(Cuban) Rum Rundown

[Dan Smith]

Cheers to you John, nice speech.  I read your post as I was sipping a not so refined, but much enjoyed rum (Mount Gay Eclipse).

Dan

[Bolivar Petit Corona]

John,   my profile also says me name is Bolivar Petit Corona...

As far as other rums, and opening my eyes, I've tried everything available locally, and do like B8, but not for how much they ask for it, now when I can by it in Florida, at Eglin Air Force Base Class VI, I buy all they have, B Anejo, as well as Pyrat, La Flor de Cana 5 & 7, and others not available locally.

Dan, Mount Gay doesn't do it for me, although available locally.  The only ones available locally I like, are Pussers' (see seperate thread), and Appleton's (see thread).  They are out of Appleton's, and are trying to get La Flor de Cana.  

[Bolivar Petit Corona]

Here's the updated url:

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/Afici...9906/ft699.html

[Jason Perlow]

Several of those rums arent being produced anymore, though. Most noteably the Matusalem Anejo Superior. Of which I am down to my last 2 bottles.

[Pierre]

Re: the previous post mentioning Pyrat and Pusser's rums.

Just for the record. These are not distillers. They are only blenders and bottlers. They buy rum by the barrell from distillers in other locations, put it in their own bottles, put their names on it, spend enormous amounts of money marketing their "brand" and then sell it.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that. More power to them if they get rich off it. But what happens when their rum suppliers change. Or if they decide to buy cheaper rum from someone else. Nothing on their label will change.

I'd prefer to buy from reputable firms that have been in business for years producing their own sugar cane, their own molasses, and their own rum.

IMHO,

Pierre

Texas

[Ed Hamilton]

Good point Pierre, but there are some very good, well priced rums from blenders such as Goslings who've never distilled a drop of rum.

As for the mystery distillery in Cuba, Michener went there in the late eighties and the distillery was probably a blender who bottles local rum along with some local magic. It is highly unlikely that a small entrepeneur distillery would survive but people are blending their own rum everywhere in the islands.

Michener might have found a local blender but he is way off the mark on a couple of other points. Dark rum is not made from burnt molasses, all rum is clear when it leaves the still. And no selfrespecting Trini would ever drink Jamaican rum, especially during Carnival. Like most islanders they drink the local rum and Jamaican and Trinidad are at opposite ends of the spectrum.