Kristian

Thank you for your great tips, everyone! I'll definitely add Ron Zacapa Centenario and El Dorado Special Reserve onto my list. I must have missed them on the price list... And if they really have a larger selection in the store than shows on their web page, I'll be in heaven... As well as faced by even more difficult choice of what to buy... Mika: It's great to see another Finn on the rum forum! There are simply too few of us rummies in Finland, but perhaps our numbers will grow... And Ed: Even though it would be great to see you, I'll let you continue your search on the islands...

I'm going to Chicago for a confenrence in late April and I'd like to bring back some premium rums from that trip as well. In another thread (Rum specialy shops in USA), Dan Smith gave the names of these two shops in Chicago: Binney's Beverage Depot and Sam’s Wines & Spirits. I only found Sam's listing of rums on the net and its here Given the import limits to Finland, I can only bring back three or four bottles (depends on how many of my fellow travellers are willing to bring back bottles for me), so I ask you to give me pointers onto which premium rums I should, at least, consider. So, which three rums would you choose? Prices should be around 40 dollars (not too much higher) I'm considering these, at least: Appleton 21 yr old Cadenheads "Green Label" 9 yr old Doorleys XO Montecristo Rum Mount Gay "Extra Old" Did I miss any good ones, or did I include bad ones? And for those who know Binney's, do they have some rums that I should definitely go to see? (I already have access to Ron Matusalem and Havana Club, and last year, I brought back Cruzan Single Barrel from New Orleans, so I will not be buying those. .)

Thank you, Dan! I was just going to post a question about good rum stores in Chicago, because I'll be travelling there in April, but I guess you just answered that question for me! Still, I'll be staying near the biggest hotels (Merriot etc. where there is a big conference at that time), so would either of these shops happen to be within a walking distance from them?

Have a good journey, Ed, and make sure that you find that cyber bar!

Welcome, Fer-de-Lance! (My guess is that the name comes from a spaceship in a computer game, Elite, that changed my life in the 80's... Almost all the ships were named after snakes...)

Thanks for the quick reply! I'll have to try the ice and the Anejo... In general, I'm rather a sipper than a mixer...

I have now tasted the HC7 and find it a bit harsh enjoyed as such. Any recommendations on how I should try it? Thus far, I've used a dash of water but I am wondering whether a lump of ice might suit it better...? It got a bit better when I warmed it up in the palm of my hand, but... Perhaps I should try the Anejo next...

Happy New Year to all rum lovers! Had only one chance to sip rums during the vacation (too many days I had to drive), but I'll compensate a little on the following weekend...

Paul, you're welcome!

Haven't found a (commercial) rum cake to my liking yet, but: Since it's Christmas, I baked two date cakes last weekend (harrumph... cakes with dates in them, kind of like English Fruit Cakes, but with dates). I added some rum into both of them (different rums to compare) and I have to say that both of them came out perfect! The rums were Captain Morgan and El Dorado (both from the cheap, kitchen rum end of the spectrum). EDIT: typo.

Clearly other topic: Congrats, Bolivar, for the 1000th reply altogether on this rum forum!

Which rums do you consider the best for egg nogs, btw? Personally, I'd probably select one of the kitchen rums and none the good stuff, but I'm open to experiments...

Well, given the context, I'm not surprised by Castro's words. And he is right about what he is saying. There are plenty of people who have problems with alcohol in the world (and in Cuba, alcohol = rum). Still, increasing the price is not going to lessen the consumption (as witnessed by student parties etc. in Finland), but it does bring a nice amount of tax euros/dollars/currency to the government's gold chest.

You found some modern Finnish designs, monsuke fiend! Iittala glasses are something our Canadian friends are always hunting for when they visit Finland, but I have personally never really gone for these modern designs. Still, that glass shape does bring to mind both a snifter and a tumbler, which might make it a nice glass to use for our favourite drink...

Yes, Cruzan Single Barrel is a real treat. I've only poured it from my treasured bottle a couple of times, but I do have to say that I like it. Very different from what I expected, but very good! I for one have been asking questions about the possibility of my rums getting 'stale', but there doesn't seem to be a definite answer to that. I think you shoudn't have any problems if you devour the good stuff within a few months from opening the bottle, but I haven't experienced with it enough to say for sure.

No, rhum agricole is rum made out of sugar cane juice (the French way) and not molasses like rhum industriel. Rhum agricole is usually described as having a bit more harshness to it than the molasses based rums. Sugar cane syrup, on the other hand, is syrup made out of sugar cane...

Welcome, you are!

Uh, sorry, I must have been 'out there' when I read your earlier post... Of course it was in U.S. dollars... Pretty steep, I'd say! Our decent selection includes Matusalem Gran Reserva, HC7 and Kaniche Guadeloupe and only the last of them is in regular selection - the others you have to special order... In addition to these, the shelves usually carry about 10-15 lousy brands (coloured stuff) and I can never figure out why they are there at all...

How much is that in U.S. dollars, Sealman? It sounds like you have about the same situation in Alaska as we've got in Finland: good rums are rarely to be seen...

I just checked the store that you mentioned. Nice list with affordable prices... I just hope the import restrictions between Finland and Germany would vanish due to EU and it would really be possible to order rum from them. At the current prices, I would only end up paying taxes on top of taxes to the Finnish customs...

I finally tried the Cruzan last weekend and I have to say that I liked it very much. It's too early to write up any serious tasting notes, but I have to say that it reminded me a little of Clement's Rhum Vieux, but was softer and more buttery in texture... I was surprised by this initial finding, since Clement is a French style cane juice rum and I have understood that Cruzan is a conventional molasses based rum... Shouldn't be that similar, or..? Now, I'll have to sip it alone and alongside with Matusalem next weekend to say which I like more and what I really think of it...

Welcome, Markus!

Have a nice trip, Ed! ... and do try to avoid those nasty storms...

Dave, welcome! Ed: But how long does it take for you to finish one opened bottle? I'm also a bit timid about having more than two or three open bottles because I'm afraid that they will eventually get ruined, as it takes me several months to empty one of them. (only drink during the occasional weekend, and then I only sip) Am I afraid for no reason? Should I just open my Cruzan Single Barrel and HC7 right now and not wait until I've emptied some of the other bottles?

Very good pictures, Jason!