Ken Dave wrote:
> "Arri London" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Owen Roberts wrote:
>>
>>>"Arri London" > wrote in message
...
>>>
>>>>Owen Roberts wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>Why is it that when I visit the USA I can't buy the best rum i.e.
>>>>
> Havana
>
>>>>>Club, and have to put up with Bacardi crap
>>>>
>>>>Why don't you go to Cuba and buy some there? That's what some of my
>>>>friends have done.
>>>>Although I'd bet that you probably could get some in Miami 
>>>>
>>>
>>>Please note the "When I visit the USA" in the original question.
>>>If is were to go to Cuba; I wouldn't be in the USA would I?
>>
>>You can't possibly not have known about the embargo! That answer should
>>have been obvious.
>>If the rum is so important to you, the suggestion was made as how to
>>obtain some.
>>
>>However, it is available in the US if one knows where to look and is
>>willing to pay. After all why drink 'crap'?
>>
>
> There a lot of rums that exceed (by a long shot) Havana.
> There are very few that are worse than Bacardi.
> To quote an old wine merchant friend, "I wouldn't wash my dog with it."
>
> Ken.
>
>
Before KKKastro took control of the island, and turned it into the shit
hole it is today, Cuban rums were prized for their aged and superb
nuances. The rums are still around today, albeit not at par with the
ole' days standard.
I continue to enjoy them, as well as Puerto Rico's El Barrilito 3 star.
Excellent for sipping neat.
The rest of the other countries produce rums which are the product of
speedy production, rather than aged goodness.
I did taste one in Bermuda which was close to El Barrilito 3 star.
Dominican Republic has a premium aged rum sold in a porcelain bottle
marked Gran Aņejo 50 aņos. It's more hype, but not that bad.
You want real info on rums (and not the crap you get here,) get Edward
Hamilton's The Complete Guide to RUM. They don't cover the Cuban rums
well, but they mention the aged ones as one of the best in the world.
It's not really a matter of origin, but of technique. Sugar cane is the
same all over, except the micro climates of the various islands, create
the various nuances in premium rums.
For reasons still unknown, the tobacco of Vuelta Abajo, Cuba, continues
to baffles agriculturists and scientists, as to why it has unique aroma
and flavor unlike any other leaf--even when compared to other parts of
Cuba. Cohiba Lanceros are made exclusively from the Vuelta Abajo region;
making them the most superb cigar in the world, and steam rolling the
rest of the cigar world.
Matter of fact, they have taken soil from that region to DR and
PR, to
try to emulate the leaf quality, and the final product doesn't even
match up to the real McCoy by a long shot.
Same thing with the rum.
HTH,
Richard
--
"..A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava
beans and a nice chianti..."
Hannibal "The Cannibal"
Silence Of The Lambs 1991