You've never had a rum or a Mai tai like this

[@WhoKnowsNose]

Oh baby, I'm all over this one! The Holmes Cay Grand Arome has become one of my favorites, and have been using a tsp to a quarter ounce in a Mai Tai, but this recipe is on another level. Definitely putting this together tonight! 👍💯

[@kevinlowe9561]

Fantastic episode!

[@arcanum3000]

I bought a bottle of this several months ago. When I tried it neat, the dominant nose and flavors were magic marker (LOTS of magic marker) and orange creamsicle. I liked the creamsicle, not so much the magic marker, and unfortunately adding water mostly diluted the creamsicle. I decided to do a side-by-side test of two Three Dots and a Dash, one made with Clement VSOP and one with the Holmes Cay. The idea was that Three Dots may have originally been made with molasses Martinique rum rather than agricole, and I honestly didn't love it when I previously made it with the VSOP. The magic marker note still came through in the cocktail, but I still preferred the Holmes Cay version to the Clement. The sweeter citrusy notes seemed to mesh better with the other ingredients than the grassier notes from the Clement. More recently I tried a Mai Tai with half Holmes Cay and half Blackwell and it came out pretty well. I swear the magic marker note wasn't as strong as it was when I first opened the bottle. I'm considering doing something extremely silly like buying some oak spirals normally used for aging wine and/or some spirit caramel to see what can be done with/to the Holmes Cay, but it's a rather expensive bottle to be messing around with that way.

[@carsonhc305]

This one's your best video yet. Wish there was a triple thumbs-up I could click on.

[@LeviathanPits]

Sounds vaguely similar to Clairin Le Rocher - which is one of the wildest Haitian Agricoles I've ever had. It's smokey, bacony, oily, fruity and yogurty all at the same time. I would put it down as an absolute must try for any advanced rum drinker. The insane mouthfeel is what really separates it from nearly any spirit I've ever had, 11/10.

[@vincethewhat1362]

As someone who has had both I’d say it’s rather different I think the grand arome is much more barbecue sauce and smoke than the industrial vegitalness of la rocher.

[@steve_matin]

I was thinking Clairin as well as soon as I clicked on this video. The Vaval comes to mind - is also very resiny and rubbery.

[@TheMooseOnTheLeft]

​@@steve_matin was going to say the same thing. It's in the same vein as Clarin Vaval. Incredible stuff

[@tommymatheson7519]

I sought out a bottle of this Holmes Cay Arome for this exact purpose. Agreed, no way ole trader vic was using a rum like this in the OG mai tai.

[@tommymatheson7519]

I much prefer a Mai Tai with a mix of aged Jamaican and agricole.

[@tommymatheson7519]

Very interesting recipe in this video though

[@RobBalazs]

Such a fun rum to cocktail! I’ll definitely make this

[@blakeanderson1214]

I drink scotch, and bandaids is spot on

[@MarkusJevring]

Love the subtle poly-grip opening of the bottle of orgeat there in the background =)

[@robertoboertje353]

I have a closed bottle of Savanna Lontan 57 still. Need on make a Mai Tai with it soon.

[@odiec5567]

Rum Fire was the first high ester rum that had that "industrial" sort of flavor to it for me. Off-putting at first, but then it became that something unique that I couldn't find elsewhere. Great video as always! As my friends describe it, it's like a hot pile of tires in the middle of carribbean banana plantation.

[@SandstormGT]

That just doesn't sound appetizing, lol.

[@makeanddrink]

It’s a definitely a different funk than Jamaican and not fruity. Just band aide.

[@ultimatemaitai]

I normally love big bold rums like this, but I found this unpalatable when I tried it neat.

[@makeanddrink]

BUT it was an experience you'll never forget.

[@ultimatemaitai]

Wow, what a bold Mai Tai. Congrats Vince.

[@erickhines4121]

Check out, Wright & Brown Distillery in Oakland. They produce an over proof rum that's made from molasses sourced from the state of Louisiana. Ur vids top notch btw 🙌

[@makeanddrink]

Thank you!

[@LeBlancKnives]

Very interesting.... I have the Holmes Cay No.2 Reunion Island and its wild as well. Very briney like you're drinking a jar of olive brine. Wonder if if could be subbed in the No. 3 place. Guess only one way to find out! Thanks again for the great and entertaining content!

[@TheMooseOnTheLeft]

It's quite different. #2 doesn't have any of the sweetness of #3.

[@Kingyubi72]

I thought they were pretty close! Did you end up trying it?

[@LeBlancKnives]

@@Kingyubi72 not yet! Tied up with some other cocktails and slipped my mind 😕

[@MrDrooshKa]

Sounds like the Rum version of Laphroaig with rubber and bandage tasting notes. I'd be interested in trying.

[@snidelywhiplash]

Yeah, the "bandaids" note sounds an awful lot like a peated Scotch. "In it for the punishment" couldn't be a better description. Now I have to get a bottle of this stuff. 😂

[@lovecraft_cocktails]

Just picked this up from a tasting

[@tyoshea12]

does anyone know where Derek gets his shirts??

[@makeanddrink]

Nothing fancy or vintage. This one is Bonobos but several years old by now.

[@brentdnowicki]

Mezcals seem to also take on the same Band-Aid aroma/flavor. I understand the description, as I may have licked a Band-Aid in my younger years. Maybe try a Naked and Famous sub for the Mezcal, and play around with it. Have you tried the Empirical x Doritos spirit?

[@makeanddrink]

Havent tried it and honestly not really looking to either. I like my Doritos crunchy.

[@brentdnowicki]

@@makeanddrink It's interesting, they nailed the flavor pretty well. I've only made their Margarita recipe with it so far. I'm looking forward to playing around with it more.

[@Donttrackmebruh]

I use this rum to make the best martini ever. Absolutely must try!

[@EtruskenRaider]

What about aged St Lucia rums in a Mai Tai, there are several that might match that old style Martinique molasses rum.

[@makeanddrink]

They're great. Some of the best one bottle Mai Tais you can make.

[@gregmyren7707]

This Vince guy sounds like he really knows his tiki!

[@vincethewhat1362]

He tries his best

[@none_remaining]

Shout out to the slip joint pliers 🔧

[@makeanddrink]

Craftsman Robogrip. Wish I had more!

[@davidg5308]

Is it like an Islay whiskey? Thx for the insight - will def have to try in a bar first...

[@tommymatheson7519]

Yes, definitely try in a bar. I wish I would have

[@makeanddrink]

IMO it is uniquely it's own thing

[@Robothousesound]

Think Rum Fire would be too much? (It’s the only white Jamaican Overproof I’ve got on hand lol)

[@makeanddrink]

It wouldn't be too much but it will be completely different.

[@Robothousesound]

Oh totally. Just to clarify, I meant as a sub for the Rum-Bar, not the Grand Arome.

[@makeanddrink]

Oh got it. Still probably a little too much funk. The RumBar is definitely milder

[@jcloiseau]

Sounds to me like they just took a creol and a lontan grqnd arome from savanna and just rebottled it to be honest. You should come to paris. Savanna has a distributor, they have a lot of cool stuff like le must, creol straight 68

[@thomaskmfdm]

I adore my bottle of savanna lontan. Wonderful olive note. I enjoy sipping on it neat, but my own favorite Mai Tai is also very similar to this one, using a half ounce.

[@jcloiseau]

Excellence rum actually ships to the usa and just like i thought this holmes key is a rebottling of thei lontan grand arome 57.5 batch 03.21

[@HeyBoz-04]

Dude, you need to do a rum tasting course for Patreon and KZbin sponsors. Seriously...

[@makeanddrink]

That would be fun!