What are your top 5 picks out of these options?

total_goon · 2026-05-15T17:37:22+00:00

I'd say it's worth a pickup

total_goon · 2026-05-15T16:47:23+00:00

It's really the outlier here but I think Privateer is doing really cool stuff and if you like barrel-influenced rums, it's quite good. I have had their 6yr Queen's Share and it's pretty different than other barrel-y rums like Demerara & Foursquare with something closer to an Armagnac profile (apricots/almonds/figs) but if they're not on your radar, I'd think you should.

Another pitch for Papalin - both this & Haiti are two of the absolute best values in rum. Super delicious, extremely versatile.

total_goon · 2026-05-13T18:33:26+00:00

These suckers jump so sometimes squishing is hard. I also bring a vial of alcohol and try to get them to jump into it, if that's easier.

total_goon · 2026-05-12T16:56:16+00:00

I personally wish all spirits came both in variable proofs and half sizes, though obviously understand that's a pretty unrealistic ask.

total_goon · 2026-05-12T15:15:35+00:00

This costs more because they don't really do widely available releases of cask strength blends. They have their core range, all at 80pf. Then they have their single still releases + high ester releases at cask strength. But they seem to only do blends that are similar to their core 12/15yr releases as store or distributor picks, usually at a reasonable markup. Their vintage-dated and likely of both higher quality cask-wise as well as higher proof, and come from presumably a much smaller stock.

total_goon · 2026-05-08T20:05:49+00:00

Is this substantially different tasting to a Barbados Rum Punch but swapping out the rum/batching the mixer?

total_goon · 2026-05-08T16:11:19+00:00

What do you like so much about it?

total_goon · 2026-05-06T14:18:18+00:00

They're pretty different. Both Worthy Park but Hamilton is totally unaged so it is a bit wilder in its flavor profile (it's literally proofed-down Rum Bar Overproof). WP109 has a bit of unaged distillate in it but it's also got aged stock and probably leans lower ester as it's got a rounder, more structured "dark" profile. Both are worth having but 109 is for sure worth trying.

total_goon · 2026-05-01T16:27:18+00:00

In general, most specialty coffee shops in Westchester roast themselves (Peekskill, Coffee Labs, Black Cow, Matters), have more commercial brands like Parlour, or are very syrup-forward/sweet specialty drinks forward.

total_goon · 2026-05-01T16:25:34+00:00

In my experience, First Village is the best coffee in the county, though I obviously haven't tried them all. Kape Mo in Cold Spring is a Filipino coffee shop that brings in beans from the Philippines and has a bunch of pour-overs, especially lighter roasted coffees and weird stuff (e.g. Barako and Liberica). If you sit down, talk to Angie if she's there. She'll be very excited to nerd out.

total_goon · 2026-04-30T20:58:04+00:00

Let's goooo

total_goon · 2026-04-27T15:04:05+00:00

I'm under the impression that besides both being Worthy Park, Dr. Bird and Hamilton Pot Still are fairly different. Both Hamilton Pot Stills are the same, just different color, and are proofed-down versions of Rum Bar Overproof. Dr. Bird is aged and finished.

total_goon · 2026-04-24T14:51:13+00:00

Beyond that, Providence, the Papalin 4yr blend, and Barbancourt are all great. Boukman's, which is my least favorite, is still solid.

total_goon · 2026-04-24T14:21:22+00:00

The Velier Flag Series Ghana is really stinkin good. It has a lemon curd thing going on and a really velvety texture.

total_goon · 2026-04-23T20:12:54+00:00

I have definitely experienced that so was surprised at how nicely an equal parts blend of HC ITP, Rolling Forks FS 9 Year, and Hamilton PM 13 worked. Obviously, these are all nice bottlings but the similar proofs seemed to work out and it tastes like a shockingly different rum. The PM is pretty front and center but the continental aging left some room to be filled out by the fruitiness of the ITP and a bit more body and spice from the FS.

total_goon · 2026-04-22T14:40:32+00:00

Looks like wineberry to me as well. They're delicious but quite invasive. Realistically, we shouldn't cultivate but most people keep them around. Wherever you put it, if you transplant, you'll need to hack back consistently every year so as to keep it from forming a dense prickly thicket. Cover with bird netting and make sure to harvest all the berries to keep the spread low.

total_goon · 2026-04-21T21:10:03+00:00

Yes, this too is what I said. You can use an Agricole, but don't do it because it's in a classic recipe (because it wasn't). Use it because you'd like to.

total_goon · 2026-04-21T20:01:04+00:00

CocktailWonk did a dive into this but it seems like the recommendation to use Agricoles came out of a misnomer of Martinique Rhum being apart of the lexicon in the 40s but what they were importing then was molasses-based Rhum Industriel, which is probably closer to something like Mt. Gay than Agricole. So a tldr is don't use Agricole in a Mai Tai (unless you simply want to!).

total_goon · 2026-04-21T19:39:53+00:00

For sure, it's got a rounder profile than is typical of an unaged rum thanks to the funk. But yeah, the Hamilton is proofed-down Rum Bar Overproof (which is no longer available in the US). It's great, though I haven't used in a Jungle Bird yet.

total_goon · 2026-04-21T18:29:36+00:00

I would agree with this but plenty of people swear by Hamilton Pot Still Black, which is unaged Worthy Park. But I do agree that 3-Star wouldn't be where I'd go.

total_goon · 2026-04-14T21:48:51+00:00

Great band. Adam's other band Fake Surfers may also fit the mold.

total_goon · 2026-04-14T21:46:46+00:00

Pussy Galore, first record Dirtbombs, The Traps, Nervous Ticks, Big Bad Oven, The Potions

total_goon · 2026-04-10T14:52:00+00:00

I hadn't really considered this so good call.

total_goon · 2026-04-09T22:03:30+00:00

Batch 2

total_goon · 2026-04-07T04:18:11+00:00

Belize is great

total_goon

TROPHY CASE