Ed Hamilton's two books on the subject are now very hard to find occasionally you will find a copy of The Complete Guide to Rum or Rums of the Eastern Caribbean on Amazon!

Demerara Rum

98 • El Dorado 21 Year Old Finest Demerara Rum $89.99 .750L
Copper color. Rich mocha, toffee, pipe tobacco, and brown spice aromas. A rich, satiny and vibrant entry leads to a smooth, dry-yet-fruity full body of toffee, coffee, and brown spice flavors. Finishes with a seemingly endless, sweet nutty fade with evolving layers of tobacco, chocolate, and spice. A monumental aged rum that is one of the world's greatest rum drinking experiences.

The El Dorado range of rums are distilled, blended and bottled by Demerara Distillers Limited - located on the East Bank of the age old, world famous county of Demerara. Demerara is popular across the world for its rich, unmatched history of in excess of 300 years of sugar and rum production. In the 17th and 18th centuries, there were more than 200 small distilleries operating. Each was attached to existing sugar plantations, which each produced a special blend of rum. After consolidation over time there remains just the one distillery at Plantation Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara - wholly owned and operated by Demerara Distillers Limited.

All of these are what I would call sipping rums although I am going to include some cocktail recipes for the 5 year old which, is an incredible bargain. It is better than the original version of Ron Zacapa!

El Dorado 21 Year Old Finest Demerara Rum

Copper color. Rich mocha, toffee, pipe tobacco, and brown spice aromas. A rich, satiny and vibrant entry leads to a smooth, dry-yet-fruity full body of toffee, coffee, and brown spice flavors. Finishes with a seemingly endless, sweet nutty fade with evolving layers of tobacco, chocolate, and spice. A monumental aged rum that is one of the world's greatest rum drinking experiences.

98 Points in BTI ...the the best rum in the world!

El Dorado 5 Year Old Rum
...from the Demerara River Region in Guyana.....Less than $20 ....drinks like the high dollar Caribbean Cognac .... Gold Medal 2007 Ministry of Rum Tasting Competition Amber in colour, spirity with a dried tropical fruit nose. A vibrant entry leads to an evolving palate of fruit, caramel and toasted coconut fading to a vanilla tinted glow. Remarkably developed and complex for a relatively young rum. This stuff is hard to get so make a point to get it while you can....ED5 combines to make superb cocktails or drink neat as a stunning after dinner sipper !!

The Buxton Kiss
1 msr. El Dorado 5 Years Old Rum
1 msr. Pineapple Juice
1 msr. Coconut Milk

Sweeten to taste (White sugar) and dressed with pineapples.

The Red Akouri
1 msr. El Dorado 5 Years Old Rum
1 msr. Sweet and Sour mix (Lime, Lemon, Sugar, Water)
1 msr. Watermelon
Dress with a slice of lime.

Caipirumha
1 msr. El Dorado 5 Years Old Rum, on lime wedges crushed with brown sugar and filled with crushed ice.

The Purple Pig
1 msr. El Dorado 5 Years Old Rum
1 msr. Ivanoff Vodka, Superior High Wine
1 msr. Crushed ice
1 msr. Seven up
Serve with a slice of lime in a salted glass.

For more Recipes visit the Ministry of Rum

In this store even the youngest members of the staff will tell you there are lots better things to drink than Bacardi. In addition knowing who makes the best cocktail rums are we have a fantastic selection of Aged Rums that as a category are bargains compared to Tequila and Whiskey! Really good bottles of rum start at less tan $15 and some of the very best are less than $30.

4 Million Puerto Ricans can't be wrong! #1 in Puerto Rico

87 • Don Q Cristal Rum $19.99 1.75 Liter Best Buy.
Clear. Lightly perfumed aromas dried banana and cream aromas follow through on a supple entry to a dryish medium body with good texture an balance. Finishes with a warming coconut and pepper fade. A nice mixer.

93 • Flor de Caña 4 Year Old White Rum $16.99 .750 Liter Best Buy.
Clear with a blue nickel cast. Aromas of bananas and nuts in cream with a touch of stalk. A smooth entry leads to a supple, dryish medium body of clean banana custard, walnut oil, coconut cream, and powdered sugar flavors. Finishes with a nice dry, mineral, plantain, toasted nut, and warm peppery wave. Nicely put together and will make an excellent mixer.

87 • Montanya Platino Rum $20.99 .750L made in Silverton, CO
Aromas of coconut creme brulee and anise cookie follow through on a soft entry to a dryish medium body with slightly acidic peppery notes and a roasted nut finish. Interesting.

93 • El Dorado 3 Year Old Cask Aged White Rum $16.99 .750 L Best Buy.
Clear. Vibrant aromas of toasted meringue, coconut custard, hazelnut cream, and malted milk chocolate toffee follow through on a silky soft entry to a dryish medium body with nice sugar cane, molasses, and honey roasted nut notes. Finishes with a long, grassy, earth sugar cane, mineral, and custard fade. Excellent depth and character that will make very flavorful cocktails.

92 • Ron Abuelo Añejo 7 Anos Reserva Superior Rum $24.99 . 750 L
Brilliant amber color. Rich nut and caramel aromas follow though to a complex leather, tobacco and caramelized nut palate with a silky even medium body and a long, rich wood spice and leather-accented finish. A must for cigars.

95 • Mount Gay Extra Old Rum $37.99 .750 L
Dee amber copper color. Rich aromas of dried coconut, banana and raisins, caramel buttercream, toasted pecans, and brown spices follow through on a round, vibrant entry to a slightly tannic, dry-yet-fruity full body with cascading waves of toffee, oak, and spice flavors and a long, lingering fade. A fantastic, world class aged rum for slow contemplation.

95 • Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 Year Old Rum $40 .750 L
Copper color. Sweet, peppery spice and dried tropical fruit aromas. A round, supple entry leads to a glycerous, slightly sweet medium-full body of brown sugar, dried cherries, guava, pineapple, cinnamon, and caramelized roasted nuts. Finishes with a sweet, light molasses and ashy mineral fade. A nice, supple, and surprising sweet aged rum. Should mix brilliantly, or enjoy as an after-dinner sipper.

96 • Cruzan Single Barrel Estate Rum $32.99 .750 L
Deep amber color. Bold aromas of buttery caramel, warm Creme Anglaise, toasted nuts, and cherry cola follow through on a smooth, satiny entry to a dryish medium-full body with cascading waves of nutmeg, vanilla, leather, and cigar box and peppery spice flavors. Finishes with an extremely long, sensuous interplay of wood spice, dried fruits and praline. An amazingly smooth and refined aged rum.

87 • Cruzan Aged Rum $22.99 1.75 L Best Buy.
Deep golden amber color. Aromas of caramelized roasted nuts follow through on a soft, silky entry to a dryish medium body with a lively mineral dominated texture. Finishes with a touch of vanilla and mineral on the smooth, delicately spicy fade. A nice dark rum for mixing or sipping.

88 • Cruzan Black Strap Rum $13.99 .750 L
Opaque mahogany brown color. Aromas of molasses and caramel frosting follow through on a round, supple entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium -to-full body with butterscotch sauce, cedar, and fig notes. Finishes with sweet brown sugar, black licorice, wet charcoal and peppery spice fade. An interesting dark rum for cocktails

91 • Ron Abuelo Anejo Rum $14.99 .750L Best Buy.
Golden amber. Creamy vanilla and toasted coconut and custard aromas. A soft and very supple entry leads to an off-dry medium body of creme brulee, dried fruit, milk chocolate and delicate cola nut flavors. Finishes with a long toffee and sweet spice fade. A very sexy and instantly appealing dark rum.

92 • English Harbour 5 Year Old Rum $30.99 .750L
Burnished amber color with an olive cast. Roasted nut, dried fruit, toffee, light latte aromas have a distinct bourbon barrel character. A soft supple entry leads to a dry-yet-fruity medium-full body of toffee, roasted pecan, and brown spice flavors. Finishes with a long rich dried fruit, nutshell, and wood spice fade. A delicious rum that will make for superb cocktails.

Minister of Rum Ed Hamilton Visits Store I met Ed by accident recently and when we started to talk about boats, friends and the islands of the Caribbean we were both surprised not to have met a long time ago! Ed spent 25 years being the classic Caribbean cruiser, has written 3 books on the glorious subject of Rum and is considered to be the world's foremost authority on the subject. He also is the importer of Neisson and La Favorite Rhums from Martinique. We take a lot of pride in being one of the great Rum shops in this part of the country and were pleased to have him give his seal of approval to the selection in the store. Ed & I agree that Ti Punch is our favorite rum cocktail and we now have an honest to god, real Martinique Cane Syrup to make it with. You know Martinique Rhum is not like any other Rum in the store. It's 100 proof (not watered down to accommodate American norms) and not only potent but extremely flavorful. The white rum is like no other when you nose it you will experience the islands! Talk to Uncle Jerry or one of the staff about the finer points of making this killer before dinner drink or check out the recipe below. By the way these come in liter bottles not fifths!
	Ti Punch ...when Jimmy Buffet sings about a bottle of rum and a lime in the song Banana Republics this is probably what he is referring to!!! Recipe Pour a splash (1/4 teaspoon) of cane syrup in a glass. Squeeze a small slice of lime, cut from the side of the lime, over the cane syrup. Add a measure of rhum agricole blanc, stir and add ice. Allow the ice to chill the cocktail, while the flavor of the rhum, sugar cane syrup and lime blossoms.
	These are two of the very best Rhums from Martinique ...Made from cane juice instead of molasses the whites are extremely rich tasting and the Reserves (left) are literally the stuff tropical dreams are made of!!! The Reserves are fabulous for sipping but may be used in the recipe below to make a Punch Vieux! All should be in the shop next week! Punch Vieux For a drink with a richer, more mature flavor enjoy a punch vieux. Mix a ti' punch with rhum vieux, but with a little less sugar cane syrup.
	Don't use a lime wedge! At Le Select a bar I frequented in St. Barths they used lime wedges in their Ti Punch. .... the proper way is to cut a quarter like slice out of the side of the lime and squeeze this on to your cane syrup stir then add the rhum and stir again add ice and let it blossom. We now stock Petit Cane Syrup!!

True Story

LITTLE KNOWN NAVAL HISTORY
The USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) as a combat vessel carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations at sea. She carried no evaporators (fresh water distillers). However, let it be noted that according to her log, "On July 27, 1798, the USS Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds of black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum." Her mission: "To destroy and harass English shipping." Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum. Then she headed for the Azores, arriving there 12 November. She provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine. On 18 November, she set sail for England. In the ensuing days she defeated five British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchantmen, salvaging only the rum aboard each. By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted. Nevertheless, and though unarmed, she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Her landing party captured a whiskey distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons of single malt Scotch aboard by dawn. Then she headed home. The USS Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February 1799, with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, NO rum, NO wine, NO whiskey and 38,600 gallons of stagnant water.

Moral of the story it was safer to drink the booze than the water!

GO NAVY!

Looking for an aged rum

that won't break the bank!

The translation to the above ad is that Brugal Anejo a blend of rums aged up to 7 years. Cheap enough to mix but good enough to enjoy neat, on the rocks or with a touch of sugar and squeeze of lime!

My romance with Rhum began with Rhum Barbancourt

...on one of my first trips out of the country! I had taken a job on the cruise ship Nordic Prince as sports director just after graduating from FSU. After picking up the ship in Aruba and learning the ropes of what was to be my most important responsibility...being the bag man for the Cruise Directors who basically extorted money out of the shop owners on each island in return for giving favorable store reviews during their shopping tour lectures.

Rhum Barbancourt 15yr

My first day out on my own was in Port o' Prince, Haiti. Baby Doc was still running the place at the time so aside from the incredible number of pan handlers it was reasonably safe. I went out collecting tithes with a young Bajan fellow name Ali Giddens a very popular fellow on the ship. Anyway to make a long story short being the diligent young man I was at the time, we got the job done in record time. Our last stop was the Barbancourt Distillery! With 2 hours to spare I received an incredible tour of the facility and an introduction to the French Style of making Rhum.

Well 32 years later I still smell the islands when I nose a tumbler of Barbancourt! It had been a while since I brought a bottle of these excellent examples of true Caribbean Cognac home and I am thoroughly enjoying getting reacquainted! The 8 year old with it's slightly spicier taste is one of the true bargains in the world. The 15 year old is rich and smooth, a classic that clearly shows the results patience and of many years of barrel aging!

Rhum Barbancourt 8yr

Matusalem

Gran Reserva

15 year Solera Blend. Known as the "Cognac of Rums", Matusalem Gran Reserva is a full bodied rum with a praline essence and a spicy oak finish. Originating in 1872, Cuba.

Rated 94 Points by The Beverage Tasting Institute of Chicago!

Uncle Jerry's favorite Aged Rums!

Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 Year Old Rum

Copper color. Sweet, peppery spice and dried tropical fruit aromas. A round, supple entry leads to a glycerous, slightly sweet medium-full body of brown sugar, dried cherries, guava, pineapple, cinnamon, and caramelized roasted nuts. Finishes with a sweet, light molasses and ashy mineral fade. A nice, supple, and surprising sweet aged rum. Should mix brilliantly, or enjoy as an after-dinner sipper.

International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal

RATED: 95 points (Exceptional)

Mount Gay Extra Old Rum

Rich amber copper color. Lush aromas of dark chocolate, toasted coconut, caramelized nuts are inviting. A round, satiny entry leads to a rich full body of toffee, brown spices, ripe banana, and creamy vanilla flavors. Finishes with a long, sensuous fade of warm chocolate, cream, and bourbon barrel oak. A hedonistic delight with wonderful depth of flavor and complexity.

International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal

RATED: 94 points (Exceptional)

Pampero Aniversario Rum

Deep mahogany. Toffee, baked apple, walnut, glue, and tobacco aromas. Rich entry leads to a dryish medium-full body with treacle, spice, suede flavors. Finishes with a long rich fade of charred oak, spice flavors. A richly styled sipper with great balance. Celebrate the return of a classic rum.

International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal

RATED: 93 points (Exceptional)

Cockspur 12 Year Old Bajan Crafted Rum

Rich amber color. Robust sweet toffee, roasted nut, and brown spice aromas. A rich entry leads to a dry-yet fruity full-bodied palate with buttery caramel, roasted nuts, dried fruit and spice flavors. Finishes with a very long, toffee, brown spice, and cigar box fade with a touch of limestone. Superb.

International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal

RATED: 93 points (Exceptional)

3,062,804 Puerto Ricans can't be wrong Don Q is with out a doubt the very best Rum made in Puerto Rico.

You know when I was traveling the Caribbean for a living the best thing about the life style was when my native friends shared their cultural traditions with me usually in the form of their secret spots, art, food and drink! In Puerto Rico the rum of choice was always Don Q which is made by the Seralles Distillery who have been making rum since 1865! Bacardi besides being considered harsh was considered a Cuban interloper not a true Puerto Rican Rum!

RATED: 88 points (Highly Recomend) One of the highest rated White rums in the world ...Clear. Subtle, tropical flower nose. A round entry leads to a smooth, very dry, medium-bodied palate with sugarcane stalk and dried herbs. Finishes with a snappy, peppery fade. A very nice, understated, mixing-style rum.

Have A Good Lime!

In this store we have an experienced staff that understands what a good Lime in in the tropics is all about! Ask us about Rum and True Religion and we will show you the best that the Caribbean has to offer (over 70 styles)! Oh yeah Tequila... Many years before Tequila was used in college bars for body shots it was considered to be a special elixir made with extreme care and reverence for its magical properties. We offer over 70 styles and lay claim to the largest selection West of the Divide. So whether you are mixing Boat Drinks, Margaritas or into the exotic stuff at Crossroads is the place for you to shop!

Something Uncle Jerry found recently

that he has been wanting to try for a very long time!

The Anejo... is quite the steal and very versatile. It makes rich tasting cocktails yet is sophisticated enough for even the most discerning palettes in a snifter straight up. "Coconut oil, buttery toasted pecans and walnuts, chocolate, and delicate brown spice aromas. A silky entry leads to a fruity-yet-dry medium-to-full body of lush toffee, fig, banana custard, and subtle sweet tobacco flavors. Finishes with a long, rounded balanced fade of fruity, cocoa, and spice. Delicious and instantly gratifying. 93 points BTI"

$14.99 far a .750 Liter a big time steal!!!!

The 7 Year Old... "Brilliant amber color. Rich nut and caramel aromas follow though to a complex leather, tobacco and caramelized nut palate with a silky even medium body and a long, rich wood spice and leather-accented finish. A must for cigars. 93 Points BTI"

The 12 Year Old

"...Aged in small white oak barrels near the equator, this unpretentious brand presents a spirit of surprising sophistication and complexity often found in far more expensive bottles. Well aged, and extremely well blended, the Abuelo 12 presents bold oak and vanilla notes, dry spiciness and rich caramel tones with a long-lasting, warm mellow finish. This rum plays well in a snifter, exuding heavy and ripe aromas reminiscent of fine brandy or cognac. At $35, it's competing comfortably in a class with rums twice its price."