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Cruzan 2 year old light rum becomes 14 month |
bewarethe151
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Feb 26, 2008
Posts: 93
From: Los Angeles, CA
|  Posted: 2008-06-05 11:32 am Permalink
Cruzan 2 year old light rum is now a 14 month old rum. The change in taste is noticable, too. There are still a lot of the old batches with the "2" displayed proudly on the bottle still in stores, so stock up.
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jingleheimerschmidt
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 20, 2007
Posts: 328
From: santa rosa, calif.
| Posted: 2008-06-05 11:41 am Permalink
So the 14 month old is no good???
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bamboo stu
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 18, 2007
Posts: 126
From: Oakland, CA
| Posted: 2008-06-05 12:02 pm Permalink
So, I have to wait 10 months to drink it?
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Haole'akamai
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 07, 2005
Posts: 2269
From: The Polynesian Port of NOLA
| Posted: 2008-06-05 1:17 pm Permalink
Is it still better than Bacardi?
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arriano
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Joined: Jun 13, 2006
Posts: 1136
From: Birdland - San Diego
| Posted: 2008-06-05 1:57 pm Permalink
That's odd. The Cruzan web site still lists Cruzan 2 year. Are you sure the 14 month is not a separate product?
Is the 5 year now 35 months?
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[ This Message was edited by: arriano 2008-06-05 14:00 ]
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martiki
Official Mixologist
Joined: Mar 29, 2002
Posts: 3056
From: http://www.smugglerscovesf.com
| Posted: 2008-06-05 6:08 pm Permalink
It changed some time ago due to demand. The Cruzan "Dark" is 14 months as well now, as it's the same product with caramel coloring.
"So the 14 month old is no good???"
No, it's fine. A slight decline, but I challenge you to taste the difference once it's in a drink.
"So, I have to wait 10 months to drink it?"
You know that rum doesn't age in glass, right?
"Is it still better than Bacardi?"
oh god yes.
"Are you sure the 14 month is not a separate product?"
Yes. 2 year is gone. Look for the highly misleading new label that says "Aged VIII" as though it's eight years old, and then in the VERY small print says "Eight generations of distillers". Very lame.
"Is the 5 year now 35 months?"
The Five year (Estate Diamond) is apparently going to be discontinued, which is a terrible shame, so definitely stock up on that one.
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bamboo stu
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 18, 2007
Posts: 126
From: Oakland, CA
| Posted: 2008-06-05 7:26 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-06-05 18:08, martiki wrote:
"So, I have to wait 10 months to drink it?"
You know that rum doesn't age in glass, right?
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It sure doesn't, especially once it's poured into my glass. Tee hee!!
Geez, I'm a pain in the a$$.
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bewarethe151
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Feb 26, 2008
Posts: 93
From: Los Angeles, CA
| Posted: 2008-06-05 8:25 pm Permalink
I agree with Martiki if the cocktail is made with 3 or 4 ingredients. But, I'll take that challenge on a Mojito, though. It's not "bad" at all, just less taste. Somewhat diminished in flavor and body which made it so special for a rum in its price range. When my stockpile of 2 year is gone, will I buy the 14 month? Sure! but, I'll miss an old friend. Bacardi ligth rum, to me has no taste.
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Little fragrant Tiare
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 12, 2007
Posts: 183 | Posted: 2008-06-06 06:31 am Permalink
There is a discussion on this at the Ministry Of Rum as well:
http://www.ministryofrum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1587
[ This Message was edited by: Little Fragrant Tiare 2008-06-06 07:52 ]
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martiki
Official Mixologist
Joined: Mar 29, 2002
Posts: 3056
From: http://www.smugglerscovesf.com
| Posted: 2008-06-06 6:52 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-06-05 20:25, bewarethe151 wrote:
I agree with Martiki if the cocktail is made with 3 or 4 ingredients. But, I'll take that challenge on a Mojito, though. It's not "bad" at all, just less taste. Somewhat diminished in flavor and body which made it so special for a rum in its price range. When my stockpile of 2 year is gone, will I buy the 14 month? Sure! but, I'll miss an old friend. Bacardi ligth rum, to me has no taste.
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I don't know how many ingredients your Mojito has, but I did do a side-by-side tonight and the difference is there, but slight to my taste.
Cruzan is a rum distilled to a very high proof and then barrel aged, so what you're starting with is a very light, nearly neutral spirit. The flavor your finding in the rum is almost solely the effect of the wood. After aging, it's charcoal filtered to remove the color from aging. This process also strips some flavor. They then add a slight amount of caramel to give it that pale straw color, so that there's consistency to the products appearance. In fairness, eight months difference in aging is not a small thing in a tropical climate, however the charcoal filtration somewhat mutes that difference.
If you're looking for another good value in a white rum, try the Flor De Cana which also benefits from quite a long time on oak.
Bacardi silver is aged by law for one year, but in stainless steel, which has no effect- hence it's complete worthlessness.
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martiki
Official Mixologist
Joined: Mar 29, 2002
Posts: 3056
From: http://www.smugglerscovesf.com
| Posted: 2008-06-06 6:54 pm Permalink
Oh, also upon closer inspection I am wrong about the dark rum- it is still 2 years.
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Little fragrant Tiare
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 12, 2007
Posts: 183 | Posted: 2008-06-06 7:02 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-06-06 18:52, martiki wrote:
Bacardi silver is aged by law for one year, but in stainless steel, which has no effect- hence it's complete worthlessness.
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Aged in stainless steel?? ah..so that`s why its so tasteless........
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Haole'akamai
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 07, 2005
Posts: 2269
From: The Polynesian Port of NOLA
| Posted: 2008-06-06 10:50 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-06-05 18:08, martiki wrote:
"Is it still better than Bacardi?"
oh god yes.
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my point, exactly.
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GatorRob
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 20, 2004
Posts: 1767
From: 3 hrs 33 mins to paradise
| Posted: 2008-06-07 08:38 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-06-06 18:54, martiki wrote:
Oh, also upon closer inspection I am wrong about the dark rum- it is still 2 years.
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Thanks for that clarification Martin. I was just going to ask you about that because although the dark rum has the new "Aged VIII" label, it still says "aged a minimum of two years".
And I agree that the new label is highly misleading. I held up a bottle to Trish last night and asked her how old she thought the rum was. She said "8 years?"
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bewarethe151
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Feb 26, 2008
Posts: 93
From: Los Angeles, CA
| Posted: 2008-06-07 11:00 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-06-06 18:52, martiki wrote:
Quote:
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On 2008-06-05 20:25, bewarethe151 wrote:
I agree with Martiki if the cocktail is made with 3 or 4 ingredients. But, I'll take that challenge on a Mojito, though. It's not "bad" at all, just less taste. Somewhat diminished in flavor and body which made it so special for a rum in its price range. When my stockpile of 2 year is gone, will I buy the 14 month? Sure! but, I'll miss an old friend. Bacardi ligth rum, to me has no taste.
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I don't know how many ingredients your Mojito has, but I did do a side-by-side tonight and the difference is there, but slight to my taste.
Cruzan is a rum distilled to a very high proof and then barrel aged, so what you're starting with is a very light, nearly neutral spirit. The flavor your finding in the rum is almost solely the effect of the wood. After aging, it's charcoal filtered to remove the color from aging. This process also strips some flavor. They then add a slight amount of caramel to give it that pale straw color, so that there's consistency to the products appearance. In fairness, eight months difference in aging is not a small thing in a tropical climate, however the charcoal filtration somewhat mutes that difference.
If you're looking for another good value in a white rum, try the Flor De Cana which also benefits from quite a long time on oak.
Bacardi silver is aged by law for one year, but in stainless steel, which has no effect- hence it's complete worthlessness.
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Martiki, you are so right about the FDC 4. (You're correct, my mojito has 5 ingredients, but only 1 rum and 1 fruit)It's my Mojito favorite when I want it a little drier. And, it's cheap! Good call. Rhum St. James Blanc which I order 2 cases at a time from Europe is a grand slam. I've had good luck with the Montecristo blanco, too. Around here, it's only $9.00 a bottle. With me, it's not about nitpicking a product just for something to do in between good cocktails. It's more about having lived for a long time and seeing products gradually slip in quality. For Cruzan, it's a matter of increasing volume in a market segment which isn't too picky. I hope that this shift in aging is their last and I will be happy to finish my days with the 14 month as "good buy". For my favorite light rum, it's Havana Club Anejo Blanco. But, I pay $33.00 per 1.14 litre bottle! I always keep a case on hand, but, I am ashamed to admit that it's only my "inner circle" of friends for which I crack those! The general mob gets the Cruzan.
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