Please recommend a good rum

My husband likes rum (and Presidante cerveza of course)!! In your opinion, what is the best DR rum? We brought some back two years ago, but I can't remember the name of it, however, we'll remember when we see the bottle. What is a reasonable price to pay for a large bottle of good rum?? The best place to buy it in Puerto Plata or Sosua? Thank you!!

Barcelo Añejo y Brugal Añejo, - - - + amigos y la RD. . .

. . . CES

In a recent Caribbean rum competition, Barcelo Imperial won hands down with a score of about 96 points out of 100. The highest score achieved by Brugal (extra Viejo) was in the low 80's or high seventies. There were a lot of rums in between. I think there is a news item in the DR1 archives about the competition.

I like Macorix Extra Viejo 8 años myself. but it's very hard to get these days. I would not agree with CES concerning Brugal Añejo. The taste is horrible and it gives a hangover. Brugal Extra viejo on the other hand is very recommendable.

¡Hola! Drake,

Yes, yes Macorix Extra Viejo 8 años is superior if you can find it and of course 'Extra Viejo' may suite some folks taste and the company of good friends will certainly help make for a pleasurable experience when fine rum is being poured. . .

Regards,

. . . CES

White or red? How large? Some of the "everyday" rhums you'll
find in the nearest "colmado" are excellent. But again, many
"taste like sh-t". However, taste is very individual, what
one person loves, another loathes! I know people who'd prefer
"Jack Daniels" before "Chateau Mouton Rothschild", even if
the opposite is more common...

Personally, I have a problem with any distilled product with
color - next day head-size doesn't seem to correspond too
well to capacity.

Safest bet is look around until you see what you recognize.
More interesting and educative is to blindfold yourself and
grab something at random. (Just make sure you're in front
of the right shelves first, it's embarassing to get home and
find a bottle of Lysol...)

All in all, rewards and competitions can never tell what
an individual will like. Only personal experience and taste!

Good luck! /Gunnar

Nobody has mentioned price but if you take the tour of the city you'll probably stop at the Brugal factory where 740ml bottles sell for about US$5 (Feb 1999) I bought my quota. Last Feb I skipped the tour and bought at plaza in Playa Dorada and feel that, having saved the cost of the tour, I got a slightly better price.

Perhaps those who complain about the after effects are those who insist on emptying every bottle in sight.

Right on both. USD 5 (about 80 pesos) seems right for a good
rhum in the quantity mentioned. About twice the price of
"everyday" vices of that denomination.

"After effects", as far as I can tell (maybe Dr Ech can correct
me on this), are basically due to:

1. Dehydration. Alcohol "tricks" the body to output more

liquid than the input. Combined with a tropical climate

whre the balance is quite delicate in the first place...

2. Vitamine unbalance. The "combustion" of alcohol consumes

considerable amounts of some vitamines (notably vitamine "C")

leaving a deficit in that area. (Ever felt like two gallons

of orange juice would be wonderful?)

3. Contams. These are hard to cover, because of their diversity.

Generally, higher alcohols, who are less dangerous than than

the "interesting" alcohol. But also bensen-ring based

substances. ("Aromatic carbo-hydrogens") These latter

can produce a rich variety of symptoms, as well as

"staying around" much longer than the alcohol.

(Absinth was once prohibited, at least officially on that

reason)

Macorix (8 años) & Brugal Extra Viejo are my choice too.

For drinking straight, usually without ice, I and most of my friends prefer Barcelo Imperial. It is relatively expensive. Ten dollars US at the airport but less expensive elsewhere. If you are going to mix it (coke, rum punch etc.) you are probably better off with one of their less expensive rums. My experience is that Barcelo fans have nothing good to say about Brugal and vice versa.