So the overall consensus so far is neat or very little ice. Is this how you all drink your sipping spirits? Or only for this particular rum?
Depends on the drink, and what parts I'm trying to hide or accentuate. Like wine, the more volatile components of rum (or anything else) will be more muted when cold. Sometimes that's what I'm after, sometimes not. Also depends on how much the alcohol burns, the 'hotter' the drink, the colder I drink it.
Generally speaking, I like sweeter rums like Zaya, Zacapa, etc. neat. I think the sugar helps smooth out the drink and cover the alcohol, no need for ice. Longer aged rums (i.e. Mt Gay Extra Old, Ron del Barilito, etc) tend to have more subtleties that I don't want to hide with ice, and they're usually smooth enough that I don't need to chill the drink for them to be palatable.
Younger/harsher rums I'll drink with a single ice cube usually. Plantation Jamaica comes to mind. I like it, but it's rough around the edges, and the alcohol will reach up out of the glass and slap you in the face.
If it's winter time and I'm sitting outside by the fire, I'll take the harsher rums neat, sometimes the burn is good
In the end, ya gotta choose for yourself. I used to use ice more often than I do now, so I guess there's a bit of a learning curve/acquired taste too.
