It’s easy to say whether the Rum in your glass is nice or not. Your senses can comprehend that. Examine the color and clarity by pouring it into the glass. While dark Rums will have an amber tint, white Rums will be clear.
Cloudy rum is no good.
Give it a taste next. Air is the enemy when it comes to Rum, unlike wine. Partake a small sip and then swoosh it around inside the mouth. It is a cheaper bottle if it is alcohol that you taste first. That sharp burn is often indicative.
Good quality rum will give you complexity. It will be sweet, smoky, and super smooth that you would want to sip slowly. Save the hard stuff for the mojitos.
- Santa Teresa 1796 – “This Rum is from a careful blend of the finest spirits that have properly been aged. Santa Teresa 1796 is further aged in a style that is borrowed from the Spanish sherry producers. This is the first premium anejo Rum in the world that has been aged using the solera method. Though it is drier than average Rum, yet still packs rich flavors you’d expect. Taste the flavors of coffee, vanilla bean, tobacco, and baking spices in this high-end sipping Rum.”
- The Real McCoy 5 Year – “It is the rebirth of the prohibition-era Rum. This Rum is packed with vanilla and tropical fruit flavors.”
- The Real McCoy 3 Year – “This solid silver award-winning Rum is worth the salt. Ideal for mixing or enjoying straight, The Real McCoy 3 Year is named after Bill McCoy, the prohibition-era Rum runner that had become a household name selling the best quality unadulterated spirits. This Rum is bright and floral with hints of nutmeg, marzipan, and toasted coconut.”
- Opthimus 25 Year Port Finish – “If you love a secondary barrel finish in your whiskey and Rum, this is it. Qualities from port elevate the structure of this Rum. The Opthimus 25 Year Port Finish is much more elegant than the Opthimus 15 Year. This Rum is highly coveted and sought after and makes for a great gift for Rum lovers.”
- j.m v.s.o.p – “This French AOC Rhum is a tasty choice from Martinique. One of my favorites, this is like a classy cognac with honey tones.”
- J.M White – “An excellent Rhum Agricole, J.M. is made from freshly crushed and fermented sugarcane juice rather than molasses. It is a go-to in split cocktails. It effectively adds an extra dimension to favorite classics. This bottle of traditional Rhum Agricole flavor with tropical fruits like mango, banana, and papaya displays the raw power of the best Rhum from the Martinique island.”
- Hampden Estate Overproof Single Jamaican – “Great escape from the norm! This Rum has a big funk and ester with a punch. Imagine, it is coming in at 120 proof!”
- Foursquare Zinfandel Cask Blend – “This is a baller Rum if you are inclined to categorize! With fruit highlights, spice and berries this is a tad more complex. It is delicious neat for the avid Rum drinker. Bring in another level of joy to the drink by adding ice.”
- Foursquare Cask Strength Single Blended 2007 – “A Rum of exceedingly high-quality adhering to traditional practices, the Foursquare Cask Strength Single Blended 2007 from the acclaimed Barbados distillery has earned the moniker ‘Pappy of Rum’ due to demand. It displays tasting notes of tobacco, dark cocoa, Ceylon tea, red currants, butterscotch, honey with subtle hints of leather. Reach for this number-one bottle when you want to treat yourself or others.”
- El Dorado 15 Year – “It is the only available wooden pot still in the entire world. Imagine the Demerara River that flows through the distillery causing the sugarcane to leave a subtly sweet finish in the water as well. This beautiful sipping Rum imparts so much flavor.”
- Clement Canne Bleue – “Made from freshly-cut sugarcane rather than molasses, this single cane varietal Rhum Agricole is light and vegetal that is close to tequila. The official cocktail of the French Caribbean makes for a gorgeous Daiquiri and an even better Ti’ Punch!”
- Banks 5 Island – “This is a go-to for making a cocktail. The Bank 5 Island is best for the Daiquiri and the Hemingway Daiquiri. With a bit of funk and aromatics, this Rum is made for cocktails.”
- Abuelo Anejo 7 Anos – “It is difficult to figure out why this Rum is not priced higher. Abuelo Anejo 7 Anos is a steal and a must for every home bar. Capable of warming your insides on a winter evening, this Rum requires quintessential sipping.”
- Clement X.O. – “Soft, sweet, and juicy in all the right ways, Clement X.O. is spicy as well. You cannot do this better. People making Rum for a lot longer than new distilleries have eventually popped up near you.”
- Lost Spirits Navy Style Overproof – “Winning affection of Rum lovers in the US, Lost Spirits began distilling the spirit in California in 2013. Favorite for high-proof additions to cocktails, this navy-style Rum has surprisingly maintained smooth texture despite its strength. This spirit is adorned in several bars for its sherry, licorice, melon, and tropical fruits flavors.”
The Art of Manliness
Rum is an alcoholic beverage distilled from sugarcane juice or molasses is the most-simple definition. Subsequently, it is bottled right away and makes a clear product often used as a cocktail mixer. Then, there is another quality of Rum which is aged in a barrel for a minimum of one year, but quite often longer.
The aged spirit is dark and rich and can be sipped like whiskey. Since most of the best Rum is produced in the Caribbean where the climate is tropical, it ages much faster than in higher altitudes. Rum is an increasingly diverse spirit but can rock like any other.
