Post #688703 by Sunny&Rummy on Sun, Aug 4, 2013 5:25 PM

If you want to really experience funky, high-hogo pot stilled Jamaican rum flavors, Smith & Cross is the rum to try. It is wonderful, unique stuff, but 2 ounces of it in a 1-rum Mai Tai is too much. Pairing it with a nice Demerara or aged Martinique though makes one of the best Mai Tais you have ever had.

Royal Ambre was the first rhum agricole I ever had as well and the earthy vegetal flavors took me by surprise too but I quickly acquired a taste for the stuff. My standard 'Ti Punch Vieux is 2 oz. of Royal Ambre, the end disc of a lime squeezed and then dropped into the glass, a scant quarter ounce of cane syrup, a quick stir to mix and an optional ice cube. The sugar and bit of llime smooths the rough edges of the agricole nicely, althogh the style has grown on me to the point that I really enjoy it neat too.