Seeking rum recommendations
One of the first times I ever tried rum was in college, when someone was buying a round of drinks for me and my friends. I wasn’t yet much of a drinker and didn’t really know what to order, so when my roommate ordered rum and coke I asked for the same. I found it revolting - far too sweet and with an aftertaste that convinced me I hated rum. Shortly thereafter, vodka established itself as my liquor of choice and I remained faithful to it for a long time.
But recently, I decided to give rum a second chance, and asked the owner of my local package store to recommend something inexpensive (in case I hated it) but worth drinking (in case I didn’t). He set me up with a bottle of Cruzan Dark, which I drank with club soda and a squeeze of lemon and found to be pretty good. Since then I’ve tried a number of other rums of varying quality (my current favorite is Pyrat XO Reserve), but I’m looking for more. If you’re a rum drinker, what’s your favorite rum in each price range? And why do you like it?
I wish I could drink rum without becoming an emotional drunk after. lol. Normally I drink bicardi if I am going to have mojitos, but that’s because I can disguise it with tons of lime and mint leaves. Now… if we get on the whiskey talk, I am all for it.
In my quest to find a mixing liquor that actually had a good taste I found that Captain Morgan Tattoo mixes well with your cola of choice and that it does not have that trademark overpowering rum aftertaste. A few of my friends have said it to be too sweet, but I find it a refreshing alternative to the $15 rum price bracket.
While bartending, I developed a fondness for Mount Gay Eclipse and Extra Old. Quite a deal for the price, yet I wouldn’t spring for the Extra Old if you were going to mix it heavily. Both rums add a smooth flavor with oak undertones not usually found in a rum, yet it’s not charred.
Barcelo is good. Dominican I believe, although I had a hard time finding it in NYC.
Appleton (Jamaican) is also good and relative inexpensive
Sailor Jerry (100 proof) - Hella cheap (~10$) navy style rum.
Stroh (160 proof)- Expensive (~30$) Austrian rum. Equal parts Stroh and Barenjager (a honey liqueur) and six parts coke.
Interestingly enough, if you like Dr. Pepper you’d love tattoo as if you mix it with coke or Dr. Pepper it’ll taste like Dr. Pepper.
Ron Zacapa (http://www.ronzacapacentenario.com/) is the best rum on the market, in my opinion. I attended a “Rums of the World” party a couple years back and tried about 20 different popular rums, including many far more expensive than Ron Zacapa, and I had to conclude that it was the finest I’ve ever found.
It has the smoothness of a spiced rum without the overly sweet taste. I highly, highly, highly recommend it.
Oh, and Ron Zacapa’s only about $54 CAD, so you should be able to get it for under $50.
Ron Zacapa Centenario. that’s my fav at least. it’s Guatemalan rum and the best i’ve tasted so far. i suppose it’s pretty inexpensive compared to other liquors (tequila, whiskey, scotch, premium vodka), but i’ve heard people that have been able to find it in the states that bars and liquor stores jack up the price a bunch. places i’ve heard where it’s easy to find: Miami, New York, D.C., Houston, L.A., pretty much any place with a high hispanic concentration. so, yeah, Ron Zacapa Centenario.
I like Brugal Anejo from the Dominican Republic. There is an “Import” version that can be had in the U.S. for around $15. It’s very smooth and drinkable; I actually prefer it neat as opposed to mixing. If you can actually get a bottle of Brugal Anejo direct from the DR, then it’s even cheaper (like $6) and it tastes even better.
There is also an EXCELLENT Cuban rum I’ve acquired in the past, but that involves either living in a different country or a little Han Solo style smuggling.
I enjoy dark rums far more than I do white rums. I’ve sampled quite a variety of rums (including Pyrat, which I enjoyed). To this day, my go to drinking rum is Havana Club Anejo Reserva. It goes for about $30 CAD for 26 ounces/fifth in Vancouver. That being said I’m not even certain if you could get your hands on a bottle on your side of the border, with the embargo and so forth.
I second the opinion on Brugal Anejo. Absolutely the best for the dollar.
I would also recommend the rums being produced by the Rogue brewery (http://www.roguespirits.com/spirits.html), from Oregon. They have been picking up quite a few awards for them. They do dark, light, and Hazelnut.
I enjoy Cpt. Morgans Tattoo, as well as their Silver for the coconut flavor.. also, Mount Gay is delicious as well. And I’m poor, so you know they’re affordable.
Goslings Black Seal. If you can find it, try the higher proof Black Seal (140 or 151).
I can also recommend Mount Gay.
I second Jacque on Gosling’s Black Seal. An excellent, dark flavor. I lived on a small island fishing community for a season, and discovered the joys of the “Dark and Stormy”– Gosling’s Black Seal, Ginger Beer (my personal favorite is the Goya brand), a slice of lime, and ice. YUM. Spicy and flavorful and really relaxing after a hard day’s work. My rum (and drink) of choice.
As an Australian, I can say that Bundaburg Rum is always a good, mid-price option.
But I’m buggered if you’ll be able to find it in NYC.
It’s hard enough to find in Britain.
(side note: In my experience truly enjoying rum requires you to pace yourself well and choose your drinking buddies carefully, as too much rum too fast makes fro ugly drunks)
I’d go with a nice bottle of Santa Teresa…tried a few glasses of this particular spirit while on vacation at Isla Marguerita, and it tasted great…could be me, but it almost had a bit of a chocolate’y aftertaste
Mind you, experiencing their behaviour on the road, it could be they’ve already gone through their inventory themselves
I was going to suggest the Cruzan flavored rums. Surprisingly good for the price.
My sister, who is an actual square-rig sailor recently discovered Caruba, tonic and a twist of lime (with extra Cointreau if you want more alcohol). Dark, spiced rum is the way to go, rather than light, bacardi style nail-polish remover (tho that’s good in daquiris).
My sister, who is an actual square-rig sailor recently discovered Caruba, tonic and a twist of lime (with half a shot of Cointreau optional). Dark, spiced rum is the way to go, rather than light, Bacardi-style nail polish remover (tho that’s great for daiquiris).
crap. double post. sorry. thought noscript had blocked the first one.