Say it isn't so - Cruzan Estate Diamond discontinued!

[Margy Z]

Just read on another forum that Diamond (5 year dark)has recently been discontinued by Cruzan. Has anyone heard this? We brought back 12 bottles in April as it is DH's fave and pretty rare to find here.

I read someplace that there's a Mount Gay rum that is very close - any suggestions for a sub?

[mathayom]

I have not heard this, what a shame if its true!

I'll have to stock up on the single barrel while it's around. Mount Gay is actually my first choice, but Cruzan is so cheap down here that I can't resist.

[Bug]

Hi Margy:

I have been checking loking for the Vanilla Cruzan for the past couple weeks and it's been out of stock. I finally asked last week and the liquor store attendant told me they discontinued several flavors. But, when I went on the website they are still there. Perhaps they just aren't sending them to the US right now.

I'll look next time I'm at the liquir store for your Diamond if you'll look for my vanilla

XOXO
Bug

[Margy Z]

Bug - happy to look. We have a place called Famous Liquors that carries about all of the flavors. The Diamond is still on the Cruzan website, too, although when I looked last night the new flavored rum, Guava, had not yet been added. I heard about the Diamond being discontinued from someone living on STX but I'm still hoping this info is incorrect.

When we hit the airport at STX recently, I had something called an "8 to 1" at the Welcome to the VI kiosk. An "8 to 1" is 8 parts chilled Cruzan Rum Cream to 1 part Cruzan Vanilla. Pretty darn good! Lots of folks arriving for Taste of St. Croix that day and there was a party atmosphere at the kiosk. Had a few of those "8 to 1s" while DH was off getting the rental car - lol. Nice arrival!

[mrscaptainjay]

I used to work for the ABC back in WV and I just checked with them about this (it's good to have connections). Cruzan discontinued the product back in March. So it looks like the rumor may be true. Sorry.
Deb

[CariBert]

Deb, since the Diamond is 5 year old rum, do they think (your connections) that we will have the rum for 5 more years before they run out? The bottles that are hitting the shelves now were made 5 years ago......

-Bert

[Margy Z]

Bert - GREAT question! Maybe there's still hope for DH. Just wondering - do they make the blend first and then age it or do they age and then make the blend from different aged casks and then bottle? (I guess we're going to have to take the Cruzan rum factory tour one of these trips and learn the process).

[CariBert]

I'm pretty sure they age it before they do anything else. Sooooooo, they put the last of it in barrels in March, That should be ready to bottle and sell by March of 2013........I think...But we still need to take the tour...and do the tasting.....it's really good.

-Bert

[mrscaptainjay]

Good question. All I know is they pulled the listing and said it was discontinued. I wonder if they stopped making it 5 years ago and just held off the news. Or they could just be distributing what is left to the bigger resellers. WV is small potatoes, so they would be the first to loose the product.

[cocosmom]

Cruzan was sold summer of 06 and not much has been done with it. The previous owners put a lot of work into promoting (Chesney concert sponsers for 4 years) but the new owners are letting it slide. I believe it is up for sale again, if it isn't already sold. Problem is when new people buy it the old players are let go & things happen. Happens all the time in the liquor business. Hubby has spent years builing up lines only to have the owners sell & the new owners don't put the same effort in & it goes downhill. I am afraid you will see that with Cruzan, at least for now.

[mrsb]

We are Cruzan deprived here in PA as it is. Damn liquor lobby Before ever tasting Cruzan I thought Bacardi was good. Now I turn my nose up at it. I asked for Cruzan in a restaurant and the girl said "we only have the normal rum" Huh?