Esther Medina @ Total rum

El Dorado

This is the flagship products from Demerara Distilleries. They do offer a couple of older versions, like the 21 year old and a rare 25 year old rum. The El Dorado 15 year old rum is a dark rum.The rum is named after the city of El Dorado. The name is based on an Indian chief who founded the golden city, according to the city's legend. Because of the wealth an traditions of the chief, the name El Dorado has come to mean the best that money can buy.

El Dorado Special Reserve. Demerara has established a reputation over the last 300 years for producing the best rums in the world. Matured for at least 15 years in oak casks, this fine rum of great distinction is specially blended to achieve its exquisitely smooth, award-winning character.

Tasting Notes

Colour: Bright golden amber. A well aged spirit.
Aroma: Sweet, molasses, honey with tobacco and toasted oak.
Palate: Starts extremely smooth with a touch of sweetness. The tobacco is still present. The flavour is deep and rich. Finishes smooth with a bit of spiciness.
Notes: This may very well be the best rum I have tried to date. It is ultra smooth with robust flavours and sweet tobacco like flavour. The flavour profile fits what I look for in a rum. Smooth to start, with some sweetness and a smooth spicy finish. What's not to like?

Old Gold

A Trader Tiki original, this one’s a sweet treat with 12-year Aged Demerara Rum, Ginger, Orange, and a touch of Vanilla Extract and spice.

Mai Tai

Trader Vic’s most famous creation, and easily the most recognized tiki drink in the world. This lightly sweet combination of aged Rum, Lime, Curacao and Orgeat put Trader Vic’s on the map.

Zombie, 1950

The most infamous of all Don the Beachcomber’s creations, any more than two and you’ll be joining the living dead with this combination of tropical juices, passion fruit, and plenty of dark and light rums.

Cocktails and Tiki drinks in http://www.tradertiki.com/ and http://www.tradervics.com/

St. Croix cruzan Rum

Cruzan Rum is a rum producer located in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Their distillery was founded in 1760 and claims the distinction of "the most honored rum distillery in the world." For three generations through various change in corporate ownership the distillery has been managed by the Nelthropp family. V&S was sold to Pernod Ricard of France in 2008 but Pernod Ricard has announced that their plans are that the rum remains a product made in St. Croix under the management of the Nelthropps.
Cruzan Rum manufactures several varieties of rum, namely:
Cruzan Estate Light: aged two years.
Cruzan Estate Dark: aged two years, available in both 80- and 151-proof.
Cruzan Estate Diamond: aged five years.
Cruzan Single Barrel: aged up to 12 years.
The winner of the title "World's Best Rum" at the 2000 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Cruzan Clipper: an overproof amber rum.
Cruzan Tropical Rums
Available in raspberry, coconut, mango, vanilla, pineapple, banana, orange, black cherry, citrus, and guava.
Cruzan Rum Cream: a blend of Cruzan light rum, pure Irish cream, caramel, vanilla and other flavors.
Cruzan Black Strap: a traditional, heavier rum made from the blackstrap molasses of sugar cane, noted for its low content of fusel alcohol.
The distillery is also the largest supplier of American private and distributor label rum.
Cruzan Rum also makes a pure cane distillate alcohol (in 189-proof), which can be found for sale in the medicine sections of many grocery stores in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Cruzan Mango Mojito

1 part Cruzan Mango Rum
4 chunks of fresh mango
A dash of fresh lime juice
A splash of simple syrup
4-6 mint leaves
Club soda
Muddle mint and mango chucks with simple syrup in
a tall glass. Add lime juice, Cruzan Mango Rum and
ice. Stir, and top with club soda. Garnish with a
mint sprig.

"Caribbean Flavours from Barbados"

Malibu Rum has its beginnings at the beautifull island of Barbados. Located in the southeast corner of the west Indies,the distillery overlooks the beach and white sands of black rock.

Barbados is tradicionally regarded as the birth place of rum, where for more than 350 years rum has been produced. Barbados rums are lighter and more delicate with subtle sugar cane and soft butter rum notes. This proved to be the perfect background to blend exotic flavors.

My visit to barbados and the Malibu distillery took place in 2003 when i was bartending onboard cruise ship "Serenade of the Seas" from Royal Caribbean Cruise line. its an amazing island with friendly islanders, the trip starts with ride on malibu's personnal van, decorated with the Malibu colours and logos, once you get to the distillery, thats when fun starts, after seeing how the rum is produced, you end up right at the beach, with rum barbeques, rum exotic cocktails and clear caribbean water,besides all the water sports and fun you can enjoy a fresh coconut water brought and cut from one of the locals. Indeed an amazing island experience not to be missed when travelling to the caribbean. I also recommend a visit to one of the oldest rum distilleries, the "Mount Gay Rum", set just a few miles from Malibu distillery, right on the corner of one of the main roads. Oh and dont forget to bring some samples and island souvenirs like the Malibu lip stick, or tradicionall island music.

Waloe

1 1/4 oz Malibu

3/4 oz Cointreau

2 oz Fresh orange

1/2 oz Simple syrup

4 Fresh mint leaves

1/4 oz Fresh lime

Muddle gently the mint leaves together with the simple syrup, then add the rest of the ingredients, shake well and serve in a frozen pineapple with crushed ice.

For more Malibu recipes visit www.malibu-rum.com