Averna Cocktail Competition Introduces Diversity of Rum
My curiosity got the better of me the other day after looking up the contestant recipes in the Averna cocktail competition. Two of the creations used three unusual rums; Gosling’s Black Seal Rum, Demerara Rum and Zacapa 23. While I have heard of Goslings Black Seal Rum, I have never had the pleasure of sampling it. The other two rums required a little research to find some information.
While vodka has the reputation of playing well with others, thus making an excellent base mixing liquor, rum sometimes gets the short end of the stick being relegated only to fruity concoctions found in Caribbean cocktails alone. This is not always the case as Don Lee and Damon Dyer demonstrate with the La Cola Nostra and Tuesday’s with Mole. These recipes and others may be found at Averna Cocktail Competition Finalist Recipes: Thinking Outside the Box.
According to the official website, Gosling’s Black Seal Rum “has a rich, intricate flavor, well balanced and nuanced with butterscotch, vanilla and caramel.” The Beverage Tasting Institute said: “Deep, assertive and highly flavoured. Very fragrant with herbal sharpness. At the finish there is a softness and elegance. A most complex, unusual spirit.” The cocktail Gosling’s Black Seal Rum is most commonly known for is the Dark ‘n Stormy. This is a simply made cocktail, yet complex in flavor as it is created with the Gosling’s Black Seal Rum and Ginger Beer. Smoke Signals has two recipes using Black Seal Rum, which you might find interesting: Dark ‘n Stormy and The Midnight Express Cocktail. If you are someone who enjoys an occasional cigar with your cocktail, this is the blog for you. Oh, and there is coffee too, for the morning after.
Demerara Rum is dark rum from Guyana distilled from fermented molasses. It was difficult for me to decipher which Demerara Rum Damon Dyer used in his cocktail, Tuesdays with Mole. What I did find however was fascinating. In researching Demerara I came across Edward Hamilton’s blogsite which is everything about rum. While the latest posting on this site was May 2007, there is still a wealth of information available here.
Zacapa 23 or what I eventually found the nearest thing to: Ron Zacapa Centenario 23-Year-Old. I actually found a fabulous review. Rather than tell you about this rum, I would rather you read it straight from the lips that tasted it. Scott Steeves has a site at http://scottesrum.com. Scott does not profess to be a professional taster, but rather someone who will tell you what he likes, what he does not and why. He endeavors to consider sweetness, complexity, smoothness, flavor, overall quality and value. A pretty good deal considering he is most likely a guy who just enjoys sharing what he likes. Sounds a bit like me. To go directly to his take on Zacapa 23 follow the link: Ron Zacapa Centenario 23-Year-Old.
There are plenty of good rums out there to serve a variety of different purposes. Pick up a bottle and start sampling. If you do not care to purchase an entire bottle, stop in at your favorite cocktail lounge for a sip. The point is, start trying something new. Begin to expand your horizons. How will you know if there is something else out there that excites your taste buds like no other if you don’t sample something new?
