TheRumTrader is down but not out

I wanted to post a quick note apologizing to everyone for my lack of postings over the last two months. In early May I broke my ankle and leg and have spent nearly a month in the hospital.

My doctors have advised me against consuming alcohol while taking my current medications so my RUM reviews will be slow going for awhile.

Luckily I've got some great friends who continue to bring me some great RUMs back on their vacations. I know of bottles already brought from Belize, St. Thomas, St. Martin, etc. I am a luck man to have such great friends.

I'll keep some updates coming on some RUM news including the on going battle about Diageo's move to USVI.

Four Square Spice Rum

I have to admit that I've had my bottle of Four Square Spiced RUM (Barbados) for a long time, perhaps two years. So I am not entirely sure if this RUM is simply light and delicate with only the slightest spicey tones or if my bottle has severly mellowed over time. I think the former is true because I want to remember noting, upon opening, that it's spice was minimal. That said, I liked this RUM.

The Four Square comes in an cool square bottle (see it's name) with a wax seal. The RUM has a appealing golden orange tone with strong, clingy legs. It's nose revealed a nice butterscotch fragrance with hints of nutmeg, vanilla and orange.

Without Ice: Four Square only had the slightest of burns with a sparingly light, dry aftertaste. While not very noticable in the taste, I did note a bit of spicey tingle on the tounge and palete; perhaps cinnimon?

With Ice: Yum. Adding a slight chill to the RUM defintely brings out more of the spicey flavor. Hints of light vanilla and complex herbals was unexpected.

With Coke Zero: Yikes, this is a disaster. Four Square is simply too delicate to mixed with something like Coke Zero; this killed all of the RUM flavor I was enjoying when it was on ice. No spice flavor and only the slightest vanilla notes. The RUM almost inhances the "Diet" flavor of the Coke Zero.
I would give Four Square Spiced RUM a 6.5 of 10.

Bizarre Bounty RUM Story

Here's an interesting story: Nearly a year ago a couple, traveling from St. Lucia to London, befriend a fellow traveler who explains that he is over the liquor limit and requests that the couple take one of his bottles of RUM. "No problem", they say as they depart the plane and get into a taxi driven by another friend.

On their way home, in lieu of payment for the taxi ride, they offer the driver their newly found bottle of RUM; he accepts. The very, next day the taxi driver tragically dies of a heart attack.

Nearly a year after the cab driver's death, his nephew and his nephew's friend discover the bottle of RUM and decide to toast the dead man. Immediately after drinking their dedicated shot the two men fall over in near death. They are rushed to the hospital where they nearly die from cocaine poisoning. As it turns out, the bottle of "RUM" turned out to be LIQUID COCAINE.

After testing, it is discovered that the bottle contains almost 9oz. of cocaine dissolved into the RUM. Prosecutors quickly realize that the cab driver's death a year ago was also caused by drinking the "RUM". There is no way to prove that anyone knew of the cocaine or whom is responsible for it being dissolved into the RUM.

Coruba Dark and Spiced RUM

I ran by my local liquor warehouse last night looking for the Margaritaville RUM but they are not yet stocking it. I did make a couple of discoveries however. My best guess is that they were selling a few "sample" bottles of RUM they had in the back so I was able to pick up a bottle of Coruba Dark, Coruba Spiced and Horne Spiced RUM.

At $9.99/each, I thought it was a really good haul. I look forward to taste-testing these three soon. I need to go by again tonight to see if they still have the two "Rum Jumbie" bottles (Pineapple & Mango) that were also marked down. I don't know why I didn't grab those yesterday too?

Margaritaville RUM website updated

After nearly two years of rumors and an empty website, Margaritaville RUM has finally launched their website. While still minimal in content, they have added RUM descriptions, a few recipes and a distributor list.

Their RUM line consists of Dark, Silver, Spiced and Coconut. I promise to taste test them as soon as they become available in my area. I certainly hope they are better than the Margaritaville Tequila.

Bacardi launches new "Rum History" videos

Bacardi has launched a new web campaign called Bacardi Rum and Family. Set as a series of video vinneats that explain Bacardi's Cuban history and the history of classic cocktails inspired by their RUM (Daiquiri, Mojito, Cuba Libre).

All of the videos are quite short, most around 30 seconds, but are done fairly well. My favorites are the one's that kitchily recreate the past "Prohibition", "The Original Daiquiri" and "The Cocktail Revolution". They don't make me want to run out and drink Bacardi RUMs but they are something different.

Unfortunetly, the videos leave the viewer with the impression that Bacardi is still distilled in Cuba with no mention of their move to Puerto Rico.

Cuban Special #2

Late last night while watching a moview I paused long enough to make a “Cuban Special #2” from Trader Vic’s 1947 Bartender’s Guide. It was pretty good. It had:

1.5 oz. Puerto Rican Rum (Bacardi Gold)
.5 tsp Grenadine (Fee Brothers)
.5 tsp Cherry syrup (my substitution for Maraschino Liqueur)
2 drops lemon juice
1 dash orange bitters (Regan's Orange Bitters #5)

Shaken over ice and strained. Not bad.