Uncle Eddie's Guide to Rum
mod (Andy) note: "Blast from the past - Best of Eddie" - This one is originally from November 2010. If there's an old post from Eddie you'd like to see up again shoot me a message.
I've been meaning to do this for some time now and, with the holiday party/gift giving season right around the corner, I figured now was as good a time as any. Those of you who know me know that I love my rum. Not only does it have a pleasant effect on a body after three or four, rum more than any other liquor has had the ability to trigger memories for me and take me back to some of the best times in my life.
Any type of guide to food or booze is going to be highly subjective based on the individual tastes of the reviewer. This guide, of course, is no different. However, when you consider the vast Nordic lakes of rum I've consumed over the past two and a half decades, you can rest assured that I won't steer you wrong and that you'll be pleased with my recommendations. Whether for yourself, or if you're looking for the perfect gift for a friend, consider my Top 10 list.
I've broken this down into a few sections. The first section is my Top 10 favorite rums. These are listed by distillery and not necessarily by label, so some brands may have more than one rum on the Top 10 list. These are all dark or amber rums meant to be consumed neat or on the rocks. I don't recommend mixing these rums with anything, but when an exceptional cocktail recipe calls for one of them I'll point that out.
Next come the spiced rums, then the flavored rums, then the overproof rums. And then there's the lagniappe. Lagniappe is a term we use down in New Orleans and it means "a little something extra". In this case, it's my recipe for Hot Buttered Rum. I've tried dozens of different recipes for Hot Buttered Rum over the years, and this one is the best by far. I can't think of a better winter cocktail, and your holiday parties are guaranteed to be a hit if you mix up a batch of this stuff.
I've even converted this guide to PDF format for those who'd like to print it out and take it to the liquor store with them. I do what I can for you guys. Just let me know if you want a copy of the PDF.
Without further ado, here is the distillation of my life's work:
Eddie's Top 10
Gosling's – Goslings Black Seal Rum is far and away my favorite rum on the market. It hails from Bermuda, and the Gosling family has been working their magic there for over 200 years now. Black Seal is a dark, sweet rum with a bouquet like no other. I prefer mine on the rocks, though it's an easy rum to drink neat. The Dark 'N Stormy is a particularly good cocktail mixed with Black Seal rum and ginger beer. Note: ginger ale is not ginger beer, so make sure to use ginger beer if you're mixing a Dark 'N Stormy. I'm unable to get Gosling's in France, which is a minor tragedy for me, and I always load up a few gallons whenever I travel to the States.
Gosling's also offers a truly remarkable premium rum, and I would call it the best premium rum without hesitation. It was called Gosling's Family Reserve when it was first introduced, but now it goes by the name Old Rum. It's going to set you back $50-60 for a bottle, but it is so worth it. I won't even pour Old Rum over ice – it's that good. This is a rum I'd put up against any cognac and, as such, it is meant to be consumed neat. It is sweet and subtle, much lighter in color than Black Seal, and comes numbered, hand labeled, and packaged in its own wooden box, making it perfect for gift giving. If you're looking for a gift that really sets you apart from colleagues who all give the boss Johnny Walker Blue for the holidays, this is your go-to rum.
Mount Gay – Mount Gay Eclipse rum is a staple in the Braverman household. Mount Gay comes from Barbados and could be the oldest rum label in the world. The company has been making their famous Eclipse rum since 1703. It is a light amber rum, I prefer it on the rocks, and you can really taste the sugar cane in it. It's bracing on the palate at first sip, without being obnoxious. I've actually been to the distillery in Barbados, and it's an impressive operation. Mount Gay is synonymous with yacht racing, so when I showed up wearing a trademark red Mount Gay racing hat they treated me like a king and left me to serve myself at their well-stocked bar. I was in rummy Heaven. If you must mix Mount Gay with something (and I really wish you wouldn't), mix it with equal parts orange juice to make a Bilgewater.
Mount Gay makes several other rums, most notably their Extra Old. Extra Old gets rave reviews but it's not one of my favorites. Guess I just love the original too much. Give it a try if you like, it's not bad, but on Barbados they call it Sugar Cane Brandy and it's probably better enjoyed as a brandy than a rum.
Zaya – Zaya is a really special rum. Known among connoisseurs as a "synthetic" rum, it is perhaps the smoothest most mellow rum on the list. It's not synthetic in the sense that anything about it is artificial, synthetic simply means that it is blended (or synthesized) from a number of other top notch rums, much like scotch. Zaya is one of the more expensive rums on the list, around $60 a bottle the last time I bought it. Worth every penny. Truly. Very, very good rum. Note: this is another one to savor neat. Save the ice for something that needs mellowing.
Cruzan – Cruzan is made in the Virgin Islands and is a great everyday rum. It has a pleasant, distinctive flavor, and you can't help but feel like you're down island when you're sipping a Cruzan on the rocks. It's medium-bodied and mellow with a bit of a kick.
Cruzan also makes another rum I like even better than the original and that is their Cruzan Blackstrap Rum. This is distilled from a heavy sugar cane molasses, has a heavier flavor, and most closely resembles Gosling's Black Seal rum in the glass. It is definitely dark, but doesn't fall into the bitter category like Myers, for example. Definitely give it a try.
Clément – Okay, I'm not at all enamored with the junk that comes out of the French West Indies. The rhums I've had from Guadaloupe and Martinique have been almost universally bad. Clément is the rare exception, and boy is it ever. It's definitely for those who like a sweeter rum, but it's right up there with Zaya for flavor and drinkability. I would almost classify Clément as a dessert rum. It is definitely an excellent choice for an after-dinner cocktail.
Pyrat – Pyrat is another blend and it is a very good one. I have to admit, I dismissed Pyrat originally as a cheap marketing ploy to capitalize on the surge in premium liquors. Whatever their motivation, the crew at Pyrat actually produced a damn good rum. Their XO Reserve is dark and complex and their Pistol distillation will appeal to those who like a lighter amber rum. Silly pirate marketing aside, this is one you should try.
Bundaberg – Bundy is a very hard-to-find rum. Hailing from Australia, only about 3% of their yearly production makes it out to the Up Above. If you find it, buy it. Great molasses flavor, nice finish, and a good bit of bite to it.
Flor de Caña – Flor de Caña is a Nicaraguan distillation. They offer several vintages, and each gets better with age, so to speak. They're all good, and some are excellent. I usually stick with the Black Label 5-year old rum, but they range from aged 4 years to aged 18 years.
Barbancourt – Barbancourt is a Haitian rum and, like Flor de Caña, offers several different ages of rum. Oddly, the quality of the vintages skips around a bit. For example, their 4-year old rum is better than their 8-year old rum, but then the 12-year old is best of all. I like Barbancourt on the rocks, but I prefer a squeeze of lime in it.
Pusser's – I couldn't make a Top Ten list without including the staple of the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. Known as "Nelson's Blood" (after Lord Admiral Nelson, the British naval hero), Pusser's rum was served every day aboard British Royal Navy ships until 1979. Known for their distinctive decorative decanters, Pusser's is frankly not my favorite, but I'll drink it out of a sense of tradition at yacht races and what have you. While I'd never mix it 50/50 with water like the Royal Navy did, it is good over ice.
Spiced Rums (in order of preference)
Since spiced rums are used mostly for mixing, almost any spiced rum is as good as another, so you might as well buy the cheaper brands. The one standout in the group is Sailor Jerry, and it's the only one I'll drink on the rocks without mixing. I like the ocassional rum and coke, and all these rums are good for that:
Sailor Jerry
Captain Morgan
Admiral Nelson – cheaper than the Captain, and outranks him to boot!
Castillo Spiced
Cruzan 9 – keep an eye on this one. I've never had it because it's brand new, but they're making a serious run at the spiced rum title and everything else they make is excellent.
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Flavored Rums
I've never had much use for flavored rums. However, if you hollow out a pineapple, chop up the fruit, fill the husk with coconut rum, pour the fruit back in and let it marinate in the fridge overnight, you've got a breakfast of champions I'm here to tell you. Plus chicks dig it. Here's my top three:
Malibu – the one that started it all
Parrot Bay -- the Captain's foray into the coconut rum market
Bacardi Limon – you would think this would be ideal for mixing a Cuba Libré, but sadly it's not.
Overproof Rums
The high-octane rums are known as overproof rums. They're also known as recipe rums because they're used for cooking almost as often as they're used in cocktails. They're always mixed because they taste like jet fuel (with one exception, below). If you're looking for some extra fireworks with your Bananas Foster or Café Brûlot, these are the rums to use:
Bacardi 151
Wray & Nephew Over Proof
Stroh – You really have to watch out for this stuff. It's made in Austria, is 160 proof, and is actually drinkable on its own. It will knock you on your ass, do not pass Go, do not collect $200. If you mix it with a frozen can of Bacardi Piña Colada Mix you will create a pink concoction that tastes like strawberry shortcake and will ruin anyone who drinks it. You've been warned.
Eddie's Killer Hot Buttered Rum
Perfect for those cold winter nights. Just be careful, these things sneak up on you. This makes enough for about a dozen cocktails.
Ingredients:
- Stick of soft unsalted butter
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- Pinch of salt
Mix everything together in a bowl until well-blended and creamy. I usually like to let it set in the fridge for a couple hours to firm up. When you're ready for a drink, put two heaping tablespoons of the mix in a coffee mug. Fill halfway with dark rum (use something cheap like Castillo, as the batter will overpower the flavor of the rum). Fill to the brim with BOILING water (the rum in the mug will cool it instantly to a drinkable temperature) and mix.
Enjoy!
Comments
+1 for everything you said
+1 for everything you said about Stroh...still get a headache just seeing the picture
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
+1 for Sailor Jerry...
+1 for Sailor Jerry... amazing stuff. Collect the girls too!
"Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish"
Thanks for the list Eddie,
Thanks for the list Eddie, and true story about Stroh... not so good times
+5 for sailor jerry,
+5 for sailor jerry, goslings
-5 for failing to include Calico Jack, he who raided and ruined all ye fair navy men
Still not sure if I want to spend the next 30+ years grinding away in corporate finance and the WSO dream chase or look to have enough passive income to live simply and work minimally.
Gosling's and Mount Gay are
Gosling's and Mount Gay are definitely the top 2, although I would add Appleton Estate to the top 2, especially the 12 year.
1&2 (Gosling's and Mt. Gay)
1&2 (Gosling's and Mt. Gay) sponsor a great deal of sailboat racing, you can spot a sailor wearing a red Mt. Gay regatta hat just about anywhere. Their sponsorship has done some good things for the sport. There's also a Gosling's 151 proof, haven't tried it, but I'm sure it would make a wicked strong dark n stormy.
Great list Eddie. Interesting
Great list Eddie.
Interesting info for those interested, Malibu is a Coconut flavored liqueur (only 20% alcohol) from Canada.....yes the tropical paradise that is CANADA.
"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
proforma wrote: Gosling's and
Gosling's and Mount Gay are definitely the top 2, although I would add Appleton Estate to the top 2, especially the 12 year.
I can only drink Appleton in Jamaica. Everywhere else it tastes like ass to me. It's one of the few rums I truly don't care for. Unless I'm climbing Dunn's River Falls, that is.
There's the subjective nature of the list I mentioned...
Great list, I now consider
Great list, I now consider myself properly educated. Im heading to the shop to go stock up right now.
i also have to add that
i also have to add that bacardi anejo is a very good rum and VERY spicy but VERY hard to find as well...
I need a crib, a big estate, I need a boat and that need a lake, I need some salmon that need a plate, that need a chef so I feed my safe
From trading equities to slanging wine in Latin America
A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what a ship i
Awesome list Eddie, and extra
Awesome list Eddie, and extra points for calling out the Dark 'N Story, my favorite cocktail of all time (made properly with ginger beer). Also a +1 for Malibu when you're relaxing someplace warm - flip flops are required to truly appreciate a Malibu cocktail. I like a mix of 3/4 Malibu, a splash of sprite, and a pineapple wedge for sipping in the sun.
I am also firmly in the Sailor Jerry camp - bought it once senior year of college to drink with a lady friend, and have been unable to drink Captain Morgan since. I'm trashing a fellow Captain here, but Sailor Jerry is infinitely better than Capt M because it's not overly sweet, isn't thick and sticky, and is slightly higher proof to boot. If any of you monkeys out there are still drinking Captain Morgan, spend the extra $4 or so per bottle and upgrade yourself to some Sailor Jerry - you'll never go back.
- Capt K -
"Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. If you want to make ambitious people waste their time on errands, bait the hook with prestige." - Paul Graham
Great list, I'm going to try
Great list, I'm going to try out the buttered rum tonight
Yeah, that reminds me. Any of
Yeah, that reminds me. Any of you guys that try the hot buttered rum recipe, let me know what you think!
gotta agree with almost
gotta agree with almost everything you said. although id put Barbancourt up a few places....but it might be because i got one that was more consistent in quality.
You forgot something major.....the Havana Club Vintages.....
Mount Gay takes the cake for me. And it IS the oldest Rum distillery in the world
I like the gift
I like the gift recommendation for something other than Johnny Walker Blue,
Rum and coke, Dark and
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I loves me some Sailor
Honestly, I wouldn't use a
in hebrew we have a saying,
=========================================
"... then, lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it."
dagro wrote: in hebrew we
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
i'm not in banking yet, and
=========================================
"... then, lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it."
dagro wrote: i'm not in
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
This is a very comprehensive
happypantsmcgee wrote: dagro
=========================================
"... then, lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it."
Sailor Jerry +1 just picked
Dagro, A word of advice,
it's not a funny saying -
=========================================
"... then, lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it."
Edmundo Braverman wrote: Fill
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Yes, Castillo Gold and any
Frieds wrote: Dagro, A word
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
Edmundo Braverman wrote: Yes,
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Eddie - just wanted to drop a
- Capt K -
"Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. If you want to make ambitious people waste their time on errands, bait the hook with prestige." - Paul Graham
Ha! Glad to hear it.
How about Bundaberg Rum?
I love Bundy, when I can get
*facepalm* totally missed it,
Liquid
Does anybody have a good
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sorry to bring this one back
Here's a fairly complicated
Hey Eddie (or anybody else),
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Haven't tried it yet. It's
Edmundo Braverman
Muskrateer wrote: Edmundo
Muskrateer wrote: Edmundo
Given that we're in hot
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Here's another fun New
Eddie, In all do respect, I
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I'm a little too hammered
Sailor Jerry's + Reed's
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