My name is Mark Hébert and I'm a Cajun (Acadian) transplant from Lafayette, LA who lives in the Dallas, TX area. After starting to explore wines in the last year, I was introduced to rum by my brother who just poured a glass of Pampero Aniversario Reserva Exclusiva añejo rum and said, "Try this!" I liked it so much that I purchased a bottle within a few days.
I'm somewhat of a connoisseur of flavors that I particularly enjoy, so I began to explore other rums in short order. My brother was too busy to help in that endeavor, so I turned to the internet and discovered Cap'n Jimbo's Rum Project on my first attempt. The explanation of styles and the no-nonsense, practical ratings were just what I was looking for and I set out to experience each one via the super helpful Basic Starter Collection. It's been several months now and I've not completed my collection yet, but I've ventured far beyond that as I happened upon deals and unique finds.
Here are the rums that I have in my cabinet (in the order that I acquired them) as a result of my indoctrination by Cap'n Jimbo:
- Appleton Estate Extra 12 Year - $27
- Foursquare Spiced - $7 (200ml)
- Leblon Cachaça - $34
- Westerhall Plantation - $25
- Dos Maderas 5+3 - $30
- Rhum Barbancourt Reserve Espéciale 5-Star - $23
- R.L. Seale's 10 Year - $22
- Flor de Caña Centenario Gold 18 Year - $43
- The Scarlet Ibis - $27 (I had to purchase this on in Lafayette, LA, since it wasn't available in the Dallas area.)
- Fazenda Mãe de Ouro Cachaça - $29 (unopened)
My least favorite on this list is the Barbancourt and I will most likely not repurchase this one (personal taste), but there's not a bad one in the bunch. I've also had the opportunity to sample the following via friends: El Dorado 15 Year, Mount Gay Ecclipse, Old Monk XXX, Ron Abuelo 7 Year, Captain Morgan's Black Spiced, Sailor Jerry's Spiced, Cruzan Single Barrel, Cruzan 9 and Pusser's British Navy (Blue Label). I know that if I'd done this on my own, that I would've hit upon several over-priced losers and I might never have ventured into the various styles (if I count the Westerhall as a Cuban, then I've hit them all, including the debated Trinidadian). This has been lots of fun so far and I feel like I've just gotten started. Here are the ones that I've got my eye out for now: Ron Matusalem Gran Reserva, El Dorado 15 Year, Dos Maderas PX, Wray and Nephew Overproof, Cruzan Single Barrel, Mount Gay XO, Smith and Cross Traditional, Montecristo 12 Year and Santa Teresa 1796. Of course, I'm also open to any rare and interesting finds that I can share with the Rum Project.