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Rum 'n Whisky
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: England | San Francisco
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I'm quite old now. And I've decided it's time I drank whisky or rum over beer.
Can anyone recommend a good intro guide to the types and what makes good spirits? Any personal brand recommendations?
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we don't have time to stop for gas
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: London
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Whiskys to try!!
Glenmorangie 10 year - Standard
Highland Park 12- One of my favs
Laphroaig - Smokey
Jamersons - Smokey
Red Breast 12- Another fav
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Rums to try
Morgan Spiced
Sailor Jerrys
Havana 7 year
OVD
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MacBook Pro 2.2 i7 | 4GB | 128GB SSD ~ 500GB+2TB Externals ~ iPhone 4 32GB
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: San Diego
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While we’re at it, who makes a good Bourbon whiskey?
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: England | San Francisco
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thanks. I'll check em out.
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we don't have time to stop for gas
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 1999
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I like Maker's Mark. It's pretty good for the price.
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"…I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than
you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods,
you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts
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Administrator
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Land of the Easily Amused
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Rum - Mount Gay. tasty and on the cheaper side of things.
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Forum Regular
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: The Capital of Silicon Valley
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All of this has happened before and all of it will happen again.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Pacific Northwest
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I'll probably be shut down as low brow, but I like Jack Daniels, Crown Royal, or Pendelton.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2000
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Ahhhh, a man after my own heart! (But hopefully, not my budget!)
Now, go out and buy random bottles of alcohol and see what you like best.
greg
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Mankind's only chance is to harness the power of stupid.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Diego, CA, USA
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Originally Posted by Gankdawg
I'll probably be shut down as low brow, but I like Jack Daniels, Crown Royal, or Pendelton.
I don't understand why somebody would hate on Jack. That is a fine whiskey.
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Chuck
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"Instead of either 'multi-talented' or 'multitalented' use 'bisexual'."
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: I'll let you know when I get there...
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How old are you? Drink cognac.
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Cambridge, UK
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Originally Posted by Chuckit
I don't understand why somebody would hate on Jack. That is a fine whiskey.
I can't stand it. It's too sweet and has no rough edge to it.
I'll take Bells or Famous Grouse over JD.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Suffolk, VA
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Originally Posted by Chuckit
I don't understand why somebody would hate on Jack. That is a fine whiskey.
9 parts Jack, .5 parts Coke and .5 parts ice!!!
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Durham, NC
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Bushmill’s is a pretty delicious and not outrageously expensive whiskey too.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Detroit
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jack and coke (zero) are one of the major food groups; gotta have it!
N.F.L. and N.F.S. too!
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Back in the Good Ole US of A
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I'm not much of a whiskey fan but I discovered some nice rums when I lived in Trinidad. You may have heard of Angostura bitters... It turns out the House of Angostura is also a major producer of rum (and several other products I think are only sold in Trinidad & Tobago). They produce a couple of fine dark rums; 1919 and 1824. 1824 is pretty expensive but is produced via a rather elaborate process producing a smooth and unique rum. Both are blended rums made from molasses. A couple of other fine rums from Trinidad are Zaya Gran Reserva and 10 Cane. 10 Cane is unique in that it is made from the juice of the first pressing of sugar cane stalks. It has a light flavor and is awesome in mixed drinks like a mojito or daiquiri. 10 Cane is produced by Moët Hennessy.
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Baninated
Join Date: Mar 2008
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12 year old Single Malt Glenlivit. Excellent.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2000
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Originally Posted by lexapro
12 year old Single Malt Glenlivit. Excellent.
This.
Although if you can swing the 25 year..... do it!
greg
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Mankind's only chance is to harness the power of stupid.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: England | San Francisco
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we don't have time to stop for gas
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Hilbert space
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Quinta Ruban Glenmorangie. Hmmm.
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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Southern California
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Bourbon.
Maker's Mark and Bulleit are both good. I don't mind Jack either, even though it isn't bourbon.
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Addicted to MacNN
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we don't have time to stop for gas
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Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Central New York
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Maker's Mark on the rocks. I am definitely a Bourbon lover. There are other good bourbons out there, some good straight or on the rocks, and others mixed with ginger ale (my preference) or cola.
I also drink my vodka on the rocks with only a twist. I have never liked rum and am not a fan of scotch. On the rare occasion I drink a Manhattan, I prefer them with Canadian Club, or even better, VO.
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macforray
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Senior User
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: petting the refrigerator.
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Originally Posted by Peter
Laphroaig is great.
It may taste like licking a freshly tarred and asphalted street, but for inexplicable reasons it is great. I usually keep a bottle of the 10 year handy, since anything older is out of my budget.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Why do you care?
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Bourbons:
Classic Cask 13 or 15 Year (21 Year is great too if you can find it)
Four Roses Small Batch or Single Barrel
Buffalo Trace
Rum:
Havana Club 7 (Cuban)
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2000
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Hmmm, several Havana Club 7 recommendations... I'll have to give that one a try again; I had a bottle a few years back and at the time wasn't very impressed!
My rum recommendations (made from looking over at my cabinet! ):
Appleton's Estate Extra
Flor de Cana Reserve 7 years
Mount Gay Extra Old
Vizcaya VXOP
And of course, Newfoundland Screech! *chest bump*
And finally, if you want to blow a LOT of money for a single rum that will impress everyone and that you'll sip from for a year:
Pyrat Cask 1623
(Bought it with a buddy as self-graduation present a few years back... oh, oh, oh was it worth the couple hundred bucks. )
Have at 'er!
greg
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Mankind's only chance is to harness the power of stupid.
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Senior User
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: petting the refrigerator.
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Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton
Mount Gay Extra Old
I have no experience with this beverage, but...
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Yamanashi, Japan
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Man I do love rum.... wonderful spiced rum...
So wonderful....
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Admin Emeritus
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: New Yawk
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There are many different styles of whisk(e)y and rum and you should try things in different styles to try to figure out what you like. Bourbon and Irish whiskey tend to be on the sweeter side, while a key characteristic of Scotch is some presence of smoke and peat due to the way it's made (there is a little bit in many scotches, even if they aren't the "super smoky/peaty" style that is typical of the Islay region). A good reference is F. Paul Pacult's "Kindred Spirits 2" or relevant books from Michael Jackson (no not that one).
I won't bother describing these as it's best if you figure it out for yourself. But these are all worth a try. In many cases, the brands have several varieties (e.g. different ages, different wood finish), so if it's not specified, play around with different ones. Older is more expensive and different but not always better. These categories all have different production methods that can significantly affect the taste.
Bourbon:
Van Winkle 12 year old
Pappy Van Winkle 20 year old
W. L. Weller (or William Larue Weller)
Michter's
Elijah Craig
Four Roses
Corner Creek
Rock Hill Farms
Bulleit
Eagle Rare 17 yr old
[There is also American rye whisky, a great but different and much smaller category; see Rittenhouse Rye 23 yr old and others. Generally spicier.]
Irish:
Middleton Very Rare
Redbreast
Bushmills
Jameson (12 yr old or older)
Scotch (very roughly, sweeter to smokier):
Auchentoshan 3 wood
Balvenie Double Wood
Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak
Macallan 15 Year Old Fine Oak
Glenmorangie
Oban 14 yr old
Highland Park
Talisker
Lagavulin 16 yr old
Laphroaig (try Quarter Cask first)
Ardbeg (try Uigeadail or Airigh Nam Beist first)
Japanese:
Suntory Yamazaki (12 yr old and 18 yr old)
Rum (focus on sipping rums):
Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 yr old
Ron Matusalem Gran Reserva
Havana Club Cask Strength (Blue Label)
Flor de Cana 7 yr old
Barbancourt 15 yr old
Angostura 1919
[edit] oops, about how to drink them. Ice is not good as it "closes up" the spirit (you may have heard about "letting things open up" or whatever -- this is the opposite). Water can help some spirits open up, particularly if they are overproof (over 80pf/40% alcohol). Sometimes even a few drops is enough to do it, odd though it sounds. Often, when trying spirits and coming from low-proof stuff like beer or wine, the alcohol level is so high that it's hard to acclimate. Everything will taste like burning and you won't understand what anyone is going on about. Ice can help in the beginning as the "closing up" actually kills a lot of the aggressiveness, partly by making the drink really cold (bad), and partly by dilution (fine). What you want to do is slowly work up to drinking without chilling the spirit, and without *over*diluting. Try something good neat. If it's too harsh, add a few drops of water and try again (even being out in the air can help things open up, so time can substitute for water). If it's still too harsh, add again. Find a reasonable level for you. If it all tastes off at first, get used to it with ice, and slowly switch from ice to water and eventually to nothing for whiskies that don't need it (this is what I had to do). It takes a little time to get used to it.
Also, a lot of flavor is in the smell (the "nose"). Get in the habit of smelling things. If you try to stick your nose into a glass of spirits as if it's a glass of wine, you will find it will blow out your nose with the first whiff. Don't do that. Sniff lightly from a few inches above the glass so you don't catch alcohol burn in your nose. A trick that helps is opening your mouth while sniffing; this reduces burn significantly. Another important factor is the kind of glassware, as some shapes concentrate the alcohol aromas (the standard "brandy snifter" is a classic retarded glass like this) and others focus the flavors (appropriate Riedel or other tasting glassware), while others let the aromas dissipate (rocks/old fashioned glass).
Also, cocktails can be a great way to introduce yourself to a spirit gently (e.g. in whiskey, things like Manhattan, Old Fashioned, Sazerac, Vieux Carré), but they are not easy to make well, and unless you really know what you're doing, you need to go to a specialty bar to have them made properly, or you will get drinks that bear no resemblance to the real thing. Unfortunately, these places only exist in certain locations. There are a bunch of places in New York, London, Seattle, San Francisco, Paris, Tokyo, DC, etc, but not a huge number of other places.[/edit]
taste carefully. have fun. cheers.
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Last edited by gorgonzola; Oct 26, 2009 at 04:18 AM.
)
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"Do not be too positive about things. You may be in error." (C. F. Lawlor, The Mixicologist)
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Berkshire, UK
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Originally Posted by gorgonzola
Auchentoshan 3 wood
Can't stand whiskey myself (I suppose my dislike stems from an incident with my sadistic grandfather when I was 9), but a friend who considers himself a connoisseur recently discovered this and sings it's praises. I travel to Glasgow quite a bit for work and always pick up a bottle or two for gifts in the airport and they have been warmly received.
However, it should be said that one is never too old for beer.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2000
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Originally Posted by gorgonzola
Rum (focus on sipping rums):
Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 yr old
Ron Matusalem Gran Reserva
Havana Club Cask Strength (Blue Label)
Flor de Cana 7 yr old
Barbancourt 15 yr old
Angostura 1919
You know, I got a bottle of the Ron Matusalem out here a couple years ago, and enjoyed it but wanted another try before I made it a regular. Unfortunately liquor sales are limited to provincially-controlled alcohol stores, and it seems in the last few years they've decided to do a lot of cost-cutting and eliminate some of the poorer-selling products. Hence, no Pyrat or Duvel or Ron Matusalem for me....
greg
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Mankind's only chance is to harness the power of stupid.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: May 2000
Location: I've moved so many times; I forgot.
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I can't believe no one's mentioned Blanton's. So ridiculously good.
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"My friend, there are two kinds of people in this world:
those with loaded guns, and those who dig. You dig."
-Clint in "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"
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Baninated
Join Date: Jun 2009
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Rum:
Found this a few years ago. Oldest rum in the world, the water is coral filtered. And it's cheaper than Sailor Jerry's. Absolutely delicious.
And for the best drink in the world (Dark N Stormy), you need this:
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 1999
Status:
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Does Mount Gay Rum also produce Schmidt's Gay Beer?
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"…I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than
you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods,
you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: The Rock
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To add to Rob's post: as myself and several others mentioned earlier, Mount Gay rums in general are great... but if you shell out a little more money than you'd spend for the Eclipse, you get the Mount Gay Extra Old.
And you want to get the Extra Old. You just want to.
greg
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Mankind's only chance is to harness the power of stupid.
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Baninated
Join Date: Jun 2009
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Shortcut: Is it that much better? Every time I've splurged on rum, I've been disappointed. It tastes too alcoholy, and less rumm-ish. Pyrat for example, was horrible. I'd much rather sip/drink Mt Gay straight, than Pyrat. Mt Gay Extra Old is intriguing though... but I've seen St. James spoken highly of as well, and if I'm going to splurge, why not go all out?
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2000
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Absolutely, the Pyrat XO is a tad on the harsh side if you're going to go straight - but add a bit of coke and you can see where it gets the name, because the flavor is awesome. (The Pyrat Cask 1623, now.... oh **** man, it's friggin amazing! Insanely good! But you pay for it of course....)
But the Mount Gay Extra Old is noticeably smoother than the Pyrat, for sure. Much better if you're going to sip it, and I find it's much better than the Eclipse as well if you're drinking straight. Give it a try, see what you think....
greg
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Mankind's only chance is to harness the power of stupid.
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Baninated
Join Date: Jun 2009
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I'll pick some up in a few days and report back. But Pyrat... was not at all impressed with. Tasted like something I'd clean car parts with.
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Admin Emeritus
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: New Yawk
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I really agree about not being too old for beer. Beer is so versatile and some beers are fun (Miller High Life, I'm looking at you) and others are serious (Westvleteren 12, Rochefort 10, Pliny the Elder, Baladin Nora, Duvel, Saison Dupont, Rodenbach Grand Cru, Cantillon Grand Cru, Alesmith Speedway Stout, etc.). But it's really something that should be enjoyed any season by anyone, and the whole category has avoided the annoying stuffiness that comes with certain other beverages (yes, wine, you fermented grape drank, this means you).
For people who like sipping rum, I really recommend trying Ron Zacapa 23 year old some time. It's pretty affordable, like a lot of rum is, and a hell of a thing. It's usually my ace in the hole when I'm trying to convince someone that rum is a serious spirit to be enjoyed on its own. I'm also a big fan of the Angostura 1919, which seems underappreciated. But please don't put Coke in such good rum! If you want to mix it there are better ways.
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"Do not be too positive about things. You may be in error." (C. F. Lawlor, The Mixicologist)
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Baninated
Join Date: Jun 2009
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Mac Elite
Join Date: May 2000
Location: I've moved so many times; I forgot.
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Originally Posted by downinflames68
Like?
Well, toss a lime in there and you get a proper Cuba Libre. Beyond that, I vastly prefer a mojito (and all it's variations). A proper (aka. non-blended) daiquiri is also excellent. There are tons of other rum drinks too. If you go to a really good bar (or even a seedy one) with a very knowledgeable bartender, they'll edjamicate you. The key is to find someone who knows what they're doing.
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"My friend, there are two kinds of people in this world:
those with loaded guns, and those who dig. You dig."
-Clint in "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"
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Baninated
Join Date: Jun 2009
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Ever drink dark n stormies?
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Admin Emeritus
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: New Yawk
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You can use the Zacapa in a rum Sazerac, but not that much else. It's kind of sweet and hard to mix if nothing else. But Dark and Stormy, particularly with fresh ginger syrup. Daiquiri with fresh lime juice (generally use a white rum like Flor de Cana 4). Hemingway Daiquiri. Rum Old-Fashioned (try with Barbancourt 15, some of the others become too sweet). Daisy de Santiago. Honeysuckle. A lot of these use white rums, though, not aged rum. A mojito with fresh mint and a mix of dark and aged rums (1:1) is great. There are also some nice tiki-style drinks that use multiple rums in one drink (e.g. the Zombie), but with all these you have to be careful with the proportions or they become too sweet or whatever. A lot of the recipes on internet sites are wrong or terrible, but there are classic old books with such recipes in them. What Arty50 said, you need to find someone who knows what they're doing and doesn't use sour mix, free pour, make things too sweet, not make things cold enough, etc.
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"Do not be too positive about things. You may be in error." (C. F. Lawlor, The Mixicologist)
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: England | San Francisco
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thanks a ton guys. especially ghporter and downinflames68. will report back....
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we don't have time to stop for gas
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Administrator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: California
Status:
Online
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With this much testing ahead of you, you might not want to report back too soon. Or no one will understand the test results.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: England | San Francisco
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my housemate runs a student bar, and my cousin runs the top local cocktail bar (with tons of spirits and knowledgeable staff) - gonna be a long (short?) few weeks of trials...
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we don't have time to stop for gas
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