Comments on: A few of my favourite things…

By: nabokov

nabokov — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:37:21 +0000

Your pourers on the bottles are very funny, they looks like condoms. I’m living in St. Petersburg and I first saw that comical tool in your blog Jai

By: A Grandiose Blog

A Grandiose Blog — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:55:04 +0000

For tequila, try Partida Anejo – I reviewed that not too long ago on my blog and it’s really good.

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:02:54 +0000

Walter – Yeah I’m happy with Havana Club for my mixing uses, and I’m looking for more of a sipping rum I can enjoy on its own. Rhum Agricole is defintely a type of rum I would like to try, and I will keep an eye out for those high-end rums you mention

Ken – Thanks for that list of rums! I will add them to my ever-growing “wants” list and keep an eye out for them when I next go shopping.

Teri – 208 years? Wow!

By: Teri

Teri — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 06:19:54 +0000

As you enhance your tequila experience, be sure to try some of the 208-year-old tequila they have in Mexico. I kid you not.
Smooth as water.

By: Walter

Walter — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 03:03:29 +0000

In my humble opinion, Havana Club rums are very good choices for mixing cocktails, and far better ones than most bars use. If you like them stick to them.

I have read some of your posts about cachaça. You might like to try good “rhum agricole” from Martinique instead, if possible Neisson Rhum Blanc. It will open you the doors to a new universe.

Really good aged rums, like high end cognacs, are better sipped than mixed. You are missing a lot if you have never tried a premium rum in your life : Barbancourt Five Star (15 yr., not younger); Santa Teresa 1796 Antiguo de Solera; Cruzan Estate Diamond; El Dorado Special Reserve 15 year old (not younger) or Rhum JM Vieux. They all are hard to come by and cost three times more than “Bacardi”, but they are worth it.

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 01:19:04 +0000

A year or so ago, I had the pleasure of dining at Mambo Grill, a Latin restaurant in Chicago that has an outstanding selection of rums (and tequilas), and the option of selecting your own tasting flights. (Oh, and the food’s quite good as well!) Based on my experiences there, I’ve added the following rums to my overflowing liquor… um… bookcase:

Rhum Barbancourt 8 yr. (Haiti)
Gosling’s Black Seal (Bermuda)
Ron Matusalem Gran Reserva (Dominican Republic)
Montecristo 12 yr. (Guatemala)
Pyrat XO Reserve (British West Indies)

Ironically, I’ve not tried any of these in mixed drinks yet. I’ve enjoyed them all just as sipping rums, in the same way as I’d enjoy a nice brandy or Scotch after a meal. But it’s just a matter of time before I start adding some rum cocktails to my repertoire.

Oh, and it sounds as though I should swap you bottles of Rittenhouse for bottles of Creme de Violette (which I haven’t been able to find). I’ve even been able to find Rittenhouse’s 100 proof at quite a reasonable price around here (though honestly I prefer the 80 proof for most cocktails).

By: Jay

Jay — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 20:34:07 +0000

If it makes you feel any better, from what I can tell from prices quoted in blogs a lot of alcohol costs me close to double what you guys pay in the US. $45 for a bottle of Rittenhouse Bonded and $15 for a bottle of bitters, for example.

By: Marleigh

Marleigh — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:45:04 +0000

I have to second Gabriel on the Creme de Violette. That’s one I always have my eye out for.

It may be small, but that is a fine collection! I keep meaning to pick up a bottle of Zubrowka and I always find myself purchasing something else instead. One of these days, though…

By: Gabriel

Gabriel — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:05:33 +0000

Wow, while not as extensive as some lists I’ve seen no one can claim you don’t have quality ingredients. Which, to my mind, is just as, if not more, important than sheer volume of options.

And, I curse the gods that Creme de Violette is so freely available there. It’ll cost me $40+ in shipping alone from Britain…bloody bastards. But in all seriousness, very nice collection Jay.