nice rums?

[Veritas]

My current favorite is Zacapa 23, but after all the high praise, I intend to find a bottle of Zaya when I get home from this desert.

The only bottle in my collection that hasn't been mentioned is Seven Fathoms. It is currently only available in the Cayman Islands and is well worth trying if you can get your hands on it. The strong oak flavors are slightly reminiscent of a good bourbon. I am more stingy with this stuff than I am my pre-Patron Planters Gold Pyrat XO Reserve.

Originally Posted by G.Elrod

My current favorite is Zacapa 23, but after all the high praise, I intend to find a bottle of Zaya when I get home from this desert.

Unless you're going to try to find the Guatemalan version, don't bother. Zacapa is better than the Trini Zaya.

[Mark C]

Originally Posted by G.Elrod

My current favorite is Zacapa 23, but after all the high praise, I intend to find a bottle of Zaya when I get home from this desert.

The only bottle in my collection that hasn't been mentioned is Seven Fathoms. It is currently only available in the Cayman Islands and is well worth trying if you can get your hands on it. The strong oak flavors are slightly reminiscent of a good bourbon. I am more stingy with this stuff than I am my pre-Patron Planters Gold Pyrat XO Reserve.

My parents were on Grand Cayman this summer, brought me back a bottle of Seven Fathoms, and Havana Club. They actually brought 3 bottles of Seven Fathoms back, and managed to get two different batches. There's a noticeable difference between batch 9 and batch 10. If I remember right, 10 was the first batch with a new still. Since it's a small shop, there's room for that sort of variance from one lot to the next. I think that makes it even more interesting. Which lot is your bottle from?

In other rum news, I spent the weekend in St. Pete, FL and came home with a bottle of Barbancourt Grand Reserve, Prichard's, and Centenario rum. Tasted all three side by side, at room temp, neat.

Centenario tastes a lot like Zacapa 23. Haven't tried 'em side by side yet, but not sure I'd tell the difference otherwise.

Prichard's is quite good, especially since it's a Tennessee rum. Has a bit more barrel flavor, almost like a hint of Bourbon. I like the 'toasty' rums better than 'sweet' rums, so at first taste I put this above Centenario. Might improve with a tiny piece of ice, but not bad neat.

The Barbancourt is the loser of the bunch. It wasn't all that great, definitely not on par with the other two. Needs another try though, maybe on ice.

[Veritas]

Originally Posted by Mark C

My parents were on Grand Cayman this summer, brought me back a bottle of Seven Fathoms, and Havana Club. They actually brought 3 bottles of Seven Fathoms back, and managed to get two different batches. There's a noticeable difference between batch 9 and batch 10. If I remember right, 10 was the first batch with a new still. Since it's a small shop, there's room for that sort of variance from one lot to the next. I think that makes it even more interesting. Which lot is your bottle from?

I don't know. The bottles are patiently sitting on a shelf waiting for my return from this desert. What did you think of the "underwater rum?"

I also have a bottle of Havana Club that has been in a closet since I brought it home in 2002. I really need to crack the seal on that one.

[Mark C]

Originally Posted by G.Elrod

I don't know. The bottles are patiently sitting on a shelf waiting for my return from this desert. What did you think of the "underwater rum?"

I also have a bottle of Havana Club that has been in a closet since I brought it home in 2002. I really need to crack the seal on that one.

I like the 'underwater rum'. Pretty smooth, clean, not too complicated, not sweet, fits what I like to call the 'spanish-style' rums, i.e. rums from Spanish-influenced islands like Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, etc. I'd love to see this rum aged a bit longer, I usually like a little more barrel flavor in my rums and it could stand to smooth out a bit.

Seven Fathoms is a good rum, but I like the Havana Club better. I've got the HC7, tastes a lot like what I would hope Seven Fathoms would taste like after 7 years in oak, a bit smoother, more wood flavors, etc. What're you waiting for, crack that bottle!

[Veritas]

Originally Posted by Mark C

My parents were on Grand Cayman this summer, brought me back a bottle of Seven Fathoms, and Havana Club. They actually brought 3 bottles of Seven Fathoms back, and managed to get two different batches. There's a noticeable difference between batch 9 and batch 10. If I remember right, 10 was the first batch with a new still. Since it's a small shop, there's room for that sort of variance from one lot to the next. I think that makes it even more interesting. Which lot is your bottle from?

Both bottles are Batch 006.