If Dept: If you could own just five rums?

[Capn Jimbo]

If, and "if"...


A friend of "they" and "they say". But back to the subject at hand. My answer will of course, be based on the basic styles: Barbadian, Jamaican, Demeraran, Cane Juice and Cuban styles.

1. MGXO or 1703 (it's so hard not to include Seales Ten here)

2. Appleton Extra 12 (but then there's Smith & Cross)

3. El Dorado 12 (but Pussers could sneak in here, and probably should)

4. Barbancourt Five Star (period)

5. To be discussed, here...

Yup I'm going to discuss Ron Matusalem, which was a shoo-in but which was finally found to use a "recipe" of infused prune and vanilla. Although this rum remains likeable, liars are not leaders and can't be a representative rum. But to date I've not really thought which Cuban style might now fill the bill. So I reviewed some of our old reviews and these rums came to light...

Westerhall Plantation, Rum San Pablo, Ron Santero 7 Year and a couple of real surprises - Starr African and Ron Viejo de Caldas 3 and 8 Year. Rum San Pablo is excellent but eliminated as almost impossible to find. Ron Santero on the basis of rating and hard to find. Starr African on the basis of skilled alteration (like RM). This left Westerhall and the Ron Viejos, both of which though very Cuban have cane juice elements. Both scored very well (8's). Both are lovely, and on the basis of value Ron Viejo is hard to ignore, but all in all...

Westerhall Plantation, a blend using both cane juice and molasses elements, and though hard to find is as elegant and skilled example of the Cuban style as one might find. The winner and new champeen!

[sailor22]

Clement single cask, cask strength

Cadenhead 25yr Demerara cask strength

Pussers Blue label

Barbancourt 15yr

Cruzan single barrel because sometimes you just need a sweet mixer.

[bearmark]

... except, I have a list of 6.

I think Westerhall Plantation is a worthy successor to the Cuban traitor. It was my Cuban reference prior to trying Matusalem 18 and I still like it a lot. It's about $25 at Spec's Dallas right now (Spec's Key special through August 10th).

Matusalem 15 or 18 will still remain a standard part of my cabinet, though. I still like them a lot.

1. MGXO or 1703 (it's so hard not to include Seales Ten here)

With regard to MGXO, I'm going to purchase my first bottle soon. To date, I've only had a sample from a friend. If I find a good deal, then I'm tempted to opt for the 1703 instead.

Cruzan single barrel because sometimes you just need a sweet mixer.

I've never thought of Cuzan SB as sweet (for a rum, anyway). By the way, has anyone noticed the new bottling of this one? I just noticed it last week. The new bottle is shorter and wider with a flat front and back... in other words, more like a rum bottle than the old style that was more like a whiskey bottle.

[sleepy]

1) MGXO and,
2) Seale's 10. Just my favorites!
3) Appleton Extra 12
4) Barbancourt 5 star (if I can find a good bottle!)
5) Havana Club 7 if I continue to ignore the embargo, Flor de Caña 12, otherwise.

I like the Westerhall, but the honey aroma is a bit heavy for me.
Pusser's is a standard and a pure kick in the butt when needed.
Just not an El Dorado fan - that's what I'd call a sweet rum.
I still enjoy the Matulsalem GR greatly, it might find a place because I CHEAT!!!!!

[da'rum]

A jamaican pot, probably Smith and Cross.
Appletons 12
Pussers.
4 and 5 not yet found or there are rums that I wish to try and rums that compete evenly with each other.

[RT]

I'm not sure if I've become a bit of an elitist, or if I just like to have lots of those tasty tannins in my rum

but I find myself favoring the 1703 over the MGXO, the Appleton 21 (or MBL) over the 12, and the Barbancourt 15 over the 8.

I am wondering if this is evidence of the inevitable dummying down of the recipes for the XO's, 12's, and 8's of the world, in favor of conserving the aged stocks for the really expensive stuff.

I am still officially undecided over which ED to choose (15 or 21), because as has been discussed extensively in this forum, they are each from different blends and have distinct flavor profiles. I may try a half and half tonight, it will either be perfection or a waste of good rum.

As for the Cuban puzzle, has anyone else considered the Don Q Gran Anejo? I enjoy this rum a lot, but am not sure whether it is Cuban enough? If there was a Barrilito 4 Star, I would probably vote for it. As for the Westerhall, I finished my bottle a while back and didn't think it merited replacement at the time. Guess I will give it another shot next time I can find it.


*******
Capn's Log: RT, the Don Q Gran Anejo is a great thought. Unfortunately we only got a taste of it at the Rum Queen's Tampa Rumfest (long, long ago). Even then we thought it was an exceptional dram. But to be fair, that was at the beginning of The Project and it would not be fair to decide until we do an official and current tasting.

But a super suggestion, thanks! BTW, the notion that the mid-range offerings have degraded in favor of the 1703's is correct, methinks (as do others).

[Hassouni]

Wray and Nephew overproof
Smith and Cross
Pusser's
Seale's 10
El Dorado 15 or LH151

[jankdc]

If, and "if"...

5. To be discussed, here...

Yup I'm going to discuss Ron Matusalem, which was a shoo-in but which was finally found to use a "recipe" of infused prune and vanilla. Although this rum remains likeable, liars are not leaders and can't be a representative rum. But to date I've not really thought which Cuban style might now fill the bill. So I reviewed some of our old reviews and these rums came to light...

Westerhall Plantation, Rum San Pablo, Ron Santero 7 Year and a couple of real surprises - Starr African and Ron Viejo de Caldas 3 and 8 Year. Rum San Pablo is excellent but eliminated as almost impossible to find. Ron Santero on the basis of rating and hard to find. Starr African on the basis of skilled alteration (like RM). This left Westerhall and the Ron Viejos, both of which though very Cuban have cane juice elements. Both scored very well (8's). Both are lovely, and on the basis of value Ron Viejo is hard to ignore, but all in all...

Westerhall Plantation, a blend using both cane juice and molasses elements, and though hard to find is as elegant and skilled example of the Cuban style as one might find. The winner and new champeen!

You're not going to like this, but I'm convinced that Westerhall uses flavoring. It has more vanilla than Ron Matusalum GR. Westerhall doesn't even distill their own rum anymore anyway. They get it shipped from Angustora.




*******
Capn's Log: Thanks for your post. Although our review did not note excess vanilla - indeed found this rum appropriately dry, we will revisit it tomorrow...

[Rum Lover]

I'd have to say firstly who could pick just 5? With the proverbial gun to the head I'd say.
ED 12
Appletons Extra 12
MGXO
Havana Club 7 ( ya that's right )
Gosslings Black Seal ( been drinking it for too many years to stop now)
Don't know bout my unopened bottle of ED EHP.... yet .

[Dai]

With my limited experience of rum I'd have to say that my five rums are:

Eldorado 12
Matusalem GR 15
Appleton 12
El Dorado 15/Ron zacappa (ye ye I know but just done two bottles of the stuff in two weeks and it's pretty good to my limited experience)
Ron De Jeremy


Can't say I'd rate zacappa higher than El Dorado I wouldn't. Not in my book.
but I did enjoy the Zacappa.