Probably the question I get asked the most! Use code EASYTIKI20 for 20% off anything at Surfside Sips bit.ly/3VDzehS Use code ANDREW20 for 20% off any BG Reynolds Syrup bit.ly/3BpcD0X Use code EasyTiki10 for 10% off anything at Cocktail Garnish Company bit.ly/3QEMD6d
One of the big problems is availability. I have settled on 4-5. I can't get anything Hamilton. But I use Plantation , Appleton, Goslings 151 or Plantation OFT. I have an Eldorado 3 I like to use in Mai tais . My drink of choice is the zombie and jet pilot. The cocktail you want to make most often really determines what you want to chase down.
@@rperry70 absolutely! Even with just access to Plantation (Planteray) will be 95% there. The only thing you’d need to pick up after that would be an aged Demerara rum. Looks like you can get El Dorado, so the 8 year would work great for that. Planteray Xaymaca Planteray 3-Star Planteray Original Dark Planteray OFTD El Dorado 8 year There you go.
excellent lineup and category breakdown.....aged demerara often overlooked as a distinct category, but very necessary for specific tiki/caribbean cocktails, and an overproof is essential for the heavy-hitters... wanna get fancy add a french agricole rum but really five types is all you need to start out.
I recently came across this channel and I like it a lot. Although I like this video I think you took a lot for granted and went too fast. I don't see a 200 series on this one to see if more was given later but let me say this as help if you really want to help new tiki drink makers. If you went to a tiki bar or saw a video or however you got into tiki drinks and you bought a book or two and looked at recipes you would see many rums as ingredients. Off the top of my head...light rum, gold rum, dark rum, over proofed rum, demerara rum, Puerto Rican rum, Barbados rum, Martinique rum, 151 rum, Jamaican rum. Even as obvious a Puerto Rican rum may seem...there are many variations. also you say OFTD and other things that may not be as clear. To REALLY help a beginner I would look at popular recopies by Don and Vic and Berry for sure and if only addressing the rum, explain the meanings a bit more. I mean when are dark rum and black rum interchangeable or are they? I guarantee if you made that video it would help a lot of people. I post this perhaps over winded comment not to criticize but because I feel it is needed and I than you not only could do it, but do it very well and would help many navigate the rum isle with more confidence and enthusiasm than ever before.
In the past year, I've made some really amazing Tiki cocktails, and I have a lot of these, but a 101 is still relevant to me. I like to see what other people are using and just copy from them. I have too many bottles of things I just don't love and I'm not brave enough to randomly make a purchase at the store. Seeing these labels will remind me that they are "safe". I think my 2023 goal is to use a lot of bottles I don't love, just to get rid of them. I was just at the store and was going to try Bacardi 8, but totally forgot... Was looking at the OFTD too and decided I'll do it another time... I purcahed Lemon Hart 151 and I don't know if I want so many over proofs open as I might not go through them as fast... I did get a new bottle of Smith & Cross though! Love that stuff and that's a high turnover bottle along with plantation dark/white for me.
@@MixingUpTiki I figured as much, thanks! I guess what I'm curious about is how you know what type of rum to reach for an any given night? I'm sure a lot of good recipes call for certain types, but if it just says "rum" or maybe light or dark rum, what do you reach for and why? I'm not sure if this is too complex of a topic for a comment, or if it is maybe a video idea?!? Keep up the good work, I just got into rum and tiki and found your channel and it's been so great!
There are lot of great options. I have settled on three for now. Plantation 3 Stars for light rum cocktails. For dark rum cocktails, I usually do a 50/50 mix of Appleton Estate 12 and Pusser's Gunpowder Proof which gives a lot of complexity without bitterness. Xaymaca and Smith & Cross are too bitter for my tastes but I understand why some may like them.
The Only Demerara Rum I can find near me was Hamilton 151. I have never seen El Dorado and only found Hamilton 86 once. My go to is typically Pussers since it's readily available and a blend of 5 rums including Demerara Rum, the flavor is very close and fine to use if it's all you can find. The guy at the Liquor store told me a lot of Rum is allocated, not once have I ever seen Havana Club either. Great Video! I came to about the same conclusion narrowing it down to 5 using minimalist Tiki as a guide.
Yea Pusser’s is a good readily available substitute. Though Iv never heard of rum being allocated, maybe a few specific bottlings, wonder if it’s your area of the world.
@@gabrielstewart223 that’s not 100% accurate. A proofed down 151 at home will not taste exactly the same as a professional proofed rum. Alcohol and water actually create a violent reaction. If you tried to proof down a 151 fast enough it would actually produce heat. With that said, it would still be damn close.
I started my Tiki Bar finding a drink I really like (a zombie in my case) and buying Hamilton rums. His blends like the Zombie blend and Navy Grog Blend are a great start for beginners even has the recipes for the drinks on the back of the bottles.
@@MixingUpTiki That's the hardest part particularly in my state where liquor is regulated by the state. If you live in California where they don't care you can have it shipped to your door.
@ Ron Santiago is a column still Puerto Rican style rum while El Dorado is an aged Demerara rum. Using the term “dark rum” isn’t a very good descriptor as rums can vary so much in taste even though they appear dark.
I'm thinking off buying my dad 2 bottles off rums for Christmas and cheapy around 25 and another for around £50 i live in UK he usually buys a bottle at Christmas time off dark rum i bought him havana 7 last year and he liked it and he mostly buys cheap ones when he gets his beucase off money so I'm gonna get him sommet nice for Christmas el dorado 12 is one I had in my presentation on it looks nice and something for mixing with coke alomg the lines off captain morgans and lambs I'm thinking skipper dark rum i know it's personal preference really innit u get good and bad reviews on anything as everyone taste is different I just try do a little research before I buy tho as some info is better than none
That all depends on which ones you’re asking about specifically. But in general, Liqueurs contain a lot of sugar. Like 180g per liter or more. Liqueurs are also typically lower proof, most are around 25% abv.
I think you could simplify even further, to a Jamaican, lightly aged puerto rican and a dark rum. I haven't found many tiki drinks that I can't make with just Appleton 8, Havana Club/Bacardi 8 and a Goslings or Hamilton dark rum. There are probably better rums you could buy in those categories but I live in Canada and I can't get things like O.F.T.D
It’s def possible to simplify it a bit a more but I think calling it just a “dark” rum isn’t very helpful and needs to be defined a bit more. Now if you said; Aged Jamaican Moderately aged Aged Demerara I think I could get behind that.
Check, check and check..I have all of these except for the tiki lovers white and the El Dorado 5! And most of these are my fav's! I concur my friend! 🙌🏻
I ran out of Hamilton 86. (It tends to disappear rapidly. Evaporation?) I'm tending to prefer rums of Barbados. I've been there. Never been to jamaica. Ol Brigand's Black Label is a good dark Bajan rum [86 PF]. The whites are: Rhum Barbancourt* [ 86Pf Haitian agricole], J Wray & Nephew O/P White* [63ABV], Havana Club [80Pf], and Cane Run [80Pf]* All my *whites are about 3 or 4 fingers left. A Cruzan Blakstrap was too much a burnt molasses. It will be the last to go. Long gone was Lamb's Navy rum. My British contact retired from the airlines and could no longer bring it in Duty Free. On his last run, maybe 10 years ago, he brought Cap'n Morgan, who had usurped Lambs' Spot in the Heathrow kiosks. No thanks. Lambs was smoother and deeper than Pusser's, but same concept.
Maybe I misunderstood. But you did bring up some of the better all around rums in those categories especially for the prices. Only thing I would change is the Plantation rums, the rest are great quality even daily sippers.
@@jayz2751 while I know a lot of people don’t agree with Plantation, they are a widely available and affordable entry into each category. And again these are the 5 types of rum I think you need when it comes to tiki cocktails, not necessarily for sipping neat.
@@MrPerivolas that’s not entirely true. It’s a blend of aged Jamaican rum between 1-3 years in Jamaica in ex-bourbon casks. It’s then aged for an additional 1 in France in ex-Ferrand casks. So it’s lightly aged.
could i get away with using the rums from ONE brand,(say, Plantation) to mix all my tiki cocktails,? Looking at starting out in Tiki, but finding the vast range too confusing, plus Alcohol is NOT cheap here in OZ,
Yup! There’s four bottles from Plantation you would need: Xaymaca (aged Jamaican) Barbados 5 yr (moderately aged) 3-Star (lightly aged) OFTD (overproof heavy rum) Plantation doesn’t have an aged Demerara rum, but you could sub in the OFTD for any recipe that calls for it.
I have also streamlined my Vic's style MaiTai: 1 oz Lime 1/2 oz Orgeat 1/2 oz Grand Marnier 1 oz Dark Rum [usually Bajan] 1 oz Light Rum [usuallt Puerto Rican] 8 ox smashed ice.
I would disagree. There are a lot of classic tiki cocktails that call for an overproof heavy rum. Zombie Jet Pilot Cobras fang Just to name the first three off the top of my head.
@@MixingUpTiki Yes, there are tiki recipes that call for ovenproof rum, but that doesn't mean that you can't substitute an 80 proof rum so that your guests don't get hammered.
Probably the question I get asked the most!
Use code EASYTIKI20 for 20% off anything at Surfside Sips
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Use code ANDREW20 for 20% off any BG Reynolds Syrup
bit.ly/3BpcD0X
Use code EasyTiki10 for 10% off anything at Cocktail Garnish Company
bit.ly/3QEMD6d
As someone just exploring rum and tiki, this was immensely helpful. Looking forward to the 200 level rum suggestions.
So glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful! Thanks for watching.
Nice video. I went down this Rum Rabbit Hole a few months ago and its a fun but dizzying experience.
It def can be, which is why I wanted to try and simplify it.
This video was just what i needed to sort out and help understanding the rums. Also, to find suitable replacments. Thumbs up and thanks!
You are most welcome!
Great series! Would love another list of the next 5 to buy on top of these!
It’s in the works
🙌🙌🙌🙌
Good listen👍. Keep up the good work!
Will do. Thanks!
I love the Gilligan’s Island font for the title slide.
Thanks!
Awesome video!
Thanks!
One of the big problems is availability. I have settled on 4-5. I can't get anything Hamilton. But I use Plantation , Appleton, Goslings 151 or Plantation OFT. I have an Eldorado 3 I like to use in Mai tais . My drink of choice is the zombie and jet pilot. The cocktail you want to make most often really determines what you want to chase down.
@@rperry70 absolutely! Even with just access to Plantation (Planteray) will be 95% there. The only thing you’d need to pick up after that would be an aged Demerara rum. Looks like you can get El Dorado, so the 8 year would work great for that.
Planteray Xaymaca
Planteray 3-Star
Planteray Original Dark
Planteray OFTD
El Dorado 8 year
There you go.
excellent lineup and category breakdown.....aged demerara often overlooked as a distinct category, but very necessary for specific tiki/caribbean cocktails, and an overproof is essential for the heavy-hitters... wanna get fancy add a french agricole rum but really five types is all you need to start out.
Exactly. Thanks for watching.
I recently came across this channel and I like it a lot. Although I like this video I think you took a lot for granted and went too fast. I don't see a 200 series on this one to see if more was given later but let me say this as help if you really want to help new tiki drink makers. If you went to a tiki bar or saw a video or however you got into tiki drinks and you bought a book or two and looked at recipes you would see many rums as ingredients. Off the top of my head...light rum, gold rum, dark rum, over proofed rum, demerara rum, Puerto Rican rum, Barbados rum, Martinique rum, 151 rum, Jamaican rum. Even as obvious a Puerto Rican rum may seem...there are many variations. also you say OFTD and other things that may not be as clear. To REALLY help a beginner I would look at popular recopies by Don and Vic and Berry for sure and if only addressing the rum, explain the meanings a bit more. I mean when are dark rum and black rum interchangeable or are they? I guarantee if you made that video it would help a lot of people. I post this perhaps over winded comment not to criticize but because I feel it is needed and I than you not only could do it, but do it very well and would help many navigate the rum isle with more confidence and enthusiasm than ever before.
Thanks for the feedback. And the support.
Awesome suggestions and info Andy. Well done mate!
Thanks mate. Cheers.
In the past year, I've made some really amazing Tiki cocktails, and I have a lot of these, but a 101 is still relevant to me. I like to see what other people are using and just copy from them. I have too many bottles of things I just don't love and I'm not brave enough to randomly make a purchase at the store. Seeing these labels will remind me that they are "safe". I think my 2023 goal is to use a lot of bottles I don't love, just to get rid of them. I was just at the store and was going to try Bacardi 8, but totally forgot... Was looking at the OFTD too and decided I'll do it another time... I purcahed Lemon Hart 151 and I don't know if I want so many over proofs open as I might not go through them as fast... I did get a new bottle of Smith & Cross though! Love that stuff and that's a high turnover bottle along with plantation dark/white for me.
I go through more bottles of Smith & Cross than anything lol
Great video, I would love an explanation of when to use each. Which category is for sipping for example?
You can sip any of them. Though this video is meant more for mixing cocktail, tiki cocktails specifically.
@@MixingUpTiki I figured as much, thanks!
I guess what I'm curious about is how you know what type of rum to reach for an any given night? I'm sure a lot of good recipes call for certain types, but if it just says "rum" or maybe light or dark rum, what do you reach for and why? I'm not sure if this is too complex of a topic for a comment, or if it is maybe a video idea?!?
Keep up the good work, I just got into rum and tiki and found your channel and it's been so great!
@@Colincardsfan thanks! Yea it’s def a lot longer than I care to type right now, to be honest.
But I’ll def put it on my list of videos to shoot.
There are lot of great options. I have settled on three for now. Plantation 3 Stars for light rum cocktails. For dark rum cocktails, I usually do a 50/50 mix of Appleton Estate 12 and Pusser's Gunpowder Proof which gives a lot of complexity without bitterness. Xaymaca and Smith & Cross are too bitter for my tastes but I understand why some may like them.
Looks good to me!
The Only Demerara Rum I can find near me was Hamilton 151. I have never seen El Dorado and only found Hamilton 86 once. My go to is typically Pussers since it's readily available and a blend of 5 rums including Demerara Rum, the flavor is very close and fine to use if it's all you can find. The guy at the Liquor store told me a lot of Rum is allocated, not once have I ever seen Havana Club either. Great Video! I came to about the same conclusion narrowing it down to 5 using minimalist Tiki as a guide.
Yea Pusser’s is a good readily available substitute.
Though Iv never heard of rum being allocated, maybe a few specific bottlings, wonder if it’s your area of the world.
Just dilute the Hamilton 151 and you’ve got yourself Hamilton 86. Same juice.
@@gabrielstewart223 that’s not 100% accurate. A proofed down 151 at home will not taste exactly the same as a professional proofed rum. Alcohol and water actually create a violent reaction. If you tried to proof down a 151 fast enough it would actually produce heat.
With that said, it would still be damn close.
Probitas is 🔥🔥
100% agreed!
Great list.
Thanks!
A demerara rum for people - Skipper, likely a lot cheaper too - great video
I can’t get skipper around here but Iv heard it’s decent.
I started my Tiki Bar finding a drink I really like (a zombie in my case) and buying Hamilton rums. His blends like the Zombie blend and Navy Grog Blend are a great start for beginners even has the recipes for the drinks on the back of the bottles.
Definitely some great advice, if you can find the specific bottles.
@@MixingUpTiki That's the hardest part particularly in my state where liquor is regulated by the state. If you live in California where they don't care you can have it shipped to your door.
Great video 🎉
Thanks!
El dorado 12 year old vs ron santiago 11 what's your choice
El Dorado 12, without question. They are 2 completely different rums that fit 2 very different categories though, so keep that in mind.
@MixingUpTiki is it a kinda dark rum I'm thioff buying it as a present for Christmas for my dad alosmwanna get a cheaper around £25 mark
@ Ron Santiago is a column still Puerto Rican style rum while El Dorado is an aged Demerara rum.
Using the term “dark rum” isn’t a very good descriptor as rums can vary so much in taste even though they appear dark.
I'm thinking off buying my dad 2 bottles off rums for Christmas and cheapy around 25 and another for around £50 i live in UK he usually buys a bottle at Christmas time off dark rum i bought him havana 7 last year and he liked it and he mostly buys cheap ones when he gets his beucase off money so I'm gonna get him sommet nice for Christmas el dorado 12 is one I had in my presentation on it looks nice and something for mixing with coke alomg the lines off captain morgans and lambs I'm thinking skipper dark rum i know it's personal preference really innit u get good and bad reviews on anything as everyone taste is different I just try do a little research before I buy tho as some info is better than none
@ You can’t go wrong with the El Dorado 12. It’s one of the first rums that got me into sipping rum.
uh... I'm excited about this one!
Sit you’re not excited for everyone? Lol
@@MixingUpTiki maybe :D
What is your opinion about Australia's Bunderberg rum?
I haven’t been able to try it. Can’t find a ton of info on it either. Looks like it would fit into the moderately aged rum category though.
what is the difference between a liquor and a liqueur?
That all depends on which ones you’re asking about specifically.
But in general, Liqueurs contain a lot of sugar. Like 180g per liter or more. Liqueurs are also typically lower proof, most are around 25% abv.
I think you could simplify even further, to a Jamaican, lightly aged puerto rican and a dark rum. I haven't found many tiki drinks that I can't make with just Appleton 8, Havana Club/Bacardi 8 and a Goslings or Hamilton dark rum. There are probably better rums you could buy in those categories but I live in Canada and I can't get things like O.F.T.D
It’s def possible to simplify it a bit a more but I think calling it just a “dark” rum isn’t very helpful and needs to be defined a bit more.
Now if you said;
Aged Jamaican
Moderately aged
Aged Demerara
I think I could get behind that.
Check, check and check..I have all of these except for the tiki lovers white and the El Dorado 5! And most of these are my fav's! I concur my friend! 🙌🏻
I’m not saying you need each, just one from each category will do, at least to start lol
I ran out of Hamilton 86. (It tends to disappear rapidly. Evaporation?) I'm tending to prefer rums of Barbados. I've been there. Never been to jamaica.
Ol Brigand's Black Label is a good dark Bajan rum [86 PF].
The whites are: Rhum Barbancourt* [ 86Pf Haitian agricole], J Wray & Nephew O/P White* [63ABV], Havana Club [80Pf], and Cane Run [80Pf]* All my *whites are about 3 or 4 fingers left. A Cruzan Blakstrap was too much a burnt molasses. It will be the last to go. Long gone was Lamb's Navy rum. My British contact retired from the airlines and could no longer bring it in Duty Free. On his last run, maybe 10 years ago, he brought Cap'n Morgan, who had usurped Lambs' Spot in the Heathrow kiosks. No thanks. Lambs was smoother and deeper than Pusser's, but same concept.
Hamilton 86 is great. But I don’t think it disappearing has anything to do with evaporation lol
@@MixingUpTiki That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Highly volatile stuff.
We’ll explain train of thought to pick some rums.
Thanks so much!
No Hamilton or Smith&Cross in Europe:/
Ugh that’s sad 😔
There are plenty of other great Jamaican rums out there. Happy to help if you name a few.
That would be great, Thank you:) We have Plantation, Appleton and Myerse's. But I heard none of them is similar to Hamilton.
We also don't have Liber&Co syrups here so if you can recommend good orgeat and grenadine please. Thank you!
@@juxbuxmadafaka Plantation Xaymaca is a good one. Myers works well for a dark Jamaican rum if you can’t get Coruba.
@@juxbuxmadafaka I highly recommend just making your own.
Overproof rum is actually closer to 60%+ not 50. In the 50% range would be cask strength rums.
Correct overproof is technically anything 57%abv or higher. Did I say something otherwise in the video?
Maybe I misunderstood. But you did bring up some of the better all around rums in those categories especially for the prices. Only thing I would change is the Plantation rums, the rest are great quality even daily sippers.
@@jayz2751 while I know a lot of people don’t agree with Plantation, they are a widely available and affordable entry into each category. And again these are the 5 types of rum I think you need when it comes to tiki cocktails, not necessarily for sipping neat.
@@MixingUpTiki plantation xaymaca is a very good value for money Jamaican mixing room. It’s just unaged…
@@MrPerivolas that’s not entirely true. It’s a blend of aged Jamaican rum between 1-3 years in Jamaica in ex-bourbon casks. It’s then aged for an additional 1 in France in ex-Ferrand casks.
So it’s lightly aged.
could i get away with using the rums from ONE brand,(say, Plantation) to mix all my tiki cocktails,? Looking at starting out in Tiki, but finding the vast range too confusing, plus Alcohol is NOT cheap here in OZ,
Yup!
There’s four bottles from Plantation you would need:
Xaymaca (aged Jamaican)
Barbados 5 yr (moderately aged)
3-Star (lightly aged)
OFTD (overproof heavy rum)
Plantation doesn’t have an aged Demerara rum, but you could sub in the OFTD for any recipe that calls for it.
@@MixingUpTiki thanks mate. Makes my life easier.cheers
@@Helliconia54 cheers 🥂
I have also streamlined my Vic's style MaiTai:
1 oz Lime
1/2 oz Orgeat
1/2 oz Grand Marnier
1 oz Dark Rum [usually Bajan]
1 oz Light Rum [usuallt Puerto Rican]
8 ox smashed ice.
Nice! No Jamaican rum though?
4 out of 5 aren’t imported here 😢
That’s just the cover photo. I give plenty of examples for each category in the video
There is no reason to have an overproof rum in a beginner bar.
I would disagree. There are a lot of classic tiki cocktails that call for an overproof heavy rum.
Zombie
Jet Pilot
Cobras fang
Just to name the first three off the top of my head.
@@MixingUpTiki Yes, there are tiki recipes that call for ovenproof rum, but that doesn't mean that you can't substitute an 80 proof rum so that your guests don't get hammered.
@@jimklemens5018 who said anything about having guests? Lol
@@jimklemens5018why wouldn’t folk want to end up hammered?
Is this beginner video ? 😂
@@batfinksdad you don’t think this is a beginner video?