Post #385316 by bewarethe151 on Sat, Jun 7, 2008 11:00 AM

On 2008-06-06 18:52, martiki wrote:

On 2008-06-05 20:25, bewarethe151 wrote:
I agree with Martiki if the cocktail is made with 3 or 4 ingredients. But, I'll take that challenge on a Mojito, though. It's not "bad" at all, just less taste. Somewhat diminished in flavor and body which made it so special for a rum in its price range. When my stockpile of 2 year is gone, will I buy the 14 month? Sure! but, I'll miss an old friend. Bacardi ligth rum, to me has no taste.

I don't know how many ingredients your Mojito has, but I did do a side-by-side tonight and the difference is there, but slight to my taste.

Cruzan is a rum distilled to a very high proof and then barrel aged, so what you're starting with is a very light, nearly neutral spirit. The flavor your finding in the rum is almost solely the effect of the wood. After aging, it's charcoal filtered to remove the color from aging. This process also strips some flavor. They then add a slight amount of caramel to give it that pale straw color, so that there's consistency to the products appearance. In fairness, eight months difference in aging is not a small thing in a tropical climate, however the charcoal filtration somewhat mutes that difference.

If you're looking for another good value in a white rum, try the Flor De Cana which also benefits from quite a long time on oak.

Bacardi silver is aged by law for one year, but in stainless steel, which has no effect- hence it's complete worthlessness.

Martiki, you are so right about the FDC 4. (You're correct, my mojito has 5 ingredients, but only 1 rum and 1 fruit)It's my Mojito favorite when I want it a little drier. And, it's cheap! Good call. Rhum St. James Blanc which I order 2 cases at a time from Europe is a grand slam. I've had good luck with the Montecristo blanco, too. Around here, it's only $9.00 a bottle. With me, it's not about nitpicking a product just for something to do in between good cocktails. It's more about having lived for a long time and seeing products gradually slip in quality. For Cruzan, it's a matter of increasing volume in a market segment which isn't too picky. I hope that this shift in aging is their last and I will be happy to finish my days with the 14 month as "good buy". For my favorite light rum, it's Havana Club Anejo Blanco. But, I pay $33.00 per 1.14 litre bottle! I always keep a case on hand, but, I am ashamed to admit that it's only my "inner circle" of friends for which I crack those! The general mob gets the Cruzan.