UPDATE 7/19/2021: Hi, y’all! It’s been a while, and I decided that the list was due for an update. Thus, I’ve added:

- Copalli Barrel Rested Rum

- El Dorado 12 and 15 (based upon reports that recent batches contain much less sugar)

Hello, rummies, and welcome to Edition Number Two of my completely unofficial, unsupported, independent and highly opinionated r/rum “What Should I Buy?” Guide! Herein, you’ll find all of the affordable, readily available and (mostly) unadulterated swill that’s fit to swig. Do you want to avoid the numerous traps and pitfalls inherent in your average liquor store’s sugar- and additive-laden rum shelf? Do you want your answer to that perennial, “How did I do?” question to be, “absolutely fantastic, you beautiful person?” Do you want to sip the finest in sugarcane spirits from your crystalline goblet while nestled in that lovely candlelit bubble bath that I know you’re planning on taking tonight? Well, you’ve come to the right place, hun.

Anyway, because some of the picks and omissions herein are likely to be controversial, I feel the need to add a few disclaimers before we proceed:

1) These recommendations represent my opinions ONLY, and they are NOT, nor should they be construed to be, representative of the views of the r/rum community or mod team as a whole.

2) These recommendations center around standard bottles that are readily available off the shelf. If I delved into the likes of one-offs and limited releases, then not only would the list be much longer, but it would also leave the average newbie frustrated as hell that they’re not able to find half of the bottles in question anywhere.

3) These recommendations center around AFFORDABLE bottles. Generally speaking, that means $50 or less, with only a minority of bottles breaking that mark.

4) I don’t differentiate between “sippers” and “mixers.” Generally speaking, anything that I’d use in a cocktail, I’d also sip from a nosing glass in a pinch, and vice versa. Good rum is good rum, even if some good rum might be better than others.

5) The prices referenced are rough estimates as to where the bottle should be ideally priced. If you see the bottle in question marked above the maximum referenced amount, then you might want to think twice about snagging it and grab something else instead.

6) These recommendations are centered around the United States market. If you live in the Eurozone, well, bloody good for you. Go buy any one, or several, or all, of the bajillions of affordable distillery and independent bottlings that remain out of reach for those of us in the Colonies, thank you very much three-tier system.

7) No, I will not add Plantation rums back to the list. No, not even OFTD. And I'm tired of rehashing the arguments as to why. As a result, any further comments regarding why there are no Plantation rums on the list will be responded to with random facts about birds.

That said, if you still have any questions, concerns or complaints regarding the selections or omissions below, please feel free to send a private message my complaints department manager, u/stormstatic. He absolutely adores reading drawn-out dissertations on why Zacapa 23 is the holy nectar of the gods, so please be sure to make your arguments as detailed and lengthy as possible, complete with citations.

I just came back from an interesting trip to Northern Haiti. I’ve recently gotten into clairin, the artisanal rum of Haiti, and I really wanted to visit a distillery. I was able to get in touch with Patrick St. Surin, who makes the excellent Clairin Milot (available in the US via Selection Massale) and arranged a visit to his guildiverie in Carrefour-des-Pères, a rural community south of Cap-Haïtien.

A guildiverie is a rural micro-distillery where clairin is made. Clairin (or kleren) is made in small batches from locally grown sugarcane juice via natural fermentation. Basically the natural wine or small-batch mezcal of the rum world. A pure expression of sugarcane that has terroir. There are aged versions (Velier has some in their lineup) but clairin is typically unaged.

Patrick has been distilling since 2012 when he took over the guildiverie from his father (and before that, his grandfather). In the fields around the distillery, Patrick grows local sugarcane varietals like Medialande. He demonstrated the entire production process, including the sugarcane mill to extract the juice, the open-top fermentation vats using only natural yeasts, and the alembic still. I tried some of his raw sugarcane and then we opened a bottle and enjoyed his clairin, comparing it to the fresh distillate (which he made at slightly lower proof at that point, for the local market). It’s delicious, with the characteristic sugarcane funk on the nose, and pleasant floral and briney notes on the palate. We wandered through the sugarcane fields to the mango tree depicted on his label, and enjoyed his clairin some more.

Since I only had cabin luggage, I couldn’t bring a bottle home, but Patrick insisted on gifting me one to drink during my trip. So I enjoyed his clairin the next day at the beach, and with new friends I made in Haiti and later in the Dominican Republic. Overall a fantastic experience, and one that made me keen to continue exploring the clairin/kleren category.

It has come to my attention that I have a drinking problem, as such I am trying to get sober and will, unfortunately, no longer be drinking and enjoying rum. I've enjoyed all these posts and this community, but I have to leave it as it feeds into temptations and urges to drink.

Enjoy rum responsibly, please.

I see a lot of, “what rum should I buy?” posts on this sub, and pretty much all of the replies involve the same bunch of bottles. With that in mind, I thought I’d write up a quick guide of commonly available bottles that newcomers to rum might be interested in.

Please keep in mind that this is a list of, generally speaking, readily available bottles. If I included every single one-off or rare bottling, then this list would be both way longer and almost useless to the budding rum aficionado. Also, this selection centers around bottles available in the United States, so if you’re located in Europe or elsewhere, then your options may be different (and likely far better, you lucky so-and-sos!)

Also, on a final note: I know that some of my choices and omissions will be controversial, but please keep in mind that the following is my personal opinion only. I don’t (and, well, can’t) speak for the community at large.

So, here they are, in alphabetical order:

Appleton 12-Year - 43% - $35-$45. This Jamaican standby is a blend of pot and column distillate with an honest age statement and no added sugar. Its profile is very whisky-like with a hint of tropical fruit.

Appleton Signature - 40% - $18-$22. While not ideal for sipping like the 12-year, this budget Jamaican rum lends itself exceptionally well to cocktails.

Bacardi 8-Year - 40% - $22-$28. If all you have available to you is the Bacardis, then skip the rest of the range and head straight toward this eight-year-old Puerto Rican ron. It’s minimally sugared and makes a decent sipper or mixer.

Barbancourt 8 - 43% - $22-$28. If the 15-year bottling is too spendy for your pocketbook, this younger bottling is also a tasty sipping rum.

Barbancourt 15 - 43% - $35-$45. At fifteen years old, this Haitian sipping rum is a fantastic value. Expect a refined, cognac-like profile with some citrusy top-notes.

The Clairins - Various ABVs - $40-$45. If you’re really looking to dive headfirst into the wacky world of white rum, then grab one of these Haitian monsters. There are three currently available in the American market - Sajous, Vaval and Le Rocher - and they’re all worth owning.

Clement 6/10/XO - 40% ABV - $50-$70ish. The aged Clements offer a relatively gentle introduction to rhum agricole, or cane juice rum. All three expressions are worth grabbing if you’re in the market for a more “premium” bottle for your shelf.

Damoiseau Pure Cane - 55% ABV - $30-$35. The Gold Standard of white cane juice rums, at least in my book. Think fennel bulb, cane juice and citrus. It makes fantastic cocktails, and even sips well if your tastebuds are a little wacky like mine.

Denizen Merchant’s Reserve - 43% ABV - $28-$32. Originally formulated for Mai Tais, this unadulterated blend of Jamaica and Martinique distillate excels as a high-end cocktail ingredient.

Doctor Bird - 50% ABV - $25-$30. This aged, pure-pot-still Jamaican rum from Worthy Park was finished in moscatel wine casks. Expect sweet grapes alongside pungent funk and rotting tropical fruit (in a good way!)

Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced Rum - 45% ABV - $28-$32. Looking for a spiced rum that doesn’t taste like artificial cherries or vanilla extract? Then look no further than this honestly aged and infused spirit.

Doorly’s 12 - 40% ABV - $25-$30. This cheap-ish aged Foursquare is a favorite daily sipper around these parts. Partially aged in ex-Madeira casks, it’s mildly sweet and fruity - the Glenlivet of rums. Total Wine exclusive

Dos Maderas 5 + 5 - 40% ABV - $40-$45. If you’re a fiend for sherried Scotches, then this blend of Barbadian and Guyanan rum should be your first stop. The ‘5 + 5’ refers to the fact that this blend was aged five years in the tropics in ex-bourbon casks, then five more years in Spain in PX sherry casks.

El Dorado 8 - 40% ABV - $22-$30. Despite its meager age statement, the 8-year El Dorado is a budget-friendly favorite, light on sugar and heavy on the molasses and star anise that we love about Guyanan rums.

El Dorado 15 - 40% ABV - $50-$55. Looking for an upgrade from the tasty 8-year? Skip the too-sweet 12 and go straight for the oaky, pot-still-heavy 15. Expect a more well-aged, pungent Guyanan experience from this bottle.

Foursquare 2004/2005/2007 - 59% ABV - $60-$75. Looking to grab a high-end, high-proof bottle? These periodic vintage releases from Barbados’ Foursquare Distillery are our go-to recommendation. Expect oodles of vanilla bean, oak, citrus and coconut.

Foursquare Spiced Rum - 35% ABV - $13-$15. An honest spiced rum for very little money? Yes, please! If you’re not willing or able to splurge for the Don Q, then this should be your house spiced cane spirit. Total Wine exclusive

Hamilton Demerara Rum - 43% ABV - $22-$25. If all you’re looking for is an El Dorado variant without so much sweetness, and you don’t want to mess with the scorching 151-proof bottling, then this affordable bottling should satisfy that spot on your shelf.

Hamilton Demerara 151 - 75.5% ABV - $28-$32. If you’re in the market for a floater for cocktails or fuel for 151 Swizzles, skip the Lemon Hart and look for this bottle from rum maestro Ed Hamilton and crew.

Hamilton Navy Strength - 57% ABV - $25-$30. A blend of aged rums from Guyana and Jamaica, this bottling from Rum Minister Ed Hamilton is great for sipping or sinking into high-octane cocktails. It’s full of caramelized banana, molasses and dark fruit.

Mount Gay Black Barrel - 43% ABV - $20-$25. If you’re craving the whiskey-like Barbadian profile on the cheap and don’t have a Total Wine nearby, then look for this budget-friendly bottle.

Mount Gay XO - 43% ABV - $40-$50. MGXO, as it’s affectionately known, is one of our basic recommendations for newcomers to rum from the whiskey world. It’s very whiskey-like in profile and additive-free, so it’s a relatively risk-free buy for bourbon and Scotch aficionados alike.

Novo Fogo Barrel-Aged Cachaca - 40% ABV - $38-$43. If you’re looking to see what cachaca - Brazilian cane juice rum - is all about, then splurge on this bottle. Novo Fogo age their spirit in re-charred ex-bourbon casks, so their aged cachaca caters very much to American tastes while still retaining its character.

Pampero Aniversario Reserva Exclusiva - 40% ABV - $32-$40. If you’re looking for a significant step up from the likes of Bacardi and Cruzan but don’t want to travel too far away in terms of profile, then this lightly sugared Venezuelan ron may be to your tastes.

Plantation Barbados 5-Year - 40% ABV - $18-$25. This lightly sugared, cognac-finished riff on the typically unadulterated Barbadian style offers another budget-friendly alternative for fans of Mount Gay Black Barrel and Doorly’s.

Plantation Jamaica Vintage - Various ABVs - $45-$50. The best of the readily available Plantation vintage bottlings, in my humble opinion. This lightly sugared, cognac-finished Jamaican rum has been released in various vintages, from 2000 to 2005, and all of them are worth a purchase.

Plantation OFTD - 69% ABV - $28-$32. OFTD is a favorite around here for good reason. It’s a brilliant high-octane cocktail incredient, and with a little water it makes a fantastic sipper as well. Oh, and it comes in a hefty 1L bottle!

Plantation Stiggins’ Fancy - 40% ABV - $25-$30. One of the few “fruity rums” worth having on your shelf, The Stigs is dark rum infused with Victorian pineapples. It’s surprisingly balanced and not too sweet.

Plantation Xaymaca - 43% ABV - $23-$26. This new Jamaican blend from Plantation offers an affordable, approachable gateway into the realm of funky Jamaican hooch. It’s got the tropical fruit that you’d expect, but it won’t kick you in the face with funk.

Pusser’s Gunpowder Proof - 54.5% ABV - $35-$38. If you’re looking for a funky, molassesy Navy-style rum but can’t find the Hamilton, then Pusser’s has you covered. My advice: Skip the wimpy 42% ABV bottling and pay a little extra for this amped-up version.

The Real McCoy 12 - 46% ABV - $50-$55. If you don’t have a Total Wine near you and can’t find the Exceptional Casks, then this third-party bottling is your best bet for that whisky-like Foursquare profile. Just make sure you’re getting the new 46% version and not the old 40% one.

Rhum J.M. Blanc - 50% ABV - $30-$33. If you can’t find the Damoiseau Pure Cane (or if that bottle isn’t to your tastes), then try on this unaged Martinique cane juice rum for size. It’s drier and more herbaceous than the Damoiseau, but it takes ‘Ti Punches just as well.

Rhum J.M. XO - 45% ABV - $65-$70. The best readily available, high-end aged agricole, IMO. Expect loads of cognac/Armagnac-like notes alongside that signature J.M. herbal profile.

Santa Teresa 1796 - 40% ABV - $38-$42. This Venezuelan blend of pot and column distillate is another good option for a higher-end, Latin-style sipping ron.

Smith and Cross - 57% ABV - $32-$38. If you really want to experience Jamaican funk, then this lightly aged, pure-pot-still Jamaican beast should be your next stop. It’s a titan of rotting fruit and funk that will put hair on your chest - if you can stand to take a sip.

Stolen Overproof - 61.5% ABV - $18-$22 (375mL). A more refined (but still kick-in-your-face punchy) alternative to Smith and Cross, this six-year-old sourced Jamaican bottling was supposed to be a limited release... but it can still be found everywhere.

Velho Barreiro Cachaca - 40% ABV - $16-$20. Looking for a budget-friendly cachaca to dump into Caipirinhas? This nondescript bottle is my go-to recommendation.

Wray & Nephew Overproof - 63% ABV - $25-$28. Jamaican overproof rum is an essential bar staple, making everything from Wray & Tings to Overproof & Gingers to kickin’ Daiquiris. Wray Overproof is the most widely available example of the style.

Too bad there's not enough time to try them all

3/4 oz Rum Fire 3 oz coconut water 1/2 lime juiced Pinch of salt Poured over ice

So, this whole story starts with the fact I was on hold with GoDaddy customer support for over 3 hours today. I haven’t been drinking as much lately, but that phone call pushed me over the edge and I said, “I’m going to the liquor store.” That, and it’s my birthday weekend. However, I had some errands to run, so I did not venture to my usual store but decided to stop at this location, since it was en route. As I made my way to the rum section to buy a bottle of Ron Zacapa Centenario, this sleeve tucked away on the top shelf caught my eye. Seemed out of place and there was only one, no stock behind it. Imagine my surprise at quick Google search. Snagged this bad boy for $199.99. Do you think it’s just been sitting there since 2009?

I was told over at r/woodworking that you guys might like this. It’s a display piece I built for a bar so they could show off their best bottles.

And yes, if you’re wondering, I also built a more traditional cabinet where most of the bottles and glassware are stored. This one is really just for show and was designed to be the centerpiece of the bar. Here you can see Zacapa solera 23, Zacapa XO, Coloso, Colonial, Rum Botran 15, and at the end a tequila and whiskey bottles.

Got to attend Rum et al's new distillery in El Segundo, California! Rum et al, founded by Dr. Robyn Smith who has a background in chemical engineering, focuses on experimental craft rums, with in-depth chemical analysis and full transparency on the process. She just officially opened her own space to the public, and I was able to attend for the opening night. Really amazing space, very whimsical decor and so cool to see the fermentation and distillation process up close. A must visit if you're a rum or spirit enthusiast visiting Southern California. Looking forward to more classes and tastings in the future!