Post #368503 by Chip and Andy on Fri, Mar 21, 2008 9:07 PM

On 2008-03-20 20:47, BrickHorn wrote:
Has anyone done a side-by-side comparison of the Extra Old and Hors d'Age?

I have, actually.

The Extra Old (Royal Ambre) is a blend of 4 year and younger rums and qualifies as an overproof at 45% abv, with high notes of vanilla and oak.

The Hors d'age (Black label) is blend of rums older than 4 years and clocks in at 43% abv with the oak being much more predominate note.

The aroma, well that is unfortunate for both bottles because there are a lot of distracting notes on the nose that do not translate onto the tongue. I wouldn't use either bottle as a sipping rum.

I prefer the Hors d'Age in my Mai-Tai's because I think the smoothness that comes from the age and the woody high notes compliment the spicy notes in the Jamaican rums.

Someone commented about mixing young and old rums to keep the life in the drink... I agree. Generally. Younger rums have the life and heat of youth. Older rums have mellowed and gained a lot of woody bits from the cask. One should compliment the other.

However, for my Mai-Tais, I prefer two older rums so that the drink stays rich and complex. I don't like a lot of heat in my Mai-Tais, I like the complex play between the subtle undertones of the regional influence on the rums.