Search found 155 matches

by Capn Jimbo
Tue Aug 05, 2008 1:36 pm
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Review: Kimberley Cane Spirit
Replies: 8
Views: 8312

Re: Review: Kimberley Cane Spirit

This hand bottled rum is aged less than two years in oak in the spirit of Cachaca...
I'm confused. This is a molasses based rum, is it not?
by Capn Jimbo
Tue Aug 05, 2008 1:31 pm
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Rum & Wood Finishes / experiments
Replies: 7
Views: 5515

Re: Rum & Wood Finishes / experiments

Richard Seale's terrific Doorly's XO (reviewed here ) is finished in sherry casks. Seale - with great integrity - has been experimenting over the years, and correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the Mahiki falls into this category of a finish or second maturation in other woods. Based on the XO, I c...
by Capn Jimbo
Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:53 pm
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: 15yo Pussers rum review
Replies: 16
Views: 52485

Re: 15yo Pussers rum review

It is well to note that Pusser's (short for "purser", distributor of the ration) is claimed to be made from the same formula as the British Royal Navy rum, since about 1805 I recall. Still made in "J's" very, very old wooden stills, which like antique urinals, no doubt leads to his "astounding" arom...
by Capn Jimbo
Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:13 pm
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Ron Zacapa 23 as a benchmark
Replies: 20
Views: 51020

Re: Ron Zacapa 23 as a benchmark

Some quick comments: I've taken a closer look to BTI's scoring. If you zoom on the data, you'll find not one bell-shaped curve, but three. No it is still a quite credible single bell curve. Subdividing it into individual scores into four categories based on BTI's first blind round is an error. BTI's...
by Capn Jimbo
Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:20 pm
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Ron Zacapa 23 as a benchmark
Replies: 20
Views: 51020

Re: Ron Zacapa 23 as a benchmark

And I too am annoyed by the minimalization of BTI. I couldn't disagree more. BTI is anything but the shill being portrayed by some. Here's an excerpt from a recent discussion at The Rum Project Forum: I believe their intent is to be accurate, and their tasting notes are made by a changing corps of b...
by Capn Jimbo
Tue Jul 29, 2008 12:57 pm
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Ron Zacapa 23 as a benchmark
Replies: 20
Views: 51020

Re: Ron Zacapa 23 as a benchmark

Thanks Dood. So the new blend uses less of the older rums, as some predicted. But it's sure not any less expensive! On the positive side perhaps they've also left out some of the rum altering flavorings. Actually I believe the Count was referring to Zacapa 23 becoming a de facto "benchmark" simply b...
by Capn Jimbo
Tue Jul 29, 2008 12:41 pm
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Review: Plantation Rum Barbados Grande Reserve
Replies: 22
Views: 33776

Re: Review: Plantation Rum Barbados Grande Reserve

Darn! Double darn!! Count, I just knew you'd try to contact them, good on you. I am disappointed they haven't answered, bad on them. Plantation is visible enough that, on one hand I'd tend to believe them when they claim "made from cane juice". On the other, I too note that I'm not aware of any othe...
by Capn Jimbo
Mon Jul 28, 2008 12:56 pm
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: A New Cuban Find!
Replies: 1
Views: 2850

Re: A New Cuban Find!

Quick addenda.... Sue Sea and I were, as always, once again in the Keys to kayak and once again found the elusive San Pablo, this time in a white selling for a low, low $9.99 (compare to the gold at just $11.99). Having experienced and loved the gold, Sue Sea insisted we pick up the white for a frie...
by Capn Jimbo
Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:25 pm
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Review: Plantation Rum Barbados Grande Reserve
Replies: 22
Views: 33776

Re: Review: Plantation Rum Barbados Grande Reserve

Count I'd be very interested in your comparison between the "1995" an the nondesignated "Barbados", especially as they are both from that fine rum country of origin. Many thanks... Oh, and BTW, just reread your review and noted the unusual labeling as "made from cane juice". I suppose that is techni...
by Capn Jimbo
Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:32 am
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Ron Zacapa 23 as a benchmark
Replies: 20
Views: 51020

Re: Ron Zacapa 23 as a benchmark

I was not aware that competitions still do use "23" as a benchmark - does anyone know which ones? And the whole idea of it being "retired" is a strange one. Like asking Tiger Woods not to enter a golfing contest. Speaking for Sue Sea and I, we'd like to see total transparency in rum competitions - w...
by Capn Jimbo
Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:09 am
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Review: Plantation Rum Barbados Grande Reserve
Replies: 22
Views: 33776

Re: Review: Plantation Rum Barbados Grande Reserve

I have heard the Plantation rums do vary, and apparently this must be so. Sue Sea and I tasted the Plantation Barbados labeled "1995" and thought it was excellent ( link ); it garnered an "8" of 10 which is a pretty high scoring for us. Glad I caught your review on this one as otherwise we'd have pr...
by Capn Jimbo
Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:01 pm
Forum: Feedback & Help
Topic: A Somewhat Frivolous Suggestion!
Replies: 3
Views: 19923

A Somewhat Frivolous Suggestion!

Or maybe not. As the lover of history I am, I was struck by the naming of this forum section as "The Rum Cellar". Now I'm sure we've all heard of wine cellars (a rich man for whom I once house sat had quite a nice one and offered that I "... feel free to pick out any wine you like and there's also a...
by Capn Jimbo
Mon Jul 21, 2008 12:28 pm
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: A New Cuban Find!
Replies: 1
Views: 2850

A New Cuban Find!

Hello Count and friends! Everyonce in awhile good fortune smiles. In this case my dear Sue Sea and I were yet again on one of our frequent trips to the Florida Keys to go kayaking and spotted a a liquor store we'd somehow missed. The last time this happened we happened upon a surprisingly good rum w...
by Capn Jimbo
Thu Jul 17, 2008 10:48 pm
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Review: Mahiki Gold Rum
Replies: 6
Views: 8103

Re: Review: Mahiki Gold Rum

Thanks. Your point about bartending skills, or their shortcomings, is very well taken. It's possible that the use of lesser rums is a matter of profit before taste. Most bars, even the better ones, have a pretty slim selection of rum in the first place, particularly the finer products. Second, unles...
by Capn Jimbo
Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:29 pm
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Review: Mahiki Gold Rum
Replies: 6
Views: 8103

Re: Review: Mahiki Gold Rum

Actually all rums can be good mixers in the right circumstances understanding of course, that different flavor profiles will work better in different mixed drinks. As for white rums being preferable because there is less flavor to be lost, that assumes that you don't want flavor in your mixed drinks...
by Capn Jimbo
Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:46 pm
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Review: Mahiki Gold Rum
Replies: 6
Views: 8103

Re: Review: Mahiki Gold Rum

A luscious and enticing review. Sure sounds like what I expect from Seale. Personally, both Sue Sea and I like a nice smooth burn; after all it's rum not liqueur, lol! Now I must say that I'm always intrigued by the "mixer you can also sip" type of comment. Compare to a "sipper you can mix". Fact is...
by Capn Jimbo
Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:22 pm
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Review: Mahiki White Rum
Replies: 4
Views: 6266

Re: Review: Mahiki White Rum

Count, I know you've been in touch with Jules. Perhaps you can get more specifics of the white and gold, including but not limited to: age, method, reviews if any, flavor profile and market positioning... Take the Tommy Bahama Gold Sun for example: marketed as "ultra premium" (which actually has no ...
by Capn Jimbo
Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:39 am
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Review: Mahiki White Rum
Replies: 4
Views: 6266

Re: Review: Mahiki White Rum

Sue Sea and I finally got around to tasting Tommy Bahama Golden Sun, which was marketed as a self-defined "ultra-premium". BTW, this term got a few laughs in Barbados where the local newspaper was speculating about the next step, say "super ultra extra premium", lol. Link to Reviews Why did we revie...
by Capn Jimbo
Mon Jul 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Trinidad rum, past & present
Replies: 7
Views: 10553

Re: Trinidad rum, past & present

I once speculated that the in the old days, the French made the rum making laws in their colonies such that they could be relatively certain that this colonial inferior product could never really compete with the truly French produce, such as cognac and armagnac (which are far smoother than French ...
by Capn Jimbo
Sun Jul 06, 2008 2:35 pm
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Trinidad rum, past & present
Replies: 7
Views: 10553

Re: Trinidad rum, past & present

Yes, I wondered that when I saw that your section on Fernandez was a direct quote from Ayala. I'd love to know the original source of that quote (maybe I'll be buying yet another book)... can you share it? I do know that Curtis, Williams, Broom and Couloumbe include some extensive bibliographies, un...
by Capn Jimbo
Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:20 pm
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Recommendations for a rank neophyte in the realm of rum?
Replies: 40
Views: 27916

Re: Recommendations for a rank neophyte in the realm of rum?

Thanks for the post, good information. What is recorded of Trinidad's rums historically seems to support the claim that they were significantly lighter in style already in the days when rum was made in Trinidad by using potstills for distillation. I've checked my usual sources: Ayala, Broom, William...
by Capn Jimbo
Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:16 pm
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Trinidad rum, past & present
Replies: 7
Views: 10553

Re: Trinidad rum, past & present

Nice overview. BTW, the long section on Fernandez should be credited to Luis Ayala, from his book "The Rum Experience". Personally, I find the Trinidadian rums a real mish mosh of tastes, body and style. The fractured history and changes of government disallowed any real recognized continuity of pro...
by Capn Jimbo
Fri Jul 04, 2008 12:48 am
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Recommendations for a rank neophyte in the realm of rum?
Replies: 40
Views: 27916

Re: Recommendations for a rank neophyte in the realm of rum?

"J", great post, couldn't agree more with you on the agricoles and Haiti. As far as light rums go, it's pretty hard for me to ignore Cuba as the birthplace of the lighter rums and the new distillation methods. Santiago, sugar and rum were truly immense in comparison to Trinidad. Through Bacardi this...
by Capn Jimbo
Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:41 pm
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Review: Appleton Estate Extra
Replies: 8
Views: 11666

Re: Review: Appleton Estate Extra

Hear, hear! Well said "J". Count I don't have a clue whether I have a new or old label, though I suspect it's new. I've purchased two bottles in the last couple months and they both looked like the bottle in your review, with the "aged 12 years" near the bottom of the label as shown. JaRiMi, I think...
by Capn Jimbo
Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:50 am
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Review: Appleton Estate Extra
Replies: 8
Views: 11666

Re: Review: Appleton Estate Extra

Count, as you may know Appleton Estate Extra is one of the five reference rums I selected to represent the five basic styles of rum ( Link ). I am simply mad for history and tradition and Jamaica falls right behind Barbados in the glorious history of rum. Now I think many would agree that the Barbad...
by Capn Jimbo
Mon Jun 30, 2008 11:20 pm
Forum: News Repository
Topic: Mahiki Rum Launches Exclusively at Selfridges
Replies: 6
Views: 8708

Re: Mahiki Rum Launches Exclusively at Selfridges

Count, my approach was anything but devious. Simply clicked on the "Contact" link and dropped em an email...
by Capn Jimbo
Fri Jun 27, 2008 1:36 am
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Recommendations for a rank neophyte in the realm of rum?
Replies: 40
Views: 27916

Re: Recommendations for a rank neophyte in the realm of rum?

What rums for the neophyte has become a common question, and always draws a diversity of confusing answers. The neophyte grapples with these and tries to find a consensus that simply isn't there. That's why I worked so hard to develop my Case for Reference Standards ( Link ) to provide a good starti...
by Capn Jimbo
Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:59 pm
Forum: News Repository
Topic: Mahiki Rum Launches Exclusively at Selfridges
Replies: 6
Views: 8708

Re: Mahiki Rum Launches Exclusively at Selfridges

Well, when it's time to eat crow, I'm the first in line. I would never have believed it, but I have been in email communication with Mahiki and it turns out the local distiller with whom they are working is none other than the great Richard Seales - so you can count on this rum to be a winner, a tru...
by Capn Jimbo
Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:40 pm
Forum: News Repository
Topic: Mahiki Rum Launches Exclusively at Selfridges
Replies: 6
Views: 8708

Re: Mahiki Rum Launches Exclusively at Selfridges

Great post, thanks. I have a special interest in Barbadian rums so of course, this caught my eye. Checking out their website though, Mahiki has the appearance and influence of the marketing department, from bottle, to label, to backstory. The principal,"Papa Jules" is a Frenchman who appears to have...
by Capn Jimbo
Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:36 pm
Forum: Rum Cellar
Topic: Santa Teresa Gran Reserva
Replies: 3
Views: 4381

Re: Santa Teresa Gran Reserva

I really can't comment on the Gran Reserva, but have reviewed the 1796 at my website ( Link to Review ), where my dear Sue Sea and myself gave 1796 a solid "8" (out of 10). This is quite a high rating for us. Usually when I'm in doubt I take a quick stop at BTI for comparative ratings. There, 1796 e...