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Some depressing rum rumors |
Austin_Tiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: May 31, 2008
Posts: 49
From: I'll give you three chances to guess
|  Posted: 2008-08-13 08:41 am Permalink
While visiting my local liquor superstore this past weekend, I stumbled upon some depressing information. This particular liquor chain has a website which allows you to search the stock of its flagship store in Houston, and a pre-shopping search had revealed that the Houston store stocks El Dorado 151 as well as several variants of Old New Orleans Louisiana rum. Acting on the logic that the giant warehouse-sized outpost here in Austin would have roughly the same stock as the home store in Houston, I ventured out to pick up some goods. However, after a thorough perusal of the rum stock, I came up empty. There was no El Dorado 151 and no Old New Orleans. What the hell?
So I sought out my friendly liquor purveyor and queried him on this shocking state of affairs. The news I received is of the cliched "good news/bad news" variety. First, the bad news. Lemon Hart does not export its 151 to the US, and El Dorado has apparently ceased either producing or exporting its 151-proof rum. F. How in the hell am I supposed to make a (pseudo-)genuine Zombie without 151-proof Demerara? And, this is not some temporary problem, but one that apparently will persist indefinitely. Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?
Anyway, can anyone either confirm or disconfirm this depressing rumor?
The good news I received is this: Old New Orleans rum is now distributed outside of Louisiana. They have it in Houston. Unfortunately, owing to the brilliance of the Texas liquor regulations, its distribution in Central Texas has not been approved. Those smarmy Gulf Coast elites are probably sipping a glass of ONO right now, taking great pleasure in their role as the rum haves and the knowledge that Central Texans are rum have-nots. Lousy Houston. But, never fear! I'm told that Old New Orleans is on its way, charging headlong towards Austin like the cavalry of old western films. Yee-friggin'-haw.
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rev_thumper
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 10, 2007
Posts: 309
From: Koala Kabana, New England
| Posted: 2008-08-13 7:00 pm Permalink
I can tell you this much.... Lemon Hart 80 is plentiful in Massachusetts but we cannot find any 151 lately.
-Rev
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Hurricane Hayward
Grand Member (4 years) 
Joined: Jun 07, 2008
Posts: 389
From: 16 miles from The Mai-Kai
| Posted: 2008-08-14 12:40 am Permalink
I would give these folks a call. I've ordered from them and they were very helpful over the phone:
http://www.hitimewine.net/istar.asp?a=3&dept=01&class=06&subclass=08&sortby=&numperpage=30
FYI, I've had no problem getting Lemon Hart 151 in South Florida, but the store I frequent has been stocked up for some time.
Please let us know if you find any truth to these rumors so I can run down there and clear the shelf.
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Rum Balls
Grand Member (7 years) 
Joined: Oct 04, 2004
Posts: 828
From: Portland, OR
| Posted: 2008-08-14 06:52 am Permalink
See this thread for Lemon Hart availability: http://www.tikiroom.com/tikicentral/bb/viewtopic.php?topic=28102&forum=10&start=30&33. Sounds like it's a regional thing...as I wrote in my recent post, LH 80 easily found in Oregon, LH 151 easily found in Washington.
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DJ HawaiianShirt
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 04, 2006
Posts: 148
From: NoVA, DC
| Posted: 2008-08-14 08:04 am Permalink
I saw Lemon Hart 151 in a store a few months ago. Does that mean it was perhaps in one of the final shipments? I returned and couldn't find any... 
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bewarethe151
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Feb 26, 2008
Posts: 93
From: Los Angeles, CA
| Posted: 2008-08-14 7:11 pm Permalink
Lemon Heart 151 is imported into the US, for sure. In fact, it has become a big seller and has grown in sales for the past 3 years.
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dogbytes
Grand Member (8 years) 
Joined: Mar 24, 2002
Posts: 2240
From: seattle, wa
| Posted: 2008-08-14 8:26 pm Permalink
the 151 lemon hart is readily available in Washington state.
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KuKu
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: May 07, 2008
Posts: 436
From: Santa Cruz, CA. norcal
| Posted: 2008-08-14 10:28 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-08-14 19:11, bewarethe151 wrote:
Lemon Heart 151 is imported into the US, for sure. In fact, it has become a big seller and has grown in sales for the past 3 years.
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I just bought a bottle here in Santa Cruz last weekend...
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One day, there will be a cure for tiki,
That's the day I'll throw my rum away...
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Rum Balls
Grand Member (7 years)
Joined: Oct 04, 2004
Posts: 828
From: Portland, OR
| Posted: 2008-08-15 06:33 am Permalink
Now Oregon has LH 151 available...at least at the Hawthorne liquor store in SE Portland. Saw a whole bunch of bottles there yesterday at $24 each (w/ no sales tax). Didn't see any "regular" LH though.
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jacflash
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Apr 21, 2008
Posts: 11
From: Concord, MA
| Posted: 2008-08-15 10:04 am Permalink
MA... I was in a liquor store in Central Sq in Cambridge that had LH 151 a couple of days ago. The Wine and Cheese Cask in Somerville stocks both varieties and had 'em both in stock last I checked, a few weeks ago. Also try the Wine Cellars of Silene in Waltham near Winter/Wyman.
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hiwattowner
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Apr 06, 2008
Posts: 20
From: Near Boston, MA
| Posted: 2008-08-15 12:42 pm Permalink
Which store in Cambridge had it recently? Unfortunately Wine Cellars in Waltham now out of stock on the Lemon Hart 151 (still the lower proof at Gordon's in Waltham and Martignetti's on Soldiers Field Road).
Thanks
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martiki
Official Mixologist
Joined: Mar 29, 2002
Posts: 3056
From: http://www.smugglerscovesf.com
| Posted: 2008-08-17 10:07 pm Permalink
Lemon Hart 151 is most definitely still imported to the US. We pour close to 4 cases a month. They sponsored my event at Tiki Oasis.
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BrickHorn
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 03, 2005
Posts: 178
From: Texas
| Posted: 2008-08-18 08:16 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-08-17 22:07, martiki wrote:
Lemon Hart 151 is most definitely still imported to the US. We pour close to 4 cases a month. They sponsored my event at Tiki Oasis.
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Whew! This thread had me worried. Thanks for the info, Martin.
[ This Message was edited by: BrickHorn 2008-08-18 08:17 ]
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tikibars
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 11, 2002
Posts: 2014
From: Aku Hall, Chicago
| Posted: 2008-08-18 10:22 am Permalink
I just scanned a bunch of threads here on TC and on some other boards, and it seems that no one has compiled a clear and definitive list of what states DO carry Lemon Hart.
Seems like CA and parts of New England are the only people who get it reliably.
Anyone know if it is easily available in Indiana or Michigan?
I'm driving to Ohio next week (not available there or in Illinois), and will pull over to grab some...
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Austin_Tiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: May 31, 2008
Posts: 49
From: I'll give you three chances to guess
| Posted: 2008-08-18 11:20 am Permalink
tikibars - we have Lemon Hart 80-proof Demerara here in Texas. I have not been able to locate any of the 151-proof.
martiki - I'm glad to hear 151 is still imported into the U.S. I guess the next step is to see if there's a liquor store around that can put a case or two on order for me. By the way, have you tried any of the Old New Orleans rums? I'd like to get an educated opinion on how well they work in the old recipes that call for Louisiana rum.
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