr

[dijit]

Goslings black seal has been my daily drink of the rum variety. Only $20 a bottle.

Here lately I have been drinking Bumbu which for a lighter rum (I usually dont like light rums) it is very smooth.

[Navydoc]

Goslings black seal has been my daily drink of the rum variety. Only $20 a bottle.

Here lately I have been drinking Bumbu which for a lighter rum (I usually dont like light rums) it is very smooth.

I just tried Bumbu for the first time this past month and I have to say its very smooth and the banana finish is mind blowing

[Gabe215]

Anybody else have the new Zaya Gran Resrve? Blue neckband no longer twine, and is a blend of 16 rums not not 12? This stuff has a seriously bad aftertaste or is it just me? Really regret not getting my go to Plantation XO! Anyone else have this yet?

[Steve]

I spend a lot more time drinking bourbon, but this was pretty nice for a change...

http://oldchurchbbq.com/sharedpictures/2021-04-10_Warrens%20Meatfest/20210318_200617.jpg

[AdamJoshua]

I spend a lot more time drinking bourbon, but this was pretty nice for a change...

http://oldchurchbbq.com/sharedpictures/2021-04-10_Warrens%20Meatfest/20210318_200617.jpg

I actually enjoy it more than the Majestros

[stearns]

Recently I've been getting into the higher proof stuff, in particular some of the releases from Foursquare. The 2008 is really delicious, 60%+ ABV 12 years Ex-Bourbon. They have a few others that I like as well with similar stats, I tried the Nobiliary in a tasting a couple weeks ago and really liked it. I used to drink a lot of the lower proof sweeter stuff but ever since getting more into higher proof bourbons I need a rum with a little more kick. I also need them to lower their prices, but that seems unlikely