Two James Doctor Bird Jamaican rum. Ok guys, this is one of my desert island rums that I would rush out to replace if I ever ran out. Seriously the top of my tops. It’s a fairly new player on the market released mid-2017 but has definitely made its mark…
Golden Devil Jamaican rum, Worthy Park. This is an independently bottled (meaning it’s not part of any large company/brand) 10-year old rum from the Jamaican rum/sugar estate: Worthy Park. This was a limited small-batch bottling I picked up from K&L Wines, so I won’t talk too much more about the…
Denizen Merchant’s Reserve rum. If you enjoy Mai Tais, this is definitely a bottle to add to your collection. The classic 1944 Mai Tai is a superb creation that does not resemble the versions you’ll oftentimes find today at vacation resorts or restaurant chains. It is balanced, potent, not overly…
Plantation 3 Stars rum, one of my favorite “white” rums. Plantation has yet to fail me with any of their offerings (all fantastic!), and this one is no exception. If you’re looking for a solid “white” rum for your collection, I would highly recommend picking this up…it’s both affordable and…
Montanya Platino Rum. As part of my Southwest roadtrip last month from Vegas to Denver, I made sure we took a detour to Crested Butte, Colorado to visit surprise surprise, a small craft rum distillery nestled in the Colorado mountains. Let me say that Montanya Distillers is definitely worth a visit…
Hamilton 151 Overproof rum. You haven’t had “151 rum” until you’ve tried 151 rum from Guyana. I think the first time I (and probably many people) ever heard of and experienced “151” was in the context of the recently-discontinued Bacardi 151 (151 is the proof. 75.5% ABV). I literally cried.…
Cuban rum. This is a bit of a different type of bottle talk, since I don’t actually have the bottles, but here we have samples of 3 different Cuban rums that my good friend very generously offered to share with me after his recent trip to Cuba. From L ->…
Plantation 5 Year rum. This is one of my favorite budget bottles of rum. You can find this in the $15-20 range and it is absolutely fantastic and such a steal! It’s a great representation of a well crafted rum at a fantastic price point that will make you question…
Batavia Arrack van Oosten. Arrack is the historical spirit from southeast Asia (the island of Java in Indonesia) that’s often referred to as the predecessor of rum since it is also (mostly) made from sugarcane. Not to be confused with arak (the Lebanese anise-flavored spirit), Javanese arrack is distilled from…
Appleton Estate Signature Blend Rum. Previously known as Appleton V/X, this golden rum comes from the Appleton Estate – the oldest sugar estate and distillery in Jamaica. I’ve been talking quite a bit about Jamaican rums lately (can you tell I’m a big fan?) and I do realize that some…
Wray and Nephew White Overproof rum. If you have any preconceptions about white rum being boring, flavorless, and suitable only when masked by fruit juices and stronger flavors, then this is the bottle that will change your world. Don’t let the clear liquid throw you off, this 63% ABV Jamaican…
Koloa Coconut rum. I’ll admit it, as syrupy sweet and artificial as Malibu is, it was still one of my guilty pleasures that I repurchased probably more times than I should have. Maybe it’s because I’m a bit of a coconut fanatic, but I just can’t deny those sweet tropical flavors.…
Batiste Ecoiste Rhum Agricole. I bought this bottle originally when I was seeking to try out my first agricole rum, and when I saw this one for under $20 at Trader Joe’s, I couldn’t resist! Unfortunately, I wasn’t a huge fan of the flavors in this one… That said, taste is…
Coruba Dark Rum. This bottle here looks a bit silly and cheap with that colorful old-school label, but don’t let that fool ya – this affordable (though can be somewhat hard to find) bottle of “dark rum” is the perfect tiki mixer! Put away your Myers, you NEED this to…
Damoiseau Blanc rhum agricole. This is a rum from the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, and is abso-freaking-lutely fantastic. If you’ve ever thought that “white rum” is all the same, light in flavor and fit only for mixing with sugary juices, read on. What is this “rhum agricole” and how does…
Ron Zacapa Centenario Sistema Solera 23. This is one of the more popular ‘higher end’ rums that is pretty widely available on the market. It was my first ‘fancy’ rum and one that is often recommended to people venturing into rum and first entertaining the thought of rum as a sipper…
Smith & Cross Jamaican rum. If you’re only familiar with rum in the context of bottles like Bacardi white, Captain Morgan spiced, Myers dark, etc, or even dabble in ‘higher end’ ones like the golden Zacapa, Diplomatico, or El Dorado lines, I think this is one rum that will *really*…
Pusser’s Gunpowder Strength Navy Rum. For hundreds of years dating back to the British colonization era, sailors in the British Royal Navy were given a daily ration of rum, at one point up to a cup a day! As modern technology advanced with more dangerous and complex weapons, the daily “tot”…
RUM FIRE. Ok, this recent acquisition (which just became available in California!) may be one of my FAVORITE BOTTLES EVER in my whole collection – definitely one of the most unique and intense! This is a Jamaican overproof unaged white rum that is not for the faint of heart; it’s seriously…
Flor de Caña 4 Extra Seco. Ah, white rum, the most popular kid in the school of rum after Captain Morgan. Thanks to Bacardi and the incredible job they’ve done at marketing rum to the world, white rum is probably what most people commonly associate with “rum” (at least in…
Goslings Black Seal rum. This spirit from Bermuda is the official rum for the Dark N Stormy, a cocktail that’s become super popular with the rising craft cocktail movement. The rum gets its name because during WWII used champagne bottles were refilled with this rum and sealed with a black…