www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I asked GringoTim about this and he'd never heard of it, so I thought I'd throw it out there for the other members.

Has anyone ever heard of a liquer called "Creme de Rum" ? It's made by Castillo and I used to buy it in Mexico. Similiar to the others of the genre, i.e. Creme de Menthe, Creme de Cocoa, etc. It is absolutely unavailable in the US.

Possibly some of our Mexicano brothers have heard of it.

Ye Old Man

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If at first you don't succeed, don't try sky diving

Ye Old Man...Are you sure it was Castillo? Castillo rum is made in Puerto Rico. Also, many companies make coconut rum, including Castillo, Malibu, etc.

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

Gringotim you are the Rum expert.
I stumbled onto this site and see your favorite El Dorado won the gold at the RumFest. Also see FLOR DE CANA quite a few places...Sure you'll enjoy the site- http://www.rumshop.net/rumfestivalresults.htm

Paco...Wow, I didn't know that! I'm glad El Dorado won. I am aware of that web site, but I haven't been on it for about a year or so. Thanks for the info. I'll check it out!

I just checked out that web site. I was also pleased to see that a couple of the Guatemalen rums, including Zacapa, placed well. I was surprised however with the absence of Pyrat rums and Ron Centenario from Costa Rica.

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

While I am also a fan of Ron Centenario, and often drink the Colombian rum available for 3700C at Mas X Menos as a zarpe when in town, I would like to mention one of the very dark island rums mentioned above. Cruzan Black Strap Navy Style rum is a lot more like sipping molasses, but I have become quite fond of it. Whenever I've brought some to a party it goes fast. I only hope that the college K*ds who like sweet drinks don't discover it, since they'd probably wipe out the supply in a heartbeat. In the US I usually go through a bottle of rum in about 6 months. I went through one of the Black Strap stuff in 3 weeks.

Veelee...if you really like very dark rums, you should try Myers's Legend
(10 years old) from Jamaica, which someone may have mentioned in a previous post, and Seale's rum from Barbados (10 years old).

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

I've tried a couple of very dark rums since coming back to el Norte, but I still prefer the Cruzan Blackstrap Navy Tradition to any I've had access to. I don't have a lot of choice up here, so I haven't tried the Myers choice suggested, though I've looked for it. I'm headed back south, so is there anything available in Mas X Menos that is more in that direction than Ron Centenerio? Is there any place in the gulch or Barrio Amon that has more choice?

Uh, never mind.

The Flor de Caña Centenario (12 year old rum) sells for $13 at the duty free shop, and here in Sacramento, CA, the same bottle sells for over $100.00 at a local liquor shop. I always buy 4 and bring them home to mix with Diet Coke, great taste. I am not an experienced drinker, but I do know what I like, and it´s not Bacardi anything.

ElGamin

First of all, I have to agree with those here who say the only way to truly taste a liquor, any liquor is to sip it straight.

Diet Coke? You gotta be kidding me. In the first place, it has a horrible industrial solvent flavor, due to the deadly aspartame. Nutrisweet is a horror story of pharmaceutical company manipulation and big money that's not pertinent to this discussion, but let's just say I persoannly would rather sip Mr. Clean. How can any rational human being claim to be able to taste anything over the chemistry-set flavor of Diet Coke? :
?

My very first real job was in a liquor distribution business, where I learned a lot about how to taste and rate liquors. The correct method for any liquor is to put it into a brandy snifter or small wine bulb at room temperature, give it 3 minutes or so to allow the vapors to collect, then take a small sip, drawing a puff of air across the tongue and then swishing the sip around the tongue before swallowing.

Even putting the liquor over ice distorts its flavor. With Flor de Cana and others mentioned here, the difference can be very noticeable.

That being said, when I have a beverage and am not in a taste-test, I drink my Centennario with a splash of club soda and a wedge of lime.


Using the "correct" tasting method, Ron Centennario stands up proudly against most of the other rums mentioned here; Lurker has a right to his own tastes, of course...but I think Centennario is a top-ten, top-shelf booze, particularly the Commemorativo (about $15.00/litro at any Mas por Menos or Automercado the last time I visited C.R.
If you don't think you're going to have time to get to/through the duty free on your way out of town, buy a bottle of the Commemorativo at any local supermarket. The folks back home will be suitably impressed.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

I recently bought a bottle of Ron Cententario XX anjos at duty free. This is a bird of a different color from the XII anjos. It has almost no bit and is great straight up or on the rocks. But it is for export only and I have not found it in any stores in CR.

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If a little's good than a lot's better and too much is just right

Ah...you guys have reignited the flame of Rum passion . I just bought a bottle of Flor De Cana 18 yr at duty free for $13...in my opinion the best value on the shelf there...will have to try and find DBCrockers XX Centenario.,..will look for it upon return from Gringalandia...

Mmm... Good. Rum neat and a Bolivar Royal Corona. Rum and cigars are two of my favorite pastimes. I have tried alot of rums so far with many to come.

I always see people list mostly "old" rums (10yrs. +) as their favorites or top rated. Unlike scotch and whisky rum does not keep maturing with more and more age. Because of the ingrediants that are used and the process in which it is made, rum will age to a point where it is "mature". This is not to say, that there are not great rums in the 10+ yr range however, many younger rums can be just as good if not better than the old ones.

I definitly think one of the rums and Best Values is Havana Club 7 from Cuba. You can buy it for $15-20 a bottle. It is medium to full body with some spice and excellent balance. The other rums in this line, HC3 and Anejo are good for mixing and the HC15 at around $175 a bottle is great but unless you drink Mouton Rothschild daily you should stick with the 7!

Ron Zacapa Cenenario from Guatemala (23yrs) is a Great one as well. At $36 it is still a value. FULL body, very rich with a toasty sweet caramel flavor. Superb balance. It has won numerous awards and deservedly so. It would make a great gift as palm leaves are wove around the entire bottle.

Pampero, Ron Anejo Aniversario from Venezuela. Nice presentation as each bottle has a leather pouch. I think its around $30. It is medium to full body. Spicy with good balance.

There are many excellent rums but just like Ticas it is all personal taste and mood when enjoying.

I look forward to sharing some rum, cigars and tales (should I say tails ) with many of you Labor Day weekend.

Cheers, RC

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Slow down for the Curves...

Zaya from Guatemala (15 years old) is also an excellent rum. It sells for about $40 in the US. Every couple of years(?), special editions of Ron Centenario is produced in CR. One is called Millanario and comes in a round green bottle. It basically is the same as Ron Centenario, but has a higher alcohol content.

I'll still stick to my claim of Demerara El Dorado 'Special Reserve' (15 years old) from Guyana as the all-around best rum. Nothing beats it in my opinion.

El Ciego...I agree somewhat with your assertion that Diet Coke dilutes the liquor. While I ALWAYS mix my rum with Diet Coke, the mixture is perhaps four or five to one. And, believe me, I can still distinquish and appreciate the subtle differences between rums. Lastly, I concur with your opinion of Ron Centenario. I've always viewed it as an excellent rum, perhaps not in the top five, but definitely in the 6 to 8 range.

Royalcorona...I concur that Pampero Anejo Aniversario from Venezuela is a very good rum. A slightly better rum, in my opinion, from Venezuela is Diplomatico.

Tman...Flor de Cana '18' from Nicaragua...truly excellent! Have you given Demerara El Dorado 'Special Reserve' a try? I thought Bill at the SL was going to keep a bottle or two in stock for 'special occasions'

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

GT...I have had the joy of sharing some of the El Dorado 'Special Reserve at the Sportmens when Bill has it. He never seems to be able to keep it in stock long though ...You guys better quit discussing it...you might drive up the demand and therefore the already high prices...