Premium Rums

[CoventryCat86]

Che, where they hell you been for the past five years?

Welcome back!

I like Havana Club but I'm not really much into premium rums.

[Chè]

Zaya Gran Reserva 12yo Trinidad. Tastes like a Creme Brulee.

You might want to give the Angostura line a try. This version of Zaya is a blend of their rums.

Che, where they hell you been for the past five years?

Trying on dresses and stuck in line at "Forever 41".

I like Havana Club but I'm not really much into premium rums.

I know exactly what you mean. I like Ferraris but I'm not really much into fast cars. LOL

[ggiese]

Aside from the no-brainer "Z" rums (I agree, Che - the Guatemalan Zacapa was much better than the Zaya Trinidad) and Havana Club, I like Appleton Estate Extra – 12 Year Old

I've not had the 21 yr old, but have heard good things. Unfortunately I'm more of a Anejo Tequila and Scotch fan so I typically invest my $$$ there.

[ggiese]

Also - I know it sounds crazy - but at one time I really enjoyed Bicardi Solara. Smooth - pleasant. I don't know what they did, but the newer stuff tastes to me like varnish remover...

[Chè]

Also - I know it sounds crazy - but at one time I really enjoyed Bicardi Solara. Smooth - pleasant. I don't know what they did, but the newer stuff tastes to me like varnish remover...

Yeah. This use to be "the Cuban substitute". I still have a bottle left from 2001. And you're right, I tasted some recent production about a year back...

[Chè]

Aside from the no-brainer "Z" rums (I agree, Che - the Guatemalan Zacapa was much better than the Zaya Trinidad)

Maybe I created a mix up with Zacapa... but just to be clear, prior to a couple of years ago, ILdG simultaneously produced both Zacapa and Zaya. They were siblings. Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala also produces Ron Botran, which the "1893" is pretty damn good sibling too.

Zaya was a private brand of rum bought from the distillery. BTW, Montecristo rum was also private bought / bottled rum from the same source. From what I hear, Montecristo is no longer ILdG product as well -- but before getting the boot the bottler secured a supply that would allow the brand to remain the same origin for awhile. Zaya on the other hand quickly switched to bottling private bought Angostura rum and only changed the origin on the bottle label to product of "Trinidad"

Unfortunately I'm more of a Anejo Tequila and Scotch fan so I typically invest my $$$ there.

Nothing unfortunate about that. My tequila experience is more moderate than other spirits. But hopefully we'll get to a Scotch discussion sometime soon as I definitely dabble in malts too.

Being an anejo tequila fan, if you come across Depaz Blue Cane Rhum, you might try a shot. A lot of the better refined rhum agricoles have characteristics similar to aged tequila. Depaz has decent US distribution and representation but the number / variety of agricoles that come ashore stateside is pretty limited.

[ggiese]

Maybe I created a mix up with Zacapa... but just to be clear, prior to a couple of years ago, ILdG simultaneously produced both Zacapa and Zaya. They were siblings. Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala also produces Ron Botran, which the "1893" is pretty damn good sibling too.

Zaya was a private brand of rum bought from the distillery. BTW, Montecristo rum was also private bought / bottled rum from the same source. From what I hear, Montecristo is no longer ILdG product as well -- but before getting the boot the bottler secured a supply that would allow the brand to remain the same origin for awhile. Zaya on the other hand quickly switched to bottling private bought Angostura rum and only changed the origin on the bottle label to product of "Trinidad"

I knew there was a connection between Zaya and Zacapa, but never knew they were that close. I like both (in earlier versions) equally well. Now it makes sense the difference I'm experiencing. Thanks for the info!

Recently, while in Las Vegas, I had a chance to sit down at Casa Fuente with a cigar and a wee bit of the Montecristo Rum. Nearly forgot about that - which is odd, because at the time I thought it was unforgettable. Momma joined me, and even remarked that she thought it was one of the more memorable parts of our trip! Good stuff as well!

Ah... The hells of getting older.

BTW - momma gave me a gift of Dalmore King Alexander III for Christmas. ...and just about finished my bottle of Dailuaine 15 yr old that I got for Christmas from another friend (good hooch!). I've not opened the King Alexander... yet... Some of the samples I've have made me increasingly anxious to crack it open...

[Eville]

I have really enjoyed the captain morgan private stock i got recently.

[Chè]

Recently, while in Las Vegas, I had a chance to sit down at Casa Fuente with a cigar and a wee bit of the Montecristo Rum. Nearly forgot about that - which is odd, because at the time I thought it was unforgettable. Momma joined me, and even remarked that she thought it was one of the more memorable parts of our trip! Good stuff as well!

I'm not sure of the complete accuracy however I tend to believe there was some truth in it, but my understanding was the Fuente family either were the owners of or had a hefty stake in Montecristo Rum brand. As a result, the Casa in Vegas had a selection of malts, but the rum served was exclusively Montecristo.

BTW - momma gave me a gift of Dalmore King Alexander III for Christmas. ...and just about finished my bottle of Dailuaine 15 yr old that I got for Christmas from another friend (good hooch!). I've not opened the King Alexander... yet... Some of the samples I've have made me increasingly anxious to crack it open...

Nice! I have not had the King, myself. For many years the outfit Trader Joe's sold Dalmore 12 year old for $19.99 around here. In the last year or so it appears they stopped carrying it. Anyhoo, due to that absurd price, I'm very familiar with the 12 but really as a consumer didn't branch out on the brand much (with that price, I wasn't going 'nowhere').

The 3 other iterations I've tasted were the Cigar Malt (quite a few times) and I was lucky to taste 2 different releases of the "Stillman's Dram" I think was the correct title of these... 28 & 30 years old respectively. I don't focus on age and make a conscious point to rule it out of my interest, but I have to say the 30 Stillman's Dram was the Shhhh! I hear the Alexander The III is very.