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first time Cuban rum , oh the joy. |
bigtikidude
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 10, 2004
Posts: 8262
From: Anaheim,Ca.
|  Posted: 2008-06-11 10:57 am Permalink
So I was in Toronto last weekend,
and I made it a point to get some Cuban rum before I left.
So I went to the Government run Booze store.
and found Havana Club Rum,
there was an amber and a dark( 7 year aged)
so I got the later.
at 36 bucks I coudn't afford both.
The friend I was hanging out with was gonna make Thai food that night, and needed to go to the market area to get fresh ingredients for the food.
so I went along and got Fresh Limes, Mint, and found Demerara brown sugar.
I'm not positive what it is, but I heard it was Brown sugar mixed with molasses.
and I know that there is a Demerara rum, so it couldnt be all bad.
The guy didn't really have any mixers and I wasn't ina super mixer state of mind. so I just basically did a grog.
I mixed
1 teaspoon of the Brown sugar,
with 3 ounces of the Cuban rum,
1 once of water,
and 1/2 once or so of the Limes juice.
mixed it all together with Mint, a muller would have been nice.
man what a drink.
the few that tried it, were quite im pressed.
as was I.
now how to get that Rum here in the US or find something similar in taste.
Jeff(bigtikidude)
[ This Message was edited by: bigtikidude 2008-06-11 10:58 ]
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bigtikidude
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 10, 2004
Posts: 8262
From: Anaheim,Ca.
| Posted: 2008-06-11 11:00 am Permalink
oh and I was worried that I wouldn't drink it all, or be able to get it back, needless to say that we polished it off no prob that night.
and I was able to bring home the empty bottle.
Jeff(bigtikidude)
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arriano
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 13, 2006
Posts: 1123
From: Birdland - San Diego
| Posted: 2008-06-11 1:45 pm Permalink
Some friends and I decided to have some real Cuba Libres the other night. Not only did we use Havana Club, but we got our hands on some Coca-Cola from Mexico made with cane sugar. Add in a squeezed wedge of lime and man, now I know why this is a popular drink. Rum and cane sugar Coke mix perfectly.
Damn our corn sugar Coke! It's not "The Real Thing"!
_________________
"I am Lono!" -- Hale Ka'a Tiki Lounge
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Brenda's Tiki Hut
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 342
From: Sacramento
| Posted: 2008-06-11 2:02 pm Permalink
My first Cuban rum experience was in London at the Mahiki. God bless that bartender. He GAVE us tastings of 4 Cuban rums side-by-side. Yum-o. Think Obama or McCain will lift the embargo?
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bigtikidude
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 10, 2004
Posts: 8262
From: Anaheim,Ca.
| Posted: 2008-06-11 8:45 pm Permalink
I hope somebody lifts the embargo,
its stupid as hell.
especially now that Castro's brother is in charge.
Jeff(bigtikidude)
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arriano
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 13, 2006
Posts: 1123
From: Birdland - San Diego
| Posted: 2008-06-12 08:43 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-06-11 20:45, bigtikidude wrote:
I hope somebody lifts the embargo,
its stupid as hell.
especially now that Castro's brother is in charge.
Jeff(bigtikidude)
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Oh, don't get me started. We happily trade with China and Vietnam -- two Communist countries that we actually fought wars against -- but still not a little island a few miles off our coast. Stupid, silly, ridiculous.
Headin' down to Mexico next week. Wish me luck at the border check.
_________________
"I am Lono!" -- Hale Ka'a Tiki Lounge
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The Gnomon
Grand Member (5 years) 
Joined: May 01, 2007
Posts: 1276
From: MD-DC-VA
| Posted: 2008-06-13 09:05 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-06-12 08:43, arriano wrote:
Oh, don't get me started. We happily trade with China and Vietnam -- two Communist countries that we actually fought wars against -- but still not a little island a few miles off our coast. Stupid, silly, ridiculous.
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Plus, the whole while Cuba has been our Landlord. We've been continuously leasing the Guantánamo Bay property since the 1890's to house our oldest overseas naval base. I wonder if we're considered good Tenants. 
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bewarethe151
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Feb 26, 2008
Posts: 93
From: Los Angeles, CA
| Posted: 2008-06-13 8:13 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-06-11 20:45, bigtikidude wrote:
I hope somebody lifts the embargo,
its stupid as hell.
especially now that Castro's brother is in charge.
Jeff(bigtikidude)
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First, law needs to be rewritten to even begin the process of recinding the embargo. The actual law which allows the embargo to be enforced states that "...anyone named Castro..." can be in leadership of Cuba. The strong South Florida Cuban population which has staunchly supported the embargo is aging and being replaced by younger people which are more ambivalent about all things Castro. But, it will take a lot longer before any change comes about.
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tiki-riviera
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 11, 2003
Posts: 658
From: Long Beach
| Posted: 2008-06-14 09:48 am Permalink
Each time I visit Vancouver BC, I'm astonished when I return home and
find several "stowaways" of Cuban origin hiding in my suitcase. Has never
been a problem and the drinks are fantastic!
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bigtikidude
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 10, 2004
Posts: 8262
From: Anaheim,Ca.
| Posted: 2008-06-14 11:34 pm Permalink
can you bring bottles of Rum from Cuba, from Canada or Mexico here?
if so how many bottles?
somebody told me he thought it was 2 per person,
I dont know if that sounds right to me.
Jeff(bigtikidude)
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Camano Mermaid
Member
Joined: Oct 30, 2007
Posts: 10 | Posted: 2008-06-15 09:16 am Permalink
It is illegal to bring anything back from Cuba to this country, but I have. Before 9/11 and the little plastic bag issue it was a lot easier. Most people enter Cuba by way of Mexico, Canada, or a Caribbean country. I went on a day trip from Jamaica. Flew in a very old rickety Russian Yak (prop plane). Very scary, but the minute we took off the rum cart came down the aisle. Big glass bottles of Havana Club. Unlimited for the short flight. Then they took us already half tipsy to the distillery that used to be owned by the Bacardi family (now Havana Club). Lots more free tastings. Bought a couple of bottles, and some good Cuban cigars. Remember vaguely sending myself a post card from Santiago de Cuba that said "Been here, done rum". It took 2 months to arrive to my home in LA. I mixed the rum with my Jamaican booze purchases and breezed through customs in Miami. Not so easy now with all the rules, red tape, and Xray machines. One time my husband and I smuggled 12 bottles back vs the 4 we would have been allowed.
Depending on where you live it's still possible to get across border from either Canada (easier) or Mexico, but you never know if border crossing guards will decide to search. We look like old foggies now so we get away with it.
Just got back from a trip to Puerto Vallarta last week. Lots of Cuban rum there, and we got 4 liters at the airport that were put in a sealed bag. When we landed at LAX we had to transfer to our checked luggage after customs. Fortunately we had lots of towels and dirt laundry and all 4 bottles made it safely back to our home in WA state.
All I can say is good luck and don't get caught. The price is high. Jail time possibly, especially if they find out you actually went to Cuba. Another great reason to get rid of BUSH and all the stupid Republicans who want to keep us out of Cuba.
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bewarethe151
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Feb 26, 2008
Posts: 93
From: Los Angeles, CA
| Posted: 2008-06-15 10:47 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-06-14 23:34, bigtikidude wrote:
can you bring bottles of Rum from Cuba, from Canada or Mexico here?
if so how many bottles?
somebody told me he thought it was 2 per person,
I dont know if that sounds right to me.
Jeff(bigtikidude)
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No, it is not legal to bring Cuban rum or cigars into the US. Every citizen can bring back 1 liter of booze, duty free, but that does not allow for banned spirits. Yes, is it possible to sneak in some rum. But, you cannot declare it. Say, if one is driving back across the border from Mexico and you have 2 or 3 bottles of Havana Club. The Customs/border agent will ask if you have anything to declare, alcohol or cigarettes. Say, "no". They usually don't search. If you are caught, there is no jail time or fine. They detain you for a half hour and take the contraband. From then on, though, when you present your passport to come back to the country, you WILL be checked every time. If you are caught with cases of booze which suggest that you are acting for profit or commercial enterprise,then, fines and jail time.
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10562
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2008-06-15 10:59 am Permalink
Sigh. I just finished off a bottle of 7 year old Havana Club, here in Germany you can get it at any market. Though truly, Cuban rum is best enjoyed in its proper habitat: 
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bigtikidude
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 10, 2004
Posts: 8262
From: Anaheim,Ca.
| Posted: 2008-06-16 12:56 am Permalink
Sven you lucky bastard, you make me jealous.
all the more reason for me to go back to Toronto for next years great lakes surf battle.
Jeff(bigtikidude)
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bigtikidude
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 10, 2004
Posts: 8262
From: Anaheim,Ca.
| Posted: 2008-06-16 12:57 am Permalink
oh and thanks to everybody for their stories and tales of rum hijacking.
Jeff(bigtikidude)
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