Best sipping rum to start with?

[jwacky]

I first started with spirits by mixing rum and coke, and actually still do prefer that to a whiskey/coke. For neat drinks, I prefer bourbon. Lately, the rums have been catching my eye at the local BevMo and I've been curious about trying something 'nice' that can be had neat (i.e. not in a plastic bottle, ha!).

But since I know next to nothing about rums, I've got no clue where to start. Zaya, Flor de Cana 7 year, and Plantation Barbados seem to be well liked and won't break the bank in case I end up not liking it neat and won't cringe should I end up mixing them. Thoughts on those three? Something else I should look for instead? I'd like to keep it under $30/bottle. Thanks!

[ChainWhip]

There's a rum thread in the non-whiskey forum that's got a lot of great info.

But of your selection @ TotalWine, I'd start with the El Dorado 12 or 15. The 15 is a little funkier but ymmv - they're totally different rums (different blends) so the 15 isn't just the 12 with +3 yrs.

[squire]

El Dorado 5 year fits in that group nicely.

[tanstaafl2]

The Total Wine here has R.L. Seale's 10yo which is an expensive but tasty Barbados rum in a funky bottle.

But you can't go trying El Dorado 12 and 15. The 15 may drift over the $30 limit but it is well worth it in my opinion.

[jwacky]

The Total Wine here has R.L. Seale's 10yo which is an expensive but tasty Barbados rum in a funky bottle.

But you can't go trying El Dorado 12 and 15. The 15 may drift over the $30 limit but it is well worth it in my opinion.

[Clavius]

I highly recommend El Dorado 12yr. The stuff is amazing and I need to get another bottle of it. Also recommend Pampero Aniversario from Venezuela. It's a little over $30 but is quite good, too.

[sailor22]

The Total Wine here has R.L. Seale's 10yo which is an expensive but tasty Barbados rum in a funky bottle.

But you can't go trying El Dorado 12 and 15. The 15 may drift over the $30 limit but it is well worth it in my opinion.

ElDo 15 has been $35 here in North Fla. until they started using a big new South Fla. distributor. Prices on all their products went up 40% at wholesale overnight. Looking at over $50 with tax now.

[squire]

Raise the celing to 'less than' $40 and the choices broaden considerably but at under $30 Barbancourt 5 Star or Bacardi 8 yr is the upper limit and that's only on sale.

Edited July 1, 2013 by squire

[MyOldKyDram]

I highly recommend El Dorado 12yr. The stuff is amazing and I need to get another bottle of it. Also recommend Pampero Aniversario from Venezuela. It's a little over $30 but is quite good, too.

You guys have anything good at your store, Matt? Could use some summertime rum.

[sailor22]

Raise the celing to 'less than' $40 and the choices broaden considerable but at under $30 Barbancourt 5 Star or Bacardi 8 yr is the upper limit and that's only on sale.

In these parts Barbancourt 5 star has been at $50 for more than a year now. It was at $45 for a long time before that. I was shocked at how reasonable it was in Atlanta when I was up there a few weeks ago. Sounds like you need to stock up Squire.

[squire]

Around here the regular price is the same as Bacardi 8 and El Dorado 12 which is to say around $34.95, though I have found them on sale for less, and no, I've already cleaned out the sale stock.

[awachatz]

Rhum Barbancourt 15 yr Estate Reserve, aged in oak.

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2

Edited July 2, 2013 by awachatz

[jwacky]

Thanks for all the replies! I ended up just going with the Plantation Barbados but will certainly reference this list the next time I shop for rum. This will only be the second or third time I've had an actual sipping rum, so I'm eager to crack open the bottle.

[Bourbon Boiler]

Flor de Cana 12 year tastes like bourbon to me at first, only with a sweet, mild finish.

[P&MLiquorsEric]

Just picked up my first premium bottle of rum. A 21 year el dorado. So easy to drink and I could nose it for days. Wish it was higher than 80 proof though.