Video:What Is Top Shelf Rum?
with BC HoffmanTop shelf rums can take an average mixed drink and make it quality cocktail. Watch this About.com video to learn more about different rum varieties and the rum best brands for stocking your bar.See Transcript
Transcript:What Is Top Shelf Rum?
Hi my name is BC Hoffman, I'm coming to you from Zengo, a Richard Sandoval restaurant from sunny Santa Monica, California. And I'm here today for About.com to distinguish what is a top shelf rum.
Silver Rums
Now the most common one that you probably heard of is Bacardi. Now Bacardi is a lower to mid-range rum, however it’s also a distributor of higher top shelf rums. If you want one that is a little bit above mid-level I would highly suggest one of my personal favorites Flor de Cana. Flor De Cana is amazing. This silver one is actually aged for 4 years.
Gold Rums
Plantation rum. Plantation rums is aged in a number of different islands and barrels. This one being Trinidad. Quite delicious and a deluxe, complex caramel flavor. If you want to really get sexy with it, the Ron Zacapa XO. This one is aged for 6 to 25 years. It's done in bourbon barrels as well as wine barrels, and it's finished in an oak barrel.
Dark Rums
Goslings Black Seal rum. Quite delicious and great in any cocktail. If you've ever had a Mai Tai, I'm sure you've had Meyer’s dark rum. Float it on top of any drink for extra flavor, or even use either of these just because the spice and caramelization tones for flambéing your next dessert.
Spiced Rums
Pyrat XO is actually very subtle for a spiced rum. It’s got hints of apricot as well as vanilla to it. There is still a nice spiciness to it too. The Kraken. Release the Kraken! And pour that into your drink. Amazing flavor, nice hints of spice. Strong, and hitting the source every time.
Flavored Rums
One of the top producers of flavored rums is Bacardi. Bacardi Limon, great for a good mojito. Add it into a Mai Tai. Another big one is Malibu. Malibu is a coconut flavored rum. Quite delicious. I love using this in a coconut mojito.
Now that you just learned everything about how to determine a top shelf rum, you can now school all your friends on it. If you need any more information you can go to cocktails.about.com