Racist Dept: Rum class warfare?

[Capn Jimbo]

The classifying of rum has been worthy of the product...


To date the "classification of rums" has been the invention of promoters whose main objective seems to be the selling of tables at their rumfests, not otherwise. The usual "competitions" seem to be among white, gold, aged, super-premium, overproof and spiced or flavored among others. In other words they are divided by color (which is altered), price (super-premium), alcohol content (overproof) and flavorings (which are used in most rums, whether so labeled or not).

Just plain mooseshit.

Compare to single malts, where none of these categories of classes appear. Single malts - regardless or color, cost or proof - are compared to, uh, single malts. The real divisions have been by style, eg Highland, Lowland, Speyside, Island and the like. These represent what were actual differences in flavors and profiles. Even modestly experienced tasters can often and correctly identify a malt's style.

It should be the same for rums, especially since leading tasters have already recognized at least four or five basic styles of rums - Barbadian, Jamaican, Demeraran, Cane Juice and Cuban. There are a few others. Again, an experienced taster can identify the style. Remember this...

If you cannot blind taste the category or style, it fails.


Check this out...

A French retail website (here) divides its rums thusly...

Party rums
Sipping rums
Exceptionnal rums
Rums punchs and Liqueurs

Although still commercial, this is FAR closer to the truth of the matter. Think about this: if the promoter's categories were so meaningful, the retailers would divide the rums likewise on the shelves - whites, gold, etc. They don't. In fact they do much worse!

Indeed it is the most bullshit, cheap, altered spiced and flavored rums that have taken over most of the shelf space, right up to the top shelf. I'm talking Batshit Dingleberry and the like here. This devalues the ever diminishing fine rums, by merging them together with this cheap crap. Ever notice how really expensive and fine spirits are often segrated and often even occupy special, locked displays?

This values them. I've long held that as long as retailers fail to isolate and highlight the better, finer rums they are only shooting themselves in the foot, like drunken pirates...

Shit ahoy!