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Dan Smith

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Everything posted by Dan Smith

  1. Greetings, Nice to see you back Kendall. Where have you been hiding, in the cigar forums no doubt? I too can order bottles on line, but I'm a little concerned in the fact of giving my credit card number to some e-based liquor store in Germany. Will the bottle ever reach my door in Montreal? Will I get charged duty, or will the Canadian Government simply seize it if the look in the package? These are the questions that preoccupy Canadian rum drinkers everywhere. So the inevitable question is, Have any of you ever ordered rum online from foreign countries and if so what was the result? Cheers
  2. Greetings and salutations from the planet rum... Cheers I agree with Ed, I have about 15 to 20 bottles of rum open at once...
  3. Jason, which one do you have from Cuba? Is it the Anejo Superior? Look on the bottom of the label and see if you find the following: Destilado Y Embotellado Por: Corporation Cuba Ron S.A. La Habana Cuba If so, that is the real one from Cuba. It's my all time favourite rum. Although my tastes have evolved since I last had a bottle. I'd love to get my hands on another one. Dan
  4. Ed, Did you get the media package from Jim? I am glad that you went out and bought the New Matusalems. I will let you know what I think of the Calssico early this week. Cheers
  5. I will be with you in mind and spirit and will have a drink to the occasion. Cheers...
  6. Ed, I really enjoyed that 'ti punch we had the other night. You've now got me hooked on Sugar Cane Syrup. Please let me know if/when it will trickle it's way into the US and Canada. In the mean time I will do as you recommended and mix the Demerara sugar 50/50 with water as the sugar cane syrup replacement in the 'ti punch. When are you leaving the Windy City? I'm still in Chicago, I fly home tomorrow and can't wait to try the new rums that I am bringing back; El Dorado 12 YO, Matusalem Classico 10 YO, Montecristo 12 YO and Barrilito 3 Star. I will post my tasting notes next week. Now back on track of the topic. I'm having a Gosling’s Black Seal with some ice and a twist of orange and I had another Bacardi 8 YO. I enjoyed the Black Seal more than the Bacardi. I find that the Bacardi is good, see above post, but it really takes me a long time to finish a glass and finished a little too strong on the vanilla component. It reminds me too much of the Captain. It still remains nice rum though. The Black Seal went down great and was totally enjoyable, I must get a bottle of this during my next trip to Ottawa. BTY Jason, sounds like you have a great view from your dinning room, I am jealous
  7. I just finished a glass of Bacardi 8 YO that I had at the Hyatt O'Hare's sports bar. I usually stay away from Bacardi, but they had nothing else and I have been wanting to try it for quite some time now. I have hesitated in buying a bottle due to the bad experiences that I have had with ALL of their other rums, BUT this 8 YO really takes a different path from what you would expect from them. I really enjoyed it neat with a couple of ice cubes. It started off smooth, very drinkable but with no real distinct flavours (at the start it kind of reminded me of the Cohiba 5 YO that I had recently). The "aromas" really came through latter on and the rum's taste matured as the glass went down, like a fine cigar matures as it passed half way. It became more complex and sweeter with vanilla developing. The vanilla almost became too over powering as I neared the end of the drink. I did say almost as it was a great surprise to me that it developed that way and was quite enjoyable. Conclusion: I must buy a bottle of this during my next rum run and it has changed my view of Bacardi product in a positive way and showed me the potential that they still have. BTY Ed; I can't wait to get home Monday night to try my El Dorado 12 YO. I'll let you all know what I think about it and the other 3 next rums I bought this time rum running. Cheers
  8. Thanks for the great info. As a Canadian who has traveled to Cuba and has, or should I say had, 6 real Cuban rums in my collection, this is great news indeed. 2 of the 6 Cubans are in my top rums, Matusalem Anejo Superior and Santiago de Cuba Anejo. If they can be even better, all that I can say is... when's the next flight to Cuba. I wonder is they will be blending new labels or simply integrating the Jack barrels into the current process. We shall see... Cheers
  9. Happy Birthday Ed. I hope that we can meet up in Chicago this week to have a drink in Chicago and celebrate your b-day. Let me know... Cheers
  10. I would jump on the case that's left. Remember he who hesitates looses
  11. Greetings, I just wanted to say that I LOVE RUM and that I am enjoying a fine one that a friend just brought back from Ecuador. It's called Ron San Miguel 7 YO. It's the first rum in my collection that's distilled in a country that does not touch the Caribbean Sea [or North Sea as it was known in Sir Francis Drake and Don Diego Ledesma Paredes y Guzman Orvantes time (better known as Admiral Ledesma)]. It's a surprisingly pale yellow rum for a 7 YO. One would think that it's no more than 3 years old. It's sweet, not heavy, nor dry, but a little strong and slight fruity finish. A 4 star (out of 5) in my books. I once read that the better you are at drinking, the worse you are at thinking. Lets prove them wrong and write about what you are drinking and thinking... Cheers
  12. Greetings Cassandra, Every time that I am in LA area I head down south to Costa Mesa and buy my rum at Hi-Time Wine Cellars and pick up a fine cigar along with my Rum. It's a great shop and they have very good prices and a great selection. Click here to a map of the area. I've looked at their current inventory and do not see the rum that you seek, but give them a call and see if they can order it for you. Good luck, Dan P.S.: Please let us know if and where you find it, there is not enough follow through in this forum and too many threads go unfinished. Cheers
  13. Greetings, I can help you with your Matusalem Black Label. This is what I gathered when I spoke with Patricio from Matusalem, the guy who makes the Classic Black (aka Black Label). It's a 7 year old distilled in St-Croix USVI and bottled in Lake Alfred (Miami) Florida. It's great rum and now a collector’s item (I have 2 in my reserves). The Classic Black (along with the Red Flame, Light Dry, and Golden Dry) is now discontinued. The only Rum of their present line that is still in production is the Grand Reserva (which now seems to be coming out of the Dominican Republic). I like the Classic Black more that their Grand Reserva from St-Croix, more character I find. If any of you are dying to get your hands on this endangered species, the Liquor Control Board here in Quebec Canada still has a bunch in their warehouses. It goes for $28 CAD (~$18 USD). Let me know if any of you would like some as I travel a lot in the Sates. They have launched two new rums, The Classico (Jim Tirel from Matusalem told me that this is to be a 10 YO) and a white called Platino. I have seen the DR Grand Reserva in a few locations in the USA (Hi-Times in Costa Mesa CA comes to mind) and the price has jumped up by $10 USD, from $19.99 in the St-Croix days to ~$29.99 for the stock out of the Dominican Republic. I found the old one a little too smooth and lacking in character but besides that there is nothing wrong with it. I can’t wait to try the new DR blend. I have seen the Classico and the new DR Grand Reserva on-line at Internetwines.com. I hope that this helps out a little… Cheers, Dan
  14. I've always liked the little booklet that comes with Appleton 21YO. If I can find it on-line somewhere I'll link the thread to it. Call me lazy, but I do not feel like typing it all out...
  15. I sent an email to them from the Pyrat site about 2 weeks ago inquiring about the age and blend of their rums, both the XO and the 23. Well it has been 2 weeks and still no response. I don't think that they will ever answer.
  16. Here we go, it took me a while to locate one of the sources that states that the XO is a blend of nine rums from 8 to 40 years. An excerpt from; www.nightclub.com I will try to locate the other sources. Dan
  17. Due to the amount of wine that I drink, it has influenced me to store my corked bottles on their side. Talking about the perceived quality of a corked bottle Vs. a normal one, I was very impressed with the Zacapa presentation, but quite disappointed that it didn't have a natural cork closure. It would have been a perfect addition to such a warm natural looking bottle with so much character. I guess, as Ed has pointed out, it's safer for shipping and storage to use a normal plastic cap. Cheers
  18. Both the 21 YO and the 23 YO are the most expensive rums that the SAQ imports into the province of Quebec. I’ve never seen or heard of this rum any else and at its hefty $129.00 (~ $85 USD) price tag, I was wondering if this rum from Jamaica was worth the money? Strangely enough they have the same price tag and why only a 2 year difference? I guess that they are not the same blend. Any of you try them? If so please comment. Thanks, Dan
  19. Ed, I forgot to mention that if you are ever in the Greater Fort-Lauderdale/Miami area I found Santa Teresa at Miami Liquors - (305) 643-5311 which is only 3 miles from the Miami International Airport a few months ago. I also saw it at an Albertsons (954) 435-8000 on the corner of Pines Blvd. (820) and N. University Dr. (817) in Pembroke Pines, FL. I bought it at the Albertsons for $24.99. It was a little cheaper at the other place, but I was working my way North and could not go back. The best rum selection that I have come across in the States in by far in the Miami area and the best prices would have to be in Tulsa, OK Cheers
  20. Thanks for the guidance Ed. Where do I start, there are too many rums and too much to say. I can get the Barbancout rums here in Montreal (both the 3 and the 5 star) and Appleton V/X, Extra (which is called the 12 YO in the States) and the 21 YO. For some reason I can find anything that I like in the V/X and can't finish a glass. As for the 12 YO, I don't like it neat and always mix it and there are simply too many other rums that are better (like the before mention Cruzan 5 YO, even the 2 YO, Smuggler's Cove Dark, Brugal Anejo...). As for St-James, well that and Meyers are completely at the bottom of my list. Albeit I've only tried the youngest called Amber. Ever since that, I’ve been so reluctant to try the aged ones. Just like the 10 YO Meyers. The buyer at Martins that I spoke to said that the Flor de Cana 21 YO is actually a 15 YO. You are right on that one, it would appear that you had all of your senses, 2 points to you again Ed. I like the 7 YO and the 12 YO but only as a rum and coke, especially the 7 YO. They have a particular after taste straight that I do not care for. I love the El Dorado 15 YO and it’s in my top 5 rums that I drink neat. The famous buyer at Martins also told me the same you did for the 12 and 15 YO discrepancies. Here said, as you have, that they are very different and that he likes them both and was very acquainted with them. The 12 YO is supposedly much sweeter. I think that I will pick up 2x Pamperos to refill my stock and a 12 YO El Dorado to add to the collection and a Westerhall Plantation to give it a try. I’m intrigued about this rum after reading the locked thread. Ciao P.S.: How was the El Dorado 12 YO last night Ed? And I should have the information that you requested soon. I have not forgotten, just busy. Dan
  21. I just called the NO Martin store, you were correct Ed, they have several more rums than the Metairie store. Spoke with the buyer. He is extremely knowledgeable and patiently answered all of my questions. He has just about every premium rum you generally see on the US market at fairly good prices, like: Pampero Aniversario at $22.99 Westerhall Plantation at $19.99 Flor de Cana 12 and 21 YO - 21YO @ $49.99 El Dorado 12 and 15 YO - 15 YO at $25.99 ... and many more... He said that he has pretty much everything except Zacapa and Pryrat XO, but he has the pistol and Cask 23. No Barcelo Emperador or Grand Anejo either. Ed, I was looking to pick up 2 Pampero Aniversarios and 2 new premium rums that I do not have in my current collection. I will list the premiums that I have, and maybe you can direct me as to what I am missing and should give a try: Appleton 21 Year Old Cruzan Single Barrel Estate Rum Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Doorly's XO Fine Old Barbados Rum El Dorado Special Reserve 15 YO Flor De Cana Centenario 12 Year Old Grand Blason Anejo Especial Matusalem Grand Reserva Matusalem Anejo Superior (Cuban) - Bottle has maybe one or two drops in it - I NEED MORE Mount Gay Extra Old Pamparo Aniversario Pyrat XO Reserve Planters Gold Pyrat Pistol Santa Teresa 1796 Solera Santiago De Cuba Ron Anejo (Cuban) - I'm dreaming of the day I'll get my hands on the Ron Santiago 45 Aniversario Zacapa Ron Centenario Zaya Grand Reserva Thanks for the help. Dan
  22. Greetings to all who peruse through this thread, I wish that I could explain better what I have experienced with Doorly’s XO, but I am not learned enough in the terminology and have a hard time putting words to the tastes in my mouth, but this is the impression it gave me and the following was is the entry in my journal: “After a few nights of drinking this rum, neat, with ice, neat-chilled and as a rum an Coke, all that I can say is that the more I drink it, the more I like it. and it was good in all forms tested. It’s smooth, sweet and a little dry, but ends with fruity overtones. It’s real easy to drink and I like it best neat, not even chilled. It’s light, well at least I find, and therefore good neat at room temperature.” Conclusion: It’s fine rum, and one that an everyday person like myself recommends to this forum of rum lovers Cheers to you and goodnight…
  23. GOT IT I found the two important shops that had good stock/prices: Burton's Liquor Mart 6533 E 71st St Tulsa, OK 74133 918-492-4415 Fikes-Parkhill Liquor & Wines 5111 S Lewis Ave Tulsa, OK 74105 918-742-4187 If my memory servers me correctly, Burton's is the one that had the 21 YO for $36 and Fikes had the Aniversario at $18.99. Good luck and let us know what you find out. Dan
  24. Jason, I know, its nuts. The Pampero Aniversario was an unbelievable $18.99 also. He only had one 21 YO on hand, and at that price I wanted to pick up a couple, so I enquired if he could order more ASAP as I was only in town for a few days. The next day he called and informed me that yes he could order more but the price had gone up by $10.00 to $46.00. It was still a good price, but not $36.99. So I quickly drove back to the store and bought the remaining bottle. I really can't remember the name of the shop. I went to 3 of them during a short business trip last year. I will search for the name and let you know. Cheers
  25. Greetings, I really like this rum and purchased it in Tulsa, Oklahoma for $36.99 USD. At that price I would not hesitate to buy it over and over again and drink it more regularly than I do. BUT, here in Montreal it goes for around $80 CDN (~$50 USD). Now that's getting just a little pricey. In my humble opinion you should always have one open in your collection ready to sip sparingly on those special occasions. Cheers
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