Post #401004 by Austin_Tiki on Wed, Aug 13, 2008 8:41 AM

While visiting my local liquor superstore this past weekend, I stumbled upon some depressing information. This particular liquor chain has a website which allows you to search the stock of its flagship store in Houston, and a pre-shopping search had revealed that the Houston store stocks El Dorado 151 as well as several variants of Old New Orleans Louisiana rum. Acting on the logic that the giant warehouse-sized outpost here in Austin would have roughly the same stock as the home store in Houston, I ventured out to pick up some goods. However, after a thorough perusal of the rum stock, I came up empty. There was no El Dorado 151 and no Old New Orleans. What the hell?

So I sought out my friendly liquor purveyor and queried him on this shocking state of affairs. The news I received is of the cliched "good news/bad news" variety. First, the bad news. Lemon Hart does not export its 151 to the US, and El Dorado has apparently ceased either producing or exporting its 151-proof rum. F. How in the hell am I supposed to make a (pseudo-)genuine Zombie without 151-proof Demerara? And, this is not some temporary problem, but one that apparently will persist indefinitely. Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?

Anyway, can anyone either confirm or disconfirm this depressing rumor?

The good news I received is this: Old New Orleans rum is now distributed outside of Louisiana. They have it in Houston. Unfortunately, owing to the brilliance of the Texas liquor regulations, its distribution in Central Texas has not been approved. Those smarmy Gulf Coast elites are probably sipping a glass of ONO right now, taking great pleasure in their role as the rum haves and the knowledge that Central Texans are rum have-nots. Lousy Houston. But, never fear! I'm told that Old New Orleans is on its way, charging headlong towards Austin like the cavalry of old western films. Yee-friggin'-haw.