Snag a bottle of rum, for $4,899!

Win the lotto?  Feeling rich?  You are rich?  

Here's a chance to blow some of that money on a bottle of rum that's nearly 5 grand.   Appleton Rum released a 50 year old series of rums called, "Appleton 50 Year."   Let's read their description...

"In 1962, as Jamaica approached full independence, several hand-selected barrels of rum were set aside to age with the intention of creating a special blend that would one day be bottled to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence. Matured for a minimum of 50 full years, these rums were at rest carefully aging and being looked after, first by Master Blender Owen Tulloch, then by his protégé and Appleton Estate’s current Master Blender, Joy Spence.As the decades passed, the rum developed a beautifully dark mahogany color with smooth flavors and delightfully complex aromas, due to the natural amalgamation of the rum and oak barrels over time. 

Master Blender Joy Spence carefully examined each barrel during this period to ensure that it had attained the perfect level of complexity; offering smooth and rich notes that would be fitting to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Jamaican Independence. Now, over 50 years later, Joy Spence jubilantly confirmed that these irreplaceable barrels of rum had aged to perfection, ultimately creating the world’s oldest barrel aged rum."

Of the original casks—ex-Bourbon barrels, which had been shipped as staves to Jamaica and reassembled by coopers at Appleton Estate—only 13 made it through the process due to inevitable evaporation in the strong Caribbean heat. From that, 800 bottles were filled, which will sell for $5,000 each.  Yikes.

Pick up yours today at:  www.acespirits.com/rum.  Just save me a shot please.

Bacardi celebrates 150 years

(click to enlarge/save)

Appleton 21 year old Rum

Rum that's 21 years old...let's do the math.  It's 2012, 21 years ago would put you in 1991.  President Bush Sr was president and the Gulf War was in full swing.  Also, Appleton, in Jamaica, was creating this rum. 

You can buy it for 129 Euro over at www.thewhiskyexchange.com.  At the time of this post, 129 Euro is around $172 in American cash.  Yikes!  This might make it a "save it for a very special occasion" bottle of rum in our house.

Rum cake - bake or buy?

If you want a nice moist buttery rum cake you got two choices:  #1.  Buy or #2. Bake.  

Bake it yourself...

Ladies love a man who'll master the kitchen.  So if you're willing to try this tried-and-true recipe makes the moistest cake you'll ever eat.  It's also the perfect cake for mailing.  The rum acts as the perfect preservative.  It freezes beautifully also.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour, 25 minutes
Servings: 12 to 16 servings

Ingredients Needed

For the cake

1 cup chopped, toasted  pecans or walnuts
1 18-1/2 ounce yellow cake mix
1 1-3/4 ounce (4-serving size) instant vanilla pudding mix
4 eggs
1/2 cup cold milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup Bacardi dark rum

For the Glaze

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup water
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup Bacardi dark rum

How to do it

Cake: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour 12-cup Bundt pan. Sprinkle nuts on bottom of pan. Combine all cake ingredients. Beat for 2 minutes on high with electric mixer. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool in pan. Invert on serving plate. Prick top with fork. Drizzle glaze over top of Bacardi Rum Cake. Use brush or spoon to put extra dripping back on cake.

Glaze: Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in water and sugar. Boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in rum. Note: The rum will cause steam. Be careful not to burn yourself.

(Out comes this)

 

Buy one instead...

Don't have the nerve to try it yourself?  You can always order a rum cake from Amazon.  This way you'll know it's perfect and by the time you buy all the ingredients to bake one yourself this might even be more cost efficient.

A good X-Mas gift - Tortuga Rum Cakes

It's that time of the year again for all of our favorite holiday foods. Tamales, egg nog and rum cake! Have you ever had it? It's a moist rum and buttery flavored cake that's been delighting people for over 150 years.

Rum cake got it's start in the Caribbean from the first European settlers. At first they brought their Christmas bread pudding over then once rum got so popular rum cakes started to be the holiday desert of choice.

Traditionally, dried fruit is soaked in rum for three months, then added to dough prepared with sugar which has been caramelized by boiling in water. The result is a moist and tasty cake. It has been proven possible to become intoxicated from consumption of excessive amount of rum cake, some rum cakes such as Tortuga contain even more than 5% of certain grain alcohols!

Order yours below from Amazon from $20 and up. You can get the original flavor or many others including chocolate and banana. 

An old and very costly bottle of Bacardi Gold Rum

I've been posting a lot lately on rum.  Why?  I haven't a clue!  But I do enjoy rum.  I think it's partly the drink, partly the history of the spirit and it has a lot to do with the Caribbean.  So I was cruising the web searching for the oldest and most costly bottle of rum money could buy, and I think I found it!

Presenting to you a bottle of Bacardi Gold Rum from the 1930's.  Yes, this is a complete bottle of rum in the original bottle with the original rum and label.   This is when Bacardi was made in Cuba before Castro decided to start this little revolution, take over the distillery and Bacardi decided to get the hell off the island. 

(click the bottle to enlarge it)

I don't know the back-story to this particular bottle.  How did it stay sealed for 80 plus years?  Where has it been?  Clearly it's been somewhere safe because the label on the bottle looks great!   This is why it's priced, as of today, at 2,100 euro.  And at the conversion rate today that's $2,840 American smack-a-roos.  If I was wealthy for life you bet I would buy it for my collection, till that happens I'll stick with the local market Bacardi for $20.

You can actually buy this bottle at:  www.thewhiskyexchange.com/rum.  I think it's funny that someone on their site left a comment for this bottle, "Best served with coke."  Hahaha, now I agree that Coke and a fine rum make for a delicious drink but if I got my hands on this bottle I would NOT mix it with Coke.

Rum on boobs

Plus sized model Jalisa Elite knows what to do with rum...

See more of her @ Barefoot Message Board.

Rum Review - Mount Gay Extra Old

Ok...so is a rum I've NOT had the pleasure of sipping, but I want to give it a go.  Next time I see it at the market, it's mine.  Mount Gay is the founder of all rum, really, and it's from the amazing island of Barbados so whats not to love?

Read this excerpt from www.refinedvices.com...

The Mount Gay Estate is one of the oldest estates in the Caribbean, and definitely the oldest on Barbados. Many believe rum has been produced on the estate as early as 1663, which is the year William Sandiford bought the estate.

The estate included a still that was capable of producing rum, but the only legal and the oldest written evidence of rum production in the estate is from 1703, making Mount Gay the oldest rum producer in the world.

  

(generally priced from $25 to $35)

Mount Gay Extra Old rum begins its life like most other rums, in the sugar cane field where the cane is harvested, crushed and the resulting juice heated to extract sugar crystals and of course, molasses.

At Mount Gay the molasses are fermented up to 72 hours, which results in the molasses having around 6 to 7% of alcohol. The fermented molasses is distilled in pot and column stills after which the distillate is transported to St. Michael for barrel aging and diluting with coral filtered water.

The distilled sugar cane spirit is matured in 200 liter oak barrels from Kentucky which are only used three times to age rum before being replaced by newer barrels. Some of the rums reserved for the blend of Mount Gay Extra Old are aged up to 17 years in these barrels before being blended in large tanks, overseen by the Master Blender, Allen Smith.

Appearance
The color is sparkly amber with brighter yellow highlights.

Nose
Gentle floral and buttered aromas are drifting near the mouth when the rum is first poured into the glass, later revealing caramel and creamy vanilla with bourbon and coconut undercurrents.

Taste
The flavors are initially warm and tingly from the alcohol, but are quickly subdued by sweet caramel and light wood notes that are further softened by bourbon and vanilla. A slight bitterness remains on the tongue, however.

Aftertaste
The rum leaves a nice spicy glow in the mouth and the bitterness from the taste has almost disappeared, allowing a few earthy bourbon notes to come through with caramel. Mount Gay Extra Old finishes in copper with bitter coffee beans that dissolve into a lasting balm of crème de caramel.

Final thoughts
While not overwhelmingly complex or mind blowing, Mount Gay Extra Old is a nice sipping rum and no doubt works well in many cocktails, the rum old fashioned being one of my favorites.  It is not too rare or expensive in such use either which easily makes it one of my staple rums that I can drink often enough without being afraid of the wallet going empty.

A movie trailor for "The Rum Diary"

There's a new movie coming out with Johnny Depp that's based on a novel by Hunter S. Thompson.   Johnny Depp plays journalist Paul Kemp, Thompson's alter ego, who journeys to Puerto Rico and finds himself in a life filled with booze, babes and corruption.

I can't really put a thumb on what exactly the movies about, but from watching the tailor, I definitely want to hang around Puerto Rico in the 1950's swigging away on rum! 

Sailor Jerry - a rum review

I finally grabbed a bottle of Sailor Jerry when I found it at the local market priced at $16 for a big ass bottle (1500 mls?).   The guy who worked the counter was saying it sells #2 for him just behind Bacardi Rum.  So what the hell, let's give it a shot.  Sailor Jerry Rum is a blend of Caribbean rums based on a recipe of tattoo legend Sailor Jerry.  The bottle itself has a vintage look that's simple and has hula girl designed by Jerry himself.

(personal stock)

On the nose:   I unscrewed the cap (no cork) to my new bottle of rum and was hit with a spiced/sweet smell.  Let me see...caramel smells and fruit.  Is it cherry?  Banana?

To the eye:  It's a nice rich looking dark rum that reeks of either lots of years in wooden barrels or fake coloring added.   I'll research that later.

On the tongue:  Sailor Jerry is good!  It has that nice spiced Caribbean flavor but also hits you with smooth caramel, banana and cherry flavors softening it's 92 proof potency.

Overall:  I think it's an excellent rum that mixes VERY well with a cold Coke on the rocks.  Or you could enjoy it straight up and be very happy.  I wouldn't used it on a Mojito, I'd stick with 10 Cane for blended tropical drinks.   But it's a very very nice Rum and Coke blend.

"Rum Cay" by Malarz

In this painting by Malarz, sailboats sit idle with golden sails at a dock bordered by a palm forest.  The warm glow of humidity hangs on the horizon, creating a sense of mystery.  You can get prints of this in various sizes and prices starting from around $40.  Check out samples on Google's shopping network, here.

It's super hard finding out info on the artist, Malarz.  I have found out that he's an artist from Florida that lives and works out of Venice.  He gets commissioned a lot by private corporations for his self-taught style of art.  most of his work details an easy going life in and around the water.

Check out more work by Malarz here:  www.bentleydigital.com/Malarz.

Rum Review - Ron de Jeremy Rum

You might think of several things when you think of porn star living legend Ron Jeremy, but usually, rum isn't of of them.   But now, thanks to 72-year old master distiller Francisco "Don Pancho" Fernandez, you can!   The new rum line is, according them the bottler, "a high-end dark rum that's oak aged for seven years, resulting in a rich, smooth flavor with hints of vanilla, sugarcane, fruit, and spices, and comes in a bottle with Ron Jeremy's likeness on it."

The rum is a molasses-based blend that is distilled in Panama.  It's then aged for 7 years in oak barrels before being bottled as a beautiful golden amber color rum.  On the nose it's all nose of the rum is all caramel and honey.  On the tongue it's sweet, thick and rich.  Secondary flavors include banana, almonds, and honey.

I haven't had the pleasure of trying out this blend and frankly, I haven't even seen it being sold at local stores here in Los Angeles.  If I come across a bottle I might just pick it up out of curiosity.   Shelf price seems to be in the $35 mark for this bottle of 80 proof rum.

Once I get a bottle, I'll share more thoughts!

A rum review - Angostura 1919 Rum

Real rum is supposed to taste like Angostura 1919, which is a little smoky (because it's aged for at least eight years in charred bourbon barrels), kinda sweet (it's distilled from sugar-cane molasses), and not at all what you remember rum tasting like.  It's more authentic!   Angostura 1919 Rum is a product of Trinidad (same as 10 Cane) that's been aged for 8 years by the time they bottle it up. 

(priced around the $30 mark)

The corked bottle itself is very handsome and it shows off the clarity of the rum.  Once you uncork this baby the area around you will soon fill up with an intoxicating scent of vanilla and caramel.   Upon pouring your rum into a glass it'll shine pale gold and trail thin legs that soon drip back down from the sides of the glass with the rest of the rum.

The rum on your palate oozes with the vanilla and caramel but now it'll also introduces your taste buds to new floral tones.   Because of the floral tones it takes some time to get used to the taste as they can push the other flavors aside.  After getting used to the taste, each sip will bring new appreciation for this authentic tasting rum.

Check them out further at:  www.angostura.com.

Another rum review - Vizcaya VXOP

One of these days, I think I need to write an article on which I judge various rums based on nothing more than their packaging.  It might sound silly, but in truth packaging can tell you quite a lot about a rum.

Moving on... Vizcaya VXOP is a Dominican Republic rum that's corked and will cost you around $33 a bottle when you can find it here in the US.  It's fairly new to our market but being well revived as a dark tasty rum.  Like 10 Cane it's made with the first pressing of sugar instead of using molasses.  It's aged 8 years and after it comes out of the wooden barrels that formerly held bourbon, it's shipped out across the globe.

In the glass:  Light to medium caramel with honey and yellow overtones.

On the nose:  Poured at room temperature and swirled vigorously, shows soft, flowing, sweet very delicate caramel.  A hint of butterscotch cookie chips.  From the aroma, seems like this will be yielding and sweet.

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are in fact showing lots more flavors than the pleasant but straightforward nose suggested.  Along with the very clean sugar cane, there is a very light and sweet citrus.  The taste is layered and creamy, and the finish slowly wicks away to a perfect vanishing point

Overall, it delivers an excellent sipping experience, and at $40 and under in the US, is bargain priced too.  If you are looking for a rum on the sweet side of excellent, I'd encourage you to seek this rum out.  But please, sip it neat, Vizcaya VXOP is far too refined to waste in a mixer.

Caribbean Rum: A Social and Economic History

Christopher Columbus brought sugarcane to the New World on his second voyage.  By 1520 commercial sugar production was underway in the Caribbean, along with the perfection of methods to ferment and distill alcohol from sugarcane to produce a new beverage that would have dramatic impact on the region. Caribbean Rum presents the fascinating cultural, economic, and ethnographic history of rum in the Caribbean from the colonial period to the present.

(click the book to learn more)

Buy the book for $27 at Barnes and Noble, it's a great read if you like the history of either rum or the Caribbean, or both!  It'd be a nice little book to take with you in the plane as your zipping yourself down to the warm tropics.

Malibu "Black" - a rum review

Way back in the day, when I first got my taste of rum, it was Malibu Rum.  Malibu Rum is a Barbadian rum that's low on alcohol (42 proof), high on sugar and easy to drink on the rocks.   It's flavored with real coconut and comes in that big white bottle you've surely seen on the liquor shelves or at bars across the planet.

And now Malibu Rum has come out with a new flavor, Malibu Black!   Malibu Black is a 70 proof dark rum that's less sweet according to their website so you can enjoy a "bolder taste of the Caribbean."   Drink Malibu Black straight up and they call it a 'Malibu Black Bite.'

A bottle of Malibu Black will run you anywhere from $11 bucks on sale to over $20 for a 750ml bottle depending on where you get it.   As soon as I see a bottle I'll snatch it up and report back my findings...

Check them out further at:  www.malibu-rum.com/Malibu-Black

A rum review - Pyrat XO Rum

Rum aficionados heads up, here's a rum that I have yet to try but would really enjoy tasting.  It's Pyrat XO Rum (pronounced pirate), a rum that's based on the design of those kept by ship's captains and pirate during the 19th Century.   Arrrrghhhh!   The rums in this blend are aged as much as fifteen years in American oak and French Limousin barrels.  It's created from the tiny island of Anguilla where entire process takes about 15 years to produce a bottle.   Anguilla is a 35 square mile island 200 miles east of Purto Rico, Google Map.

From a review site...

• Nose: Very citrussy. So much orange peel. Icing sugar, waves of fruit.
• Palate: Sweet, viscous, more orange. Marmalade.
• Finish: Molasses, orange peels, marmalade, spice.
• Overall: Like an incredible rum old-fashioned.

As another reviewer posted, "This rum has one of the most warming and inviting noses you will come across. It oozes candied orange and fruitcake aromas with a lovely sugary sweet taste that is very long lasting."

I doubt I'll find many rums I enjoy than Appleton for a nice dark rum and 10 Cane Rum for a nice light rum that's excellent for blending.  But any rum created in the honor of a pirate has got my attention.  Bottles seem to run about $50 to $90 online for a 80 proof  bottle.

Wray and Nephew's calander babes - a year late

Jamaican distiller, blender, and bottler of rum, Wray and Nephew, puts out a sexy calendar each year with local Jamaican women posing for marketing.  Works for me! 

J. Wray and Nephew began in 1825 when company founder John Wray opened 'The Shakespeare Tavern' in Kingston, Jamaica.  In 1916 J. Wray & Nephew Ltd., purchased the Appleton Estate - the oldest and most famous of all Jamaica's sugarcane estates.  Then in 1997, Joy Spence was made the master blender at J. Wray and Nephew - the first ever woman to occupy this position in the industry.

Go Jamaica!  Go Rum!  Go Progression!

Another rum review - Appleton's White Jamaica Rum

If you know me you know I like my rum.  If you know me you'll know I really enjoy 10 Cane and Appleton Rum.  10 Cane is brewed up in Trinidad & Tobago and Appleton is a Jamaican favorite dating back to 1749.  Where as most rums have a little brown coloring from the longer aging process in wooden barrels Appleton's White Rum is...well, white or clear. 

(Average price:  $14 to $17 a bottle)

Appleton's White Rum is distilled on the island estate using copper pot stills then lightly aged (a month) in barrels.   Next up it's carbon filtered to remove color and impurities then bottled up for consumption.

Appearance: Clear with no hazing, separation or floating sediments.  Long legs develop on swirling. 

First Impression: Crisp, citrusy, honeyed bananas, vanilla beans. Slight off/varnish notes after a while. 

Taste: Medium weight body, sweetish but crisp mixed anise, toffee.  Vanilla notes at the finish with a molasses/slight sulfur lingering tang and licorice.  Finish is medium length. 

Final Thoughts:  A decent rum for the money, especially for the price/class.  Most of the rum under $15 will make you feel like you went blind sometime during the night, this is not one of them.  One of the better economy white rums.  Honest, straightforward, and better than Bacardi, for less money.  A solid choice for a white rum.

Bottle/Packaging:  Clear glass with sloped shoulder, "Since 1749" pressed into the shoulder, silvered paper label with simple graphics with typical layout for a island rum label.  Silver neck wrap with black lettering and a screw cap closure.   Too bad they don't use corks.

Visit Appleton at their official website:   www.appletonestate.com.

BONUS LINK:   Sandals Resorts drops Appleton Rum in favor of El Dorado Aged Rums, Sandals Rum Switch in Jamaican Observer.

What's Easter look like at Hedonism II?

Well if you were at Hedo II for the "Erotic Easter Escapade Weekend" then you knew.  For those of you not lucky enough to be at your favorite resort for Easter, look on...

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Clearly Jamaican Appleton Rum has some type of sponsorship, either that or everyone was just in the mood for some Appleton Rum over the holidays.   I know I was!!!  :-D