EMERGENCY - I'm drinking and the old drinking thread is closed!

[bostonewe]

Re: EMERGENCY - I'm drinking and the old drinking thread is closed!

I'm looking forward to a glass of wine in about 3 hours when I get out of work. It's been a long few nights. Have been drinking LaBelle Winery out of Amherst, NH. I'll be enjoying a Seyval Blanc with some poached eggs and toast before bed.

 

[melmac]

Any other ports?

Falmouth or Ocho Rios?

Was just in Falmouth a month ago. I grabbed a couple bottles of Jamaican Rum Creme and a couple bottles of Flor De Cana (7 and 12).

Docked - Labadee, Haiti - but I don't know that there's much else there but beach time.
Docked - Falmouth, Jamaica.
Tendered - George Town, Grand Cayman.
Docked - Cozumel, Mexico. We're doing an excursion here, so that'll take up most of the time.

We've been waiting for this trip ever since they announced Tampa as a host again. Figured I may as well see what good stuff I could try to find; just not sure what the good stuff is. I don't drink a whole lot anymore, so I'm open to most suggestions.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: EMERGENCY - I'm drinking and the old drinking thread is closed!

Docked - Labadee, Haiti - but I don't know that there's much else there but beach time.
Docked - Falmouth, Jamaica.
Tendered - George Town, Grand Cayman.
Docked - Cozumel, Mexico. We're doing an excursion here, so that'll take up most of the time.

We've been waiting for this trip ever since they announced Tampa as a host again. Figured I may as well see what good stuff I could try to find; just not sure what the good stuff is. I don't drink a whole lot anymore, so I'm open to most suggestions.

My suggestion is to enjoy the local blended drinks while you're there.

I have a better bar in my basement than most (all?) of the places I've ever been down there, so I don't even worry about looking for the high quality stuff. I just grab a frozen drink and soak in the beauty and atmosphere of where I'm at.

If you find a local bottle that reminds you of your trip, THAT far outweighs trying to find some gem that you have no other connection to.

At least, that's been my experience.


Grand Cayman, btw, is maybe the single most expensive place to drink that I've ever been to.


Flor de Cana were good choices by HP1015. I like both of those although they are also easily available here - the key is the cost savings.

 

[hockeyplayer1015]

Docked - Labadee, Haiti - but I don't know that there's much else there but beach time.
Docked - Falmouth, Jamaica.
Tendered - George Town, Grand Cayman.
Docked - Cozumel, Mexico. We're doing an excursion here, so that'll take up most of the time.

We've been waiting for this trip ever since they announced Tampa as a host again. Figured I may as well see what good stuff I could try to find; just not sure what the good stuff is. I don't drink a whole lot anymore, so I'm open to most suggestions.

Awesome, what ship? I was on Independence o/t Seas.

Let me HIGHLY recommend the "new world adventure" sailing excursion in Labadee. Spend a few hours on a beautiful 62' sailboat, going close by to where Columbus sailed in to the islands. Spent the time drinking some rum punch and some local Jamaican beer. Absolutely fantastic way to spend a few hours there, as you said it's mainly a beach resort otherwise. I only went to Falmouth and Labadee, so I can't suggest anything for the western ports.

Gurt, I got both of them for like $41 total. I believe one is a 1L, the other 750ml.

 

[The Rube]

Re: EMERGENCY - I'm drinking and the old drinking thread is closed!

Reporting back from RumFest 2016:

Agnosta 1919: had a slight...burn? Not quite the right word, but there was that certain feel to it. Very thin, also, in texture, not as sweet. It was ok.
Cruzan 5YO: similar to the Agnosta, but a touch smoother.
Cruzan Single Barrel: A little sweeter, and definitely smoother than the 5YO (had one right after the other, another person who did the same thing agreed).
El Dorado 15YO: previously commented on, and everyone else who tried it had the same views.
Kilo Kai: nothing of note on this one. It was just meh.

The host also decided to make a Caribbean version of a "Bailey's"-type cream (used the Kilo Kai) which was good-God-awesome. He's made about 3 other versions of this type of liqueur in the past, and he definitely has a knack for it.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: EMERGENCY - I'm drinking and the old drinking thread is closed!

Reporting back from RumFest 2016:

Agnosta 1919: had a slight...burn? Not quite the right word, but there was that certain feel to it. Very thin, also, in texture, not as sweet. It was ok.
Cruzan 5YO: similar to the Agnosta, but a touch smoother.
Cruzan Single Barrel: A little sweeter, and definitely smoother than the 5YO (had one right after the other, another person who did the same thing agreed).
El Dorado 15YO: previously commented on, and everyone else who tried it had the same views.
Kilo Kai: nothing of note on this one. It was just meh.

The host also decided to make a Caribbean version of a "Bailey's"-type cream (used the Kilo Kai) which was good-God-awesome. He's made about 3 other versions of this type of liqueur in the past, and he definitely has a knack for it.

Angostura... like the bitters.

I've had the 1919 and I like it, but not enough to stock it after my first bottle ran out. Have so many others in that price range that I like better. The 5 and the 7 are excellent for high end rum & Cokes.

I'm not familiar with the Cruzan 5, but I keep their "Aged" gold and light rums on hand for blended drinks, in which they are excellent. I'll also take the gold along when going to the beach or out on the river or somewhere else that I don't want to take one of my bar top bottles for fear of them getting scuffed up. It makes a really nice, if not, "high end" rum & Coke.

The Single Barrel is quite AWESOME in a rum & Coke. Simply delicious, but at $30+ (used to be in the low 20s), it's too pricey to mix and I don't love it neat. I no longer have any.

I have an affinity for Cruzan coz I first had it on our Virgin Islands trip (see my comment to melmac) and it's made on St. Croix. It's the best "cheap" rum that I know of and heads and tales above the other lowest common denominator macro rum - Bacardi.

Never heard of Kilo Kai but assume it's from Hawaii?


Edit: Oh yeah, and you brought the best of the bunch.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: EMERGENCY - I'm drinking and the old drinking thread is closed!

And yes... when I have a rum & Coke, I have a GREAT rum & Coke.

I don't **** around.

 

[melmac]

Re: EMERGENCY - I'm drinking and the old drinking thread is closed!

Duly noted. All of it.

hp - That would be great if we didn't have little people to consider. I'm hoping we can find a nice spot on the beach and let them play for awhile.

 

[The Rube]

Re: EMERGENCY - I'm drinking and the old drinking thread is closed!

Just remembered:

Also tried Bones, and I'd rank that as a run of the mill compared to the others. Good, but nothing of note.

Edit: the Kilo Kai is from Curacao, apparently.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: EMERGENCY - I'm drinking and the old drinking thread is closed!

Gurt, you ever had Medellin rum? I got a bottle of 12 year old Medellin in Bogota. We tasted it last summer, best 15 dollar bottle of rum I've ever tasted.

 

[The Rube]

Re: EMERGENCY - I'm drinking and the old drinking thread is closed!

Gurt, you ever had Medellin rum? I got a bottle of 12 year old Medellin in Bogota. We tasted it last summer, best 15 dollar bottle of rum I've ever tasted.

That was some good stuff.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: EMERGENCY - I'm drinking and the old drinking thread is closed!

Gurt, you ever had Medellin rum? I got a bottle of 12 year old Medellin in Bogota. We tasted it last summer, best 15 dollar bottle of rum I've ever tasted.

Nope.

Doesn't look like it can be purchased around here.

The only Columbian rums that I've had that I know of are the Dictador line of which the 20 is a favorite sipper that I keep stocked.

Had the 12 also, but REALLY didn't like it.

 

[The Rube]

Re: EMERGENCY - I'm drinking and the old drinking thread is closed!

For the locals: There IS some Lift Bridge Coffee Stout out there, although I've only seen it at one store. It's really good, but I bet it will be better in a couple months when the coffee flavor settles down a bit.

For others:

Bought a bottle of Green Flash Dia De Los Serranos, a double stout with serranos. Anxious to try it, as I've only had one other Green Flash before.

Finally, KBS should be hitting stores as early as tomorrow, but most likely next week some time. Have fun hunting that one down. I should be getting a couple bottles from 2 stores near me (reserved already, those stores' bottles will not be for general public), but other stores may have some for the people who have a certain dedication level in beer-hunting.

 

[Painted_Bandit]

Re: EMERGENCY - I'm drinking and the old drinking thread is closed!

Well that was fun, just picked up 6 bottles of KBS, 2 from one place and 4 from another.

 

[The Rube]

Re: EMERGENCY - I'm drinking and the old drinking thread is closed!

Ended up with 6 bottles of KBS, drank one, and one is going to DX, as he asked anyone for an extra. Still delicious, and not as boozy as years past.

Bought (and am drinking) a Hoppin' Frog DORIS The Destroyer. Double Oatmeal Russian Imperial Stout (hence the acronym). This beer could not be thicker or blacker. And it's wonderful. Estimating a 3+ hour timeframe to drink the bomber. Yeah. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46kXH6GGtT0

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: EMERGENCY - I'm drinking and the old drinking thread is closed!

Gurt, have you tried the Appleton Estate 12 year? They stock it at my local woodmans.

It's spring, so my brandy mixed drink consumption is transitioning to more sidecars than old fashioneds. Even though I'm basically using well brandy and triple sec, it's still a great refreshment. Not for the citrus averse, of course.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: EMERGENCY - I'm drinking and the old drinking thread is closed!

Gurt, have you tried the Appleton Estate 12 year? They stock it at my local woodmans.

Yes. I have it.

It's a very nice sipper. It's the only Appleton rum that I like.

Quite economical compared to it's cost also.


If you're thinking of picking it up, I'd ask what you want to do with it. Sipper? Yes.

Too good for a rum & Coke.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: EMERGENCY - I'm drinking and the old drinking thread is closed!

Yes. I have it.

It's a very nice sipper. It's the only Appleton rum that I like.

Quite economical compared to it's cost also.


If you're thinking of picking it up, I'd ask what you want to do with it. Sipper? Yes.

Too good for a rum & Coke.

I don't know yet.

I agree, it's hard to think you would mix it with anything, which leads me to think if I'd just have it on the rocks like I would a whiskey/whisky.

Hard to think of a 12-year aged anything going into a cocktail, other than (at most) adding a faint (and I mean faint) splash of club soda/ginger ale to liven it up. It'd be like buying a fine cognac (instead of my usual Korbel XS) to put in my old fashioneds and sidecars at home.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: EMERGENCY - I'm drinking and the old drinking thread is closed!

I don't know yet.

I agree, it's hard to think you would mix it with anything, which leads me to think if I'd just have it on the rocks like I would a whiskey/whisky.

Hard to think of a 12-year aged anything going into a cocktail, other than (at most) adding a faint (and I mean faint) splash of club soda/ginger ale to liven it up. It'd be like buying a fine cognac (instead of my usual Korbel XS) to put in my old fashioneds and sidecars at home.

The El Dorado 12 is better and about the same price. Woodman's down here has it. Maybe yours does too.

If you're looking for a sipper, I'd get that first.


If you want a really tasty mixer (with Coke) that can also be sipped in a pinch - Plantation 5 yr Barbados. I believe a 1.75 is only like $33.

This is my main go to for rum & Coke and I sipped it neat from my flask on Saturday night as I froze my arse off at my kid's lacrosse game.

 

[FreshFish]

Re: EMERGENCY - I'm drinking and the old drinking thread is closed!

Have generally been neutral about Sam Adams brews, not excited about them and not putting them down either, basically just ignoring them.

Lately though the local wholesaler has been offering 12-packs for $12.99 (which is a decent price for this area) and so I tried their Porch Rocker merely because of the name.

It has an interesting flavor, probably better on warmer days than the cool ones we've been having lately. They mix in some lemonade with it. At first I was skeptical but it actually works pretty well if you are thirsty, sitting in a rocking chair on the porch after a long weekend day of physical labor.