I don’t know much about them so I thought I would buy a couple bottles and give them a try. Got a favorite? List it here!
Here is what I have bought so far:
Vizcaya VXOP “Cuban Formula” Rum
http://www.vizcayarum.com/home.html
Demerara Distillers “El Dorado” 15 Year Old Special Reserve Rum
http://theeldoradorum.com/luxury-cask-aged/15-year-old
Plantation Twentieth Anniversary Extra Old Barbados Rum
http://plantationrum.com/en/pages/view/367
C4
Those look good, but alas, I am a Whiskey drinker.
P.S. Get some Colt OEM1s in stock!
I am down with Whiskey and Bourbon, but it is sometime interesting to expand ones horizons lol.
Ya, ya all you care about is Colt and Glock.
C4
I have done dozens of missionary trips to Haiti. Along the way, I have become a huge fan of Barbancourt 5 Star.
I have enjoyed these two on occasion.
Ron Zacappa 23:
http://www.zacaparum.com/en-us/start/
Zaya Gran Reserva:
http://www.infiniumspirits.com/brands/zaya_rum/zaya_rum.html
I like the Zacappa best.
I’m normally a bourbon fan but always looking for something new. This ought to be an interesting thread. Should give me something else to have the wifey get on me about. LOL
Dos Madaras 5+5 is good.
Aged 5 years in Caribbean and 5 more years in sherry casks in Spain. Then shipped to US for sippin’.
It’s very smooth.
Some truly great ones suggested already.
I’d consider myself a rum nut and have had just about everything at some point but always keep these in stock:
For sipping (value):
El Dorado 12yr / 15yr
Appleton 12yr
For sipping (pricier):
El Dorado 21yr
Appleton 21yr
Zacapa Reserva Limitada (harder to source)
For mixing:
-White-
Havana Club 3yr (needs to be imported but worth it)
Plantation 3yr
El Dorado 3yr
-Gold/Dark-
Appleton V/X
Plantation 5yr
El Dorado 8yr
Coruba
-Overproof-
Lemon Hart 151 (now discontinued, but an irreplaceable ingredient for '40s and '50s tiki)
If you travel out of the country, check the duty-free shops for these, they are worth bringing back:
Havana Club 3yr
Havana Club Seleccion De Maestros
Bacardi Reserva Limitada (will blow you away, around $200 now)
Appleton Master Blender’s Legacy (best I’ve ever had, very hard to find now but sometimes around)
All the youngsters and hipsters are drinking Banks 5 Island (all very good) but especially Lost Spirits’ new rum line. Extremely unique, very tasty but their rapid aging process bugs me (for the price they charge).
Used to love rum.
I agree with above Appleton has some really nice rum. I guess it’s the same but I could have sworn the stuff in Jamaica tasted better that what you buy here.
I liked that Zaya too.
I had one shot of end of bottle of something from Cuba and I seem to recall it was maybe 15yo and it was incredibly smooth but no idea what the name was. It might have been Matusalem. I seem to recall the label looked old like parchment.
I used to mix sailor jerry spiced with local fruits in the islands 
hahhaha but for a great spiced rum its about the best
used to have bumboo or bumbau at a local bar as some call it when I lived in the Caribbean interesting way to drink and history behind it
The Vizcaya makes an excellent Mojito, especially if you have your own mint bushes in the back yard, and ready access to fresh Key Limes. Which I do.
I have a rather nice bottle of Sea Wynde pot still rum, that was an experimental batch a few years back. It’s also perfect for sipping over crushed ice on a very hot day.
I’m a major bourbon drinker but since it’s now all the rage I’m having to pay entirely too much for what I like. So I’ve branched out and am making my way through rums.
Two that I like so far:
Ron Zacapa Centenario Sistema Solera 23 Rum - Blend of younger and older rums, very smooth and a good sipping rum.
Pusser’s 15 Yr Old Navy Rum (Nelson’s Blood) - The 15 year old is very very woodsy on the nose and going down. It’s very good but a bit pricy for a rum. The 8 year old version is probably a better value for the money.
I recommend trying Panamanian rums. Ron Abuelo is affordable, good rum.
You had me at mojito… Any houses for sale in your neighborhood?
Enjoy your little slice of heaven serious student. I will rest easier knowing that someone gets to make a mojito from their yard, with fresh mint and limes…
Makes me want to pack up and leave this cold ass place.
Finding a decent mojito in my area is mission impossible.
When Zacapa only put 100% 23 in the bottle it was my favorite. But about 10 years ago they started with the blend and tried to pass it off as the same rum. They lost me with that move.
I pretty much just stay with Flor de Cana Centenario 25 these days.
http://www.flordecana.com/eng/lista_productos.php?id=1
Something I read made me want to go the aged rum route. Basically, it said that aged rums are a fantastic deal (when compared to aged scotch, bourbon, etc). It is one of the last “good deals” available.
I generally like rum, but have only really used it in mixed drinks. So if you like rum (in general), find one of the bottles in this thread that is in the $20-$30 dollar range and give it a try. Worst case you can just use it in your daiquiri! :lol:
C4
Good info! Your a high roller using 3yr old aged rum in your mixed drinks lol.
C4
Since you brought up Mojito’s (one of my favorite drinks), how do you make yours? With simple syrup or cane sugar? Fresh lime or sweetened lime juice? Give us an ingredient list!
C4
Bingo on the bourbon. There is a shortage coming (as there is more consumption to manufacturing at this time). Pretty soon, you will go into your local liquor store and find the shelves empty. Then, they will move onto aged rum and jack the prices up!
Interesting on the Ron Zacapa being a blend. Blended wines are all the rage (and are very good) so I am assuming that this concept would work well with rum too.
C4
For mixing, I use the 7YO Flor de Cana. Nice rich taste and very reasonably priced:
https://therumhowlerblog.wordpress.com/rum-reviews/dark-rums/flor-de-cana-grand-reserve-7yr-old/