ralfy review 837 Extras - Bucket of rums 2020

[@chrishoyt7548]

Nice one Ralphy...extras are always welcome.

[@DualFrodo]

Ever since I watched your review on Appleton Estate 12 yo it's been a permanent feature in my cabinet. Didn't know rum could taste so bloody good!

[@BradsGuitarGarage]

Bloody legend, Ralfy. You've caught me right at the start of my whiskey appreciation career. Thanks for your wisdom.

[@diegodiaz380]

There's a lot of whisky reviews out there, but something as substantial and interesting as the extras, nothing.

[@markmadison8295]

Loving my new Loaghtan Fleck twill cap from Laxey Woollen Mills, couldn't get Ralfys cap as it is sold out. But what quality! Absolutely beautiful, well made and attention to detail. And the story behind it, all hand made on those crazy peddle weaving machines, adds to the experience of wearing it. And quite affordable! Highest recommendation. I wear it now when I watch Ralfy's reviews while enjoying a wee dram.

[@markmadison8295]

I emailed John at Laxy Woollen Mills to ask how long he had to peddle to create enough material to produce one of his caps. Here is his reply: "Hi Mark, The peddling doesn’t take long; about 5 minuets per cap. Its all the other processes that take the time, the setting up of the loom and the inspection and finishing. I would estimate about 20 minuets per cap to make the fabric and then of course they have to make the cap which will be about another 20 minutes. John"

[@mark5ization]

Not one, but TWO Freudian slips in the same extras: well-played, Ralf sir!!

[@francescoalbanese9215]

Mount gay, Appleton estate, matusalem, flor de caña, and four square are examples of runs with zero sugar added. I commend them for that, honestly I won’t be buying any more rum with added sugars or flavourings. I want just the natural distillate aged in a barrel, that’s it. Just like my whisky and my brandy, natural.

[@tomassali8870]

And surely you missed the most important, ambassador of natural and cask strength rums....Foursquare 😉. Try Velier independent bottler that many regards as the best rum bottled in the world 🌍

[@SteelheadTed]

Tomas Sali he listed that one...

[@tomassali8870]

Ted Ryan Oh 😲shite, I see. Missed that. But you have to admit that it’s hard to see and easy to overlook 😉

[@coupelikeacaravan]

God damn it, every time I leave ralfy and come back I forget how funny introspective and witty he is

[@alexk3088]

Hi, Ralfy. I found you definitely can't go wrong with Plantation, their approach is something that appeals to me, even if I don't enjoy every bottling (which hasn't happened yet). I don't buy that much rum, but I can heartily recommend Plantation Xaymaca Special Dry (Jamaican) - 43%, no sugar added and drinks like a good cognac. And if you want "that thick molasses" flavor, Plantation O.F.T.D. (Old Fashioned Traditional Dark) - it's 69% abv and while designed for mixing, it is truly an honest sipper IMHO. A great spirit to practice adding water and the 1L bottles are budget friendly. Another rum on my radar (but I haven't opened the bottle yet) is Grander from Panama. I have the 12yo. A very natural color and produced by someone from the bourbon industry, so he applies the bourbon concept of integrity and using ex-bourbon casks to mature. And it's 45%. I doubt I'd ever even bother with rum if it weren't for Ralfy and now I feel somewhat fluent (I do my own research).

[@darienbragg4826]

Thanks for mentioning the situation in Nicaragua, it really flew under the radar for a lot of bartenders and it really was a huge issue

[@Kamamura2]

Yay! Rums again! I have just finished my old bottle of Admiral Rodney 12y from Santa Lucia. Looking for new tips!

[@salamisaver]

Admiral rodney port cask is also really good

[@bf0189]

My favorite relatively cheap rum has been Smith and Cross. Traditional rum strength so youll need a ml or two of water but it's insane value for the price.

[@ericgilbert8114]

Worthy Park is a perfect pic for single malt drinkers, especially Speyside lovers. Really gotten into White and Blanc rums the last few years

[@Twotonsandwich]

Meshuggah! 🤘🏻Also an excellent Swedish metal band.

[@alessandrovigano8149]

Hey Ralfy, I haven't tried the clairin communal, but I have tried two of the four clairins present in the blend, sajous and vaval, and they are spectacular, especially the former. I was blown away by the level of complexity for a non aged spirit. If you have the chance to get your hands on them (again, especially the sajous) don't you hesitate for a second! Also, unlike the blend, they are bottled at 50-55%, depending on the batch. Here in Italy I get the for around 40-45 euros and it's hard to find single malts I enjoy as much at that price

[@seand4682]

Perfect timing! Been in the rum mood!

[@gcbrain2933]

I always go back to clement rum from martinique.

[@HuskyHuey]

For the same reason you use a bucket, I use milk crates for my collection!

[@alexanderkan1150]

Thank you very much for the review, as always on top. what do you prefer glenallachie 10 cask strength, arran share cask or glendronach cask strength?

[@j1bc]

Another excellent review

[@premier1975]

that Ninefold looks interesting with that Seraphim (angel) on the front.

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

"Bucket of Rums" ... there is a song in there somewhere

[@meeusmeeus]

@ralfy thanks for bringing us these malternatives, I`m going to seek out these special bottles and see if I can get my hands on them. Don’t shoot me for this question, but do you have any suggestions for rum that’s nice to make a refreshing cold rum & coke with during this damn hot summer days? I mean, is it blasphemy to use the “better” rums for it and better just keep making it with (cheap) Havana Club or whatever is there in the supermarket?

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . look out for Lambs, OVD or Woods !

[@chrisinston427]

I did a rum journey for 5 yrs before I went into bourbon and now smokey whiskies. There are some excellent rums out there (which I still drink)as long as you stay away from spiced. ,too much sugar added. Try the proper no added sugar rums instead.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . good advice.

I would recommend to try out the TCRL Fiji 2014. It has 48%, is 4 YO and distilled in pot still. The are two variations 35% and 91% aged in continental weather. It's young and punchy, but it's definitely worth it's price.

[@newbilong]

Ralfy - the stills used at the Fiji rum distillery are out of the old Willowbank whisky distillery in Dunedin NZ. Fiji, by the way, is a Pacific island north of New Zealand.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . thanks for that interesting info !

[@alexleblay3920]

I would also love to see British rum with higher age statements, though, as you mentioned, spirits age around three times faster in the Caribbean, so how can they compete on price? Not sure about the demand for it in the short term.

[@RoranRock]

Note that french rum follows EU rules with a Protected Designation of Origin, so only EU-authorized chemicals are used (so more strict than most of the other countries), and there's also rules on the product itself, for example forbidding the use of sugar at bottling.

[@JazznRealHipHop]

Never tried any of these rums........but that book on the shelf looks familiar, think it's in my "to read" stack. Need to get on it ⏳📚🥃

[@francescoalbanese9215]

Finished your smith & cross navy strength rum Ralphy? That is some great stuff.

[@BDCF100]

The Worthy Park is $140 in San Francisco! It better be good. :>)

[@mark5ization]

@16:53 - Time to put all those lovely bottles back, Ralfy dear...until they're replaced with another seven bottles of whatever tasty spirit you choose to favour us with!

[@darkoanton5]

La Hechicera Fine Aged Rum from Colombia. Excellent.

[@rkostyantyn]

Does the rum industry has any age statement regulations? What the age statement means when solera system is used?

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . no regulation ! except by individual distilleries.

[@llcoolmartine]

I have to recommend the "Novo Fogo" range of Cachaça. Simply outstanding stuff. I've tried the "Novo Fogo Silver" since I'm in heart a cocktail man and it makes a great Caipirinha.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . I will look out for it !

[@PaulEcosse]

Looking forward to trying Askival Rum made on the Isle Of Rum.

[@maltedbarleyman7834]

Just bought a bottle of Rhum Barbancourt 8 year. I couldn't believe the quality, and for only $25. Are you kidding me? Anyway Ralfy, thanks for another great video. I also just got your book. I will start reading it after I finish my current book. Cheers🥃

[@mark5ization]

I had an unpleasant experience with the 8 year-old but their 15 year-old was good. I need to try many more good rums (I will have to cherry-pick because the selection is quite thin on the ground where I am).

[@maltedbarleyman7834]

@@mark5ization I will buy the 15 next time. I've never had it, but Ralfy gave it a 92. I figured I would start off with the 8 since it was half the price. Just in case I didn't like it, but I love it. I look forward to the 15.

[@robfut9954]

Like your straw rhum bonnet there!

[@johngo3715]

Hi again Ralfy, CDI is a great rum IB. But rum bottlers like them source their casks of rum from brokers like E&A Scheer (Amsterdam-based). Scheer is mainly a blender but they buy bulk rum from around the world. They have another company called Main Rum based in the UK (Liverpool I think.) This is where most of their aged stuff are. There's talk now in the rum community that sugarcane spirit should be the all encompassing term for... sugarcane spirit and not rum. Cachaca, Arak, sugarcane shochu (Japanese) and Clairin aren't rum. Haiti does make rum. Namely Barbancourt and Velier's new Providence rum but Clairin is Clairin. I would recommend you look for other bottlings of Fiji rum. BBR and Transcontinental Rum Line have bottled these. Plantation recently made a deal with the sole rum distillery in Fiji wherein the distillery will only supply Plantation. You're never going to experience Fiji rum bottled by Plantation as it should be because of their dosing and Cognac aging. Worthy Park is a great rum distillery as they do everything right. Sourcing quality molasses is now an issue for a lot of rum distillers. But these guys grow their own sugarcane so the quality of their molasses is ensured. Higher grade molasses for rum means it's sugar has been extracted less from it. But a lot of companies selling their molasses extract a lot of sugar because they're mainly sugar sellers and molasses quality is an after thought.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . thanks for an excellent comment, . . . I am listening to your advice.

[@johngo3715]

@@thewhiskybothy cheers. Just giving back for all the whisky knowledge you've dropped over the years. As I've mentioned before, anything by Velier are sure straight shooters. Luca values the producers he works with which is why he always emphasizes who makes them. Just look at Habitation Velier and the Clairins. Labels always show the important details and who made them.

[@tomassali8870]

Interesting choices Ralfy. Definitely caught by surprise. I also go after a higher strength rums with an age statement. Have you heard of independent bottler called Rum Nation? Nearly as good as Velier. Recently bought Compagnie Des Indes Trinidad 🇹🇹 16 year old as well but the bottle needs to rest on the shelf for a while🙂. I would really like to see some rum reviews over 15 years of age Ralfy. Some rums in my collection are really scary to open because I don’t know how many are left in the world. I’ve got a rum from Bristol Classic Rums independent bottler, it is Caroni 1974, 34 year old Rum 😅 distilled in 1974 and bottled at 2008. That one is really hard to open Ralfy. Any suggestions how to overcome protective nature of mine ?

[@brianmundie1647]

Hi ralfy , been enjoying a lovely single cask of a 12yrd worthy park from thomson bros 58% abv

[@chefmarv6499]

Plantation is made (assembled?) by Pierre Ferrand, as long as it's them owning the Plantation brand, I think they're going to crank good rums even if this Fiji one loses its identity

[@saekka8537]

What a coincidence: I also recently bought few bottles of Plantation's Fiji rum, but they are 15 Year Old versions and they are bottled at 50,2%. I'm really looking forward to them.

[@sambrewster8556]

Can anyone recommend a good sipping rum to start off with for a single malt whisky fan? Budget up to £50 or so.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. .. Smith and Cross

[@jagsingh5652]

Hi Ralfy, I've been browsing through the rum shelves online on the back of this. Not quite got my bearings on what is what. May I ask if you could do an intro to types of rums and the difference between them please. Ive come across terms such as white, gold, dark, bristol classic? Etc etc.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . best to search for rum review sites and do some research. I go for 'single cask matured indi bottler'

[@jagsingh5652]

@@thewhiskybothy cheers Ralfy. Will start with your suggestion and see where that takes me. Thank you

[@JI-tz1gz]

Call me biased, but I clicked the like after "hello". Great review nice that you looked again to rums

[@ADSCP]

Rum from Madeira is becoming popular now

[@glennkelley6096]

When I look at that I see scratch (as in scratch my back) . Screech is the Newfoundland version of Jamaican rum .

[@kiseliajvar]

Hi Ralfy, have you tried Serbian plum brandy? It is pretty amazing, aged 10+ years in oak barrels.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . heard a lot of good things about it !

[@justincase5124]

Sljivovica! Kruskovac (pear) is great too

[@millar426]

Ralfy if you get the chance you should try the Clairin Casimir (Agricole style). Has some lovely Berry notes

[@chrishoyt7548]

Ralphy have you ever tried Newfoundland Sreech rum or heard of it? From Canada. Greetings from somewhere in the Canadian prairies......

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . strong stuff !

[@perkristiansandgren4132]

Hello ralfy, i got an question abote maybe explayn why it is aloud let me exsplain i cant understand this. I bougth a kilchoman singel cask norway relese finnish in madeira cask, and i red its 7yr with ex-bourbon barrals and finnished 1-2yr in madeira cask. How can they call this singel cask? Singel cask is as i understand 1 cask. Can you help me and exsplain ?=) stay safe and have a good nigth

[@perkristiansandgren4132]

Stupid, its alowed yo youse singel cask name

[@marcwhiskey]

Do you still recommend the diplomatico reserva you had in a rum video from a few years ago?

[@TheBarroomHero321]

Rumbucket sounds like something a teetotaler would consider an insult

[@MonsMondaine]

Great reviews Ralfy! as crazy as it sounds i dont think Bacardi, but Coca Cola, owns the only operating rum distillery on Fiji. Interesting...

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . ownership is always an opaque issue with businesses.

[@MonsMondaine]

I guess i shouldnt bother too much. If its good spirit at the right price, I’m a happy consumer. Independent, major corps, theres good and bad spirit out there across the board

[@999YCM]

Plantation is heavily sugared, @Ralfy

[@999YCM]

But ah well.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . the 'dosing' varies considerably. . . . I buy VERY few Plantation bottlings.

[@manuelnaranjo3255]

The XO is syrup, like glue. The other ones i tried had a well dosed dosage. Or take xaymaka, pure Jamaican whitout any sugar

[@999YCM]

@@manuelnaranjo3255 yeah. + How about just the Cadenhead's Classic Rum, which I have a bottle of right now (and which I was half expecting to see in this video). All kinds of caramel, licorice, herbal, buttery - a very complex young blend, after a couple of weeks in a opened bottle.

[@manuelnaranjo3255]

@@999YCM there is only a few Cadenheads available in Germany, its a pitty...

[@jbussa]

damnit. I'm gunna have to start trying some rums...

[@bradl2636]

Not a fan of Jamaican funk. Quite like Campbelltown funk though. Not a fan of spiced rums either. Still trying to figure out what I like. Dos Maderas 5+5 is great. Duppys Share not so much. I’ve got to cast a wider net for sure.

[@llcoolmartine]

Plantation Rum is good but sometime they can go overboard with the adding of sugar. And as far as I know they ALWAYS add sugar to their rum - and it's no secret - in fact they are quite open about it. Their early releases when they came into the market for rum was out of this world though.

[@PawelKalinowski]

That's not entirely correct - many of their top-tier bottling has no "dosage", and from the core range at least OFTD. But it is praise-worthy that they release publicly information amount of it - it used to be on the internet, but new releases have it even on the bottle, for example the Fiji that Ralfy displayed has 16g of sugar per litre

[@manuelnaranjo3255]

@@PawelKalinowski so in a bottle is just a full teaspoon. And Xaymaca is theire unsweetened pure Jamaican

[@PawelKalinowski]

"Just a teaspoon" is not a valid comment when we are talking about taste, it changes more than chill filtering/caramel colouring. I personally enjoy many moderately sweetened Plantation, but impact of sugar cannot be neglected

[@manuelnaranjo3255]

@@PawelKalinowski you are right, it changes definitly. It was more in comparisson to XO, Don Papa, Ron Jeremy XO and the other gluelike beverages. And i appreciate it too, that they are rather transparent about their bottlings.

[@Monsterplod]

Can we be sure that they're not just meaning that the barrels are 6 to 10 years old? Letting us misconstrue that as the maturation age of the rum.

[@pickaname29]

What kind of spirit do you recommend for someone who has never strayed away from the more well know brands? Something that's like a hard to find hidden jewel.

[@altquad3759]

Louisiana here

[@tonyjones9442]

Isnt Fiji in the Pacific? Not the Caribbean??

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . it is !

[@tonyjones9442]

@@thewhiskybothy oh, I just have miss heard.lol. I thought you were talking about a Fiji in the Caribbean. Wires crossed. Apologies. I like British navy rum. Funny you should mention the by products etc of sugar cane production. I bought an Asda own brand bottle of Rum for my neighbour last week, we were both wondering if it's ever seen sugar cane as my chemistry set as a boy tasted better. I'm Welsh and I've never heard of welsh rum? I suppose they use sugar beat for that, not cane sugar. Being North Walian I hope they call it slate and wool!

[@alexlohan7276]

I'm pretty sure that's Scratch rum rather than Screech rum? :) Just joking, love your videos!!

[@AndyCigars]

I want Ralfy to have a cameo on Peaky Blinders.

[@mark5ization]

@3:43 - Wink-wink! ;-)

[@SteveHB59]

Getting to Brandy any time soon Ralfy ?

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . not for a while, too much at 40% and bland.

[@charlesrb3898]

@@thewhiskybothy Then tell us about any with more %. We anxiously await.

[@idkisaidit]

I desperately need Ralfy’s take on Casamigos, Monkey Shoulder, and Woodford Reserve.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . they are not really in my line of vision at the moment !

[@idkisaidit]

@@thewhiskybothy so awesome to get a reply from you please keep doing your incredible work

[@WhiskyBrasil]

🥃🥃🇧🇷🇧🇷🥃🥃

[@degmar]

If "between 6 and 10" is an age statement, I don't see why "single malt scotch whiskey" isn't an age statement since the regulations would require that it be at least 3 years old.

[@prestonw3878]

Someone else might be able to explain better than I but from what I understand Scotch ages differently than rum. A big factor is the temperature, in that it is cooler in Scotland so it may age at a slower rate than rum.

[@ronprichard6145]

Ralfy, Fiji is north of New Zealand in the Pacific. Where do we send suggested malt mentions?

[@charlesrb3898]

Fiji is an independent country. It never was French.

[@swedishburrito5073]

🥃👍❤️

[@ABrit-bt6ce]

My bin smells of cats piss. At five foot tall it woud have ben a tall cat.