Category: Rum

I visited 52 tiki bars in 2019, so needless to say I’ve been feeling extra restless lately. Local tiki celeb Correy Bravo (aka MidCenturyTiki) turned me on to a liquor store close by with some older vintage rums, so I thought I’d start checking out these places myself to see if they hold any treasures.

Bob’s Discount Liquors seems to be the best in the southeast Bay Area. Found some older Appleton 12 and VX bottles, some late 1990s Trader Vic’s rums, plus some of the flavored Coruba releases that are no longer available.

At Mission Blvd. Market in Fremont I even found some 15 year old and 25 year old Trader Vic’s mixes (which can’t be fit for human consumption, see my earlier post). At that store I also found this bottle of Mount Gay Extra Old – circa 2007 or 2008. I have the two latest XO releases and so I took a chance on this one.

What I should have noticed was that the bottle seemed a little less than full. Once I opened it up I found that the cork was shot. Since ABC regulations say that liquor cannot be returned for refund unless it is “unfit for human consumption” I was stuck with it. Luckily, I was able to use a corkscrew to get the cork out without further deterioration.

This older Mount Gay expression is wonderful. Flavorful and a bit more spicy than the pre-2020 XO release. So, it all ended well. Additionally, I knew there was a good reason to keep a few spare bottles around the house.

Loving the Pusser’s Aged 15 Year

I recently drained my old bottle of an aged Demerara rum and wanted to replace it with one without any added sugar. Thankfully, I was reminded about this excellent expression during an Instagram Live session with Pussers and hosted by Suzanne Long.

The Pussers 15 definitely fit in alongside other Demerara rums, with a heavy nose, smoky flavor, and rich on the tongue. But is refined and so easy to drink neat (or with a ice cube). Not too smoky… just right.

Thanks Bitters and Bottles for carrying this.

Minor gripe: I expect higher quality on the orientation of the label for a bottle of rum in this price range. It is quite a bit off center.

Foursquare Rum

Cracked open the 2007 to compare to the 2004. Both are wonderful high proof aged rums from Foursquare in Barbados. This is a rum for rum lovers. Aged and complex and at 59% ABV it is definitely not watered down. The 2004 is aged 11 years, the 2007 for 12 years.

Both are outstanding. The 2007 had a little bit more of a toasted coconut flavor but overall these are similar rums with oak, vanilla, and caramel notes. The 2004’s bottle is less elaborate and has a screw top, while the 2007 has a cork.

The 2004 is really hard to find these days but the 2007 is fairly available at fine liquor outlets and even at some Total Wine locations. If you want to try an aged rum without any added sugar this is a great expression to explore.

Challenge your assumptions.

I didn’t like the Jungle Bird cocktail in the past but it has been a while and it’s only been a small sample size. Plus my palette has changed over the past few years, so time to give this another try.

I made this according to the standard Beachbum Berry recipe, with the rum being 1 oz Hamilton Pot Still Black and 1/2 oz Coruba. But the bitter Campari and full four ounces of pineapple juice are just too much for me. They can’t all be winners.

Glassware by The Jungle Bird which on the other hand I do love! Wonderful tiki bar and restaurant in Sacramento.