Captain Morgan Sherry Oak Finish

This product was received for review.  My favorite thing to read on a label is For Research Only.

Stretching my wings a bit here for a spiced rum review.  Fortunately, I have a Manhattan mixed up to cleanse my palate.

Compared to the regular Morgan, this Rum is both more and less.  It is more, because it does taste better neat.  The sherry finish is quite nice and I enjoy sipping it.  It is less because I have to wonder why anyone would bother to finish a SPICED rum since it mutes the spices.  If you like this sort of thing, and are curious.  Go for it.  It's only $20 and you are going to mix it with coke anyway.

The Kraken Rum

This product was received for review just in time, as the bottle that I had purchased for myself was almost empty.  That bottle was pretty much drained during last years Super Bowl by the $6 Million Dollar Man.  (Been a long time since I referenced my friends.)  This was an impressive feat, considering that he was having a kidney stone attack during the game.  For the uninitiated, The $6MMm man is a a walking, talking pile of replacement parts.  His left kidney has been replaced by a catalytic converter froma 1984 Chevy Monte Carlo.  His right kidney consists of a cheese cloth wrapped around a coffee press.  I'm guessing that it was a pretty big stone.

The Kraken is a spiced rum.  The natural thing to do is to compare it to the captain.  It's not as sweet, but it is spicier and more tannic.  Lets face it.  The captain is the Carson Palmer of rum; coasting on an unearned reputation, and at this point, we're not sure what team he's playing for.

Kraken & Cola.

Two shots of the Kraken
Ice
Top with cane sugar sweetened Cola (I'm using Coca Cola from Mexico)
Lime Wedge

Ron Matusalem Gran Reserva

Rumor has it, this is a drinking blog.

My grand tour of solera aged rums comes to an end.  I had the Ron Zacapa, the Ron Atlantico, and now the Ron Matusalem.  It's the most affordable of the three at under $30.  I get vanilla, honey, a bit of cinnamon with lightly tannic finish.  As a whiskey lover, my only complaint is that this rum tastes too much like rum.

Grade: B+

Tales From the Top Shelf: Ron Atlantico Private Stock

Has anyone else noticed that there are a lot of guys named Ron making rum?

Turns out that Ron means Rum.  Ahhh.  Who knew?

My new found love of premium rums continues.  Ron Atlantico is an excellent premium rum, that is a blend of 15-25 year old rums that have been aged using the Solera system.  It's got vanilla, honey, and mint.  My only complaint is that there is a bit too much oak in the finish.  I prefer the Ron Zacapa, but Ron Atlantico has the advantage of being cheaper.

Cost: $34
Grade: A-

Tales from the top shelf: Mount Gay Extra Old Rum

I've been keeping this rum around for when the rum lovers that I know come for a visit.  It has a sweet vanilla flavor, and a warm oaky finish.  The rum is aged in bourbon barrels, which adds some nice spice.  When you exhale, you get banana.  If you are a rum lover, this ones for you.  I'm not a rum lover, and I still think that it's pretty good.

Cost: $40
Grade: B+

Ron Zacapa Solera Gran Reserva 23

This will start off similar to my review of Po Traminer Di Poli Grappa.  Much like grappa, I don't like rum.  In general, I find it too sweet, and there's just something about the flavor that I don't like.  I saw this one in the store today, and for whatever reason, I was drawn to it.  I think that it has to do with it being a solera spirit.  Solera is an odd way of aging and blending spirits that is described well here.

It's aged at high altitudes in Guatemala and according to their web site, it's the cognac of rums.  I feel is an appropriate comparison. They use bourbon, wine and sherry barrels to help add to the complexity.  It's got herb, leather,orange zest, dried fruit, nuts, and some oak.

Cost: $40
Grade: A
Cost Adjusted Grade: A+

The Black Eyed Susan

The Preakness was last Saturday.  Unfortunately, a fussy Baby Rye did not allow me to get this cocktail up in time for the race.  The Black Eyed Susan is the traditional cocktail of The Preakness.  Like most cocktails, finding a definitive recipe is a challenge.  Most of the versions that I found used light rum as the base spirit, though I did find versions that used whiskey.  The rum is mixed with varying amounts of vodka, orange juice and sour mix.  Basically, it's a daiquiri.

Jim's Black Eyed Susan
2 parts Kracken Spiced Rum
1 part Triple Sec
1 part Limeade
1/2 part Orange Juice
Lots of ice

It's a tasty, "pinky out" drink with a kick.

What in the world is... Cachaça

What is it? It is a spirit distilled from sugar cane.

Isn't that Rum? Rum is usually made from molasses. The bottle does say Brazilian rum. I think that is just their way to get Americans to buy it.

Two for the price of 1 review: Two brands have been available in Ohio. Pitu, which for some strange reason has a crawdad on the label, is the cheap stuff. It's pretty horrid. I had to choke it down with cola and lime. Spend the extra $7 and get Leblon.

Leblon label stuff: A lively fruity nose with a smooth natural finish. (It does have a hint of fruitiness. Theres is no finish to speak of.) Juicy stalks of fresh cane are distilled in Minas Gerais, (next door to Minas Tirith) then lightly aged for two months in vintage cognac casks in Cognac France...

Any coctails? Go to http://www.lebloncachaca.com/caipirinha/ to watch a video of a very tan girl make a caipirinha. I never knew that muddling was so erotic. Yowza!

Pitu: $17.20
Leblon: $29.10 recently reduced to $24.10.Grade: B
Cost Adjusted Grade B