Help with Rum

[El Pinguino]

Departing from Panama? Ron Abuelo.
You could have issues in FP if you don't beclare but you are good for at least 3 bottles per head arriving in NZ.

[kiwinz1]

We're starting our trip and Trinidad and Tobago, So will get some there, as for going across the Pacific it was my understanding a yacht in transit, the alcohol on board came under the terms of ships stores. When we arrived in Martinique they asked how many bottles of wine we had on-board, which we had several cases from Europe, we said it's part of our ships stores, they were happy with that. I'm looking forward to getting a variety of the types we can't get in New Zealand.

[Dave852]

Pick up some $5 bottles to trade for pearls in some of the smaller Tuamotu islands.


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by kiwinz1

We're starting our trip and Trinidad and Tobago, So will get some there, as for going across the Pacific it was my understanding a yacht in transit, the alcohol on board came under the terms of ships stores. When we arrived in Martinique they asked how many bottles of wine we had on-board, which we had several cases from Europe, we said it's part of our ships stores, they were happy with that. I'm looking forward to getting a variety of the types we can't get in New Zealand.

In Trinidad, try (at long least):

Mezan-, 19 years old, (this one is cream)
Plantation-, Overproof (this one is 73 proof, step lightly)
Kraken-, (this one is fun, and a good gift)

Angostura - some is fine, some is crap. I did not try their expensive highly distilled whites. But highly distilled whites are not a good buy other than for immediate consumption in a mixer.

Let me know when you are in Martinique, I can send you some tips for their rhums too.

---

Wine imported from one EU country to another EU country is one thing. Rum in large quantities moved between countries that belong to different worlds is another matter. You being a Kiwi if they mistake you for an Aussie in Papeete, with your hold full of Trinidad rum ... ;-)

You have been warned. I am a great rhum lover and know one guy whose boat got impounded in Japan for exactly said reasons. It is OK to have it, but you must report it. Beyond some amount, the customs may require various methods of making sure that what you have onboard will remain onboard.

Otherwise I could cruise 'for free' ;-)

Cheers,
b.

[JerseyJoe]

Cockspur Barbados! You won't be disappointed.

[Sea Life]

Depends on what you like and how you drink it. After covering Central America, I can tell you there is not much spiced rum over here. Mi thought the abuelo to he a bit weak and sweet.

Anyway, Ithink its been covered before, but install a rum tank. Label it solvent....thats not a lie! We have several liquor tanks onboard, no one ever looks twice at them, only the actual bottle we refill.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Island Time O25

A friend who has a Euro passport tells me about visiting Cuba as cruiser in the early-mid 90s when they would re-fill empty bottles you'd bring to the rum distillery at the equivalent of about 50c per liter. Later on he says the prices jumped to about $1.50-2.00 and lately, since the past 10-15 years, these re-fills are gone and the prices are on par with DR or other similar places in the neighborhood. One more place becomes the victim of globalization.

You can still get it super cheap if you work the black market on the cuban peso against the tourist peso.

[Dave_S]

Dam, I thought from the title you wanted help drinking it.

[Mirror16]

In the interest of saving valuable storage space on a sailing boat, I suggest 151-proof rum (75.5% alcohol by volume) - more than twice most.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by chris mac

I'll second the club Havana. One of my favourites.
...

Third. Good rum at a good price.

Other fine options:

Flor de Caña (Nicaragua. A range of ages available)

Ron Zacapa (Guatemala. Full line of rums, topped by Zacapa Centenario and its variations...a true sipping rum, spendy of course, but OMG good. The 12 year is a very good mixing grade rum thats a lot less expensive).

Pampero Aniversario (Venezuela. Another excellent sipping grade rum).

...

Not a fan of a Ron Abuelo (Panama) nor One Barrel (Belize).

[Island Time O25]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

You can still get it super cheap if you work the black market on the cuban peso against the tourist peso.

Yeah, that's what my buddy was telling me too. But the 50c deals WERE using the local peso. He would go into the boonies away form the main drag and says the prices there were same as for the locals, more or less.

Also he says a big difference between early 90s and now is that back then he would give away little presents like t-shirts, baseball caps, pens, BIC lighters etc and was given all kinds of preferences and privileges from port bureaucrats to cab drivers. Now he says everyone just wants (and expects) hard cash.

[RaymondR]

Originally Posted by Mirror16

In the interest of saving valuable storage space on a sailing boat, I suggest 151-proof rum (75.5% alcohol by volume) - more than twice most.

Just go out and buy a big container of medical alcohol and a jar of molasses and mix your own.

[kiwinz1]

I like the idea of a rum tank, but we are also looking for variety as well, so that will not work. We when we get to French Polynesia we will declare what we have onboard. Medical alcohol and a jar of molasses, I am not far gone yet:face palm:

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by kiwinz1

... Medical alcohol and a jar of molasses, I am not far gone yet:face palm:

I think thats how Belizean One Barrel rum is made these days...yuk. Decades ago it was much better.

[Sea Dreaming]

What's the best dark rum?