Post #140901 by bigbrotiki on Sat, Feb 12, 2005 8:10 PM

Just to state my orientation upfront: Being a traditional, I do not like any spiced, flavoured, or otherwise messed with fancy modern rums, and I think Bacardi, Malibu and Cpt. Morgan ruined the rum market in America. I like my rum real rummy. So I don't find many new surprises out there.

When visiting the Mai Kai last month I was priviledged to get invited into the back prep bar and was surveying their ancient Rum collection, when an old style label caught my eye, on a plastic "lightweight pack with built-in pourer" 1.75 liter bottle. It was in simple graphics and colors, yellow and green type, with a gold dagger, galleon and award coins on yellow and black background. The rum looked so dark it was almost black. I begged a taste and it was very close to my favourite, the British Demerara Old Navy, rich and thick, with a nice kick. I immediately procured a bottle for me and one for my mixology advisor Beachbum Berry.

I was happily surprised when the Beachbum expressed his delight at receiving the memento, and to hear that he had been under the impression it had been extinct. Apparently the original Zombie recipe called for it, so did other classics.

Now I am interested to find out if anyone on the West Coast has heard or seen this brand anywhere, to see if it can be had in these parts. The U.S. Wholesale importer is Carriage House Ltd., Springfield, N.J.