The Scarlet ibis rum

[Tiare]

Has anyone tried it yet? i wonder how this rum tastes? how does it mix and how is it neat?

I`m lucky to have found someone, (or rather, someone found me) to swap rums and other things..and i`m now awaiting the Scarlet ibis and some other of Haus Alpenz wonderful stuff.:D

[The Engineer's Son]

Scarlet Ibis?
They better be using Trinidad rum or I'm going to have to write them an angry letter. :p
It's our national bird and all.

*goes of to research*

[krustykrab]

Has anyone tried it yet? i wonder how this rum tastes? how does it mix and how is it neat?

I`m lucky to have found someone, (or rather, someone found me) to swap rums and other things..and i`m now awaiting the Scarlet ibis and some other of Haus Alpenz wonderful stuff.:D

You have prompted me to open my bottle. Since I read your post a hour or so ago, I open my bottle that I've had for several weeks now but haven't gotten around to try until now... thanks!

It is a wonderful rum! Excellent taste neat - quite strong finish, due to 98 proof. Now I am sipping a cocktail now it is superb mixed - it is really a high quality rum and I am quite please I was able to pick it up! I hope you enjoy yours as much!

[Tiare]

I open my bottle that I've had for several weeks now but haven't gotten around to try until now...

Oops..but how on earth do you manage to NOT open a new bottle...? i must suffer from bad character..i have never been able to save an unopened bottle..:o

That rum sounds real nice! i`m sooo looking forward to it arrives! and then i know i will open it right away! ..............:p I`ll let you know how i find it.

[krustykrab]

Oops..but how on earth do you manage to NOT open a new bottle...? i must suffer from bad character..i have never been able to save an unopened bottle..:o

That rum sounds real nice! i`m sooo looking forward to it arrives! and then i know i will open it right away! ..............:p I`ll let you know how i find it.

Ahhh... yes, but my problem was that I just got back from a trip to the islands in Feb and have 15 new bottles of rum to taste... Since I am only doing my 'research' on weekends, lest my wife reclassify my 'hobby' to a 'problem'...:confused:, I am still working through them. And... very much enjoying the wonderful journey!;)

Yes, it is an excellent rum - enjoy it!

[Tiare]

Since I am only doing my 'research' on weekends, lest my wife reclassify my 'hobby' to a 'problem'...:confused

That is something i can relate to...i try to mainly educate myself on weekends too..but i can`t say i manage always..

[Count Silvio]

Ahhh... yes, but my problem was that I just got back from a trip to the islands in Feb and have 15 new bottles of rum to taste... Since I am only doing my 'research' on weekends, lest my wife reclassify my 'hobby' to a 'problem'...:confused:, I am still working through them. And... very much enjoying the wonderful journey!;)

Yes, it is an excellent rum - enjoy it!
You should delegate some of your 'work' to me :cool:. I only have a problem with opening bottles because they look so nice when they're full plus I am never sure if I have a good photograph (for the reviews) of them so I wait till the absolute last moment before I open them.

[Tiare]

Got my Scarlet ibis today! :) and yes..i had to open the bottle..
Its a real nice rum, with a strong finish.

Scarlet Ibis?
They better be using Trinidad rum or I'm going to have to write them an angry letter. :p


On the label on the back it says blend of three to five year aged Trinidad rums produced in copper pot stills and aged in white oak.

[Edward Hamilton]

On the label on the back it says blend of three to five year aged Trinidad rums produced in copper pot stills and aged in white oak.

I don't want to disappoint anyone, but it appears that the people who designed the label got a little ahead of themselves in calling Scarlet Ibis copper pot still rum. It has a medium to heavy body but it wasn't distilled in copper pot stills as there hasn't been one of those stills operating in Trinidad for some time, it was however aged in white oak.

[Edward Hamilton]

I just discovered that a few bottles of Scarlet Ibis rum are available at Lush Wines and Spirits (http://www.lushwineandspirits.com/) in Chicago. There isn't much so if you want it I'd check with Jane asap.

LUSH Wine & Spirits
2232 W. Roscoe St.
Chicago, IL 60618
773-281-8888

BLOG: http://www.lushwine.wordpress.com/

[Tiare]

Ah thank you Ed! you are such a weath of information on our favorite spirit!

Anyway..that about the copper pot still doesn`t bother me, but its good to know how things really are.

What is most important to me though is how the rum tastes in my glass and this one taste good!:) i`m so happy to have it!

[Michael]

I don't want to disappoint anyone, but it appears that the people who designed the label got a little ahead of themselves in calling Scarlet Ibis copper pot still rum. It has a medium to heavy body but it wasn't distilled in copper pot stills as there hasn't been one of those stills operating in Trinidad for some time, it was however aged in white oak.

No intent to stir the drama, but the copper pot still origin was one of the major selling points. We would likely not have bought it at the price were it not for that description.

[Edward Hamilton]

No intent to stir the drama, but the copper pot still origin was one of the major selling points. We would likely not have bought it at the price were it not for that description.

As I've written many times, don't get hung up on the age of your rum. Likewise, don't get hung up on the type of still. When I first saw the label I questioned the pot still claim because I knew that Angostura, the last surviving distillery in Trinidad didn't have a pot still. Caroni, the last distillery to close hadn't used a pot still in years, so it was a pretty safe bet that this wasn't pot still rum.

But after tasting Scarlet Ibis again yesterday, I'd defy anyone to tell me with certainty that it couldn't have been produced in a pot still based on the taste.

Actually, I wouldn't have identified it as a Trinidad rum from the taste alone, since it is much heavier than anything else bottled in Trinidad.
This rum was originally distilled to be blended with lighter rums, fortunately for us, Eric was able to buy a couple of barrels and have it bottled.

So after tasting it, were you disappointed, at the price? Will you buy another bottle when your first purchase is finished?

[Tiare]

So after tasting it, were you disappointed, at the price? Will you buy another bottle when your first purchase is finished?

Now you had me go and pour myself a glass of this...and i can say that i`m not disappointed at the price and yes, i would buy another bottle if they are still left when my bottle is finished.

[Michael]

...
So after tasting it, were you disappointed, at the price? Will you buy another bottle when your first purchase is finished?

It hasn't been opened yet as a "summer" cold has flattened smell and taste too much for a fair appraisal. With the warm weather on this coast, we've been sticking to simple and refreshing like the delicious Ting, rum, bitters and lime you mentioned.

I'll keep an open mind. The misleading labeling and promotion, which seems an innocent mistake, does not determine the quality of the spirit.

Thanks again for the perspective.

[eas]

The Scarlet Ibis project was intended as a private barrel project for Death & Co in NY, wiith extra bottles sold to 'friends and family'. They surveyed straight barrel and blend samples and narrowed down to the taste profile and proof they wanted. As Ed states, the blend they selected, all Trinidad, were of barrels typically blended with light. When they were finisished, we asked for background details and what's on the label is what we were provided. When they selected 49% proof, we had to do pull two barrel's worth to make the project economic (given fixed costs of bottling), so we had extra to offer to a few retail outlets. There was no intention then or now to promote, as this is a limited run project, but we're glad that a set of rum-loving professional bartenders choose their own and had the opportunity to share with more of our community.

[Michael]

We had a chance to try the Scarlet Ibis tonight in a Daiquiri variation found on the web at eGullet.com:

2 oz Scarlet Ibis rum

3/4 oz lime

3/4 oz simple syrup

1/4 oz Pimento Dram (St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram)

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

The resulting cocktail was a delicious and pleasing quaff, given nice depth by the Dram. Kudos to eas for providing these fine products. We look forward to finding additional cocktail applications for both.

In answer to your questions Ed, we weren't disappointed in the least at the quality of either the Scarlet Ibis or the Allspice Dram and would not hesitate to purchase either again at the price, albeit the Scarlet Ibis was on sale at just over $26 when purchased.

[rumdog007]

I really enjoy this rum. After sharing a couple of bottles with friends, I bought 2 cases. I hope they do something else in the future.

[tiknician]

Sorry to bump such an old thread, but I found some other information about the origin of Scarlet Ibis that is relevant. Probably many of you have already read it. I quote from Rndrumreviews.com:


Molasses was distilled in copper pot stills and aged in small white oak barrels by Caroni Distillers Ltd. They no longer distill or bottle rum but they sell the remaining stocks of their aged rum.

Full source here (http://www.rndrumreviews.com/RnDRumReviews/Scarlet_Ibis_Trinidad_Rum.html).

So perhaps it is in fact copper pot-still rum from old stock.