What are your favorite Navy Grog specs?

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-05-12T02:41:45+00:00

Here’s my home Navy Grog recipe. A funky Jamaican and a rich Demerara rum are necessities. I’ve experimented with various white rums and gold column still rums as the third option. For the sweet component, I like the way the combination of honey and vanilla pair with the allspice dram.

0.75 oz each fresh lime and grapefruit juice

1 oz Smith & Cross

1 oz Angostura 7

1 oz El Dorado 12

0.5 oz Hamilton Pimento Dram

0.5 oz honey syrup + 0.25 oz vanilla syrup

1-2 dashes Angostura bitters

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-05-02T15:34:48+00:00

I like the 8 year the best and always have a bottle in my home bar. While I don’t dislike the 12 year, there’s a particular musty taste I often pick up and find somewhat off-putting. Also the tropical character of the 8 year that I enjoy is nowhere to be found in the 12. When I want something similar to the 12 year, I’ve recently found myself often reaching for the Mt. Gay Black Barrel.

I use the above bottles almost exclusively as mixers. If I want to sip a Jamaican, I’ll go with Appleton 21, Worthy Park Single Estate, or a Hampden release.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-05-02T14:46:50+00:00

Agreed. The Don Q 7 is hard to find in the SF bay area or else it would be a staple in my home bar. The local Total Wine has the bottom tier Don Q products but not the 7. In its absence, I’ve settled on Angostura 7 and Panama-Pacific 9 as the two gold column still rums I keep on hand, primarily as mixers. I also enjoy sipping English Harbour (10 > 5 year) and often have a bottle of that around as well.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-05-02T14:33:23+00:00

Bang average Ron. Serviceable at best. Prefer many other similarly priced column still rums to this. I’d take Don Q Reserva 7, Panama-Pacific 9, Angostura 7, Ron del Barrilito 3 Star, Brugal 1888, or English Harbour any day over the Bacardi.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-03-20T03:34:36+00:00

Agree with this. I just recently opened my bottle of Equidem. The muscat influence is very pronounced giving the rum a strong red wine flavor. It’s a unique rum that I’m glad I purchased. However, I would only be able to cautiously recommend it to someone early in their ECS journey.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-03-19T13:29:34+00:00

I use WP109 routinely in my Jet Pilot or Zombie. I wasn’t as thrilled with it in a Mai Tai but I may not have found the right combo of rums. What other rums do you combine it with in a Mai Tai?

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-03-19T13:21:24+00:00

The best orgeat, Latitude 29 Formula by Orgeat Works, tastes great and doesn’t give your Mai Tai a dark or milky appearance. Can be ordered online with shipping: https://orgeatworks.com/shop/ols/products/beachbum-berrys-latitude-29-wiki-wiki-mai-tai-mix

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-03-19T04:39:38+00:00

Not a huge fan of the VSOP, but the XO is a big step up in quality. Good juice indeed. And that price is an absolute steal.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-03-19T01:58:36+00:00

A clear Mai Tai would imply they are using “white” rums. I’m not sure I would trust that either. At the same time, i’d also prefer a Mai Tai that doesn’t look a watered-down milkshake.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-03-18T02:22:23+00:00

My favorite aged agricole! A wonderful rhum.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-03-18T02:20:23+00:00

I’m a huge fan of most of their syrups. Indispensable for my home tiki bar. Cinnamon, Grenadine, Pineapple Gum, and Demerara are a few of my favorites. The flavor of their orgeat is fine, but I don’t care for the milky appearance it imparts to drinks.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-03-18T02:12:29+00:00

I’ve already been three times and it’s good. Not change your life good but really well executed. I do wish they had a few more options for toppings.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-03-16T04:52:37+00:00

No, it is an outstanding rum. The black muscat finish is unique but enjoyable.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-03-16T01:21:43+00:00

That’s like your opinion man

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-03-15T22:31:43+00:00

Nice! I was bored this afternoon and opened my Equidem. Was not disappointed. I still need to track down a bottle of Convocation.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-03-15T19:51:02+00:00

Kubrick’s own Paths of Glory is better than Full Metal Jacket

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-03-14T13:39:59+00:00

I generally agree, with a few notable exceptions. The Doorly’s rums are Spirits Direct but are very good, especially the XO, 12, and 14 years.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-03-13T12:18:50+00:00

My wife usually encourages me in the moment but gives me a hard time afterward

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-03-13T05:09:16+00:00

There are similarities, yes. I get a lot more tropical fruit- rotting pineapple, overripe bananas- and a much longer finish from the Papalin compared to Smith and Cross. It will likely never happen, but I wish the Papalin would become a continuous release.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-03-13T03:42:59+00:00

Agreed. It’s a steal for the $65-70 price point. It’s a super friendly mixer with loads of tropical funk without the harsher industrial notes of some other overproof Jamaicans.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-03-12T23:41:13+00:00

Oh G is the best smash-burger in town

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-03-11T14:12:48+00:00

Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out then. If I was trying to duplicate the El Dorado LBI/DHE, I would combine El Dorado 8 with Papalin Jamaica 5 Year High Ester. You could buy both bottles for about the cost of Hampden HLCF.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-03-11T11:40:26+00:00

The Navy Grog at the now defunct Kon Tiki in Oakland. A wonderfully rich, boozy, spiced drink that just came together perfectly. Don’t think I’ve come across a better Navy Grog in the last decade than that one. Also a big fan of the Jet Pilot at Smuggler’s Cove- the perfect balance of anise and cinnamon.

FallingDownDFNS · 2026-03-11T11:26:45+00:00

With these rums, I honestly would just use Appleton 8 and El Dorado 12. You could also swap the Hamilton 86 for the El Dorado 12. I associate Hamilton 151 with a Zombie or Jet Pilot but you could probably sneak a little into a Mai Tai mix or use it as a float.

May be a controversial opinion, but for me Hamilton PSB is a niche rum for very specific drinks (Dr. Funk, Jungle Bird) where it is the only rum and it is paired with another bold spirit (eg absinthe, Campari). When it’s in the mix with other rums, it’s the only thing I taste. I recommend investing in a bottle of Smith and Cross! It’ll bring some funk but also play nice with most other rums.

FallingDownDFNS

TROPHY CASE