I can definitely understand how costs come into account. Shipping from the US to the EU costs bodyparts sometimes. Maybe you can attract Tommy Bahama as a sponsor? Good rum, nice fancy clothing :)

I pretty much agree with you Derrick. The point I was simply trying to make is that getting hung up on brand names is limiting and counterproductive. For example, Baileys Irish Cream. Who doesn't love it? One day; however, I decided to try some other brands of Irish Cream. First I tried Cask and Cleaver, but IMO it was too "thin" (more whiskey, less cream). Then I tried Carolan's, which I thought every bit as good as Bailey's, and I've bought it ever since. Not to mention that for $8 less per bottle, I can almost afford to throw in some Triple Sec for the same price! :-)
 
I wouldn't necessarily say that large brands are inferior to small brands. After all, Bacardi, DeKuyper's, et. al. got to where they are for a reason. The difference is that once you become as big as Bacardi, for example, you've got the name recognition and market saturation that allows you to undersell everyone else. That's not to say they're better than the smaller brands either. Small brands have to go the extra mile using natural ingredients and more labor intensive methods as you described to carve out an unique niche for themselves in the marketplace.
 
As for Grand Marnier and Triple Sec, I would argue that they fill very different roles. IMO Grand Marnier is a liqueur that's meant to be more at the center of a cocktail, while Triple Sec is usually one of many flavors in the drink's "bouquet." I mean if you just wanted a hint of orange, why would you waste putting a top shelf ingredient like Grand Marnier in a concotion of many liqueurs where its distinctive taste would be overwhelmed. It would be the equivalent of putting Dom Perignon into a Champagne Cocktail! :-)
 
My rule of thumb for buying liqueur if I'm not familiar with any of the brands, is to choose the mid-range priced one, unless the recipe specifically calls for a brand by name. And if they are all priced the same, I just pick the prettiest bottle! haha :-)
 

Well my question about Bols & De Kuyper is mainly because I'm looking to get Crème de Bananes and Blackberry Brandy to make Rum Runners. But Bols doesnt have Blackberry Brandy. So its either getting 2 different brands, or using fresh Blackberries and use a blender. Problem there is that you dont always have fresh fruits on hand when you're feeling like something, which is why the actual cordial would be preferable, even when the taste and quality of the drink would suffer from it.

Well, i have tryed Bols vs. DeKuyper and they taste the same. Exactlly the same. So i guess you should take the cheapest. I guess that if you wanna have a nice "bartender liquor"(thats like peachtree or bols blue) i would buy it from a smaller brand.
 
Im not a big fan of brandwars myself so i always trys to try different ones and get the one i like and in clear rums i like bacardi best, havnt tryed 10 cane yet but i think its better because it cost 60$ in sweden.