So, here goes…

As you can see from the featured image, I have 18 rums to go through.  Well, I actually had 19, but then Erin decided to scam her Malibu aside so I wouldn’t delve into whatever was left there…

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No loss there, LOL.  Stuff tastes like watered-down white rum and coconut milk.

With the main tasting stuff, I’ve generally arranged this to start with the youngest / white rums to begin with, and then working towards the more aged rums.  I’ll note the alcohol percentage per volume as well as the country of origin, and will note (where available / applicable) any lot or batch or bottle numbers, or anything particular to that rum.

Also, these rums will be sampled in approximately 1 ounce allotments, drank neat from a simple rocks glass, at room temperature (no chilling, no mixers or water added, no ice cubes).  Straight from the bottle, measured in a shot glass, straight up in a rocks glass.  Glorious nectar!

Here’s the rundown of what I’ll be going through, in order from basically youngest to oldest:

• Bacardi Superior White Rum
• Brugal Ron 151
• Captain Morgan 100-Proof Spiced Rum
• Nutz ‘N Rum Peanut Punch
• Captain Morgan Tattoo
• Ron Santiago de Cuba Anejo
• Legendario Elixir de Cuba
• Havana Club Anejo 7 Anos
• Bacardi Ron 8 Anos
• Havana Club Cuban Barrel Proof
• Havana Club Seleccion de Maestros
• Kirk and Sweeney 12 Year Dominican Rum
• El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum
• Dictador 12
• Ron Santiago de Cuba Extra Anejo 12 Anos
• Ron Flor de Cana Centenario 18
• Ron Zacapa 23
• Ron Zacapa XO

Let’s see how then rolls then, shall we.  Here’s the first three to start with (no cigars paired with yet, all enjoyed prior to supper):

1.  Bacardi Superior.  (40 % alc/vol, Puerto Rico)  The classic “big brand” of white rum.  This is a mainstay for me, for frozen pina coladas, daiquiris and mojitos.  That said, that’s about all it’s good for.  Very plain Jane tasting.  Only a one-year-old rum (two years max), it has no “legs” in the glass.  Slight vanilla and lemon tinge to the rum, not overpowering.  No real other tasting notes – it’s just a plain, white rum.

2.  Next up – Brugal Ron 151.  (75.5 % alc/vol, Dominican Republic)  Jesus.  This shit is rocket fuel.  On the nose out of the bottle, it reminds me of rose water (any of you having kids know of this stuff).  It’s very deceiving, in that you don’t think it any worse than regular white rum.  This stuff has a sweet bite, almost with an anise (black licorice) tinge, and has decent legs in the glass for a white rum.  Then – KAPOW! – this stuff hits you with the heat and numbness after.  With a bit on the lips, it actually makes your lips start to tingle and go slightly numb.  Slight honey and vanilla sweetness at first with this stuff too.

3.  Captain Morgan 100-Proof Spiced Rum.  (50 % alc/vol, Puerto Rico)  Yup, I’m NOT a huge fan of Captain Morgan.  I find that stuff tastes more like gasoline than many “cheap” brands of rum, and I usually cringe when I ask at a bar as to what their dark rums are, and I usually get an answer back of “Captain Morgan Dark and Captain Morgan Spiced”.  Yikes.  That said, I do enjoy this stuff.  Primarily, it’s a Christmas-time eggnog-and-spiced-rum that I have this with.  But, this 100-proof stuff is just that tinge nicer.  Huge hits of buttered caramel / toffee right off the get go, followed by some nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves, and a bit of sweet vanilla with the heat follow-up.  While this isn’t really a sipping kinda rum, it’s not unbearable either (though definitely not preferred).  My wife likes this one mixed with Malibu for her rum-and-cokes occasionally.

Mmmmm.  Palate’s warming up now.

More to come…

Go here for Part 2, here for Part 3, and here for the Part 4 conclusion of this series.

Cheers all.