Need Rum Help...

[pattersong]

I generally mix my rum with coke...with this in mind, I stay away from really high end sipping rums, but I have some suggestions for you that are very nice and reasonably priced.

El Dorado 8 & 12 (15 yr or 21 yr for sipping)
Flor de Cana 5 (this is great Nicaraguan Rum with coke and lime...and many Nica cigars)

I'm interested in buying my first bottle of single malt over the holidays. Maybe you can help me here...I've read a lot, and it seems the Highland Park 12 is a decent beginner choice. Any other suggestions?

Cheers!

[nutcracker]

Originally Posted by pattersong

I generally mix my rum with coke...with this in mind, I stay away from really high end sipping rums, but I have some suggestions for you that are very nice and reasonably priced.

El Dorado 8 & 12 (15 yr or 21 yr for sipping)
Flor de Cana 5 (this is great Nicaraguan Rum with coke and lime...and many Nica cigars)

I'm interested in buying my first bottle of single malt over the holidays. Maybe you can help me here...I've read a lot, and it seems the Highland Park 12 is a decent beginner choice. Any other suggestions?

Cheers!

Greg - for single malts - start gentle. Speysides are generally more "accessible" (Glenfiddich being the entry level sample, but Glendronach a much nicer example).

Highland Park is really fine whiskey. Personally I like the 18 year old version, which has a distinct heather/floral note to it. Macallan is also easy to get into, as it is usually sherry-esque and is fantastic with Cuban cigars.

Leave Islay's peated monsters for later. These are IMHO the best in scotch to pair with cigars and oysters, but are not easy as a starting point.

Follow the "dew on the rose" principle. Try the malt straight up - no ice anywhere near the glass* - after trying it neat, add the tiniest bit of water (dew on the rose) - which will bring out the more delicate aromas.

(*Chilling the scotch will make the esters precipitate, and you lose half the aroma.)

It is 8:00am and I'm thirsty......

[tsolomon]

My favorites:

Ron Zacapa XO - pricey but really good.
Ron Zacapa 23 - my go to when I can find it on sale.
Zaya - pretty good and I can find it for around $25 a bottle.

[big pete]

Originally Posted by tsolomon

My favorites:

Ron Zacapa XO - pricey but really good.
Ron Zacapa 23 - my go to when I can find it on sale.
Zaya - pretty good and I can find it for around $25 a bottle.

+1 for this list. Good stuff that you can get in the states

OK - thanks for all the superb recommendations. Looks like these three are the ones most often suggested... Flor de Cana Centenario 12-year, Ron Zacapa Centenario 23, Zaya 12-year.
Will probably start with the Zaya or the Zacapa. This weekend will be a treat! Now... what cigar to best enjoy with???

[JohnnyFlake]

Originally Posted by badbriar

OK - thanks for all the superb recommendations. Looks like these three are the ones most often suggested... Flor de Cana Centenario 12-year, Ron Zacapa Centenario 23, Zaya 12-year.
Will probably start with the Zaya or the Zacapa. This weekend will be a treat! Now... what cigar to best enjoy with???

That is very subjective, however, I would suggest one that is earthy and offers a semi-sweet spice character.

Originally Posted by badbriar

OK - thanks for all the superb recommendations. Looks like these three are the ones most often suggested... Flor de Cana Centenario 12-year, Ron Zacapa Centenario 23, Zaya 12-year.
Will probably start with the Zaya or the Zacapa. This weekend will be a treat! Now... what cigar to best enjoy with???

Picked up the Zaya and looking forward to giving it a try. Next two will be the Ron Zacapa and the Flor de Cana. We need to have a stock of more than one, right???

[Don Fernando]

Originally Posted by badbriar

Picked up the Zaya and looking forward to giving it a try. Next two will be the Ron Zacapa and the Flor de Cana. We need to have a stock of more than one, right???

Try to find some Dictador XO Perpetual. Abe Flores gave me a bottle after Intertabac, I cracked it open on NYE and I wish I opened it sooner, good stuff.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by tsolomon

My favorites:

Ron Zacapa XO - pricey but really good.
Ron Zacapa 23 - my go to when I can find it on sale.
Zaya - pretty good and I can find it for around $25 a bottle.

Had a glass of that last night at Jimmy's cigar lounge in Singapore with an ERDM Grande d'Espana. Very smooth and mellow rum. Kind of bottle that would disappear quickly. $35 a glass at the lounge.

[big pete]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Had a glass of that last night at Jimmy's cigar lounge in Singapore with an ERDM Grande d'Espana. Very smooth and mellow rum. Kind of bottle that would disappear quickly. $35 a glass at the lounge.

$35? Ouch. They're usually low to mid $40s per bottle in my area.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by big pete

$35? Ouch. They're usually low to mid $40s per bottle in my area.

What's a dram of that in the US cost about $12-15 at a bar?

[big pete]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

What's a dram of that in the US cost about $12-15 at a bar?

Sounds about right

[pattersong]

Originally Posted by nutcracker

Greg - for single malts - start gentle. Speysides are generally more "accessible" (Glenfiddich being the entry level sample, but Glendronach a much nicer example).

Highland Park is really fine whiskey. Personally I like the 18 year old version, which has a distinct heather/floral note to it. Macallan is also easy to get into, as it is usually sherry-esque and is fantastic with Cuban cigars.

Leave Islay's peated monsters for later. These are IMHO the best in scotch to pair with cigars and oysters, but are not easy as a starting point.

Follow the "dew on the rose" principle. Try the malt straight up - no ice anywhere near the glass* - after trying it neat, add the tiniest bit of water (dew on the rose) - which will bring out the more delicate aromas.

(*Chilling the scotch will make the esters precipitate, and you lose half the aroma.)

It is 8:00am and I'm thirsty......

Thank you Neil! Great suggestions..you must have known the "ice/no ice" question was on deck. I agree, I will go neat to start...then build from there.

Originally Posted by pattersong

I generally mix my rum with coke...with this in mind, I stay away from really high end sipping rums, but I have some suggestions for you that are very nice and reasonably priced.

El Dorado 8 & 12 (15 yr or 21 yr for sipping)
Flor de Cana 5 (this is great Nicaraguan Rum with coke and lime...and many Nica cigars)

I'm interested in buying my first bottle of single malt over the holidays. Maybe you can help me here...I've read a lot, and it seems the Highland Park 12 is a decent beginner choice. Any other suggestions?

Cheers!

Glenmorangie The Original one of the smoothest and best of the "Glen" scotches. Everyone knows the name Glenlivet, but the Glenmorangie is far superior, IMHO. Also nice is Glenfiddich.