Why I STOPPED Drinking Spiced Rum

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

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[@strikef16falcon58]

After watching this KZbin, I'm left with the question, so what is a good Spiced Rum to try that is made properly? I currently have Captain Morgan Spiced Rum. I'm requesting your advice - maybe Pusser's Spiced Rum? (I just watched: Think you know THE BEST SPICED RUMS in 2021? 🧐 Think Again!)

[@TomTheGardener]

Loving being on the rum journey with you and the rest of the gang. Still love a good spiced rum (I know the difference now) but also appreciating the wider rum world now!

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

Stick with us matie!!!

[@brycefield4569]

Great episode, I started out on spiced rums. Where I live that's all bars and restaurants have. I then got into some Appleton and then started discovering a whole new world. And like you I still appreciate some spiced rums, and I'm not to big of a snob to turn down Captain Morgan in my mixed drink, at least it is still "rum"

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

Exactly the same mate! Don't hate where we come from...but LOVE where we're heading!

[@MrHighRaw]

Spiced rums definitely have their place. I watched that "best rum and coke" video that you uploaded and from that I then tried Black Tears.... And my god, it rocked my world. There is a mile between bloody Kraken and a good spiced rum.

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

Totally agree Sam. I think thats what this journey as really taught me. I've always loved Spiced Rum. But there's a huge gulf between Spiced Rum and GOOD Spiced Rum.

[@CC-TimesTwo]

How interesting...I actually didn't know about spiced rums until several months into getting into rum. I don't even know if I've had spiced rum yet. I went from regular Bacardi to Havana Club to 151 Lemon & Hart. My next purchase will be Denizen's Merchant Reserve or Plantation.

[@pinstripeowl]

This was really interesting to hear. I think it's important to, where you have the choice, really try and responsibly source products by places who have done the work and developed something that tastes good. I think my fave rum is green Island spiced gold (from Mauritius (?)), But it's been a while since I've really sat and enjoyed a good rum drink because they hit my head so much harder (probably because of the sugar!!!) Just found your channel today and looking forward to learning a lot more about rum, as I'm definitely more familiar with gins

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

Great to have you with us my friend. Make sure you join the Discord too 👍👍

[@LutzLungershausen]

Dear Steve, Thank you very much - you absolutely nailed my point of view concerning spiced Rums. 👍

[@GamerToday]

Spiced rum wise its also easy to understand less aging easier to add artificial flavors and using legal terms to mislead customer via website or bottles. Hard to change or mess up a batch if the variables are near non existant. In the mind of alcohol companies product is exactly the same each bottle so customers never feel jaded and its cheaper to make it this way. Easier to make volume and meet market needs in a timely manner. Spiced rum wise never going to happen a shortage like tequila 😅😅😅😅

[@RhubarbAndCod]

Yep, makes perfect sense. The further you go along, the more you just want quality. Nice to hear this Steve.

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

Cheers for watching. Hope you're well over there?

[@jeffmcjeff4541]

Great video sums up my journey exactly! And I try to impart your wisdom onto the people that were me 12 months ago ,🤙

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

Good stuff Jeff! There's a lot of us at the same place now.

[@camnatale-miles2542]

Totally agree, started with Kraken, Mount Gay, went to Bumbu, then tried El Dorado 12 year after watching this channel and haven't looked back. Now on the La Hechicera train. Would love to hear your thoughts on that rum.

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

I’ve had Hechicera on the Back bar for about 2 months now…still unopened!! Might crack it on Sundays live Show.

[@camnatale-miles2542]

@@StevetheBarmanUK ah awesome, looking forward to hearing your thoughts when you do open it

[@TomTheGardener]

Great point about the sweet rums. Complete magic!

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

Cheers Tom! Cheers for the Thumbnail idea too!

[@darrenodwyer8559]

More rants please Stevo 😉😉😂

[@jagpimp7322]

I agree with you Steve.I dont like Spiced or Flavoured Rums. But I DO understand that the majority of people do.

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

Have you joined us in Discord yet?! You’re a member, come on in and meet everyone.

[@jagpimp7322]

@@StevetheBarmanUK Iam not on discord hardly any Steve,thnaks anyway.Love your work,but i will be seeing u in the very near future for your colab,they are making that public on their channel today.Btw iam Fred in Tucson Arizona

[@0529mpb]

Most of the popular spiced rums just add a vanilla flavor to your mixed drinks.

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

I take it you’re not in the UK, cos vanilla only makes up a tiny percentage here! It was vanilla up till about 2015, then all kinds of flavoured Spiced popped up.

[@joseph19012]

A lot of it is accessibility as wray and nephew is the only rum I buy not online other than supermarket own brand white.

[@Chris.BingoRingo]

great Video Steve, I have learnt a lot in a short space of time, I only have two spiced rums in my collection. Lazy Dog and Moon Curser, both found through your videos and discoed. Thanks again

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

I need a new bottle of Mooncurser. It’s a great spiced Rum. Great to have you with us Chris.

[@Chris.BingoRingo]

@@StevetheBarmanUK The Moon Curser is a bit too easy to drink. Would be good at 40% if drinking neat

[@mikedell3144]

Steve, interesting video. I'm helping to support the rum industry by buying and drinking spiced rums (LOL). Help us by educating us which brands and specific rums are "made right" with natural flavorings. Unfortunately some of those rums will be difficult to acquire here in the US, but I do keep looking for some of the rums you mention in your videos. Thanks and keep the reviews/information rolling.

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

Cheers for watching Mike. Not sure how stuff is in the US TBH. I think becasue you have WAY less Spiced Rums, you have a lot higher proper stuff. its really easy here to set up your own brand with no experience. Its more ££££ chasing, than Rum Love though.

[@smashexentertainment676]

Beginner whiskey distilleries can just buy from other distilleries and do some final touches for sale while their own batches are aging. Rum companies can pretty much sell mixer level pure quality rums until enough aged batches are ready. And most brands should have outgrown spiced rums long ago, yet they keep them coming. A lot of low shelf life don't really care about quality, it's all about quantity, coz majority will still grab the cheapest bottle and mix it with whatever anyway. In whiskey community it's a deadly sin to add coloring and chill-filtering, even tho after countless tests it doesn't affect the final product in the slightest. A spiced whiskey automatically falls into liquor category. All comes down to personal preference. I personally am not a fan of spiced rum.

[@dru812002]

So does Two Swallows fit the real flavors category?

[@Quintinohthree]

With all that said about spiced and flavoured rum, I wonder what you think of the emerging category of botanical rum? Spirited Union certainly is quite transparent in how their botanical rums are made, have you tried any from their line?

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

Spirited Union are coming on a Live Show in September and doing a taste-Along with my Membership Community. Thats all cool from me...nothing hidden & open and honest...and really tasty!!

[@johndavis7944]

Happy International Rum Day. Steve Enjoy whatever you choose to celebrate with. I'm going to fire the cannon with a Pussers Gunpowder. Cheers 👍😀🇭🇲

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

Nice, John!!!! Think i'm gonna crack open my Black Tot!

[@geraintlewis8194]

Love the video Steve, with you 100% on this

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

Cheers Big G 🥰🫶

[@eskilr]

What are your thoughts today on Ableforth's Rumbullion? Any changes since your last review?

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

Still like it. It’s great. But as you’ll see from my other channel where I rock out Spiced Rum content…it doesn’t meet my criteria for the channel. That’s all. But taste wise, yeah great.

[@stockicide]

I miss seeing the Captain Morgan bottles on your backbar as a reminder of your humble beginnings, but I can see why you want to focus on the better brands that could use the extra attention. BTW, I know you've pivoted your channel to being rum-centric, but I first found your videos through your brandy overview. Are you still enjoying brandy on occasion?

[@TomTheGardener]

We all started on captain Morgan’s but it’s really a different product to most on that back bar

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

Firstly. Capt Morgs are still here. Not on show. But Mummy Barman is steadily finishing them! Secondly, yeah, only got 3 Brandies here…well 4 if you include Tuaca. Martel XO, Seven Tails XO and Maison Ferrand 10 Generations.

[@bobbates797]

Steve is there any chance of you reviewing Haig club orange? Or maybe giving me your thoughts on it. You’ve been spot on up to now 👍

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

Ummm. No. It’s Whisky. Well a Whisky Flavoured Spirit Drink. Soz. I’m all about the Rum 👍. Ask Ralfy…

[@bobbates797]

@@StevetheBarmanUK Ralphy? Thanks for the reply 👍

[@bobbates797]

Found him 👍

[@westpac6954]

I would like to see rum companies that do not add coloring or flavoring form an association and put a seal on their bottles certifying the product in the bottle is a result of solely the distillation and or aging process.

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

There is a few GI’s around the world. Like Jamaica, French AOC, Barbados are trying to do there’s. But don’t forget, this is Spiced Rum. It’s a whole different thing. It’s not the likes of Foursquare, or Appleton we’re talking about. It’s the 100s that are popping up each month in the UK cos it’s the next easy win now that agin is in decline.

[@alistairmcpherson2228]

In total agreement. Generic rum plus flavouring is a no no for me. Well said Steve

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

Cheers Alistair.

[@scottnewbury2024]

You want a proper spiced, Spiced Rum you need to try LAZYDOG Spiced that is amazing!

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

Totally agree. Great example of quality Rum!

[@DrumsandRums]

Great educational video Steve.

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

Cheers mate! Cheers for watching!

[@jagpimp7322]

Hello Paul

[@miso56]

you wanted to say that spiced rum or sometimes also rum according eu regulation is just overpriced vodka aged up to three years in bad barrels 😀. spiced rum epidemy started with captain morgain - but captain is also cheap as vodka, so for me, it is fine. you have there black tears - i do like it (very lively also for white rum), but it containes 9 g/l of sugar - less than many standards rum 😀. a lot of these 'premade' rums (declared as standard of spiced) come also from mauritius.

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

I don’t think there’s actually any Spiced Spirit Drinks on the UK Market. There’s one brand that may be close, but it does actually say “Rum Based Spirit Drink on the Bottle”. So at least like 95-98% of Spiced Rums are actually Rum. I’m never really doubting that. Also your point on Black Tears. Actually most Rums would measure at roughly 6-7g of Sugar despite no additives being added. That’s just a fact. 6-7g is actually classed by many is 0g grams simply cos of the Rums natural sweetness. So on Black Tears we do pretty much class that as unsweetened… Espesh with Cuban Rum, cos it all depends on the Aguardiente vs Destilado blend. BUT. we do accept Spiced Rums do need a bit of sweetness just to marry the flavours. That’s no different to cooking or adding Salt & Pepper. Adding Nutmeg or Cinnamon to a Rum without sugar, that’s vile. My point wasn’t about that. My point was actually using real Cinnamon and Nutmeg and not just adding a bottle of “cordial” to a Rum to flavour it up.

[@miso56]

@@StevetheBarmanUK not sure, how you want to find out, if somebody is really using real fruit. it is like a pure carrot juice - red coloring extracted from a carrot can be added without noting it due to the reason that it was extracted from a carrot, so it is still a carrot 😀. but let's say it is possible to guess based on the ingredients. maybe you can contact the distillery / rum producer ... really a very difficult tasks. there were rumours that foursquare spiced is authentic, but really no idea how to confirm it ... according to local importer in my region, black tears has a dosage of 9 g/l (maybe it means up to) - it is not written on the bottle, but it is not a secret and it is actually one of main selling point in liquere stores (but no idea, if it is a bestseller. cuban rum have mostly a dosage up to 10 g/l, not a problem at all. sorry for confusion (my mistake) - eu regulation is clear, rum can not be flavoured. so spiced rum is a rum based spirit - but it ok. marketing departments all fully aware of it (this is not juat about spiced rum), at least according to official web pages of brands, but it is wrongly presented in (e)shops. just the price should be right (captain morgan is doing it right all the years). still there is one 'gap' in the regulation - maximal abv of destillate is 96% (vodka is theorerically destilated up to 95%). martinique abv regulation for newmake is 75%. from black tot official web page: Therefore a second distillation is required in order to attain the necessary ABV - typically between 75-90% ABV. i assume that for black tot are sourced better column still rums and have worries about 'spiced/ sweetenes' targeted brands. btw. you are doing a very good job with passion 👍.

[@kalimstanney8437]

I got a bottle of dead man's fingers, it's OK, The. I was told how good kraken rum is, so I got a bottle, it's horrible! Sipping at the moment plantion 20th anniversary and flor de cana 18 year old.

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

Both those last 2 are great Rums. But DMF…the proper original Cornish stuff…used to be great. But it’s changed loads in the last 5 years.

[@GamerToday]

Its just common sense as the average drinker or casual wants something sweeter and more cock tail oriented.

[@Kaijugan]

I showed my dad this video and he thinks your rant was beyond melodramatic...

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

I showed my Mum your comment and she thinks it’s past your Bedtime! 😘

[@Kaijugan]

@@StevetheBarmanUK 21 year Olds don't have bed times. Ass

[@KillDivill]

I mean, what you say is interesting, but I find myself just staring at your rum collection in envy...

[@_-_-_-Prof.BoskoBiathi-_-_-_]

Hey stevie,..awesome statement,...like u much,..btw,.what happens with ya don papa??!!😄🤔😉 I know ya dont like it far,..did u throw it away?? ..😱😆greetings

[@StevetheBarmanUK]

Donna P still on the shelf, top right as you look at screen!

[@_-_-_-Prof.BoskoBiathi-_-_-_]

@@StevetheBarmanUK ahh found it..

[@winksplayle]

I love spiced Rum.

[@ElNeo9778]

WTF

[@LutzLungershausen]

Dear Steve, Thank you very much - you absolutely nailed my point of view concerning spiced Rums. 👍