Does It Matter What White Rum You Use If Adding Coke?

Not really – the coke will drown out the rum.

Well that was my original position – but I’d never actually put it to the test – until now!

Having some coke left-over from the festive season – usually there’s none in the house – as well as a trio of white rums meant the stage was set.

Roll out a jigger to ensure equal measures in identical Túath Glasses & topped up to the same level for consistency – let the comparisons begin.

Nosing

There were differences in the aromas of the 3 samples – but they were subtle & hard to discern. If anything JG Kinsey has the clearest coke feel whilst Pearl & 51 were more muted.

Palate

I’d find it hard to pick up any rum influence with JG Kinsey. Pearl was more subtle – the funk almost eluded me. Only on 51 did a smidgen of sugarcane influence peek through the coke.

Overall

On my palate at least – the coke dominates. It obliterates the already mild flavours of JG Kinsey, smothers the funk of Pearl & all but obscures 51’s herbal sugarcane.

Thoughts

In a slight reverse of my previous tasting, Cachaca 51 wins out with coke – as it retains some of the character of it’s raw ingredient sugarcane juice in the mix.

No coke for me!

What rum you use to add coke to does make a difference – but essentially you’re drowning out the original signature rum flavours. As someone who likes to explore those flavours why would I want to drown them in coke?

Sláinte

My blog on Caribbean Pearl here.

My blog on JG Kinsey here.

My blog on Cachaca 51 here.

A White Rum Comparison

As is my want I like to compare similar category drinks on a back-to-back tasting.

This teases out my favourite flavours & styles.

After enjoying Sainsbury’s Caribbean Pearl I dug out other white rums available in my spirits stash & found JG Kinsey White Rum from Dunnes & a well known Brazilian brand Cachaca 51 – which use sugarcane juice as the raw ingredient rather than molasses as found in most rums.

JG Kinsey White Rum, 37.5%

Mild nose, softly floral. Easy palate. Soft prickle on the rear with a little heat.

Rather a neutral rum.

Caribbean Pearl White Rum, 37.5%

Soft hints of funk, both on the nose & palate. Prickly finish.

Still enjoying this one!

Brazil’s biggest selling Cachaca c/othewhiskeynut

Cachaca 51, 40%

Vegetal sugarcane aroma. Mild easy palate. Hints of sugarcane on the finish with a touch of unaged heat.

Nice!

Thoughts

JG Kinsey’s mild palate & undistinctive flavour leaves it in last place.

Both Pearl & 51 display a bit of character according to the raw ingredients used & are far more entertaining.

So does funky Jamaica or Brazilian sugarcane float your boat?

Leaning towards Caribbean Pearl myself. There’s a smoother mouthfeel & overall more balanced appeal with the warm funk.

Pearl’s definitely singing for me!

Sláinte

Fubá Cachaca, 40%

‘Hand crafted in small batches‘ it says on the bottle.

Small Batch Brazil c/othewhiskeynut

Clear colourless unaged cachaca from Brazil.

Quite a pronounced sugarcane grassiness on the nose.

Easy & oily mouthfeel.

Slowly warms the palate with a certain juiciness coming through.

Fubá c/othewhiskeynut

Hints of peppery spice on the finish with a tasty tingling sensation rounding off this attractive spirit.

Available in Ireland from the Intrepid Spirits range.

Saúde

Cachaca 51, 40%

Trying to find Cachaça in Ireland is pretty difficult.

The category is very thin on the ground – so I purchased one of the biggest sellers – Cachaça 51.

Brazil’s biggest selling Cachaca c/othewhiskeynut

It’s a clear colourless spirit that should display the raw ingredients used in distillation – sugarcane juice – as it’s unaged.

Bit of grassiness, bit of youthfulness, some of that sweet & sour new make kind of thing going on.

Easy on the palate. Very mild mannered.

51 c/othewhiskeynut

Rather short on the finish – but a touch of welcome warming reminds you this is strong spirit.

What flavours there are seem to be strongest on the nose.

A gentle inoffensive spirit rather devoid of any strong flavours – that would put some people off – making it an ideal base for cocktails.

Especially the Caipirinha – whose recipe features on the back label.

Cocktail culture c/othewhiskeynut

Just enough character to keep it entertaining.

Sláinte

Nega Fulo Carvalho, Cachaca, 38%

Cachaça.

Until recently I wouldn’t have known much about this distilled spirit.

Geographically Protected (GI) to Brazil, made using sugarcane juice and according to some sources – the 3rd biggest selling spirits category in the world.

Being National Cachaça Day on the 13th September – I was keen to explore.

Brazilian Cachaca c/othewhiskeynut

Nêga Fulô Carvalho is made by Fazenda Soledade Ind De Bedibas near Rio.

Pale straw in colour – suggesting some ageing in wooden casks.

Those distinctive fresh grassy notes of sugarcane juice distillation are evident on the nose.

A smooth, sweet & gentle palate displaying freshness & vitality slowly develops a warming heat.

Touches of soft prickly spiciness enliven the finish which slowly fades away with tropical juiciness.

Back story c/othewhiskeynut

A very pleasant & easy introduction into the world of Cachaça – the spirit of Brazil.

Sláinte

Bacoo, 4 Year Old Rum, 40%, Dominican Republic

Aldi are upping their spirits game.

Established brands are now hitting the shelves in addition to Aldi’s own offerings.

Benchmark No 8 c/othewhiskeynut

Benchmark No 8 – a decent high rye bourbon from the Buffalo Trace stable in Kentucky – represents the whiskey category.

Bacoo in a Tuath glass. c/othewhiskeynut

Bacoo 4yo does the honours for rum.

Presented in an attractively embossed bottle – common throughout the range – Bacoo offers  ‘Made with Fresh Cane Juice’  &  ‘Aged in Ex-Bourbon Barrels’  as temptation.

Yummy! c/othewhiskeynut

Fresh & fruity notes greeted me, touches of sugarcane grassiness, slight funk & dollops of demerara too.

Vanillas & caramel dominated the palate over that sweet sugarcane base.

A flourish of welcoming spice wrapped up this smooth – if rather sugar heavy offering.

Bacoo back label c/othewhiskeynut

A fun, easy going rum vying for sweet dessert status.

Sláinte

The World Of Rums, 4 x 40ml Miniature Pack

Miniatures.

Love ’em.

The opportunity to taste and sample a variety of styles & flavours before committing to a large bottle.

Lidl are currently showcasing The World Of Rums – including offerings from;

4 Rums, 4 styles, 4 flavours c/othewhiskeynut

Panama – La Réunion – Cuba and Jamaica.

Rums are often categorised into styles based on their former colonial occupiers. It’s not particularly scientific or pretty – but neither is the use of Scottish Regions to define the flavour of whisky.

Which one suits your palate? c/othewhiskeynut

Being Lidl –  it’s likely to be sourced private label brands too. As confirmed by ‘Imported & bottled by: ‘Pabst & Richarz Vertiebs GmbH‘ on the outer packaging.

But what interested me were the differences of flavours showcased by the individual rums themselves.

Sir Francis Drake 6yo c/othewhiskeynut

Panama. Sir Francis Drake. 6 Years Old. 40%

Spanish style. Light, buttery & sweet.

Pale straw. Vanilla sweetness followed by darker molasses & treacle notes. Soft & sweet palate – a bit too sweet for my liking – but develops a pleasant oaky spice from the cask ageing.

Easy & enjoyable.

Coeur Du Soleil c/othewhiskeynut

La Réunion. Coeur Du Soleil. White Rum. 37.5%

French style. Rich , fruity & complex.

Clear spirit. Pungent vegetal nose – reminds me of Mezcal. Palate was smooth & characterful. The earthy herbaceous notes give a slightly savoury yet sweet appeal that slowly fades.

Very alluring.

Ron Santero 3yo c/othewhiskeynut

Cuba. Ron Santero. 3 Year Old. 38%

Spanish style. Lean & clean.

Clear spirit. Soft subtle & sweet. After the other 2 rums, Santero’s delicateness just merged into a bland neutrality for me. Cries out for mixing.

Characterless.

Caribica c/othewhiskeynut

Jamaica. Caribica. Brown Rum. 40%

British style. Funky, heavy & bold.

Light brown. Noticeable funkiness on the nose – reminds me of burnt rubber. Syrupy palate. The funk is lost a little to a treacly dark sweetness, but re-emerges on the finish.

Is Jamaican funk the Islay peat of the rum world?  Finding it challenging.

Thoughts

An interesting & entertaining taste experience.

I’d have thought there’d be a rum here to please every palate.

La Réunion’s Coeur Du Soleil was the one for me. The powerful mix of sweet, sour & savoury notes demonstrated the full bodied style of ‘Rhum Agricole’ using freshly pressed sugarcane juice bottled straight off the stills.

C’est très bonne.

What is your style?

Santé

A brief guide to styles of rum can be found at the handy Tenzing blog here.