The 3rd Great Belgian Rum Tasting: Lichtervelde
June 17, 2023
Madou’s bar is becoming quite famous, and the rum collection is growing. Not only that, but the spa like atmosphere is outstanding…especially if you are a goat or a cow.
The welcoming committee chair.
Kay the barker and her faithful companion in the shade.
Warmup mai tai.
Part of the lineup.
Some notes from the first and second editions can be found here.
MAISON LQ MAUNY 2015:2019 – martinique (4)
hot. alcohol nose. clear gycerin use. dry on mouth. bitter
There was lots of Clement rum on hand, all from martinique.
We had to check our work with direct test tube comparisons for these.
CLEMENT 10 YEAR RHUM AGRICOLE 2012 (8)
dry. peppery. mature oak. delicious finish.
CLEMENT 5 YEAR MOKA RHUM AGRICOLE 2015 (6)
soft nose. curly esters. a bit sour turns to sweet.
CLEMENT 10 YEAR VANILLA RHUM AGRICOLE 2013 (7)
flower nose. soft. oak
CLEMENT 4 YEAR 5 MONTHS RHUM AGRICOLE 2020 (3)
gym sock nose. weak. bitter
CLEMENT XO (min 6 year blend) (7)
nice balanced nose. mature oak. balanced sugar. masterful blend. a bit corporate with nice components. banana.
CARÚPANO (up to) 21 year reserve (4)
sugar nose. central american style. ester curl works well. gycerin.
DIPLOMATICO AMBASSADOR (6)
sugar nose. some grass. hot. ester curl hell (not good). gets better each taste, but not as good as the 1976 product.
RATU 8 – fij (1)
coconut nose has to be fake. birthday cake disaster. yuck. please just take it.
BUNDABERG – australia (2)
weak nose. watery. blended down to bad.
TOPPITS (unpictured)
that’s a wrap. quite literally.
The final lineup.
Losers bracket.
There is Amer Picon to be had, including Citron which NPS has never seen before. We made liberals of course.
And we introduced the Industry Sour to Belgium
equal parts: Fernet. Green Chartruese. Lime. Simple syrup (1:1). Shake. Serve up.
Walks around the pond are available for a fee.
Sometimes things get hazy
Our hostess with the mostess.
We can’t wait to return.
fin.
Three tacos in Pheonix
December 18, 2022
When United fucks up ops, they do it spectacularly. NPS was headed to phoenix for a meeting. The four hour flight delay (equipment related on a route that has no other backups) caused us to land after the meeting was over. Just ridiculous.
So we did a post meeting rendez-vous and headed to Scottsdale for a taco.
I almost forgot. Dulles was all dressed up for the holidays.
And it was a complete zoo. Security was packed. This is the TSApre line.
Scottsdale fountain with a Belgian photo bomb.
Tourist tacos for the win. And a margerita too, of course.
We admired the lights and did some sock shopping in town.
FAST
SLOW
Finally we swung by the Westin in Tempe for a fantastic Negroni. Who knows why, but that hotel bar is one of the best in town?!
Anyway, United still sucks.
The (second ever) Great Belgian Rum Tasting (2019)
February 5, 2019
OK, well, the first one of 2019, but the second one ever.
The Great Belgian Rum Tasting of 2016 was a smashing success. So we decided to do it again some three-ish years later.
What that requires is a flight to Brussels, and a drive out to Lichtervelde.
You may recall that Lichtervelde is home to the world famous Eenie Meenie the goat. Eenie Meenie is getting on in years, and we were glad to see her again while she is still alive.
Eenie Meenie in the house
Things are much swankier than ever at chez Madou, where the bar is well stocked, Liberals are available at all times, and the kids are on track to shake up a mean cocktail.
Makings of a Liberal, including superior bourbon from Virginia
Start em early. Just don’t shake a martini.
Here’s how things proceeded on the rum front.
The lineup of seven rums
Cubay Ronera Central
Cubay Ronera Central: CUBA
Oak. Bitter. Alcohol nose. Under signed. 5 year. Proof 86. SCORE: 6
Havana Club Barrel Proof
Havana Club Barrel Proof: CUBA
Nice nose (no esters). Butter with a twist. Hot. Post sugar not too much. Proof 90. SCORE: 7
Pampero Aniversario
Pampero Aniversario: Venezuela
Venezuela. Post sugar. Balanced. Island style. Proof 80. SCORE: 6
Ron Millonario
Ron Millonario: Peru
Peru. Ester on the nose. Central America style. Brown sugar with ester twist. (Madou like it.) . Proof 80. SCORE: 5
Ron Barceló Imperial Blend
Ron Barceló Imperial Blend: Dominican Republic
Wins for ridiculous bottle. . Over sugared. Over oaked. Proof 86. SCORE: 5
Clément Single Cask
Clément Single Cask: Martinique
Rhum agricole. Great nose. Bitter. Mature Oak. Proof 93.6. SCORE 8
Clément Cuveée Spéciale XO
Clément Cuveée Spéciale XO: Martinique
Too hot. Under oaked. GAH. Proof ?. SCORE 4
Notes were kept.
Verdict is in.
The final order.
The final order:
1. Clément Single Cask
2. Havana Club Barrel Proof
3. Cubay Ronera Central
4. Pampero Aniversario
5. Ron Barceló Imperial Blend
6. Ron Millonario
7. Clément Cuvée Spéciale XO
8. Dettol
Special guest rum
As has become a tradition, a special guest rum was added to the mix just for fun. This year, dreft was replaced with the lemony goodness of Dettol
Special guest rum (slot 8)
Your host and the final order (plus or minus one)
Of course no visit to the new bar Madou would be complete without some tiki.
Yes, that is what you think it is (in Belgium)
Zombie for the tiki win
And no evening would be complete without a Liberal.
WRT showers and places to stay, above the bar is a complete guest suite featuring wood beams, skylights, a sitting area and glass showers. Sorry, no pictures.
Fix showerheads (plus one) for Madou’s new digs. Can’t wait to be back.
Thanks Madou.
The Great Belgian RUM Tasting of 2016
April 18, 2016
What happens in Lichtervelde? Rum happens, especially at Madou’s abode.
Here is how it went.
Hey guys, what about Eenie Meenie?
Pre-bar chaos reminds me of home in the old days
The Lineup: 12 rums
Cartavio 12 Años – PERU
Cartavio 12 Años – PERU
Very oaky. Hot start. Sugar overcome by oak. 80 proof. SCORE: 4
Millonario XO – PERU
Millonario XO – PERU
Plenty of oak (again). Sugar more present. Blackstrap molasses. Madou’s choice. 80 proof. SCORE: 7
Zafra 21 Yrs – PANAMA
Zafra 21 Yrs – PANAMA
Banana. Fairly flat. Not hot. Not much curl. Watery. 80 proof. SCORE: 5
Clement cuvée speciale XO (rhum agricole) – MARTINIQUE
Clement cuvée speciale XO (rhum agricole) – MARTINIQUE
Ah. Island rum. Better alcohol content. Balanced finish. Proof 88. SCORE: 8
Clement single cask 9/02 (rhum agricole) – MARTINIQUE
Clement single cask 9/02 (rhum agricole) – MARTINIQUE
Super hot but fair. Best yet (after dinner). Balanced and masterful. Proof 93.6. SCORE: 9
Brugal reserve extra viejo – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Brugal reserve extra viejo – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Blech. Please mix with anything. Tiki level rum. H2O. Proof 76. SCORE: 2
Coruba blended Jamaica rum 18 yrs – JAMAICA
Coruba blended Jamaica rum 18 yrs – JAMAICA
Terrible nose. But not a bad rum. Banana. Proof 80. SCORE: 6
Angostura premium rum 1824 – TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO + SCOTLAND
Angostura premium rum 1824 – TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO + SCOTLAND
Nose just hurts. Central America bend at end. Odd and slightly scottish. Proof 80. SCORE: 4
Ron Barceló imperial premium blend #1861 – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Ron Barceló imperial premium blend #1861 – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Jasmine nose. Bitter finish. Over oaked. Sugar front. Proof 86. SCORE: 6
Hamilton St Lucian pot still aged rum 9 yrs #813-9CS – ST LUCIA (aged)
Hamilton St Lucian pot still aged rum 9 yrs #813-9CS – ST LUCIA (aged)
Varnish nose. Stagg hot. Melts. Too many esthers. Proof 122.6. SCORE: 4
Samarold rum 2004 rhum (really?) cask #5 bottle 175 – HAITI
Samarold rum 2004 rhum (really?) cask #5 bottle 175 – HAITI
Good balanced rum. Hot nose. Balanced oak. Whiskey sensibility. Lite. Proof 90. SCORE: 6
Koloa Kaua’i gold – HAWAII
Koloa Kaua’i gold – HAWAII
Armpit nose. Super flat. Yawn. Water. Proof 80. SCORE: 3
Tasting notes were kept.
The verdict is in.
Rum re-ordered by notes and including dreft
The final order:
1. Clement single cask
2. Clement cuvée
3. Millonario
4. Barceló
5. Samarold
6. Coruba
7. Zafra
8. Angostura
9. Cartavio
10. Hamilton
11. Koloa
12. Brugal
13. Dreft
Special guest rum
Special guest rum (slot 13)
Of course, we would be remiss in our NPS duties if we did not report on the shower situation. It is excellent. And madou built the shower himself! Five showerheads.
The non-plastic shower
Non-plastic shower technology system
Thanks madou!
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