Mickeman

The only one I know of in Hamburg is Weinquelle (www.weinquelle.com) but they have been out of the above mentioned bottlings for over two years and Kölner rum Kontor (www.koelnerrumkontor.de) does not seem to hav them either. Thanks for the tips though.

Hi all! Im looking for online shops (preferably in Europe) that sell any of the following bottlings: La Favorite 1993 Troi Rivieres 1977 Troi Rivieres 1980 Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Hi! I have tested a lot of combinations with chocolate and rum since my original post two years ago and found that generally heavy rum works best with a heavy chocolate (heavy flavours of cacao, coffee and vanilla) and light and/or fiery rum with fruitier chocolate. Also do not use a chocolate with a cacao percentage over 70 % in combination with spirits, the chocolate tends to be to bitter. I have tried out many different labels of chocolate, but the best I have found are Valrhonas vintage chocolate called Palmira (Venezuela), Ampamakia (Madagascar) and Gran Couva (Trinidad). They have distinct combination of different flavours and are very complex. Hope that this helps a little way, but there is no substitute for experience since taste is personal. Good luck with your tasting.

This is exactly the same what I describe above. Low proof = low alcohol content. As for bad mash, I take it for granted that we only discuss serious distilleries that don't use any mash that's not ok. All the flavors and taste (both the good & bad) in the mash are in the substances that are commonly called congeners. Which of these congeners and how much of them that’s in the finished raw spirit depends mainly on the size and shape of the copper stills and the middle cut (or heart). The shape of the stills decide how much reflux and copper contact the spirit gets, and the height of the stills and the angel of inclination of the neck decides if only the lighter congeners makes it to the next batch or if more heavier congeners get thought. Distilleries that only or mainly use the Coffey still generally get a much higher alcohol content and that means less congeners alas, less aromas and taste. That’s' why I’m trying to find out which rum distilleries that use manly or only batch destillation with copper stills and in which bottlings. If a bottling have rum of different ages I don't concider it a blend, but if a bottling contains both batch distilled and coffey distilled rum I would consider it a kind of blend.

It seems that www.koelnerrumkontor.de dosent sell / ship to Sweden. Know of another good european online rumstore that ship to Sweden?

Hi! I have enjoyed the 9 year old La Favorite bottling from 1993 for a couple of years now, but now my supplier says that the distillery has closed ant that that they cant get La Favorite rum any more. Is it true that the distillery has closed? Have tried to find an official website for the distillery without success. Would very much appreciate the adress to their site if they have any. Also if anyone knows of an Internet shop in Europe that sells the 9 year old La Favorite from 1993, please let me know.

Tried the St James Vieux and find it a bit to raw for my taste with clear notes of burnt rubber both in the smell as well as in the taste. The only Rhum agricol that I can compare it to is a nine year old La Favorite from 1993 which I like and my personal favorite Troi Rivieres matured six years from 1977 and another bottling from 1980. I just think that the St james might need some more maturation than the two to three years that the Vieux bottling have. The Hors d'Age might just do the trick, but Its not avaiable here in Sweden.

Nope Im in Sweden! Why is it better to stay away from the Cuban 15 year products? Both 15 year bottlings cost about 37$ (30€) in Germany where I buy them. The Havana Club 7 Anos cost about 25$ (20€) and they dont have the Ron Santiago 15. I also have to pay about 2$ postage for a bottle so I tend to stay away from the cheapier stuff. I have not tested the The Havana Club 7 Anos. Have tested the Metusalem 15 and don't like it. You see what I do like in my original post above. They have the following Cuban 15 year old bottlings also, but they are to expensive for me. Havana Club 15 215$ (176€) Varadero Club Rum 15 80$ (65€) Thanks for the imput!

Can buy bottlings of Liberacion Rum Cuba 15 years 40% and Malecon Rum Cuba 15 years 40% for the same price, but can only afford one of the bottles. Anyone have taste notes of these bottlings? I will only use for straight drinking without ice. Other bottlings that is may favorites: El Dorado 15 years Zacapa Centenario 23 years Troi Rivieres 1977 & 1980 Any comments, taste notes or links is appreciated!

Anyone have tips on extremely good combinations of aged rum and chocolate, or know of good websites that have? Specific bottlings and brand of chocolate is appreciated. The ones I have found so far (but not tested) is: Gran Reserva Solera 15 años & chocolate mousse. Gay Rum Extra Old 12 years & Trinidad truffle. Saint James Rhum Vieux Agricole & Valrhona MANJARI ORANGES 64%. El Dorado Special Reserve 21 years & Valrhona GUANAJA 70%. Troi Rivieres Milissime 1977 & Valrona GRAN COUVA Anyone tested one of the above combinations?

Well... Since I know that some brands have even changed distillery without actively informing the customers (I believe that St. Etienne is now distilled at La favorite distillery, but does it say so on the label and have it changed in character?) I don’t give much for what is said on the label. But since I buy most on my liquor online I don't really have the opportunity to read the label before I buy. What I do is read all about a special bottling I can find out on the official site of the distillery and reviews by online papers, rum books and private persons, preferably reviews or recommendations by someone which taste I know. I also notice if a bottling have won a lot of competitions. All this combined decide what I buy, not the label. But then again as I mentioned before I’m quite a newbie with rum although I try to apply my experience from single malt whisky if possible. The only bottlings I have tasted to date is: Negrita dark Appleton Estate VX Appleton Estate Extra* & ***, Tested two different bottles with remarkable difference in character. Metusalem Grand Reserva 15 years* Barbancourt, 15 Year* El Dorado, 15 year*** Zacapa Centenario 23 years*** La Favorite rum vieux 1993, 9 year old* Trois Rivières Millesime 1977*** Trois Rivières Millesime 1980*** Trois Rivières Millesime 1985* - strangely rough and immature. * = Don’t like ** = Bought a bottle *** = Bought a bottle + One of my favorites to date. Have only tested a single glass of the Metusalem and Barbancourt and will give them another try next time I have the opportunity. Rum is quite expensive here in Sweden the Barbancourt 15 costs about 70$.

I think that the information on the label is very important if its truthful. The credibility depends on the producer, but truth have a way of coming to light so a producer that’s not truthful on the label usually lose customers in the long run. I think that this is especially true for the finer bottlings since they are usually bought by customers (like us) that are interested in more than just alcohol. Many of the independent bottlers in the whisky industry usually displays the exact date of distillation and date of bottling as well as which type of casks have been used in the maturation. This is important for me since I prefer certain type of casks for certain brands. For example I prefer my Port Ellen single malt whisky from ex bourbon casks since I feel that cherry casks mask the distillery character (salty, peppery with some sweetness and a hint of peat smoke.) with sherry tones. Sorry for the whisky comparison, but my rum experience is far to limited (to date) to give an rum example.

Gran Ducque de Alba is the only one in the article that I can purchase here in Sweden. The other bottlings I can purchase is: Fundador Soberano, Solera Cien Lustros, Solera Gran Reserva Torres Imperial Brandy Torres Aqua d'Or Torres 20, Hors d'Age Jaime I, Reserva de la Familia (Torres) Can you recomend or tell me anything about these bottlings?

Intresting articel! I too would like to se a comparison to Cognac since I have som experience with Cognac. For instance which brands and bottlings of Spanish brandy would be "equal in quality" to the finer Cognac brands XO bottlings?

Cool article! I just don’t understand the reference o Cognac made in Spain with the Solera blending technique. (In the text about Matusalem grand reserva). As I understand Cognac can only be named Cognac if it's from the corresponding district in France. It must go by another name in Spain, or do they call it just Brandy maybe? Anyone have good links about the Solera blending technique in detail?