Is aging really a reality for a real rum drinker?

Yes.  Oops, I just gave away the conclusion of this whole blog entry.  Please read on anyway.

What we need to test out the question of just how important aging is for a rum drinker is a rum that is available in a variety of aging choices.  Thank you, El Dorado.  As all the loyal followers of this blog are fully familiar, 

El Dorado is available in these ages and rated by me as follows:

• ·         Aged 12 years (Rated 7),
• ·         Aged 15 years (Rated 8),
• ·         Aged 21 years (Rated 9), and
• ·         Aged 25 years (Rated 10). 

Now one might think these ratings to be suspect considering how neatly spaced they are—7, 8, 9, 10.  Oh, but you must give me credit beyond just lining up these excellent rums in order of their labels.  In fact, I didn’t even purchase them in that order, or taste them in that order, or rate them in that order.  I’ve even set them out in front of friends for tastings and had them correctly identify their aging. 

The most definitive statement about aging is the difference between El Dorado 25 and any other rum I and all my friends have tasted.  Each of us has immediately declared the amazing smoothness of El Dorado 25 compared to other rums and the other El Dorados. 

Of course, we can’t afford to drink “El 25” casually.  So El Dorado 21 is the default, and quite frankly, is a fantastic choice. 

My conclusion is simply, when selecting your rum, pay attention to the number of years it has been aged.  The aging definitely makes a difference.  

The Spirit of Texas—The Best and Worst

How can the best and worst of Texas rum come from the same little company in Pflugerville in central Texas?  The followers of this blog already know that Pecan Street Rum (Rating 8) is one of the highest value rums.  However, its sister rum from the same company, Spirit of Texas Rum (Rating 1), a white rum, hardly passes as rum. 

Pecan Street Rum is one of my favorites with its slight hint of pecans.  However, Spirit of Texas Rum has universally drawn the most puckery, frownery grimices from the poor souls I’ve offered tastes. 

I bought a bottle from the local liquor store simply because it’s from Texas, only to be warned by the clerk that a bottle had actually been returned by another customer.  Wow, that was sobering.  Sobering is the last thing one wants from a bottle of rum!  After his taste of this brew, a colleague of mine even asked me if I might have gotten that returned bottle.

Oh well, let’s declare that the Pfugerville folks have credit in store for Pecan Street Rum.  Then let’s ask for in-store credit for Spirit of Texas Rum.  

Rum: The Spirit of Texas, Pflugerville, Texas
Rating: 1     Proof: 80

I bought this because I intend to try every Texas rum.  Ouch.  A business colleague, a new hire at my company, was over at the house tasting my rum collection.  He was skeptical that any rum could be as bad as I described this one.  So as he drank, he was trying to be open-minded and reserve judgement.  Then the harsh reality set in, and the most gruesome expression revealed the opinion that the words could not escape his lips to verbalize.  


I must remind folks that Pecan Street Rum, one of my favorites, comes from this same company.  


Value Rating: .05  Extremely Low     
This would not be of value if received as a gift.   



Typical Price:  $20/750 ml

Most Inappropriate Rum Drink

The Most Ridiculous Commercialization of “The Rum Diary” Imaginable

The real men in The Rum Diary movie drink their rum straight up or on the rocks—even out of the bottle.  Never, ever mixed in a fruity punch bowl using a spiced rum.  So how in the world do the makers of Sailor Jerry Rum try to commercialize on the movie with a specialty drink they call Hunter’s Punch named after The Rum Diary’s author? 


Sailor Jerry Ltd. produces a 92 proof spiced rum featuring a hula girl on the label. As the bottle is emptied, additional pin-up girls designed by Sailor Jerry himself are visible on the inner side of the label. The rum is distilled in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Being spiced and over 80 proof give Sailor Jerry’s rum two strikes in my ratings.  Frou-frou drinks with pom juice, lemon, and champagne were far from the minds of Paul Kemp and his newspaper buddies. 


If Sailor Jerry had wanted to honor Hunter and the men of The Rum Diary, he would have created the Paul Bearer Rum Shot.  Simply—a double shot of rum on the rocks. 


Here's the recipe Sailor Jerry published for their honorary drink. 

Hunter’s Punch

1.5 part Sailor Jerry Rum
2 part pom juice
.5 part lemon
.5 part champagne

Bottom of punch bowl add pom juice and lemon juice. Stir slowly with ice. Add rum and stir some more. Slowly add champagne while stirring. Keep punch cool with minimal ice. Serve chilled in desired glass.