Rum Fred

[IanF]

Starting late or already finished!?

[Gavster]

Posting late it was quite nice although I still prefer Red Leg

[drcarlos]

Mermaid spiced. Just bought a small taster bottle, drinkable straight and nice with coke. Will get a larger bottle for some variety before I go home. Not cheap at £39 a bottle.

[Gavster]

Bought some Birthday weekend tipple. Had a quick nip a moment ago and tastes very nice, definitely better than my other favourites. Here's my high-street favourites in order of preference:

Diplomatico
Red Leg Spiced
Dead Man's Finger Spiced
Duo Spiced
Havana Club Golden
Kraken Spiced
Sailor Jerry
Captain Morgan Spiced

[DeskJockey]

Happy birthday!

[Jobbo]

That looks good, and Happy Birthday!

I bought some Kraken a month ago and after previously really liking it, found it not nearly as nice as the Havana Club Especial which is my mainstream favourite. I haven’t really tried Diplomatico; it looks rather more upmarket.

[Gavster]

I've never rated Kraken for some reason, I've never finished a bottle and wanted to buy another (the following day/week, not the same night, obvs )

The Diplomatico is £36 (down from £41) in Sainsburys at the moment, so around double the price of the Dead Man's Finger etc which are usually £18-£22.

Part of the reason I enjoy the dead man's finger so much is because it's the nicest rum that my local Tesco metro sells, so has become my last minute fallback when I cba to go anywhere else, it's quite vanilla-y, rounded and very drinkable.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Nice, and happy birthday!

Although, as a rum snob, I'll just point out that Diplomatico (especially the Reserva Exclusiva) is more of a rum liqueur than a rum. It has one of the highest added sugar %ages of any of the adulterated rums. Spiced rums, by and large, are also fairly heavily adulterated with sugar.

This does remind me that I need to buy more rum as well.

[Gavster]

Although, as a rum snob, I'll just point out that Diplomatico (especially the Reserva Exclusiva) is more of a rum liqueur than a rum. It has one of the highest added sugar %ages of any of the adulterated rums. Spiced rums, by and large, are also fairly heavily adulterated with sugar.

That will explain why I like them so much my favourite ones are smooth, with vanilla flavours and that sweetness, served straight with a couple of cubes of ice. I guess the sugar makes them taste much more rounded

[Swervin_Mervin]

Remember evostick? Formerly of this parish? He got me into rum properly as he recommended Mount Gay XO. He has a lot to answer for really.

Anyway, sadly they changed the recipe a few years ago and it got more serious, and more ££. But it used to be perfect. Fruity, sweet, and neckable. And zero added sugar or colour. Doorlys XO is probably the closest to what MG XO used to be. And for c£30 a bottle.

I'm currently on a Foursquare 12yo (2011) and taste wise it's almost exactly that taste of the original MG XO, but with more of a kick. I feckin love Bajan rum.

[simon_g]

It has been happening slowly, Gordon's sales by volume in the supermarkets dropped by 20% between 2022-23. At the UK Food Expo at the start of the month there was a lot of rum being pushed, so I think there will be a shift, however it's taking a while to happen.

Isn't that as much about the greater choice now? Used to only get a few options in the supermarkets but there are loads now - Gordon's sales are massive but I don't know any gin drinkers under 70 that actually buy it, there's too many other interesting ones to try.

On rum - I like Chairmans Reserve spiced, nice for sipping but not as sweet as Kraken. Waitrose are doing it for £24 at the moment.

[DaveE]

These are all rums that I've had an enjoyed over the past couple of years...

https://www.majestic.co.uk/spirits/moun ... 70cl-49364

https://bwhdrinks.co.uk/?product=planta ... ersary-rum

https://www.drinkfinder.co.uk/p/106040/ ... d-rum-70cl

https://rumburra.com/

[Swervin_Mervin]

These are all rums that I've had an enjoyed over the past couple of years...

https://www.majestic.co.uk/spirits/moun ... 70cl-49364

https://bwhdrinks.co.uk/?product=planta ... ersary-rum

https://www.drinkfinder.co.uk/p/106040/ ... d-rum-70cl

https://rumburra.com/

I've not tried the Rum Barra, but have the other 3. All great rums. Flor de Cana is a great go to rum for sipping and always seems like good vfm.

I noticed recently that Plantation has now become Plantaray. I guess trying to sever themselves from the past somewhat. Although arguably pointless given that sugar cane is still grown on plantations. I think others have made far better attempts to face up to their pasts.