www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I'm a big fan of Cruzan rums. They're a product of the good 'ol USA (St Croix, USVI). I've been to the distillery - if you're on St Croix, it's a fun tour. They're incredibly cheap on the island, but can get expensive anywhere else. (I'm just used to paying $5-6 a bottle in the Foodtown on St Croix).

Wow, Diet Coke? I've tried, but I can't drink it. I will plead guilty to mixing garden variety rum with regular Coke. I'm not so worried about my caloric intake that I can make that sacrifice.

In any event, thanks for the great information - I see that this thread goes back a bit. I'm glad that it was brought up, as I am a rum guy.

Underdog

I tired to pick up a bottle at Duty Free for Bill on my last trip in July

When to every store in the airport, everyone was sold out of it.....

There is nothing close to the El Dorado from Guyana for a sipping rum IMHO.....

GringoTim it seems we have the same taste in women AND liquor (ie: karen and rum)!!

Out of all the replies nobody really touched on the topics of ---

"WHAT KIND OF BUZZ DO YOU GET WHEN YOU DRINK DIFFERENT RUMS AND WILL YOU HAVE A HANGOVER THE NEXT DAY"?

Although taste is very important, I think the type of buzz you get and if you get a hangover are equally as important.

I've been a rum drinker for 15 years and my two favorites are Ron Centenario and Havana Club ano 7.

The reason both of these rums are good in my opinion is that they are smooth and the buzz is great. The buzz is not too strong and you get a high slowly (around 30 minutes after drinking it) from the liquor.

I have rarely had a hangover from drinking 3 -5 rum and cokes (regular coke that is) but with other liquors I almost always have a hangover.

Gringotim, I will be sure to try your recommendation of Diplomatico from Venezuela.

Cheers, RC

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Slow down for the Curves...

I do love my rum, preferably on the rocks. I bought a bottle of Havana Club in a duty free shop at Tocumen airport in Panama and sneaked it back to the states and was very disappointed. My faves are Bacardi Select and Flor de Cana. The high end Appleton Estates Rum is also excellent. But for the money you can't beat Flor de Cana! Centenario is OK in mixes but to me seems a little sweet.

Rum Fans

This is also one of my favorites in the States

Mount Gay Barbados Dark...

Yummy

Ill have to say when I am in CR, I buy Flor de Cana (Nica) I think its the 6 or 8 yr stuff. I dont go for the old stuff, its smooth, DANGEROUSLY SMOOTH. But I also like to know I am drinking rum, a bit more flavor please. (The law of diminishing returns applies here)
I have to agree with a sommolier (wine buyer for a major top-end wine merchant) friend of mine, Her taste hits a maximum at $15 for wine. After that, you are just paying for the name, and wasting your money to impress somebody.

You can also apply the law of diminishing returns to trolling for Pink Snapper at the BM.
If you agree to "Cien" at the BM, somehow you justify it by thinking "...since shes asking for cien, shes going to be REALLY good...", but we all know, this is usually not the case.

Haha.. that made me think of one time I was looking at a wine list in a fancy restaurant, they had a few bottles of wine over $100. I remember thinking to myself "Does that bottle of wine come with a blowjob?"
OD

IMHO, Flor de Cana and Zacapa are the two best rums in the region. The FDC 18 yr old is silky smooth. I tend to mix my rum with something else, so I usually go with the 12 yr old or if it's a battle night the 7yr old. Zacapa had a limited edition about a year ago that was one of the best rums I tasted. I probably prefer FDC but have no qualms about Zacapa, even though they did away with their cool bottle wrap.

Not a big fan of Centenario, it's usually my backup when they don't have FDC or Appleton's.

Cuban rums are vastly overrated.

Have not tried El Dorado, will put it on my list.

I am certainly not a big drinker or an expert on the subject. I sampled some Malibu Coconut Rum at the San Jose airport. It had a sweet flavor and covered the taste of the alcohol. I ended up buying three bottles which I carried home. I think it was $8 a bottle.

I didn't know that. When did Zacapa do away with the cane bottle wrap?

You should try Zaya (also from Guatemala) if you can find it. A truly excellent rum. It comes in a tall thin bottle, and sells for about $40 in the US.

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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)

At first they cited that there was a labor shortage in the twon where the straw packaging was made. That was obvious BS; if there's a country that can handle more work, it's Guatemala.

Later it came out that the move was geared to boost sales. I don't know if it was some marketing genius or if it came from research, but the reason was that consumers need to see the liquid. They came out with a big advertising push in select US cities earlier in the year with the new bottle. The new bottle has a little straw on the bottom third of the botttle, IIRC. I'm not sure if that same bottle will be marketed in Central America; it will be interesting to watch because I suspect the Guate consumer will jump if they replace the bottle.

Have not heard of Zaya. I thought the Botrans had the market cornered. Will be on the lookout.

I usually drink rum as a zarpe after drinking beer. Costa Rican beer alone can give you a serious hangover, though after a few days it doesn't hit me as much. The first morning in CR is usually a little rough. I tried drinking rum & coke for a short period, but I don't much like being a wide awake drunk. I try to keep booze from similar sources together. Rum is from cane, a grass, like grains, so I'll drink it after beer, but I avoid it after wine. I don't know if this silly or not, but it sort of works. The only booze I know with an especially nice buzz is good quality French champagne. I can't afford to spend 50 bucks on a bottle often, so it doesn't happen often, but the combination of taste and buzz is exquisite.

Wow, a great rum thread. Can't wait to dive in and try a few new ones out in a couple of weeks. Just finished a bottle of Sailor Jerry's, I really liked it. Might be worth a try for some of you guys, it has maybe a little bit of a spiced/vanilla flavor. I think the web addy is www.sailorjerry.com

Also, mentioned in this thread earlier was Pyrat's Rum. F-ing great stuff!! Pricey, but very good!

Any good rums for under $10. DAmn! I'm on a budget!!

This is what happens when you make multiply visits to CR in a short period of time. My first tirp it seemed like i had a hole in my pocket, now i'm counting my pennies.

can you spare some change?

I picked up a 1.75 liter bottle of 5 yr old Flor de Cana last week in the Duty Free next to baggage claim for $14. Very smooth.