Westerhall Plantation Rum

Westerhall Plantastion RUM is a light, young RUM distilled from fermented molasses in Grenada, West Indies. Most Westerhall Plantation bottles come with a black wax seal unfortunetly mine did not. $24.99 for 750ml.

At 86 proof, Westerhall is slightly higher alcohol content than most other RUMs. Even without the wax seal I really like their bottle. It's got an "old world" feel including a Grenada island map, north star, sailing ship, etc. My bottle also included a batch number (8001) which, though meaningless to most, was a nice touch.

It's light honey color matches its honey, citrus and light carmel aroma. I was a bit worried about drinking it straight since it's only aged three years but it proved to be fine neat or on ice. The higher alcohol content meant it packed a strong spicey burn but the linger of orange/citrus and lemon grass made it more interesting than your average young RUM.

It's understated tones resonated when mixed with Coke Zero and was delightful. The orange/citrus, lemon grass with notes of vanilla, carmel and very subtle oak and pepper were very enjoyable. I liked this RUM a lot. 7.5 of 10.

Ron de Jeremy - The Adult Rum

It seems that aged Porn star Ron Jeremy is launching Ron de Jeremy RUM in the near future. You can pre-register for a bottle on their website.

From their website:

"Drink of a LEGEND

Ron de Jeremy Rum is and exceptionally well-balanced 7-year old premium rum from Panama. It has an inviting light amber color with very attractive copper hues. The aroma is that of carefully aged rum, with a harmoniously balanced orchestra of oak, fruit and spices. It opens up smoothly, showcasing a high level of craftsmanship. The oak comes through robustly and satisfyingly, yet gently enough to allow hints of vanilla and raw sugarcane to reveal them selves. The finish is elegant and long.

Ron de Jeremy Rum is hand crafted by another legend, 72-year old Cuban-born Master Distiller Francisco "Don Pancho" Fernandez. Don Pancho inspected his best barrels to hand pick the ones worthy of becoming Ron de Jeremy.

Ron de Jeremy sips perfectly, neat or savored over the rocks, and mixes beautifully to make superb drinks.

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY"

Sailors Rum - Spice Caribbean and Coconut

I finally got around to finishing off my Sailor's Spice Caribbean RUM and Sailors Coconut Caribbean RUM. I didn't realize exactly how long I've had these two bottles until I started researching the brand. Apparently William Grant & Sons Distillers Ltd. killed this brand two years ago (about the same time it start distributing Sailor Jerry's Spiced RUM)...yikes! These two bottles got shoved to the back of my cabinets for a reason...neither are any good. That could also explain why the brand is no longer around; just a guess.

Sailors Spice Caribbean RUM:
Its light golden color appears very watered down. The initial nose had a strong carmel tone with a light alcohol note but it disappeared quickly leaving a musky, skanky, burnt oil smell. Drinking it straight reveals a very peppery, vanilla flavor. Over ice the burnt oil aroma was less noticable and the peppery/vanilla remain. I didn't have my normal Coke Zero so I subbed Diet Coke. Yuck! I litterally wrote "Oh, bad! Yuck!" upon tasting this. I can see why this RUM was pulled. It has a horrible skunky, crude oil smell. It retains it's peppery flavor and peppery linger but the smell is aweful. Nothing good here...2 of 10.

Original Sailors Coconut Caribbean RUM:
This clear spirit maintains a light coconut, light peppery aroma with a slight alcohol hint. Drinking this straight reveals a candy sweetness with a nice, light coconut remain. This RUM is so sweet it tastes like a liquer. I was hoping ice would settle this RUM but it still is extremely sweet and sugary with only a slight hint of coconut flavor. Lastly, with Diet Coke, this RUM is completely lost. For the first time during a tasting I dumped my drink out because there was no reason to keep drinking this RUM. 3.5 of 10

Dirty Jobs - RUM Distillery

Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs" visits the Newport RUM Distillery tonight @ 9pm.

"Mike heads to Newport Distillery to help the crew turn molasses into rum. Scouring copper, working with scalding liquid, hauling hoses and lugging molasses cubes are all just part of a hard day's work."

Newport Distillery produces Thomas Tew RUM which the distiller discribes as:

"For 135 years the once thriving Rhode Island distilling industry lay dormant. Finally, in 2007, Newport Distilling Company received the first license to distill in the state since the close of the John Dyer distillery. Naturally, the goal is to recreate the rum that had been world famous 250 years ago. Using the same blackstrap molasses, local water, and pot still techniques, this rum has been resurrected and is now called Thomas Tew."

2010 Tax Cuts for RUM Industry

The 2010 extension of the Bush Tax cuts "increased tax rebates to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands from a tax on rum imported into the United States. The U.S. imposes a $13.50 per proof-gallon tax on imported rum, and sends most of the proceeds to the two U.S. territories.

Previously, the rebate was $10.50 a gallon. The new law extends a more generous rebate of $13.25 a gallon through 2011. Cost: $262 million."

AP Story