I think Old Brigand’s rummy quintessence is specifically speaking to how much “rummy” centers on English style rums more than Spanish or French. JM’s Terroir Volcanique is a comparitive for me within the French Style, for example, but I wouldn’t say it precisely hits that target for stereotypical “rummy” flavor when considered from outside of the rum category (think rum raisin gelato for example.)
Great point! I never thought of it but there does seem to be a bias (maybe not the right word) towards the English when describe rummy flavors. And yes, rum raisin is definitely in part what I'm thinking of by using the word "rummy".
my fascination with pirates is what introduced me to rum. my palate has since matured from the typical pirate-themed spiced rums, but the old brigand gives me an excuse to always have a quality pirate-esque rum stocked. thank you for the recommendation.
My favorite Rums under $25 (prices vary by location; many of these are under $20 in my area), in no particular order: Ron del Barrilito 2 Star, Gosling’s Gold Seal Rum, The Kraken Gold Spiced Rum, Mount Gay Eclipse, Sailor Jerry Spice Rum, Don Q Gold Rum, Bacardi 4 Year.
Great vid, spotlight on Ol' Brigy! I was sold on this rum when I learned that a Brigand is "A land pirate, a robber, sometimes of a gang from forest or mountains." I love the cheesy label and his stripy hat. And of course, as you point out, its hard to beat this kind of flavor at that price point.
When you say "it tastes like tequila tequila," I think it refers to the distinctive flavor of blue agave in particular. With rum, it could be explained by the raw material (sugar cane), the process, and the barrel aging that gives that unmistakable flavor to "rum," which might seem generic but doesn't imply a bad taste, rather a well-crafted product
Hamilton Zombie rum is probably the best value in rum currently and has the abv behind it and can be found in SoCal for around $35 still. It's by far the best Hamilton collab rum to date and the price has stayed great. R.L. Seale's 10 was the best deal until Total Swine jacked it up to $30. it was $18 to $20 for ages. Stolen Overproof for $18 is another steal that is still readily available in SoCal
That Hamilton Zombie is good! I do want to try it in other cocktails besides the zombie. Agreed on the Stolen, what a crazy deal. I still see bottles floating around in the Bay.
I was wondering if you were convinced by the Rumcast. I remember when they tried a bunch of Barbados rum blind and I was blown away by how well Old Brigand faired.
Heads up. If you live near central NJ and are looking for El Dorado LBI / DHE, Bottle Republic got a case of it in both their Somerset and Franklin Park stores.
"A great way to start the day" 😆 Thanks for the heads-up on this. My go-to for a sippy Barbados rum is Doorly's 12-year, but $40 ain't chump change for me. I will give this a shot and look forward to trying it in a Corn & Oil.
I love Old Brigand for its value and "rummy" taste when I make eggnog by the gallon for friends and family at Christmastime! I literally bought out all the Old Brigand at my local Total Wine locations, last year. 😳
Great video ! It’s because of you on an earlier video you posted, I went out and bought this bottle. Such a hidden Gem 💎 great for mixing and sipping 😊 please do more reviews on hidden gems like this. Thank you 🙏🏻
Old Brigand is great, especially when considering its price point. I've created a few cocktails with it specifically in mind. Sadly, I can't find it at my local places here in San Francisco... they just haven't carried it at the Total Wine stores here for about a year. I'll keep looking!
About a year back I happened across that podcast blind you were talking about and agreed with their findings on Old Brigand. I first started sipping neat Old Brigand ~2015. (Back then it was 40%, it just became 43% a few years ago.) I prefer it over all the Doorly's I've had including the 12Y and XO (have not had the 14). I also prefer it over Seale's 10 (have not had the 12). As far as history, I looked into it a half dozen years back and there wasn't much. I think I ran across that there was a "Brigand" that was a few years old and also this "Old Brigand" which is at least 5 years old. There's another rum you should try for sipping: the Alleyne Arthur's Special Barbados. Just like Old Brigand it's a Total Wine exclusive from Foursquare. It, too, is 43% but (per a statement from Richard Seale in 2013) is a blend of 2 to 3 years olds. And is even less expensive than Old Brigand. You'll be surprised at the flavor and viscosity for the price! Depending on the day I've had it holding its own in blinds with more expensive rums.
Thanks for sharing the info. I might have to agree with you regarding the Doorly's comparison. Maybe I should do a blind like the Rumcast. Yeah Alleyne Arthur's is good stuff. It seems harder to come back than the Old Brigand. At least near where I live.
I just saw you on Make and Drink and then I subscribed to you and found this video. I went digging thru my rum stash and I found a bottle of this rum. I probably bought this 6-8 years ago and it is only 40 proof. The rest of the label looks identical. I did sample a glass and yes, I agree this is decent sipping rum. I had only previously used it when experimenting with Tiki drinks over the years. I look forward to seeing what else you discover on your journey!
I like the hook, good tasting notes, fantastic rum! I will point out the doorlys xo is remarkably similar to that one. I think the old Brigid, Appleton 8, Doorlys xo, Smith & Criss, and bacardi 8 are all great budget rums that can be versatile in an averages home bar.
Thank you for the consistently high quality vids.! I've wanted to try this one for awhile. Alas, my local south bay TWMs do not carry it, assuming it is some kind of distribution boundary that keeps it out of our hands here? Dunno. Nearest available is in Pleasanton and I don't get out that way but once every handful of years. 😵💫
Hamilton White Stache is around 25 bucks in Northern Jersey and you get a whole litre. Its the best option for making daiquiris or mojitos for a party.
All the Doorley's are a great value. The Old Brigand has kind of disappeared in a lot of the Total Wine's around me in Texas, but I can still find it. Another great value is the Doorley's 14. Although $52 it is as good as some of the ECS series.
Arminder, great review! I have a question for you. What exactly is that awesome tasting glass you're using in this video, and where can I buy one? That's EXACTLY what I've been looking for--a long-stemmed tulip with exactly that elegant shape and that good-for-tasting size. Do you remember where you got it/what it's called/who makes it? Thank you!
Hi thanks! It’s called The Perfect Measure glass. Unfortunately I think it’s only available in the UK. I got mine in London. The Whisky exchange will ship them
OK... I'm all about bang for the buck! Headed to pick up Old Brigand Black Label Superior Barbados Rum right now... I'll give you my tasting notes in a day or two... or three or four if I really like the stuff and find myself drinking copious amount!! lol!!
@@therumrevival - For $19 Arminder, I have to say, I wasn't disappointed! Now, I wasn't blow away either, but for $19, it was a great mixer AND even decent neat, though I am pretty new on the "rum journey"... and let me tell you... there's a LOT of rums to explore... and that's why I switched over from bourbon to rum... uncharted and numerous territories! Keep exploring my friend and providing your great feedback, cheers!
@@thunderball1617 I think you summed it up perfectly..great mixer and pretty decent sipper...all for under $20, plus at 43% abv? That's just good math lol.
Judges the label of the rum and assume it is not good. The rumfire hiding in the corner. Great video as always, its unfortunate that the rum is only available in totalwine. Great that they raise the abv.
I wish I could get Old Brigand here! Of comparable value in yet another market, France, is picking up a bottle of Clement or Damoiseau VS for under €20. The sweet spot for me in Cane Juice Rhums is the lightly aged stuff which is priced extremely competitively in French hypermarkets.
Couple of years back I went to Paris and, like you said, I was pretty shocked at how affordable the cane juice rhums were. And I loved that you could just get them at any grocery store. Wish that was the case here.
At least it’s a Spirits Direct offering at TW, so you can usually get $5 off or other deals, since I generally find their rum offerings under the spirits direct group lacking besides Doorlys. I’ll have to pick this up when I get close to finishing my currently bottle of Doorlys 12 to compare.
What a crazy rum, why is it so cheap! Getting very much an Almond Joy on the palate - the chocolate, coconut and nuttiness! From a label perspective its similar to Rum Fire - it looks so cliche or even comical to the untrained eye, but if you know, you know!
lol I mean Rum Fire all day every day... if I'm mixing. But sipping, the Brig. BUT, if it was a question of sipping on Brig vs drinking a Rum Fire cocktail? I'd go with the cocktail lol.
hmm how much is the RL Seale 10 year? That's the other Foursquare rum that's usually at Total Wine and its typically priced at $33. I'd go with that instead
Yeah, same here. I don't think we have quite something with those kind of specs. Mount Gay Eclipse Navy Strength might be kind of close but probably not aged as long.
When it comes to tiki, there aren't many traditional recipes that specifically call for rums from Barbados. That being said, if you see a recipe that calls for a gold rum or gold Puerto Rican rum, I think this would be a flavorful sub. In terms of non-tiki, in addition to old fashioneds and manhattans, definitely try this in a corn and oil.
For an extra $15 you can get Doorly 12 from Foursquare which is good but it’s definitely much more oak forward. Personally I lean more towards the rummy fruit flavors in the Ol Brig. so I think it is still worth it for me
Can confirm. Delicious. I bought this bottle based on this video. Thanks Arminder!😊
Glad you enjoyed it!
I think Old Brigand’s rummy quintessence is specifically speaking to how much “rummy” centers on English style rums more than Spanish or French. JM’s Terroir Volcanique is a comparitive for me within the French Style, for example, but I wouldn’t say it precisely hits that target for stereotypical “rummy” flavor when considered from outside of the rum category (think rum raisin gelato for example.)
Great point! I never thought of it but there does seem to be a bias (maybe not the right word) towards the English when describe rummy flavors. And yes, rum raisin is definitely in part what I'm thinking of by using the word "rummy".
my fascination with pirates is what introduced me to rum. my palate has since matured from the typical pirate-themed spiced rums, but the old brigand gives me an excuse to always have a quality pirate-esque rum stocked. thank you for the recommendation.
Good point about pirate themed rums serving as an entry way to rum.
My favorite Rums under $25 (prices vary by location; many of these are under $20 in my area), in no particular order: Ron del Barrilito 2 Star, Gosling’s Gold Seal Rum, The Kraken Gold Spiced Rum, Mount Gay Eclipse, Sailor Jerry Spice Rum, Don Q Gold Rum, Bacardi 4 Year.
I always forget about Ron del Barrilito 2 star. Yeah if you can get that close to $20, I think its a great value
@@therumrevival brought several bottles back from Puerto Rico recently
Great vid, spotlight on Ol' Brigy! I was sold on this rum when I learned that a Brigand is "A land pirate, a robber, sometimes of a gang from forest or mountains." I love the cheesy label and his stripy hat. And of course, as you point out, its hard to beat this kind of flavor at that price point.
Thanks! Brigand has a nice ring to it. Definitely fancier than just saying pirate
Old Brigand has been my go-to everyday rum for the last six years, such a delicious rum for the price!
Cheers to that!
Old brigand is great but with how much easier it is to find and how I prefer it a bit I gotta give the title to Appleton signature
Fair enough! Signature is pretty good value for sure. Between the two I lean towards the Brig but would happily recommend Sig
When you say "it tastes like tequila tequila," I think it refers to the distinctive flavor of blue agave in particular. With rum, it could be explained by the raw material (sugar cane), the process, and the barrel aging that gives that unmistakable flavor to "rum," which might seem generic but doesn't imply a bad taste, rather a well-crafted product
nicely put!
Hamilton Zombie rum is probably the best value in rum currently and has the abv behind it and can be found in SoCal for around $35 still. It's by far the best Hamilton collab rum to date and the price has stayed great. R.L. Seale's 10 was the best deal until Total Swine jacked it up to $30. it was $18 to $20 for ages. Stolen Overproof for $18 is another steal that is still readily available in SoCal
That Hamilton Zombie is good! I do want to try it in other cocktails besides the zombie. Agreed on the Stolen, what a crazy deal. I still see bottles floating around in the Bay.
The 114 is my best kept secret, that blend punches way above its weight class
Picked up a bottle today - thanks for the recomendation
Hope you enjoy it!
I was wondering if you were convinced by the Rumcast. I remember when they tried a bunch of Barbados rum blind and I was blown away by how well Old Brigand faired.
Everyone seemed pretty surprised (Will and John included lol)
Heads up. If you live near central NJ and are looking for El Dorado LBI / DHE, Bottle Republic got a case of it in both their Somerset and Franklin Park stores.
Awesome! Thanks for spreading the good word
"A great way to start the day" 😆
Thanks for the heads-up on this. My go-to for a sippy Barbados rum is Doorly's 12-year, but $40 ain't chump change for me. I will give this a shot and look forward to trying it in a Corn & Oil.
Awesome! let me know what you think!
I love Old Brigand for its value and "rummy" taste when I make eggnog by the gallon for friends and family at Christmastime! I literally bought out all the Old Brigand at my local Total Wine locations, last year. 😳
Never thought to use it in an eggnog but that sounds perfect! Thanks for the tip!
Great video ! It’s because of you on an earlier video you posted, I went out and bought this bottle. Such a hidden Gem 💎 great for mixing and sipping 😊 please do more reviews on hidden gems like this. Thank you 🙏🏻
Thanks! I think I will end up doing more hidden gems like this one. Thanks for the feedback.
I’ve been enjoying Old Brigand for a while now. Great price point and very sippable.
Glad to hear it!
Old Brigand is great, especially when considering its price point. I've created a few cocktails with it specifically in mind. Sadly, I can't find it at my local places here in San Francisco... they just haven't carried it at the Total Wine stores here for about a year. I'll keep looking!
Same…where is he getting his bottles as he’s also here in Bay Area?
@@GeeWhizbang Maybe the East Bay TW has it? SF and Daly City have been out for at least 12 months if not more. :(
That's annoying! I've a bunch in the East Bay over the last few months
A couple of the east bay TWs have them.
About a year back I happened across that podcast blind you were talking about and agreed with their findings on Old Brigand.
I first started sipping neat Old Brigand ~2015. (Back then it was 40%, it just became 43% a few years ago.) I prefer it over all the Doorly's I've had including the 12Y and XO (have not had the 14). I also prefer it over Seale's 10 (have not had the 12).
As far as history, I looked into it a half dozen years back and there wasn't much. I think I ran across that there was a "Brigand" that was a few years old and also this "Old Brigand" which is at least 5 years old.
There's another rum you should try for sipping: the Alleyne Arthur's Special Barbados. Just like Old Brigand it's a Total Wine exclusive from Foursquare. It, too, is 43% but (per a statement from Richard Seale in 2013) is a blend of 2 to 3 years olds. And is even less expensive than Old Brigand. You'll be surprised at the flavor and viscosity for the price! Depending on the day I've had it holding its own in blinds with more expensive rums.
Thanks for sharing the info. I might have to agree with you regarding the Doorly's comparison. Maybe I should do a blind like the Rumcast. Yeah Alleyne Arthur's is good stuff. It seems harder to come back than the Old Brigand. At least near where I live.
I just saw you on Make and Drink and then I subscribed to you and found this video. I went digging thru my rum stash and I found a bottle of this rum. I probably bought this 6-8 years ago and it is only 40 proof. The rest of the label looks identical. I did sample a glass and yes, I agree this is decent sipping rum. I had only previously used it when experimenting with Tiki drinks over the years.
I look forward to seeing what else you discover on your journey!
Sorry, 40% - 80 proof.
Thanks for subscribing and watching! I've never actually tried the 40% version, would be fun to do a side by side to see how different it is.
I like the hook, good tasting notes, fantastic rum! I will point out the doorlys xo is remarkably similar to that one. I think the old Brigid, Appleton 8, Doorlys xo, Smith & Criss, and bacardi 8 are all great budget rums that can be versatile in an averages home bar.
Thanks! I think I'll have to do a blind of the xo and brig. Especially since the xo is now 43% as well.
Thank you for the consistently high quality vids.! I've wanted to try this one for awhile. Alas, my local south bay TWMs do not carry it, assuming it is some kind of distribution boundary that keeps it out of our hands here? Dunno. Nearest available is in Pleasanton and I don't get out that way but once every handful of years. 😵💫
Ah that sucks… yeah seems like right now only the east bay TWs have them in stock
Hamilton White Stache is around 25 bucks in Northern Jersey and you get a whole litre. Its the best option for making daiquiris or mojitos for a party.
I did a blind tasting of a number of daiquiris and the white stache was my favorite!
All the Doorley's are a great value. The Old Brigand has kind of disappeared in a lot of the Total Wine's around me in Texas, but I can still find it. Another great value is the Doorley's 14. Although $52 it is as good as some of the ECS series.
Yeah that doorlys 14 is great. Seems like the ECS bottles have really gone up in price. The newest one is $145
Great video. I need to give this one a try sometime.
Thanks!
Arminder, great review! I have a question for you. What exactly is that awesome tasting glass you're using in this video, and where can I buy one? That's EXACTLY what I've been looking for--a long-stemmed tulip with exactly that elegant shape and that good-for-tasting size. Do you remember where you got it/what it's called/who makes it? Thank you!
Hi thanks! It’s called The Perfect Measure glass. Unfortunately I think it’s only available in the UK. I got mine in London. The Whisky exchange will ship them
This is great info and a fun video!!! Can’t wait to try it! That label reminds me of my grandmas basement! Haha
lol
OK... I'm all about bang for the buck! Headed to pick up Old Brigand Black Label Superior Barbados Rum right now... I'll give you my tasting notes in a day or two... or three or four if I really like the stuff and find myself drinking copious amount!! lol!!
lol hope you ended up enjoying it!
@@therumrevival - For $19 Arminder, I have to say, I wasn't disappointed! Now, I wasn't blow away either, but for $19, it was a great mixer AND even decent neat, though I am pretty new on the "rum journey"... and let me tell you... there's a LOT of rums to explore... and that's why I switched over from bourbon to rum... uncharted and numerous territories! Keep exploring my friend and providing your great feedback, cheers!
@@thunderball1617 I think you summed it up perfectly..great mixer and pretty decent sipper...all for under $20, plus at 43% abv? That's just good math lol.
Judges the label of the rum and assume it is not good.
The rumfire hiding in the corner.
Great video as always, its unfortunate that the rum is only available in totalwine. Great that they raise the abv.
haha poor old Rum Fire.
My absolute favorite value sipping rum is, Kirkland's Signature 15 year Barrel Aged distilled in Panama.
I know I've had a taste of one Kirkland Panama rum but not sure if it was the 15 or like an XO. I got to imagine that it was fairly affordable
I wish I could get Old Brigand here! Of comparable value in yet another market, France, is picking up a bottle of Clement or Damoiseau VS for under €20. The sweet spot for me in Cane Juice Rhums is the lightly aged stuff which is priced extremely competitively in French hypermarkets.
Couple of years back I went to Paris and, like you said, I was pretty shocked at how affordable the cane juice rhums were. And I loved that you could just get them at any grocery store. Wish that was the case here.
At least it’s a Spirits Direct offering at TW, so you can usually get $5 off or other deals, since I generally find their rum offerings under the spirits direct group lacking besides Doorlys. I’ll have to pick this up when I get close to finishing my currently bottle of Doorlys 12 to compare.
I always forget about that Spirits Direct thing. Thanks for the reminder
Believe it or not, this is the preferred rum of old rum drinkers in Barbados. It’s affectionately referred to as “The one eyed man”.
great name. I calling it that from now on
For inexpensive, I gravitate toward Pusser's blue label.
Good recommendation! I always forget that its bottled at 42% instead of 40.
It's usually around 20 bucks too. It's the cheapest guyana rum you can get widely.
Nice to get a mix of the rum's history, as well as its tasting notes. I wonder why Barbados had that law passed.
I've been looking into exactly why but have yet to find any solid info on why.
What a crazy rum, why is it so cheap! Getting very much an Almond Joy on the palate - the chocolate, coconut and nuttiness! From a label perspective its similar to Rum Fire - it looks so cliche or even comical to the untrained eye, but if you know, you know!
Almond joy is such a great way of putting it! And like you, I feel the same way about this and the rum fire label.
Alright Arminder, this vs RUM FIRE? Overall taste, value, and label.
lol I mean Rum Fire all day every day... if I'm mixing. But sipping, the Brig. BUT, if it was a question of sipping on Brig vs drinking a Rum Fire cocktail? I'd go with the cocktail lol.
@@therumrevival What are the best cocktails with Rum Fire?
@@bigalmichel my go to is a Rum Firewalker, but be warned its big and bold and has 3oz of rum fire. Also like it in an Almost Famous
@@therumrevival Thank you!
No total wines here in Illinois. What a tease
Ugh bummer. Wonder if in states that don’t have TWs, that it has normal distribution
@@therumrevival probably not since it’s a TW spirits direct. Feel free to send me a bottle if you’re feeling generous 😎
@@erikv8114 lol
@@therumrevivalI finally got ahold of a bottle
better than Coruba?? That stuff is a steal at $17 and that's in Oregon with the crazy high liquor tax
Coruba is a great deal at $17.
Today I'm mich, total wine, $33. Is it still with it?
hmm how much is the RL Seale 10 year? That's the other Foursquare rum that's usually at Total Wine and its typically priced at $33. I'd go with that instead
I wish that we will have in rum world something like Wild Turkey 101 in burbon world... 50,5 % ABV Blend 6 and 8 years for around 23€ in europe...
Yeah, same here. I don't think we have quite something with those kind of specs. Mount Gay Eclipse Navy Strength might be kind of close but probably not aged as long.
Is there any application for this rum in tiki drinks or it is not really that vibe?
I noticed you mentioned old fashioneds and manhattans.
When it comes to tiki, there aren't many traditional recipes that specifically call for rums from Barbados. That being said, if you see a recipe that calls for a gold rum or gold Puerto Rican rum, I think this would be a flavorful sub. In terms of non-tiki, in addition to old fashioneds and manhattans, definitely try this in a corn and oil.
Is it worth $34?
For an extra $15 you can get Doorly 12 from Foursquare which is good but it’s definitely much more oak forward. Personally I lean more towards the rummy fruit flavors in the Ol Brig. so I think it is still worth it for me
So it's like the Monkey Shoulder of rum, in other words :)
I have just a little experience with Monkey Shoulder but that kinda feels right
Smoove. 🍦
you know it buddy.