What are some of the better ones for sipping? I had one a few months ago at a reunion but no one can tell me what it was. Smooth, medium bodied, not that hot. What would you recommend in the $30-$40 range?

Came here to post Zacapa 23 Solara. I see it didn't take long for it to come up.

Also try Zafra's if you want something else high end but he Zacapa 23 is the best stuff I've found. It's spectacular.

Zaya Gran Reserva is another good one that fits your requirements.

There seems to be a resurgence of Tiki Culture slowly building. I recently picked up Smuggler's Cove, a coffee table book on the history of Tiki Culture and rum drinks. I'm still working my way through the book and have picked up enough rums and orgeat, plus a house made simple sugar, to begin mixing my own Mai Tai's.

Thankfully right now aged rums haven't gone bonkers like bourbons. Which I also love.

But learning about the rums again. The only one I know to avoid is Barbancourt, that stuff is pure diesel.

Now is a good time to get into sipping rums, in hopes the craft cocktail revolution doesn't make them as unaffordable as bourbons.

I like Bambarra as well.

I got a couple bottles of the Zacapa XO for $71 dollars at the twin liquors dollar sale.

Some good ones under $40 bucks that I keep at the home bar are Cruzan Single Barrel, Don Pancho Origines Rum 8 Years, Ron Abuelo Anejo 7 Years, and Clement 'Premiere Canne' Rhum Blanc Agricole

Here's another nod to El Dorado 15 year Special Reserve. I also have a bottle of Pampero Aniversario Reserva Exclusive that I really enjoy

I haven't had many, but of the ones I've sipped, Brugal 1888 and Barcelo Imperial are the tasty ones I've had.

Captain Morgan

Havana Club 7. Drinking a bottle this weekend.

ConstructionAg01 said:

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Zaya

Papas Pilar

Ron Zacapa 23


In that order for me and I drink a lot of sipping rum. It is cheaper than bourbon and better for a night cap.

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This is a good list. I'd add Flor de Cana to it as well, it's a good sipping rum IMO.

The 12 or 18 year old FDC is just great rum, I prefer the 12 y/o of the 18 ironically enough. The 7 year old is my everyday drink. They just came out with a white 7 year old that I tried in mojitos and man was it a smooth dry rum. Very good.

Besides Flor and Zacapa, if you can find 12 year old Botran Anejo i highly recommend it as well.

Saw the Zaya gran Reserva and picked it up. Well try something new tonite

I picked up an El Dorado 15 and my brother got a Zapaca 23 , so it sounds like we will have a good start.

Old New Orleans Cajun spice is a great one as well.

Papas Pilar is my favorite.

Next weekend I'll be stocking the rum/tiki cocktail rums. Building a list for lots of good stuff. This thread is helping a ton, thanks guys.

This thread has made me read more about rum. Learned about Dunder and some simple home barrel kits.

Nice to see a rum thread with some good suggestions.

Out of the gate Zacapa 23 is one of my favorites. The XO is better, and if you can score a bottle of the 15 (haven't seen it on sale here in the US, only on vacation overseas) it is pretty good as well.

Zaya used to be one of my favorites, however I think they recently change the formula and it is a huge step down. The new bottle I saw even went with a twist cap over a cork, and the rum itself is nowhere near as smooth or enjoyable as it was previously. I still have some of the older version that I'll nurse as long as I can.

Pyrat 1623 is a good premium rum. Its little brother Pyrat XO is not bad as a mixer - I personally don't like it straight up because it tends to have an orange flavor.

A surprisingly good line from right next door in Louisiana is Bayou Rum. Their Silver (white rum) is exceptionally good and makes great cocktails or even cuba libres.

I agree with a statement earlier about Bacardi in general, but they do have one rum known as Reserva Limitada that is pretty good. Its just not as common here in the states. The native Puerto Ricans I know don't typically drink Bacardi - they drink Don Q (Anejo or Grand Anejo), or Barrillito (which comes in the 2 star and 3 star version) and recently has come to our area. I saw a couple of bottles in Specs which let me know I no longer needed to nurse my bottles from PR.

A few outliers: the El Dorado line mentioned is pretty good, but I actually enjoy the 15 yr more than the 21 yr. Appleton from Jamaica is classic, but different versions are much better than others. Mt Gay 1703 from Barbados is pretty good as well.

I've been collecting rum for a while, and could add more if you want, but also a decent site to check out is this one:

https://www.rumratings.com/brands


EDIT: This is what I meant about Zaya. If you find the one on the left, definitely buy it. It the bottle looks like the one on the right, it is terrible imo:

http://imgur.com/K3SzKeU

I used to love Zaya pre-'08. But that was the peak of my bourbon hunting so I sort of forgot about it. Will have to look for older labels. Thanks for the heads up.

I've been a rum guy for years, as I generally like something a little sweeter. Bourbons have gotten out of hand as well. I'll agree with everything on jonj's list. It's spot on. Except....I feel that El Dorado 21, if you can find it, is one of the most enjoyable pours in spirits. Just my personal opinion, but I'd take a bottle of it over any other rum on the market and most bourbons. To me...it's the pappy of the rum world.

Saw Zacapa XO on the shelf yesterday. Wasn't in the mood to buy.

Clement VSOP.

Barrilito is awesome, need to get a bottle, we bought 6 when we were in 2012 and I am finally out. I started making infused liquor with the sous vide. I am going to do some 12 year Zacapa and cherries.

Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva from Venezuela is my go to when it's on the shelf, saw it mentioned above.

Also really like Zafra 21. Do you know how much I'd have to pay for 21yo whiskey or whisky? More than $45...

Picked up a Diplomatico Reserva (green bottle) over the weekend. Not a bad pour, different than most rums I've had to be honest - very earthy profile to it, but very good. Not nearly as sweet as some other rums I've had, so it was a great change of pace - great pour over an ice ball. Will definitely be keeping a bottle of it in my cabinet.

Opened up an El Dorado 15 last night. Honestly, I'm a bit disappointed in it. Just seems to not have any real body to it - decent tobacco, but it falls off quick and really just has a real bland profile to me. The Diplomatico was significantly better. I had higher hopes for the El Dorado, will see if opening it up changes it any.