I love rum just as much as the next pirate. Well, just as much as the next girl. Anything better than a tiki cocktail or a mojito? Maybe. The odds are slim however, the one spirit that I do like to sip is rum. It’s easy to take rum for granted with all of the ornamentation and sometimes blue colors. So, when you find a good one, you should savor it.

We’ve got a good one here with Brugal 1888. A great one actually. This is a real quality rum.

Brugal is a rum from the the Dominican Republic with over 125 years of history. The unique characteristic of the Brugal rums is the dryness. The distilling process of Brugal yields it’s clean, dry and smooth taste. The 1888 on the other hand does have some sweetness on the palate. It’s very smooth with a bold velvety mouth feel and some spice on the finish. The 1888 is aged for 6 to 8 years in White American Oak casks and finished in Sherry Oak casks for 2 to 4 years. This Double-Wood aging gives the 1888 it’s distinctive smooth flavor. Some may think Brugal 1888 is the “rum for whiskey lovers” (Brugal). I don’t completely disagree but, I believe Brugal 1888 is a rum for rum lovers. It’s easy to appreciate.

Brugal 1888 is a dark amber in color with many complex aromas on the nose. There’s a lot of spice with hints of cinnamon and cocoa, roasted and dried fruits. On the palate, 1888 is warm, smooth and full bodied. You get the light sweetness and spice up front with a long finish. This is a rum to be sipped and used in a select few cocktails. Try a pairing with some chocolates and almonds. This is a rum you want in your arsenal.

For the cocktail, we’re making the spin on my favorite New Orleans style sour; the Sidecar. A New Orleans sour consists of a base spirit, citrus (lemon) and a orange liqueur. That’s the base of a New Orleans sour. The Outrigger is the lesser know rum answer to the Sidecar. Brugal 1888 works perfectly in this cocktail. You may use the French proportions of 1:1:1. I prefer 2:1:1.

The Outrigger:

2oz. Brugal 1888 Rum

1oz. Triple Sec [Such as Cointreau]

1oz. Lemon Juice

*A sugared rim here is optional. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake until chilled and double strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or wheel.

Cheers and enjoy Brugal 1888!