Post #661754 by AceExplorer on Mon, Dec 17, 2012 12:33 PM

For the Red Nosed Reindeer I stuck to the recipe exactly as shown and used the Bacardi 8 since I've not purchased or tasted it before. I also bought cranberries for garnish, but did not have time to obtain mint sprigs even though I grow these at home. The Bacardi 8 is actually an aged gold rum of Bahamian origin. (A blend of 8 to 16 year old rums, I think.) I was surprised to read, on the bottle, that they mentioned that it was bottled "in Jacksonville, FL, by the Bacardi Bottling Company." I don't recall seeing that before. Bacardi has a large plant, and I know people who work there. They are diversifying into more higher-quality and better-tasting rums in addition to their staple lower-end stuff. They are a good and very much appreciated corporate citizen here in our city. At the end of the evening I left the bottle with our host, but I didn't think of trying it straight. But the drink was very tasty with the Bacardi 8.

For the Mele Kaliki-Mocha I used Kahlua as stated in the recipe. I forgot to bring my Orgeat (doh!) so instead used a fraction of a teaspoon of almond extract - that would be my only shortcut or cheat or improvisation. And the drink tastes great with or without the whipped cream. For future, I think it would be a very nice touch to take my micro-plane grater and drop some chocolate shavings on top of the whipped cream. That would be a great way to get some extra use out of my micro-plane and would make a very nice garnish atop the whipped cream.