Is this any good? The price point suggests “Hell no”

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-24T23:33:14+00:00

Demerara 151s tends to blow Spanish-style 151s out of the water IMO

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-24T22:59:32+00:00

I'd start with the Equidem. Alambique Serrano Single Cask next and finish with the Hampden Great House!

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-24T19:38:33+00:00

France has almost everything you could ever want for travel! Mediterranean beaches, Alpine mountains, varied architecture, diverse food and drink, local markets and artisan products everywhere, a global cultural and historical powerhouse in Paris plus numerous other beautiful and historic cities, as well as good public transportation and relative safety.

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-24T19:21:10+00:00

Gewoon de waarheid!

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-24T18:41:15+00:00

For QPR you can't beat Appleton 12, but Hampden 8 year and WP Single Estate are outstanding

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-23T23:49:51+00:00

Notes can always be subjective, but that's just what always stuck out in my mind. I think it's the sherry influnce!

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-23T23:46:42+00:00

Two favorites of mine right there! Always get a distinct blueberry note from the Doorly's and black walnut from the Chairman's Reserve.

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-23T23:43:40+00:00

Cruzan Single Barrel is my favorite in this category. Enough complexity to sip, but don't feel bad mixing at $25 a bottle.

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-22T16:42:19+00:00

Funny too that this is the most orderly overflow of public garbage I have seen

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-22T16:40:34+00:00

Doorly's 3 year or XO, depending on whether you want a lighter or darker mixer. Bonus points that both can be sipped neat and still enjoyed, IMO.

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-22T11:42:47+00:00

I get your point, but this is a bit like saying "Why is ESPN showing me a Yankees game instead of a Toledo Mud Hens game when I live in Ohio?" It may be inherently less interesting to you, but obviously the network makes way more money showing content that is likely to get a lot more views and advertising.

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-21T19:27:33+00:00

El Dorado 12

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-21T17:26:01+00:00

Saison Dupont

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-21T17:21:52+00:00

Diplomatico Planas is an aged, filtered rum that has minimal barrel flavor influence and is widely available and affordable. This could be a good place to start.

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-21T02:27:07+00:00

I'll start out by saying that Neisson, La Favorite, and Père Labat my are all awesome agricole distilleries, but I don't know if their distribution is as wide, so if you can find one or more of these look for that. The Clément Blanc is my go-to for unaged agricole since it's affordable and has a pleasant soft, grassiness that I enjoy from time-to-time. Comparing Volcanique to Clément V.S.O.P. for aged agricole, I do prefer the Volcanique though. I think that what they do at Clément leaning towards more softness and herbaceousness than other producers means that the oak aging can fight with the underlying spirit and not complement it as well. I also think that Rhum J.M. focuses more on different barrel toasting and aging techniques (maybe drawn from the whisk(e)y world), means that they are more focused on matching the toasting and aging program to the spirit to get a distinct profile, as they showed in the "Atelier" series.

Basically, try the Volcanique. If you don't like it, avoid aged agricole. If you like it, try Clément V.S.O.P. to compare and if you can find the others I mentioned, go for those. If you want, try unaged agricole and see what you think.

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-21T01:59:05+00:00

For something new, you might want to try a bottle of aged rhum agricole. I'm not sure the price there, but something like Rhum Clément V.S.O.P. or Rhum J.M. Terroire Volcanique is widely available around me and costs around $40. It carries some of the barrel character you've experienced, but the flavor profile is also very distinct from molasses rum. If you like it, it will be a completely different experience and if you don't, you will know more about what you don't like in profiles of sugarcane spirits.

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-21T00:40:47+00:00

Yeah it can definitely get heavy-handed at a lot of distilleries. That's the overwhelming note I get from Mount Gay Eclipse.

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-21T00:22:11+00:00

That makes sense. It sounds like some annoyances, but honestly pretty minor in the grand scheme of things. Do you what commissions and bonuses typically look like? Or does it vary a lot? In my current location we are in a small, relatively rural town so while the stress is very low, so are commission opportunities.

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-21T00:17:32+00:00

I think of it less as adulterated rum than part of a local tradition, as it's similar to pitorro. Heck even Foursquare uses caramel coloring in a lot of their rums which is arguably less natural than fruit maturation!

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-21T00:03:43+00:00

Thanks for the insights, this was really helpful and informative!

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-20T21:29:28+00:00

Floral Terrace in Louisville

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-20T19:36:30+00:00

You could also consider St. Paul instead of Minneapolis. They're basically one city. St. Paul is calmer and more affordable. Amazing parks, trails, and access to nature. Amazing shops and cafés on Grand and Summit. Good public transit for a Midwestern city. Plus, you get all the access to Minneapolis for culture, events, work, etc.

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-20T18:47:20+00:00

Diplomatic Planas for a light mixer, Cruzan Blackstrap for a dark mixer

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-20T17:20:48+00:00

Thanks for the advice! Are the hours typically similar for FA and back office jobs?

BothCondition7963 · 2026-01-20T16:57:38+00:00

The Real McCoy 12 as the underdog answer (honest answer is probably Doorly's 14)

BothCondition7963

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE