(Part 2) Top products from r/rum

Depends on where you live. I'm in California, so we're spoiled; for instance this place (PDF warning) is two blocks from my house. But Del Maguey and Bozal have a decently deep number of offerings that are more or less available across the US (unfortunately I don't know about outside the US). Both can get fairly expensive fairly quickly, so it's tough trying to educate yourself via the liquor store. Additionally, there are an absurd number of small producers that never see distribution outside of bars and restaurants (if they even make it to the states). I definitely suggest hunting out a bar where you can try multiple examples in the same evening. But the Bozal Tobasiche is worth picking up if your local bottle shop has it. Likewise, their Espadín is good (and good deal cheaper). Also, say what you will about the company, but the Casamigos mezcal is quite decent, although not at the $75 price tag where I normally see it.


Before I started drinking them, I didn't realize how wild and varied mezcal and sotols can be, and it's pretty overwhelming. This is a great introduction if you taste a few and find yourself wanting more. It helps a lot with nomenclature, regions, etc.

Somewhat related- have you tried any Oaxacan rums? They're WILD. Certainly not for everyone (there's frequently a strong green olive brine thing going on?), but are super interesting.

I think that Angostura makes some of the best modern rum (or light rum) on the market, and this is an example of one.

I've seen it in a pic once where someone shared what was available in their local liquor store so you may be able to find it in the U.S. with a little looking.

Usually when I drink this, it's in something called a "brown cow" that's available in any bar or "rum shop" in Trinidad.

The bartender pours a bottle of Guinness Foreign Extra into a bottle, then adds a 375ml pack of Vanilla Supligen, then tops it up with either Forres Park Puncheon Rum or Fernandes Black Label Rum.

The end result is a bottle of a slightly fizzy, less sweet version of an Irish Cream.

Check out Rum: A Social and Sociable History of the Real Spirit of 1776. The writing style is pretty conversational, so expect to jump around time periods a bit, but it's very fun and very detailed.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1560258918

And a Bottle of Rum is absolutely the book you're wanting.

Smuggler's Cove has several decent sections on rum, including some history and a lot of subdivisions and classifications.

Potions of the Caribbean is another great book more focused on the influence of cocktails in the Caribbean, but has some good insights on rum as well.

You could always get special luggage for checking bottles:
http://www.winecruzer.com/
http://www.thewinecheck.com/

Or I've heard good things about things like these:
http://www.amazon.com/Wine-Skin-WineSkin-Bag-2-Pack/dp/B0033C6FOM

Ting - 20 Oz Plastic Bottle (6 Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001CVDYO

If I recall correctly, Ting is more acidic, Squirt is sweeter. That being said, I'm sure I'd enjoy a Paloma made with Ting as well as a Wray & Squirt.

Thanks! Quick question, what's the difference between this book and this one? Was the book published twice? Both are the same number of pages...

something like this

A very useful guide, but somewhat hard to find, being out-of-print (to my knowledge). You may want to check to see if your local libraries have a copy.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Guide-Rum-Paperback/dp/1572432055/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348619942&sr=8-1&keywords=rum+guide

The gas seems to work well imho: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DCS18

USA release in March:

https://www.amazon.com/Rum-Manual-Dave-Broom/dp/1845339622/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1474098507&sr=1-1&keywords=rum+the+manual

My wife has one she keeps Scotch in -- she got it from the mysterious and exotic amazon.com.