Crotch Grabbing Dept: Rum Flavor Map? Map this!

[Capn Jimbo]

And yet another failed attempt at a flavor map/wheel...


...and for the same reason, here:

http://www.therumlab.com/rum-flavour-map/#comment-25

Following attempt to post at above:

"It truly is a sad case, but this "map" is far from the first proposition for a rum wheel or map: all have failed and for good reason. Let's start here: the notions of French, Spanish or English "styles" are not accurate and never have been, at least in terms of style. As place of origin, perhaps, but style? Not. Actually the notion of "style" was first suggested by the incomparable Dave Broom, author of "Rum", and the "World Atlas of Whisky", among others. His notions were then put into the blogosphere by the Project perhaps nine or ten years ago, namely:

1. Bajan (whisky like)
2. Jamaican (complex, pot stilled, aromatic)
3. Demeraran (medium bodied)
4. Cane Juice (vegetal, from cane juice, not molasses)
5. Cuban (light, filtered)

These are the only valid "styles" on the basis that if a "style" is truly valid, it must be able to be clearly identified in an absolutely blind tasting. If this cannot be done, the named "style" is not valid. Although the proposed French style (which is better labeled "Cane Juice Based") can be so identified, neither English nor Spanish can be so identified.

The second issue with classifying rums is that the world of rogue rum is populated with all manner of altered and adulterated rums. Over half of the rums tested (over 500) have been shown to have been heavily sugared, not to mention altered with artificial (and inauthentic) flavorings, spices, glycerol and even cheap sherry wine. The majority of what is labeled "rum" are actually heavily flavored and adulterated concoctions of these and other adulterants.

In sum, few even know what real and pure rum is, much less able to classify it, and last, hardly able to correctly identify the style.

Compare to fine single malt whiskies, bourbon and the like which are absolutely pure, and unaltered; therefore many profile wheels have long been created for them. But NOT for rum, for now obvious reasons. I urge those who care to check out their own rums to see if and how they have been altered, at the People's Great Sugar Test Master List:

http://rumproject.com/rumforum//viewtopic.php?t=1683

*******
Note: the above fairly reasoned comment was posted as a comment at that site. Let's see if they choose to post it. Any bets?

[Capn Jimbo]

For purposes of clarity...

[Capn Jimbo]

I'll say it again...


...the only fair and usable definition of "style" must infer the adjective "identifiable".

If a so-called "style" cannot be clearly identified in a blind tasting by a reasonably proficient taster, then it is not a style. All the styles suggested by Broom, and identified and promoted at the Project can be identified in a blind tasting. In fact, Sue Sea and I would always early on in our tastings work to categorize the rum at hand in that fashion.

Although the notion of "style" then slowly came into net usage, even at the Shillery (where it was first rejected by the Preacher), the so-call rum competitions still organized by such ridiculous criteria as "white", "gold", etc. This is also true at the above fest, held in Chicago, and surely to be attended by the Preacher.

And so it goes...