Rum: Appleton V/X
Maker: Appleton Estates / J. Wray & Nephew LTD.
Country of Origin: Jamaica
Website: www.appletonrums.com
Suggested Cocktail: Appleton V/X on the Rocks

Packaging & Such-
The bottle is short and round with a twist off cap. This is traditional Rum made from molasses in Jamaica. This is a middle of the road offering from Appleton Estates.

Appearance-
This Rum has a beautiful Golden Amber color. It looks very natural.

Nose-
The aroma has a sweet and oak aroma. The more you swirl the more aromatic it becomes.

First Impression-
The Rum begins with a natural sweetness. The after taste has a medium body smooth finish. The woodsy taste stands out on your palate.

Character & Body-
It has a great character to the taste. The sweet yet natural warm medium body is very impressive. The body is very consistent through an entire glass well balanced.

Overall & Finish-
This Rum embodies Jamaica. It has a taste and aroma you would expect in a well balanced spirit. This Rum is impressive for its youth. This Rum is enjoyable either neat or used in your favorite cocktail. This would be perfect to kick up mundane Rum & Cokes. The spirit is a must have on your Rum shelf.

Cocktail of choice-
Appleton V/X Neat, I also enjoy this Rum used in a Tan Mojito (I find that using a dark Rum instead of a Silver or White Rum balances the some times over powering mint taste).

Flor de Cana 5 Year Old Black Label

Rum: Flor de Cana, 5 Year Old Black Label
Maker: Compania Licorera de Nicaragua
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Website: www.flordecana.com
Suggested Cocktail: Black & Cola

Packaging & Such-
The bottle is squared with a short neck and twist off cap. The label is black with gold lettering. This is traditional Rum made from molasses.

Appearance-
The 5 years of aging in casks have given this Rum a beautiful amber color.

Nose-
The aroma is sweet and nutty. You definitely get hints of nutmeg and citrus.

First Impression-
The Rum starts off lighter than I would have anticipated. The initial taste is very straight forward. The taste doesn’t linger to long on your palate.

Character & Body-
It has a nice “easy” character. The Rum is simple to pick apart. It has a woodsy taste that you don’t pick up from the aroma. The nuttiness is very evident in the after taste. The body is surprising light.

Overall & Finish-
Although I enjoyed this Amber Rum, it doesn’t have the depth that one would expect from a 5 Year Aged Spirit. It pairs up very well with citrus as well as cola. If you have a well developed palate you may not enjoy this Rum “neat”. This is great Rum to have on hand to whip up Rum & Cokes with character.

Cocktail of choice-
Rum & Coke with a twist of lime peel

CAO Vision Prana

Brand: CAO International
Line: Vision
Size: Prana (Belicoso)
Length: 6 1/4
Ring Gauge: 52
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dom. Rep., Nicaragua, Brazil
Binder: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Dominican Republic
Notes: Leather, Earth & Walnuts
Body: Medium

Appearance and Construction-
The cigar has a flawless tan wrapper. Smooth veins and a well constructed Belicoso tip. The cigar cut beautifully. When slightly squeezed the tobacco has a firm but supple give.

Flavor-
The tobacco has a nice oily taste. When lit the cigar starts off with a nutty aroma. The cigar is medium bodied with a mild to medium strength. As the cigar warms up you get earth, leather and a slight hint of spice.

Smoking Characteristics-
The cigar has a wonderful draw with a slightly uneven burn. The smoke is bountiful and cool. The cigar has a well matured character. The ash is flaky with a deep grey hugh.

Overall Impression-
The cigar is a top notch offering. Well constructed with well aged tobacco. The cigar isn’t over powering. You can taste every layer of flavor and every nuance of spice. The cigar achieves a well balanced impression. The cigars strength doesn’t take away from its body.

The Skinny-
This cigar is packaged in a cedar lined 20 count Humidor with a digital hygrometer. The box contains a gel pack that gives off humidity to keep the tobacco fresh & humidified. The box also contains blue LCD lights that glow when opened. This cigar contains tobacco from the three main growing regions in the Americas, Central & South America as well as the Caribbean. The cigar is complemented by a Dominican Wrapper. Dominican Wrappers are some of the rarest used in the cigar industry. These hard to grow wrappers are on some on the most expensive and hard to find cigars for example: Fuente Fuente Opus X, Ashton ESG, La Auroa 100 Anos, Lito Gomez by La Flor Dominicana. The Vision was recently rated Number 9 by Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 List of 2007.

Last Word-
This cigar is a great midday smoke. I would recommend enjoying this offering with a light Dominican Rum on the rocks. The cigar is well balanced enough that your palate will not be compromised for the rest of the day. This cigar is also offered in a Catalyst (robusto) and Epiphany (toro) sizes.

10 Cane

Rum: 10 Cane
Maker: Moet Hennessy
Country of Origin: Trinidad
Website: www.10cane.com
Suggested Cocktail: The Daiquiri (10 Cane Style)

Packaging & Such-
The Bottle is sleek with a very catchy logo. This would be hard to miss on the shelf next to other well known Rums. This Rum is created from Fresh Cane Juice opposed to Molasses that most Rum is made from.

Appearance-
The Rum isn’t what I would call Golden, Silver or Dark. It has a light Ginger Ale Hugh that you do not see often in commercial Rums.

Nose-
The aroma is sweet and light. You differently get a hint of Lime & Oak in your nose.

First Impression-
The first impression is “Smooth”. The Rum has a light body and a citrus undertone. It has a quality to the crisp after taste that it leaves in your mouth.

Character & Body-
It is Sweet with a Hint of Wood and Citrus on your palate. The Rum shows its cards right off the back. You do not have to dive to deep to get the flavor. The body is lighter than most Golden Rums.

Overall & Finish-
Two thumbs up. This is a premium bottle of Rum. I enjoyed it straight up. I also tried it on the rocks. I would recommend using this Rum mixed in to your favorite cocktail. I feel this is special lighter Rum that benefits from a being married with Juices and freshly muddled Fruit.

Cocktail of Choice-
Perfect 10, Equal Parts 7up & 10 Cane Rum with a Healthy Squeeze of Fresh Lime Juice over Crushed Ice

Will You Join Me?

Will You Join Me?

Who will become our Nations 44th President? Your guess is as good as mine. Every Presidential Election that I can recall seems to be more important than the last. Every body running for President stresses that if you do not Vote for their ticket America is doomed! History has a way of putting the right people in the right place at the right time. The field of canadents has thinned over the last few months. The Republicans are down to McCain, Romney, Huckabee, Thompson, Paul, Hunter, and Giuliani. The Democrats are down to Obama, Clinton, Edwards, Gravel and Kucinich.

It always amazes me that so many people want to be President. Think about the last few Presidents. Ronald Reagan sold weapons illegally in what has become know as the Iran Contra. Thanks Ronnie! You sold weapons to our enemies in Iran and the Sandinistas in Nicaragua are back in control in the form of Daniel Ortega. Hardly a legacy I want to be remembered for. Who can forget George Bush’s read my lips no new taxes speech. You could see the one term President title being printed in History books as he left the podium. I can’t help but think anyone who named their daughter Monica in the 90’s regrets it. Bill Clinton brought a shame to the White House that hasn’t been scene in a matter of well……a couple years or so. Don’t get me started on George “W” Bush. He is still playing hide and go seek for Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq. Illegal Wire Taps, Leaked CIA Identities, the list could go on and on. Millions of dollars spent to become President. Billions of dollars wasted while President.

Every American is affected by something going on in the Country right now. The housing market is in the trash, a recession is on the horizon, jobs are leaving the country at record numbers, healthcare costs are on the rise and Brittany Spears lost custody of her children. What is an American to do? I know what I am going to do. I will cast my Vote for the 44th President of the United States of America next November. Will you join me?

M.M. Cayman