Got good sipping rum

[callmeox]

We are on vacation in Florida this week, so I figured that I would grab a bottle of Zacapa 23 as my vacation treat. I sampled a bit of it at Dougs this past spring and I came away very impressed. It is a superb neat sipper.

[tmckenzie]

My liquor store man knows I like good rum, so he suggested I pick up a new one they brought in. Ron Abeulo anjeo rum. 10 bucks for a 750. I said what the hell. Hands down the best value on the market. It is made in Panama from cane juice and molasses. Great stuff.

[Jono]

Just picked up some Pyrat XO....wow, very good and unique. Almost bourbon like in taste with a sweet pineapple like note.

[chperry]

English Harbour 5 Year old Antigua rum. Great stuff for sipping. That and Goslings (for dark and stormy cocktails) are my two favorite rums.

[fivedime]

My long-time favorite non-spiced rum is Appleton Special (which is, ironically, their lower grade rum). Mixes better with Pepsi or RC than Coke (not a knock against Coke, it mixes best with Captain Morgan for example), and is smooth and flavorful enough to sip if that's your thing. Usually costs in the low teens for a 750 ml bottle.

I won't (can't) swear to it, but I believe it is aged in used Jack Daniel's barrels, for those who will admit to liking Jack around here LOL. I have been told various parts of the story on various distillery visits, but Jack does ship out most of their used barrels, of course; some barrels go to Jamaica; Appleton is made in Jamaica; both are BF brands; and the flavor profile might well be described as a rum version of JD.

[sailor22]

If you run across either Atlantico or Zafra you might want to pick them up as they are both worth a try. I find them both nicely balanced sippers without the weight or syrupy character of some of the darker Demerara juice. The Atlantico has a buttery taste and the Zafra has subtle and delicious caramel undertone. Neither is extremely complex but both have just enough going on to keep your interest as a sipper.

For more complex sippers look at El Dorado 15 and 21 along with Zacappa 23 and XO. Zaya would be high on a lot of peoples list also.

[Bourbon Boiler]

The Flor de Cana line is my standby if I'm looking for a sipping or a mixing rum, although either occasion is rare. Tonight happens to be one of those nights.

I received a bottle as a gift just prior to Thanksgiving, and it changed my opinion on rums in general.

[moose]

Just picked up some Pyrat XO....wow, very good and unique. Almost bourbon like in taste with a sweet pineapple like note.

Same here, Picked up some Pyrat XO when I saw it for $19.99. Has a unique presentation, hand numbered bottles (glass is really heavy and thick). The stuff inside is good, doesn't taste like any rum I have ever had, good notes of orange marmalade and some honey sweetness to it. I don't think I'll be drinking it often until it gets warm out. But so far I have been impressed, very good rum.

[Jwilly019]

The Flor de Cana line is my standby if I'm looking for a sipping or a mixing rum, although either occasion is rare. Tonight happens to be one of those nights.

I received a bottle as a gift just prior to Thanksgiving, and it changed my opinion on rums in general.

I really enjoy the Flor de Cana line. El Dorado rums are great as well.

[Parkersback]

I picked up a mini (50ml) of Zacapa 23yr Solera. Now, my rum literacy is basically nil, but I can say this was pretty tasty. Very, very sweet. Then you think about it a moment and you remember, "Yeah, this is distilled sugar." And that's about what it tastes like. But with some depth and contour.

But here's the part I don't understand: a full 750ml bottle of this stuff is like $35-$40, which is fine. But the mini bottle I got was $1.50 out the door.

My math isn't all that great, but they're not giving me a lot of incentive to pick up the big one.