Adventures In The World Of Rum Results of the tasting on September 22, 1999 From the Caribbean to the south seas, rum has been a staple since western colonists first harvested sugar cane. Today most folks mix rum with strong flavoured pop and juices to create cocktails that mask the character of the spirit. A dedicated group of spirits tasters joined us on September 22 to find out if rum could be more than just a mixer. Our tasting panel concluded that it is indeed possible to find spirits other than single malts to sip neat. Particularly well received was the Appleton Estates Extra 12 year old rum. Many of the products tasted were reminiscent of fine whiskies or brandies in the characteristics that barrel ageing had imparted to them. The value of the higher ranked rums is apparent when compared to whiskies costing ten to twenty dollars more per bottle. So give rum a chance before splashing mixer over it, taste it first.

	Nose	Body	Palate	Finish	Likability	Total	Rank
	out of 4	out of 4	out of 6	out of 8	out of 8	out of 30
Appleton Extra Jamaica	3.5	3.5	5.0	6.5	7.0	25.5	1
Bacardi 8 yr. Cuba	3.0	3.0	3.5	5.5	6.0	21.0	2
Cruzan Estate St. Croix	2.5	3.0	4.0	5.0	5.5	20.0	3
Cockspur Barbados	3.0	3.0	3.5	4.5	5.0	19.0	4
Matusalem Cuba	2.0	3.0	4.0	5.5	4.5	19.0	4
Tondeña Manilla	2.0	3.0	4.0	4.0	4.5	17.5	6
Havana Club 7 yr. Cuba	2.5	3.0	3.0	4.0	4.0	16.5	7
Hercules XXX India	2.0	2.0	3.0	4.0	4.5	15.5	8

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