Reader Trip: Just got back from Florida
Reader Trip: Just got back from Florida
Picked up Mount Gay XO and Zaya at Universal Liquors. The Zaya is good but too sweet. The manager at Universal talked me into it. Haven't tried the MGXO yet. Bought ElDorado 15 and Angostura 1919 at B21 Liquors. The 1919 is on the verge of being too sweet but very good. The ED15 is great. It may take the place of my current favorite, Matusalem 15.
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Capn Jimbo
- Rum Evangelisti and Compleat Idiot
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Next time, let me know...
Offer to South Florida visitors...
If you do visit our Paradise, call and Sue Sea and I might just meet you somewhere. And I will be glad to escort you to some of the greatest and lowest price selections of rum in North America. Our adjacency to the Caribbean and South America (not to mention our population) means terrific selections at super low prices. So many new offerings are tested here.
As far as your selections you have great taste: the MGXO and El Dorados are world class and a great basis for your collection. You weren't as badly led on the Zaya as you may now think: yes it's sweet but very well balanced and has the kind of socks raising heat that is very special. As a result, the Zaya is not your typical pussy Z-rum, not a dessert rum, but quite a memorable sipper that is really in a class of it's own.
As far as 1919 is concerned, at least you didn't pay much for it (hopefully not more than $20). Something to serve friends who don't like rum...
If you do visit our Paradise, call and Sue Sea and I might just meet you somewhere. And I will be glad to escort you to some of the greatest and lowest price selections of rum in North America. Our adjacency to the Caribbean and South America (not to mention our population) means terrific selections at super low prices. So many new offerings are tested here.
As far as your selections you have great taste: the MGXO and El Dorados are world class and a great basis for your collection. You weren't as badly led on the Zaya as you may now think: yes it's sweet but very well balanced and has the kind of socks raising heat that is very special. As a result, the Zaya is not your typical pussy Z-rum, not a dessert rum, but quite a memorable sipper that is really in a class of it's own.
As far as 1919 is concerned, at least you didn't pay much for it (hopefully not more than $20). Something to serve friends who don't like rum...
Thanks for the invite Capn. We were down for a few days working on our place in New Port Richey. The Zaya isn't to bad. It was over half gone when we left. If we get over to your side of the state, I will look you you up. Think I paid about 25 for the 1919. Love the ED15. Haven't tried the MGXO yet. Picked up a bottle of Barbancourt 5 star tonight. It's starting to get scarce in Florida since the earthquake. Still plenty in Ohio.
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Capn Jimbo
- Rum Evangelisti and Compleat Idiot
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- Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:53 pm
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Boy, are you in for a treat...
Well done! Boy are you in for a treat - Barbancourt Five Star is truly one of the very few great rums in the world. Practically handmade, much of the cane is still hand cut, and taken in ox pulled carts for crushing. The Gardier family makes rum with a caring finesse that is simply unknown in today's world.
A number of his fine French Limosin Oak barrels and vats were destroyed; still he went to great expense to reorder these expensive barrels. That the Five Star still sells for the low $20's (it used to be $19), for a world class rum, seems impossible. The only thing that makes this feasible is that Haiti really is a third world country.
Sad.
Soon after the earthquake I feared the loss of one of our most beloved rums, and ran out and bought five or six bottles. I hoped too that these funds would support the family and the country. Both are true: Gardier set up living arrangements for hundreds of people on his property, and as you know this amazing rum is still made, and easily available here, still.
I'll be interested in knowing what you think of it. Keep in mind this is a true cane juice rum, regardless of what certain rhum snobs may think. Barbancourt (and Haiti) were making fine cane juice rums for decades before the French even thought of doing so.
A number of his fine French Limosin Oak barrels and vats were destroyed; still he went to great expense to reorder these expensive barrels. That the Five Star still sells for the low $20's (it used to be $19), for a world class rum, seems impossible. The only thing that makes this feasible is that Haiti really is a third world country.
Sad.
Soon after the earthquake I feared the loss of one of our most beloved rums, and ran out and bought five or six bottles. I hoped too that these funds would support the family and the country. Both are true: Gardier set up living arrangements for hundreds of people on his property, and as you know this amazing rum is still made, and easily available here, still.
I'll be interested in knowing what you think of it. Keep in mind this is a true cane juice rum, regardless of what certain rhum snobs may think. Barbancourt (and Haiti) were making fine cane juice rums for decades before the French even thought of doing so.
Last edited by Capn Jimbo on Tue Sep 28, 2010 8:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
This is a replacement bottle Capn. I have been drinking Barbancourt for about a year now. It's what got me interested in good rum. My bud Don stopped by and had a 1919 with me. I had him sample Bacardi 8, Applelton 12, Pyrate, ED 15 and Matusalem 15. He had a shot of the Matusalem and I had the ED. We both decided the ED edged the Matusalem.
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Capn Jimbo
- Rum Evangelisti and Compleat Idiot
- Posts: 3550
- Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:53 pm
- Location: Paradise: Fort Lauderdale of course...
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Sounds like a fun evening...
Sounds like a fun evening...
What fun, and what an interesting selection from which to choose. Sue Sea and I would both have agreed with you regarding the El Dorados, but let me add that Ron Matusalem Gran Reserva is one of what we call the "dangerous" rums, very similar to Santa Teresa Anejo.
These latter two are so well done, so easy to drink, so enjoyable that removing the foil and pulling the cork requires close supervision by a designated driver. I won't soon forget attending the King Mango Strut (a spoof of the Orange Bowl Parade, in Miami) when we brought a gift of the Matusalem for the four of us, three drinking rum. When the parade was over, so were we!
Hooahh.
BTW, do find and buy a bottle of the El Dorado 5 Year - this rum is overshadowed by its more famous brethren, but it shouldn't be. We did a smackdown with the 5 - 12 - 15, and the 5 year more than held its own. It's all too easy to mistake age for quality, and there are a number of younger rums that are extremely nice.
Keep in mind that skilled distillation creates a number of excellent congeners. Oak aging then will subtract, add and modify these. We believe that the prime years for Caribbean rums is between 7 and 10 years. The El Dorado's five years offers plenty of good aging without obliterating the floral and higher fruity aromas of the new make.
Please - try the five year and let us know your impression...
What fun, and what an interesting selection from which to choose. Sue Sea and I would both have agreed with you regarding the El Dorados, but let me add that Ron Matusalem Gran Reserva is one of what we call the "dangerous" rums, very similar to Santa Teresa Anejo.
These latter two are so well done, so easy to drink, so enjoyable that removing the foil and pulling the cork requires close supervision by a designated driver. I won't soon forget attending the King Mango Strut (a spoof of the Orange Bowl Parade, in Miami) when we brought a gift of the Matusalem for the four of us, three drinking rum. When the parade was over, so were we!
Hooahh.
BTW, do find and buy a bottle of the El Dorado 5 Year - this rum is overshadowed by its more famous brethren, but it shouldn't be. We did a smackdown with the 5 - 12 - 15, and the 5 year more than held its own. It's all too easy to mistake age for quality, and there are a number of younger rums that are extremely nice.
Keep in mind that skilled distillation creates a number of excellent congeners. Oak aging then will subtract, add and modify these. We believe that the prime years for Caribbean rums is between 7 and 10 years. The El Dorado's five years offers plenty of good aging without obliterating the floral and higher fruity aromas of the new make.
Please - try the five year and let us know your impression...
Please - try the five year and let us know your impression..
Well if you insist. I will look for it in Texas when I'm down there next week.
We didn't do full shots when we sampled my collection. Wanted to make sure Don got home ok. He was driving his Z06.
We didn't do full shots when we sampled my collection. Wanted to make sure Don got home ok. He was driving his Z06.
Guess it's 2 more weeks until we go to Texas. I will look for the ED5. I also want to try Flor de Cana 7. Neither are available in Ohio. I opened the MGXO last week and bought a bottle of Cruzan Single Barrel. The MGXO was $9.00 cheaper in Florida but still $35.00. The Cruzan is $28.00 in Ohio and well worth it. A damn good rum. I was at first disappointed with the MGXO, especially since it's my most expensive rum purchase so far. After trying it a couple more times, I am starting to appreciate it. Still loving my Matusalem 15 and ED15.