Drinking The World

Pampero Aniversario is 40% abv. / 80 proof and is a dark aged rum from Venezuela. It's sold in a squat, rounded bottle enclosed in a tan leather sack. It is deep brown in color with a hint of amber gold to it. I've had several rums from Venezuela, going back to when I spent some time there on the beautiful, off-coast islands of Los Roches, one of the most incredible scuba spots in the world. While there I spent my time skin diving, sea kayaking, fishing, learning how to cook fresh fish in over thirty ways from my new chef friends eager to meet an American chef, and most enjoyably learning to appreciate the fine rums. I may not like the countries politics, (my friends and I had our lives threatened in an vicious attack on our taxi, when we got caught in the overflowing pandemonium of a riot where the police responded with automatic weapons blazing) but they make some damn fine rum.

Pampero Aniversario is one of my favorite of the rums with a touch of sweetness, although it is more in the dryer than sweeter part of the spectrum. The aroma is rich and warm with caramel, vanilla, toasted nuts and spice. The flavor is rich and very smooth, warming to the soul, full of vanilla, spices, hints of chocolate, and the holiday taste of fresh baked gingerbread, with just a hint of sweetness to round it out.

Read more

Rhum Clement VSOP is 40% abv / 80 proof. It is an AOC Martinique aged rhum agricole, made from pure crushed sugarcane juice, estate produced and bottled. It's been quite awhile since I reviewed any spirits here on Slashfood.com and I have an enormous amount waiting for their chance.

My winery, brewery, and distillery projects take up so much of my time and energy that I rarely can fit in a nice sun-downer at the end of the day. The past year or two I have been a big rum fan, and Rhum Clement's products are at the top of my list. Although they do share the spot with a few other excellent rums. When you get to the top tiers the competition isn't really competition, more like a friendly rivalry. I'm enjoying the jostling for position on my tongue.

The Clement VSOP is a deep, dark gold with a hint of amber in color. The aroma is smooth, lush, and fragrant with vanilla and toffee, over an earthy, sensual base. Hints of lush, sexy, moist, dried apricots float on top, with a layer of spice in between; followed by a bare bit of sweetness to round out the nose.

This is a dry, not sweet rum. So it starts dry on the tongue at first, then a rush of big , tropical fruit and nut flavors comes along like a wave. Coconut, mango, papaya, pineapple, all melded together with a touch of the classic earthiness and herbal notes you find in good rum agricole. This is one of those spirits that a few minutes in the glass improve dramatically. What started out as excellent, soon became amazing, with the aroma and flavor becoming more full, warm, soft, and complex. Quiet floral notes started to come out, and then made their presence fully known. Like an orchestra quietly starting a piece of music that ends with percussive power. I recommend the VSOP sipped straight up, on the rocks, or in a premium and well crafted cocktail. It's hard to ask for more in a dry, aromatic rum. Quite a few of my friends agree with me, here's what the Rum Dood, Matt Robold has to say. Now I'm going to enjoy the last tiny sip in this bottle that I have been savoring for over a year, as I kick back after a long, hard day of building my own distillery.

Pusser's British Navy Rum is 42% abv. / 84 proof. Pusser's was the official rum of the British Navy. From 1655 until 1740 sailors were issued their ration, called a 'tot' of a pint a day, with a double tot before and after battle. Then the tot was cut to 1/2 a pint a day and then it was mixed with water, and sometimes sugar and lime juice, to make grog. it wasn't until July 31, 1970 that the British Navy finally stopped issuing a daily tot to their sailors. The brand went out of business for a few years and then an enterprising business man bought the recipe and started production of Pusser's rum for the general public in 1979, for which I'm grateful.

The color is a lovely medium coppery gold. The aroma is full of caramel, tropical fruit, floral note, hints of baking spices and faint peppery notes, and sweet and dry comes through. I really like the aroma of Pusser's and I can just sniff it for minutes on end.

The taste is a semi-dry melange of everything in the aroma, caramel, tropical fruits, spices, and more. Complex, long finish, aromatic, yum! I keep a stainless steel hip flask full of Pusser's for when I go out tobogganing and on long winter walks to keep the chill off. I wish I could track down some of the other Pusser's rums to try. Until then I am making do with some of their t-shirts and their colognes.

Depaz Blue Cane Rhum Agricole is 45% abv. / 90 proof from the Depaz Estate on French Martinique. I have been trying to locate Depaz for quite awhile and finally a friend gave me one tiny little 50 ml. mini-bottle. But I'm not greedy, that's all I need for quite a few sips.

The color is that of light, fresh hay. The aroma is lush, earthy, and redolent of fresh crushed sugar cane. just from the aroma I can instantly tell that not only is it a rum agricole made from fermented cane juice and not molasses, but that it is from Blue Sugar Cane. Every other rum agricole that I have tried made from the Blue Cane has had a similar aroma. It is unmistakable. Add on hints of toffee, grassy and herbaceous notes, followed by tantalizing tropical floral tones. I instantly fell in love with the aroma of this rum.

The taste is dry, earthy and herbaceous, full and intense, spices follow along quickly, almost too much to grasp. Stretching out into an exceptionally long finish that continues to cycle through different flavor notes.

This is a fine sipping rum for when you want to relax and focus on your drink. Dry as can be, full flavored, straight in a snifter or on the rocks. It's even better than I had expected. This is another rum that I am anxiously hoping to have the chance to try more in their lineup.

Cockspur Bajan Crafted 12 Year Old Rum is 40% abv. / 80 proof and made in Barbados. It is made from a select blend of the oldest rums reserved at the Cockspur distillery. The color is a pronounced coppery gold that grabs your attention immediately.

Just like the color, the aroma grabs your attention forcefully. Not overwhelmingly strong, but deep and aromatic. it starts dry and then develops a dash of sweeter notes. Complex as I have ever experienced in an aged, molasses based rum, and like it's baby brother the Cockspur Five Star, unique and unusual in the nose. This is one of those spirits which I had to keep thrusting my nose into the glass and smell deep and say to myself, "What the hell are those spices? What's happening here!" So much is going on that I was completely confused at first. Mace, banana, cinnamon (not cassia), dark toasted brad, sweet purple plums, fine molasses, bourbon, hints of vanilla that became stronger over time, and a woody oakiness that balanced it all.

The taste is light, dry, and fine. This is definitely a sipping rum meant for a snifter or on the rocks. Mixing this with anything would be a shame, no a crime. The flavors are those of the aroma but muted, a dash of water or on the rocks brings them out more, but it still stays nicely dry with just enough sweetness in the background to keep it from being too dry. this is a rum for when you want something elegant, without it being too overwhelming. A perfect after dinner dram to wind down a long day.

Cockspur Five Star Rum is 40% abv. 80 proof and is made in Barbados. The color is a light yellow gold. The aroma is full, dry, and strong up front with up front spices and warm honey tones. It is absolutely delightful and unique from many other rums I have tried. A soft, sort of a sweet, almost cognac aroma develops as it opens up with light hints of clove, allspice, and mace. Finally just a wee dash of fine molasses peeks through pleasantly. The Cockspur Five Star has a most engaging aroma without being overwhelming.

The taste follows the nose. Dry at first with a hint of sharpness, that rapidly warms up on the tongue, with the slight spices and a touch of sweetness coming through. This develops slowly on the tongue over the long, slow finish. This rum is in the light amber/gold range in taste and would be suitable for premium cocktails, or plain in a snifter or on the rocks when you want a spirit that is more on the dry vs. sweet side. I look forward to trying some of their other products.

Rhum J.M Agricole Blanc is 50% abv. / 100 proof white rum agricole from Martinique in the French West Indies and an Applelation d'Origine Controlle Martinique rum. Agricole comes from the term agriculture, meaning it is made not from molasses that is fermented and distilled, but from fresh squeezed sugar cane juice that is fermented into sugar cane wine called vesou and then distilled. This makes a much dryer style of rum similar to a fine brandy. This white rum is aged for a period of time to smooth it out, but not to pick up excess color or flavor and is crystal clear.

The aroma is a pleasant and warm earthy tone with hints of woodiness, herbaceous notes, lemon zest, and many more complex aromas with floral themes, some of which for some reason make me think 'Blue", I know not why. The taste starts off delightfully tart on the tongue and then warms up to a delightful woodiness, hints of musk, citrus, and like the aroma complex floral arrangements. It has an exceptionally long and pleasant finish. I thought with its higher strength there might be a burn while sipping but I was pleasantly surprised.

Rhum J.M Agricole Blanc is a premium rum that is that rare thing for a white rum. One that can be pleasurably sipped from a snifter, served on the rocks, or used to make a fine cocktail. I tried making mojitos and daiquiris and several other white rum based cocktails and was very pleased how its unique flavor both blended well, but showed through in the finish.

Clément Première Canne Rhum is 40% abv. / 80 proof. This is a premium white rum that is estate bottled and Appellation d'Origine Contr?lée Martinique, produced and bottled in French Martinique. It is made by the same folks who make Clément Creole Shrubb orange liqueur. Première Canne is distilled from pure cane crush, as opposed to many rums which are made from molasses, and so is what is referred to as a A. O. C. Rhum Agricole.

Habitation Clément's Rhum's may just be some of the finest rums made in the world. Since they are in the rum agricole style which lends itself to producing dryer, almost cognac like rums of great complexity. Every single rum they make is good enough to be considered a sipping rum to have out of a snifter or on the rocks. But with so much going on that they make extra-ordinarily good cocktails as well.

Habitation Clément created what is now called A. O. C. Rhum Agricole back when it was first purchased by Homère Clément in 1887. Martinique was known to produce the best quality sugar in the world, but at a steeper cost than elsewhere. At the time there developed a sugar crisis on Martinique as Europe started buying less expensive sugar from Central and South America.

Read more