Which of these 4 Light Rums makes the best Daiquiri?

[@Fireslingerpirate]

Really can't say enough about how great your presentation is. The production quality is so high, love the dead pan humor in some videos, and you always find the most interesting tidbits to say about different rums and cocktails. I really do think you have one of the best cocktail channels on KZbin... great job.

[@makeanddrink]

Thank you! Much appreciate and glad you brought that up on this video. Much harder to get this one up to my standards with all the dead weight I was pulling. (that was a joke for all you kill-joys. Arminder is very fun to film with)

[@ericepperson8409]

Arminder is one of my favorite channels to follow for Rum news and reviews. This channel is becoming one of my favorites for cocktails. The style is somewhere between HTD and Educated Barfly and I am really enjoying the frequency of uploads. Can't wait to see more in this style of series.

[@makeanddrink]

Very Cool! But you like me better than @TheRumRevival right?

[@michaelhans287]

Just made one with the Hamilton Breezeway. Got to give it a try. Loved it.

[@makeanddrink]

I haven’t had it. However I assume it’s not really made to fit into the basic white rum category.

[@benykristo]

I compared it today side by side with Probitas, its close. I like them both ! They just became my 2 preferred Daiquiri rums

[@JasonBunting]

It's very good for daiquiris

[@Fireslingerpirate]

​@makeanddrink Definitely a prudent choice to keep it out. Cracked my bottle tonight after reading this comment. Makes a truly wonderful daiquiri, but it is very heavy on the Jamaican notes which pushes it out of the category you were aiming at.

[@michaelhans287]

@@makeanddrinkthey are selling them a Sips in Benicia

[@robmichaels4728]

Derek, please continue the colabs. Your content and cinematography are outstanding, especially for cocktails. Arminder’s content is so insane for r(h)um. Seeing you guys together, even throwing others into a video must be challenging logistically, but so enjoyable for the viewer.

[@jhcarrothers]

Love this duo!

[@joshuagies4900]

Agreed! A great pairing on its own!

[@mikeconza1698]

Great format - really appreciate this.

[@Succumbed2Rum]

Your also getting a liter with the White Stache as opposed to the others. Will definitely put it on my shopping list.

[@Quiet1-y9x]

Excellent series.

[@jcmphreek]

Had a good laugh with that plantation 3 star dig hahaha

[@jeanli]

Botucal planas (even tho not a light rum) is my fav when it comes to a daiquiri!

[@scrubadubdub1067]

I love seeing hamilton white stache in cocktail videos, i feel like it doesnt get as much love as it should (living in plantation 3 stars shadow). Anyways its by far my favorite white/light rum

[@makeanddrink]

Yeah it's always been one of my favorites. In the last 6 months I haven't used it much because I was running low and it's not something local. Have a couple bottles now so it will be flowing.

[@Default78334]

@@makeanddrink It's surprisingly hard to find in stores compared to Hamilton 86/151 and Jamaican Pot Still Black.

[@sergisamongas]

​​@@Default78334klwines has it.

[@scrubadubdub1067]

​@Default78334 i live in utah (ABC state) and so they only stock the white stache out of the hamilton rums, so i cant find anything but hamilton white stache

[@TheBarIntern]

Yes!!! So excited for this series! Thank you, Derek. Keep the good content coming!

[@makeanddrink]

Will do!

[@Sunscorpio]

You & arminders videos make my day. I’ve learnt so much from you both.

[@makeanddrink]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@petermcguire4769]

So glad I finally picked up a bottle of White Stache. It's a great neat sipper as well.

[@Therewasatime109]

Me: “I love when these guys review rum together” My drunk guest: “I had no idea Chris Pratt and Frank Oz were even friends”

[@jamesvorel9806]

lol, the voice really nails the Frank Oz comparison, first thing I thought of as well.

[@BrandonIveyATL]

Checkout Hamilton Breezeway blend. It's my favorite Daiquiri rum now. It does have some pot still Jamaican like Probitas that might push it into a different classification for you.

[@Arctore]

My go to is Havana Club 3, Plantation 3 comes as a close 2nd.

[@skipsterz]

One of my favorite Collab teams!! Cheers!

[@HeyBoz-04]

I don't get the whole box thing. I can't drink the box. If what's inside the bottle is worth it, then great. But I really don't want to pay the spiff for a bottle and/or box if what's inside isn't worth the extra money. Thanks, Derek, for the great vids! Keep them coming.

[@sergisamongas]

Great video. I tried all those white rums and more in daiquiris. And my favorite is el dorado 3. I do have a large bottle of flor de Cana as a backup. When i want something with more taste, i go for barbencourt 8.

[@markhatley-k6s]

Really great episode! I really enjoy it when you and Arminder get together. Always good stuff. I am subscribed to both so this is really easy to watch and thoroughly enjoy. Really pleasantly surprised by the results so now I have to go to my kitchen to make a White Stache daiquiri. Thanks for the excellent content!

[@nicolasfalcon1470]

Another fantastic video. Kind of missed seeing 3 stars in the mix, I think it would have been up there with the Hamilton

[@Quiet1-y9x]

Thanks for a great comparison. I've been down a similar path, comparing various "white" rums side by side and found my favorite to be Barbancourt 3. I get a light fruitiness/floral component that I really like backing up the lime and sugar mix. I believe they just recently stopped producing the 43% version and have switched to what they are calling "Haitian Proof" 55% abv. Haven't tried it yet. Fingers crossed.

[@paytonlee2074]

Always interesting to hear what is available and for what prices outside of my Midwestern college town. Here Flor de Cana is $10 cheaper than Hamilton White

[@DB-uv1st]

The vids. here are awesome! I love White Stache and Flor de Cana. I've not tried the Denizen 5yr, but I still have an older bottle of the 3yr. and it is great, so I can imagine the 5 is too. Not a Bacardi fan. Tops for my Daiquiris include El Dorado 3yr., and Don-Q as well. Believe it or not, Myers's Platinum makes a decent daiquiri too, at least for me.

[@MrHavy09]

Nice, Flor De Cana is my regular daiquiri rum, best was Panama Pacific 3 Yr & my favorite "funkier" Daiquiri was Probitas

[@makeanddrink]

I've yet to have the Panama 3 but will def keep my eye out for it.

[@tothefinlandstation]

I bought the Denizen after seeing your previous video. Will probably grab the Hamilton next.

[@maitaioneon]

Great video and commentary from you both. Hoping to see Ten to One White in one of these videos. I've really enjoy that lately... along with many others. Cheers! I kind of love that 3-Stars wasn't included. I find it "okay" but wish it had no added sugar... and then there's some other stuff, but the good news is that we have a lot of choices available!

[@makeanddrink]

I only excluded it because before when I did this experiment it was my least favorite.

[@maitaioneon]

@@makeanddrink we are all so different! I quite like that Ten to One :)

[@vakyslik8496]

@@makeanddrink Cool video. How would you find the 3 Stars nowadays? It has pretty good ratings. What did put you off particularly? Thanks for answer. Btw in Germany, we don't get Hamilton at all, can't find it.

[@seantidy1071]

Great video. I too prefer my rums to bring something to the flavor of a daq and recently did a white rum side by side but also included the new Hamilton Breezeway blend (lovely in a daq but not really the same category), El Dorado 3 and my favorite the WIRD produced Bajan "Stades Beach Vat No. 1". Its a bit more expensive at $25 and a Total Wine exclusive, but has lots of tropical notes, and hint of brine. It really does taste like it aged yards from the beach.

[@makeanddrink]

The Stade's is one I am looking to try in the future

[@markavery2991]

Great video, great channel! White Stache is my favorite daq! You mentioned powdered bar sugar… is that just regular powdered sugar? Couldn’t find “bar” on Amazon. Want to give it a try your way…. Thanks!!!!

[@markavery2991]

I’m an idiot. Saw you answer this in a different comment. Didn’t think a ninja blender could blend sugar to powder but turned out great. Keep up the great content!

[@roundup1253]

I only have 5 rums in my home bar and still figuring out what rum makes the best XYZ cocktail. I don’t want to expand it too much. So my question. Would you say a good rum for Daiquiri is also. good rum for mojito? Or do I have to put more attention to it?

[@e2strom]

I think both traditionally call for a spanish-style white rum, but you could make either with all kinds of rums and I'm sure they would still turn out great.

[@MartinDoudoroffLLC]

Historically, both the Daiquiri and Mojito (and Presidente and any other Cuban drink calling for light rum) would have been made with Bacardi Carta Blanca or its imitators. Since 1959 or so, we’ve had to improvise.

[@sdcorrey]

I follow both of your channels individually but hope the ‘team up’ episodes become a regular thing!

[@jacobmoux5235]

Would be interested in seeing Selvarey reviewed. I think it's such a great white rum that gives off such a nice hint of almost key lime pie. My go to for daquiris and mojitos

[@makeanddrink]

I've never had it. These videos can get challenging to do if they require multiple bottle pick ups that end up costing more than the video would ever make. But if/when my bar selection expand it would be fun to revist with some new additions.

[@jacobmoux5235]

@@makeanddrink would definitely recommend it. From what I've seen online It's very similar InStyle to Havana Club 3. I thought I was a little gimmicky being that it was either backed up or sponsored by Bruno mars, but definitely surprised at how good it was

[@scotty_tiki-ohana]

Great video! Have you tried the Hamilton Breezeway Blend in a Daq yet? It's really nice.

[@makeanddrink]

I have yet to have it

[@stephenbeck8079]

You could try Chairman’s Reserve White and also Banks 5 island blend makes a superb daq also

[@makeanddrink]

We can't get Chairman’s Reserve White but Banks will be making an appearance soon.

[@stephenbeck8079]

@@makeanddrink Does that mean you can’t access any of the Chairman’s Rums from St Lucia 😢

[@makeanddrink]

We just don't get the white. I think that's all of the US not not 100 sure.

[@wadesblades8316]

Wish i could find the white stache or any Denizen rums locally. I do like Flor de Cana but that being said it's still only $13 in my area.

[@erickhines4121]

Probitas, anyone? Hampden and Foursquare unite and brought us the best white/light rum u can buy. Cheers 🍻

[@makeanddrink]

Sure. But for the purposes of this experiment it doesn't fit. It is a different type of rum. If only someone was willing to look into that and possibly taste other rums similar to Probitas. Maybe they could even clearly state that is what they were going to do (at least 3 times). That would be nice. This video was all about "clean" rums.

[@ChickenNoodle26]

I guess I would have enjoyed hearing why you don't like 3 stars, having not purchased it yet I would have liked to hear your thoughts on it, mainly since I've enjoyed other plantation rums. Thanks for this longer form video, love the concept of trying out rums for a particular cocktail as I can't (justify) make(ing) as many daiquiris at home in a sitting, but it's what I try to do over weeks.

[@makeanddrink]

It's as simple as in a blind taste test of many, many rums it was my least favorite. Nothing else against it other than the taste, but something I'll continue to try in the future.

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

YES LADS. 🎉🎉🎉 Absolutely love this. But the FOMO is getting waaay too much now. Watching this though, I reckon our palates aren’t too dissimilar, so I’d love to see you with Chairmans Reserve while and a Cuban Rum, Ron Cubay/Legendario. Light, but fruity. Banging Daq Rums. 2025…we should try to do a in person thing… get Lance, Kevin and Bryan in. Blind Tastings. Would be soooooo much fun.

[@makeanddrink]

I would also love to see me with Chairman's White, but we don't have it. And obviously no Cuban rums since that's BREAKING THE LAW. "BANGING DAQ RUMS" is the title and I'll start working on the thumbnail. You round up the posse.

[@robmichaels4728]

Cannot wait for this. StB, PLEASE make this happen!

[@Rynopb]

gotta throw don q, bacardi, chairman, plantation white, and some other popular rums in the mix too!

[@makeanddrink]

Been there done that (except for Chairmans white since we can't get that). Don Q was fine but the Bacardi and 3 Stars were not to my liking. 3 Stars ended up as one of my least favorites. That might just be personal, or more people should try this experiment themselves.

[@DB-uv1st]

Try El Dorado 3yr. if you haven't yet, it's my #1 for the Daiquiri. (Love the Don Q too!)

[@therumrevival]

Damn, I do sound like Frank Oz.

[@Xune666]

Any opinions on Veritas rum? Recently saw a bottle in the store and label looked quite interesting - partially Jamaican, nice ABV, but still young, white rum.

[@makeanddrink]

It's called Probitas in the states. It's great and will be in the next video.

[@Xune666]

@@makeanddrink Thanks a top for the reply! Didn't realize Veritas = Probitas

[@briansiriwardena2169]

I’d love to see you do your take on cocktails like the 151 Swizzle. Big, bold, high abv, all the things….

[@makeanddrink]

Someday soon

[@movies_are_life]

For daiquiris, do you recommend fresh lime or a super juice lime? Any thoughts of when to use a lime substitute such as super juice or acid adjusted in a cocktail?

[@makeanddrink]

Fresh always. Life is too short. But truthfully you should just use what you think tastes best. If I LOVED grapefruit, I'd be making acidic adjusted grapefruit Daiquiris all the time. But lucky for me I like lime best.

[@markavery2991]

I’ve side by side had fresh vs super in daiquiris. White stache actually. Fresh just tastes so much more clean and crisp. I use my super juice for other cocktails tho, mai tais and it’s great.

[@makeanddrink]

@@markavery2991 I don't have anything against the principle of Super Juice, but I mainly re-create cocktails and lime super juice is not the same as lime juice. They're just different ingredients (better or worse)

[@movies_are_life]

@@markavery2991 I’m working on adding sugar to super juice to equal the amount of sugar in limes. I’m thinking that will improve super juice so that it isn’t so brightly tart. Maybe add a little salt to round out the taste.

[@Blondi115935]

I prefer Plantation 3 Stars, but somehow only with a half ounce of semi-rich simple. If I'm using your recipe with the bar sugar, I'll use a different rum.

[@damian2779]

What about Havana 3?

[@makeanddrink]

We don’t have access to it.

[@DanielDod]

I only wish the White Stache was in a store near me. I've put in a request to stores that take them, and I do see the Overproof 151 on the shelves, but it is looking like there will be a five road trip in my future. 😄

[@pan_alkoholowy]

Can you please share what is that blinking oldschool lamp you have there in the background? 😊❤

[@makeanddrink]

There's cheap amazon lanterns that glow, a broken pineapple lamp, and then a Lite Brite with a Mai Tai on it.

[@pan_alkoholowy]

The one im talking about is the lantern on top left part of the screen. I love the way it emitates real fire. Can you please let me know its name? Maybe amazon link it would be great! 🎉

[@JayOcchiogrosso]

what is powdered bar sugar? any improvement over simple sugar?

[@MartinDoudoroffLLC]

“powdered bar sugar” is just superfine sugar. Dissolves quicker.

[@makeanddrink]

I take white sugar and put it in a blender. That way there are no additives like store-bought powdered sugar (corn starch usually). While it dissolves easier, you have to re-formulate things if you use regular granulated sugar normally as it's is denser. You can also make powdered cane, turbinado, and even demerara sugar.

[@JayOcchiogrosso]

​@makeanddrink thanks. Any reason to not use simple syrup? Worried about dilution?

[@pking1970]

Has anyone tried Chairman's Reserve White rum? Can't find it in southern California.

[@backin80s]

Have not tasted other ones, but in a mojito I find flor de cana a bit lacking depth. Then again my favourite rums are Plantations original dark, and appleton estate, just love that slight funnkynes

[@none_remaining]

The most curious shift with Denizen to me is the new omission of specifically calling out Jamaica as the source of the not-Trinidad portion. Most of the rest of the info is very similar to what the back label “3 years” copy implied.

[@makeanddrink]

Yeah it's odd. The questions is was the old one actually 3 of not? Common sense would say that a 3 statement is better than "up to 5." And if the old one was inccorect then what else was it also incorrect about? Still love the way it tastes so I will continue to buy it and continue to call it out for that tiny ass misleading print.

[@none_remaining]

@@makeanddrink so the old one is arguably more misleading! Back label reads “The rums used include rum from Trinidad aged for a minimum of three years in small American oak barrels to impart a rich and refined flavor. A small component of fresh unaged Trinidadian rum has been combined with trace amounts of Jamaican pot still rum…” Like you I don’t have a gripe with the final product (or the process). Just notable that they state there’s specifically *unaged* Trinidadian and yet also NAS Jamaican included.

[@billbrydon3725]

Denizen Less Than or Equal to Five

[@bhorv67]

Dang, and I do have a bottle of the 'not so good' Plantation 3 year.

[@Default78334]

Bacardi somewhat recently released their "Facundo" line that is trying to play for the super-premium category. That said, I have trouble seeing the point in spending ~$50 for a Cuban-style column-still white rum when there are so many excellent options available cheaper.

[@makeanddrink]

Fool me once shame on me...

[@jjdawg9918]

Nice test! Don't laugh but the smoothest most neutral white rum I have had is Captain Morgans White(possibly adulterated with sugar to smooth it?) or my other goto Don-Q. Bacardi is one of the harshest rums I have ever had...it must be the marketing that makes it popular. ALL Hamilton rums are excellent and purpose built, I only wish they came in 1.75 L bottles and a lower price/liter ;-)

[@makeanddrink]

Arminder and I were just talking about that Cpt and wondering if it was spiced or not, which I'm sure it's not. Never had it but I'm open to trying it.

[@jjdawg9918]

@@makeanddrink definitely not spiced thank goodness. Nothing like the syrupy, artificial mess that their spice rum is.

[@benykristo]

Just made a side by side comparison of Probitas vs Breezeway Blend in Daiquiris, they are close to me and really delicious ! I previously compared Havana club 3 vs Plantation 3* and both are underwhelming, almost bitter to my taste.

[@makeanddrink]

Yes that "bitter" note to me aligns with harshness. Some bitter notes are fun, like something similar to grapfruit. But some of these light rums just have a harsh bitter aftertaste.

[@viktortheslickster5824]

Flor De Cana 4 makes an exceptional daiquiri but the ratios need to be right. It benefits from being rum forward - I like 10:3:2

[@makeanddrink]

It's the best pure spanish heritage style rum that is clean, crisp and dare I say "smooth."

[@viktortheslickster5824]

@@makeanddrink Agreed. Santa Teresa Claro is supposed to be even better though I haven't tried it yet. Also in the Spanish style, Ron Cubay Carta Blanca is rated very highly but you guys in the states won't be able to buy it.

[@toecutter2999]

therumrevival sounds like Frank Oz and that is not a bad thing.

[@hubrisonics9517]

I despise vodka too.

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

There goes KC, slagging off videos again… 😇😂😘

[@johnnyCheeseburger]

I'm so jealous of you in areas with cheaper booze. Don Q here in Upstate NY is around $18 most places.

[@makeanddrink]

Welcome to sunny California where the booze is cheaper!

[@JasonBunting]

I know what I'm drinking tonight...

[@makeanddrink]

Vodka cran?

[@JasonBunting]

@@makeanddrink 😂

[@singincowboy]

Wow! First comment! Also, I think of multi-island blends as a separate category from "Light Rums"

[@makeanddrink]

It's such a hard thing to try to categorize any rum, especially "light" or "white." But currently I look at 4 categories "light," "flavorful" "Jamaican overproof" and "sugar cane juice." Not saying this is correct, just how I view it. And none of these rums fit in those other categories.

[@singincowboy]

​@@makeanddrink that's fair, I tend to categorize a little more, light, light flavorful(multi island and clear), aged, aged Jamaican, dark navy(black, mostly Demerara, think Pussers, Lemon Hart, Gosling's, Denizen Vatted Dark), Dark Jamaican (Plantation Original Dark, Coruba, Pot Still Black, Myers) Funky Jamaican, and Cane Juice(I'm also a huge Barbancourt fan)

[@jasonkeeney2410]

Probitas 4 life

[@MartinDoudoroffLLC]

So, about that Bacardi: yeah, it’s crap. The short of it is that no rum has existed on the market that either tastes or performs like pre-Revolution Bacardi since, well, 1959. Current product is a caricature. Even in the 1950s, Bacardi and the Cuban also-rans had been slipping since the 1920s or so-rum collectors like Stephen Remsberg have confirmed this directly. A lot of the slippage was market forces (rise of vodka) and success/greed (Bacardi was already being made in Puerto Rico and Cuba, Coca-cola-style, with brand trumping product). Unless you have vintage product (which I do) you simply cannot taste a Daiquiri as it once was, with the extra caveat that vintage spirits are not as reliable as one might wish. Are we missing out? Yes. BIG TIME. But, until someone goes back to fermenting, distilling, aging and filtering the old Cuban-style way, we will continue to miss out. We may be waiting a long time.

[@makeanddrink]

So what is the characteristic that we're missing? Is it something that can even be summed up or just one of those "you have to taste it" experiences?

[@MartinDoudoroffLLC]

@@makeanddrink At its best, Cuban rum was remarkably deep and complex compared to what we’re accustomed to with light rums, today. The aromatics, particularly. The rum spent significantly more time in wood, too. 43º, not burny. (Note: I’ve found the aromatics in vintage Bacardi to be disappointingly volatile-they seem dissipate drastically once the bottle has been open a few months.) The best metaphor for the characteristics I can think of is EQ in sound and music where the sound is molded by raising and lowering different frequency ranges relative to each other: cuban rum just had a very distinct profile from other rums as a result of the combination of choices that went into how it was produced. Hope that helps?

[@makeanddrink]

It's super helpful. And I like that it's not an easy comparison. Too often we just assume or look for the easiest example, but when it comes to many of these rums it's hard to easily articulate the difference by region or island. Sometimes the unique characteristics they posses are truly unique to that place or style.

[@MartinDoudoroffLLC]

@@makeanddrink This is a bit trite, but if you sip some of that new “limited edition” Bacardi and then imagine what it might taste like if it was filled out into great rum, you might be in the ballpark. Bacardi kept cutting more corners, streamlining and speeding up the process to get where they are now.

[@JasonBunting]

3 stars gets no stars? TIL

[@makeanddrink]

I’ve done the work. Didn’t make the cut.

[@TheMooseOnTheLeft]

A few years ago my girlfriend and I would sometimes make two daquiris to drink head to head and judge them. Plantation 3 star was just one of the most underwhelming. I think it's good for showing off other more flavorful ingredients, but does nothing on its own. I don't keep a bottle of it.

[@makeanddrink]

I used to say I loved it. Even 1 year ago. But it's processes like this where you learn what you prefer and don't. Anything on it's own can taste great, especially with a hype machine built around it. But when you go head to head in a somewhat blind scenario you really pick things apart.

[@sergisamongas]

The only plantation rum I keep now is OFTD. Goes well in Pina colada.

[@JasonBunting]

@@sergisamongas before we go into full-on Plantation hate, the Pineapple Rum is good in certain things.

[@ultimatemaitai]

It really isn't that good.

[@makeanddrink]

You're comment lacks context but I know exactly what you are talking about 😆

[@ultimatemaitai]

@@makeanddrink it is right in your video easy to see