Rum And Cigars - A Match Made In Heaven

[stogieluver]

To the list of good rums (for mixing), I would add Appleton Estate Reserve Blend, and Matusalem Gran Reserva 15 Year, both about $35 US.  For sipping, the 18 year old Flor de Cana is pretty good for the money (about $45). 

[Ken Gargett]

20 hours ago, Foulhook said:

I hate to even mention this brand but the Bacardi family reserve is one run that leans more towards the scotch side. It's expensive and I only drink it on special occasion but it is a good match if you like less sweet rum and more smoke and oak

bacardi 8 is also a much underappreciated rum.

[Ken Gargett]

1 hour ago, stogieluver said:

To the list of good rums (for mixing), I would add Appleton Estate Reserve Blend, and Matusalem Gran Reserva 15 Year, both about $35 US.  For sipping, the 18 year old Flor de Cana is pretty good for the money (about $45). 

i'm very happy to sip that matusalem.

[BellevilleMXZ]

20 hours ago, Foulhook said:

Agreed, diplomatico is my everyday rum with a cigar. I don't know why but it pairs best with a CC. El dorado 12 and 21 are a second choice for me. The el dorado is more expensive but the diplomatico is just a better match almost 99% of the time. El dorado 15 is not as good as the older and younger imo. 

I am am not a fan of Zaya as it seems way to vanilla for me. Zacapa 23 would be before zaya for me. 

Havana 7 imo is not a great sipping rum. Majestro is the better choice if it must be Cuban. 

 

Which dipiomatico do you recommend?

[Chaki]

No mention of Santiago de Cuba?

It's also well worth trying, although the 11-years is difficult to find outside of Cuba. 

The 20 and 25-years are difficult to find even in Cuba.

 

 

[planetary]

The top 50 rums of 2016 list at The Rum Howler blog is quite good for those interested in building a potential shopping list of some of the finer rums out there.   I tend to agree with Chip's reviews more often than not!

[Ken Gargett]

5 minutes ago, planetary said:

The top 50 rums of 2016 list at The Rum Howler blog is quite good for those interested in building a potential shopping list of some of the finer rums out there.   I tend to agree with Chip's reviews more often than not!

interesting list. he prefers appleton 12 to 21? and zacapa 15 to 23?

i'm not on board with either. especially the appleton. i like the 12. but ahead of the 21? he must have drunk a lot of the 12 before that decision.

[Boss Hog]

13 minutes ago, Ken Gargett said:

interesting list. he prefers appleton 12 to 21? and zacapa 15 to 23?

i'm not on board with either. especially the appleton. i like the 12. but ahead of the 21? he must have drunk a lot of the 12 before that decision.

I agree. That list seems a little whacked.

[madandana]

I'm big on rum but I like things sweet.My favorite is Legendario Elixir De Cuba. (Thanks Habanos Mike).

I don't drink Scotch and if I drink Wiskey it's Burbon (again sweeter ).

Great topic and thanks for the article Rob.

My other favorites.

Zaya

Zacapa

Mount Gay

HC 7

Of course Mastros

A new one I have found in the states is Papas Pilar. Anyone else tried it?

I don't get along that well with Eldorado. Don't hate it, just not that great to me.

[PlatypusMaximus]

So glad I stumbled upon this thread! All this rum talk prompted me to go out and get some nice rum. My rum choices here in Utah (with state owned liquor stores) are quite limited. But I found a bottle of Zacapa 23 and I am sipping it right now with a Punch Punch ... and I have to say the pairing is outstanding for me! But I am upset that I now have another slippery slope to slide down. I needed that like a while in the head!! Lol.

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[PlatypusMaximus]

I meant hole in the head ....

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[garnett]

so you have a good cigar and a good rum what is a good snack to go with rum?

[Aardwolf]

On 4/8/2017 at 7:48 AM, madandana said:

I'm big on rum but I like things sweet.My favorite is Legendario Elixir De Cuba. (Thanks Habanos Mike).

I don't drink Scotch and if I drink Wiskey it's Burbon (again sweeter ).

Great topic and thanks for the article Rob.

My other favorites.

Zaya

Zacapa

Mount Gay

HC 7

Of course Mastros

A new one I have found in the states is Papas Pilar. Anyone else tried it?

I don't get along that well with Eldorado. Don't hate it, just not that great to me.

Yea, I've been big on the Papas Pilar 24 (dark) rum since last year.  Found it in Key West last April, so it really endeared itself to me being in Hemingway's backyard.  Right there with Diplomatico Reserva but I can purchase it from my local B&M.  

[El Hoze]

Doing my "packing" for a long weekend in Sosua, north coast Dominican Republic (which means cigars for me, everything else is easy).....dipping into a special bottle of Dominican rum I received as a gift. Brugal Papa Andres. I actually like a little sweet in my rum and this is a bit more dry but wonderful. 

[Jersey Devil]

I discovered the rum+cigar pairing only about three years ago and it opened a whole new world to me. I don't drink much hard liquor but when I do it has to be above average. I'm a huge fan of single malt Scothes (about 60+ bottles in my collection), but I find that they overpower a cigar, or an NC will overpower the finer points of a lighter Scotch. Rums, on the other hand, are indeed made to go with cigars.

My three go-tos are Zafra 21 YO, Zacapa 23 Solera Reserve, and Mount Gay. None of the big name-brand rums are even worth considering, being far too sweet and are predominantly used for bar mixing. I had Havana Club 7YO in Montreal and enjoyed it. Bought a bottle of it up there, but I'm going to wait for those long, hot summer nights to crack it and enjoy.

The one I'm really looking forward to trying is Pussers gunpowder proof (cask strength). This is, for all intents and purposes, the rum that was doled out to sailors in the British Navy for over 300 years. The recipe is said to be exactly what was issued in the 20th century, until Black Tot Day.

[topdiesel]

Mount Gay 1703-Awesome

Rhum JM VSOP-Awesome for the price (like the veuve clicquot of rum-but not as prevalent)

El Dorado Rum 15 (better than older rums)-Great rum for the price

 

 

[TheLiquidGator]

Am partial to Barbancourt . Not to sweet, not dry and not too dear for me anyway.

[UnkleBead]

Spiced rum and diet Dr Pepper does the trick for this guy. 

[Islandboy]

Never really tried much rum, I’m more of a small batch bourbon guy, but this thread has me thinking. Picked up a bottle of Zacapa XO yesterday, looking forward to my Saturday night pairing. 

[Jimmy_jack]

Not a rum guy really. However, I purchased a bottle of HC Seleccion Maestros recently. Had some with a Siglo I last night and it was great. 

[Kbb]

On 4/8/2017 at 9:15 PM, garnett said:

so you have a good cigar and a good rum what is a good snack to go with rum?

Apparently, Skittles. At least with cigars.  I would say chocolate (dark or salted caramel) with rum.

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/topic/130736-odd-pairings-cigars-skittles/

[Darkenskies]

I'm from the US.  I've always paired my cigars with scotch but want to try some rum.  Wish I could get some Cuban rum but that seems a lot harder to get than Cuban cigars.  Going to visit the liquor store tomorrow.  Any suggestions to purchase that can be found in the US? 

[tom1226]

24 minutes ago, Darkenskies said:

I'm from the US.  I've always paired my cigars with scotch but want to try some rum.  Wish I could get some Cuban rum but that seems a lot harder to get than Cuban cigars.  Going to visit the liquor store tomorrow.  Any suggestions to purchase that can be found in the US? 

I adore Zacapa 23, but I have a bit of a sweet tooth.  That said, I really enjoy it with a nice cigar. Not cheap, but not too hard on the wallet.  

[Darkenskies]

1 hour ago, tom1226 said:

I adore Zacapa 23, but I have a bit of a sweet tooth.  That said, I really enjoy it with a nice cigar. Not cheap, but not too hard on the wallet.  

I've heard Zacapa 23 mentioned before.  I'll give it a try tomorrow   I think I would enjoy something a little sweet with my cigars 

[ElJefe]

1 hour ago, Darkenskies said:

I'm from the US.  I've always paired my cigars with scotch but want to try some rum.  Wish I could get some Cuban rum but that seems a lot harder to get than Cuban cigars.  Going to visit the liquor store tomorrow.  Any suggestions to purchase that can be found in the US? 

I prefer my rum a bit on the dry rather than sweet side of the spectrum. That being said, Flor De Cana 7 has been a go to for me. It's a Dominican rum that can be had for about $28/bottle. I've tried the Flor De Cana 12 as well, which has a lot more complexity and subtle nuances so it's more of a sipper.

Ron Zacapo XO - the older bottling was some seriously good stuff. I picked up a bottle of the new offering and I suspect it's not just the bottle that has changed. It's tastes less viscous, flat and with a much shorter finish. A bottle will set you back about $80.

I've also tried the Kirk and Sweeney - 18 or 23 can't remember which exactly. This is a Guatemalan rum and you can definitely taste the difference - you notice the forwardness and base of molasses (from pure sugar cane), a medley of assorted spices and a very distinctive tobacco note on the finish. I think price wise this is in the $40/bottle price range

Zaya 12 and Ron Zacapa 23 - it's just a matter of moderate sweet or definitely sweet. Price wise I believe you're looking in the $40/bottle range.

I can't get any of these here where I'm at but I'm definitely on the hunt for Eldorado, Diplomatico and Plantation XO.

Hope this helps.