Rum Tasting Techniques - Tiki Drinks and Food

T tofukulele Member San Francisco Bay, CA Joined: Aug 07, 2011 Posts: 66	T tofukulele Posted posted on Sat, Apr 28, 2012 1:04 PM Tasting rum is like tasting any other spirit. Step one is to find a good glass. There are numerous articles online about the type of glassware to use, but I like a smaller brandy snifter. Others prefer a glass that flares in the opposite direction--to each his/her own. A small wine or cordial glass works well, too. The idea is to use a glass that will allow a bit of swirling and also allow the aromas to waft up and out of the glass, because you'll be smelling from above the glass rather than burying your nose in there as you might do with wine. Generally speaking, this is how I do my rum tastings: Pour the rum in the glass. (You need to taste at room temperature and don't dilute it unless you are working on a cask-strength rum, in which case you can dilute with a bit of room temperature water). Swirl it in the glass and notice the color, the clarity and the viscosity. You can see how viscous it is by the way the droplets hang at the rim and move back down the sides. Is it gold, copper, or bronze? Smell the rum above the glass. Notice the level of astringency (undesirable alcoholic bite for lack of a better description). Start to pick out the different smells: vanilla from the oak, oranges, dried fruit, baking spices, tropical fruit, etc. Challenge yourself on multiple attempts to pick out different aromas. Taste! Let the rum wash over your tongue while breathing through your nose to engage your senses. Allow it too sit in your mouth for a moment before swallowing (or spitting if you're tasting a lot in one sitting). Notice the flavors. Notice the manner in which the aromas become flavors, and notice the differences between what you smelled and what you're tasting. With each subsequent sip, try to pick out more flavors. Evaluate the finish. Is it short or long--i.e. does it dissipate quickly or last a long time? Is the finish dry or sweet? Is there a major afterburn, or is it mild? What spices do you sense as you ready yourself for another taste? Wash, rinse, repeat! Make notes on the rums you taste and you can have fun going back to remember what you like or didn't like about a particular spirit. Above all, have fun. If you have any queries about these rummy topics, gimme a holler. You can also check out some of my reviews at the blog in my sig line. Aloha! -Josh

Tasting rum is like tasting any other spirit. Step one is to find a good glass. There are numerous articles online about the type of glassware to use, but I like a smaller brandy snifter. Others prefer a glass that flares in the opposite direction--to each his/her own. A small wine or cordial glass works well, too. The idea is to use a glass that will allow a bit of swirling and also allow the aromas to waft up and out of the glass, because you'll be smelling from above the glass rather than burying your nose in there as you might do with wine.

Generally speaking, this is how I do my rum tastings:

Pour the rum in the glass. (You need to taste at room temperature and don't dilute it unless you are working on a cask-strength rum, in which case you can dilute with a bit of room temperature water). Swirl it in the glass and notice the color, the clarity and the viscosity. You can see how viscous it is by the way the droplets hang at the rim and move back down the sides. Is it gold, copper, or bronze?
Smell the rum above the glass. Notice the level of astringency (undesirable alcoholic bite for lack of a better description). Start to pick out the different smells: vanilla from the oak, oranges, dried fruit, baking spices, tropical fruit, etc. Challenge yourself on multiple attempts to pick out different aromas.
Taste! Let the rum wash over your tongue while breathing through your nose to engage your senses. Allow it too sit in your mouth for a moment before swallowing (or spitting if you're tasting a lot in one sitting). Notice the flavors. Notice the manner in which the aromas become flavors, and notice the differences between what you smelled and what you're tasting. With each subsequent sip, try to pick out more flavors.
Evaluate the finish. Is it short or long--i.e. does it dissipate quickly or last a long time? Is the finish dry or sweet? Is there a major afterburn, or is it mild? What spices do you sense as you ready yourself for another taste?

Wash, rinse, repeat! Make notes on the rums you taste and you can have fun going back to remember what you like or didn't like about a particular spirit. Above all, have fun.

If you have any queries about these rummy topics, gimme a holler. You can also check out some of my reviews at the blog in my sig line.

Aloha!
-Josh

Post #634170 by tofukulele on Sat, Apr 28, 2012 1:04 PM