What top shelf rum should I buy?

[Tripdforlife]

Over the last couple months I have considered an online purchase for top-shelf rum. I had my heart set on Pyrat Cask 1623, but am now wondering if I should attempt to expand my horizons a bit more?
What do you all consider to be one of the best rums to sip with a price point between $100-$200 retail?

[Arctic Wolf]

Here are some of the top scores from my website:

Appleton Estate Master Blender’s Legacy 92.5/100
Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva 97/100
El Dorado Special Reserve 21-Year Old Rum 95/100
Flor de Cana Centenario 12yr Old Rum 97pts
Havana Club Cuban Barrel Proof Rum 95/100
Review: Ron Zacapa XO (25 Year Solero) Rum 95 /100
Pusser’s 15 Yr Old Navy Rum (Nelson’s Blood) 91/100
Ron Matuselum Gran Reserva 93.5 pts
Juan Santos 21 Yr Antigua Reserva Rum 93.5/100

Most of these can be had for between 60 and 100 bucks so why not order two.

[leisure master]

Over the last couple months I have considered an online purchase for top-shelf rum. I had my heart set on Pyrat Cask 1623, but am now wondering if I should attempt to expand my horizons a bit more?
What do you all consider to be one of the best rums to sip with a price point between $100-$200 retail?
Excellent question, but the answer is a bit subjective - to help with suggestions, what rums are your favorites (and most disliked) today?

[Tripdforlife]

Unfortunately my option are limited here in Nebraska, so I'm stuck with the all powerful internet to fulfill my desires. I've sampled Pyrat Cask 23 as I mentioned, but for a "top shelf" rum I'm rather what I'd say new. I have my favorites:
Mt Gay XO, Zaya, Flor de Cana 7, and Oronoco; but for a rare or seldom buy I'm rather perplexed. Do I try something new? (i.e. Ron Abuelo Centuria) , do I go for a "french style" , Clement XO ? Do I go for the bottle design to dictate? ( Mocambo Art Edition, R.L. Seale's Finest ( I've only sipped once)) Porfidio Single Cane Anejo (disgusting stuff in my opinion) ? or do I play it safe and simply order what I know (kinda lame for the rum venturer I know but we all love what we love)... I guess with that said, in all of its vagueness where would you go for your next level of rum enlightenment?

[Ruminsky Van Drunkenberg]

Unfortunately my option are limited here in Nebraska, so I'm stuck with the all powerful internet to fulfill my desires. I've sampled Pyrat Cask 23 as I mentioned, but for a "top shelf" rum I'm rather what I'd say new. I have my favorites:
Mt Gay XO, Zaya, Flor de Cana 7, and Oronoco; but for a rare or seldom buy I'm rather perplexed. Do I try something new? (i.e. Ron Abuelo Centuria) , do I go for a "french style" , Clement XO ? Do I go for the bottle design to dictate? ( Mocambo Art Edition, R.L. Seale's Finest ( I've only sipped once)) Porfidio Single Cane Anejo (disgusting stuff in my opinion) ? or do I play it safe and simply order what I know (kinda lame for the rum venturer I know but we all love what we love)... I guess with that said, in all of its vagueness where would you go for your next level of rum enlightenment?

At this stage, my recommendation is to get everything and anything you can lay your hands on to educate yourself as to what you personally like, and what the pieces of your likes are comprised of. Then you can start getting more involved in different styles - dark, light, agricole, spiced, dry, sweeet, aged or what have you. I think of it like reading - it's only by reading the dreck with the gold that you know what gold actually is. Good luck.

[dreliason]

What you really need to do it book a cruise to the Carribean, especially one that stops in Tortola, Martinique, St. Lucia, Barbados, and Grenada. These islands seem to have the very best rums. Buying a bottle at the store, or ordering one to be delivered may be nice ... but there is nothing, absolutely nothing, like tasting and buying the rum where it is made.

[Rutherford H Mountbatten]

I would also recommend branching out into more $25-$60 rums to find out exactly what you like right now. With typical American prices, you're paying more for scarcity than age above the $40-$50 range. Anything on Arctic Wolf's list below would be good to get, and I'd add Abuelo 7 or 12 and something from Plantation to that list. Find out exactly what you like, then go for an older version of the same flavor profile. I'd buy a bottle of Abuelo Centuria, but only because their 12-year rum won a blind taste test of my rums, which shows me that I really like what they have in mind for rum.

[Tripdforlife]

Arctic Wolf: I love your list, as I go through it i see that I have only had one from it and may indulge into your suggestions a little more as I do intend to educate myself as much as possible.
Ruminsky: I have been slowing refining my style (I believe) and have found so far that the rum must be at least 7 years old; not solera style. I do love the aged rums. Spicy and sweet tones are preferred as are layers of distinction. I always tend to come back to Mount Gay XO as I find it changes 3 levels as I sip it, spicy, sweet and warm, and then leading into a buttery and smooth.
Rutherford: I've attempted to branch out as much as possible over the years as I do find in the midwest you pay highly for scarcity, I once waited 6 months and payed twice the worth for a bottle of ED 15, but I feel the experience was worth it. I find myself ending up at the Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits rifling down the aisles as they have the biggest purchasing power in the region, but alas they too have run short of quenching my thirst for knowledge. For the $25 -$60 range, I still end up with what I call my Noble 5:
Zaya, Bacardi 8, Mount Gay XO, Zacapa 23 Solera, and Cruzan Single Barrel, with the occasional Oronoco for my light rum. These are great rums don't get me wrong, but I find myself pondering; What next ?

[leisure master]

Unfortunately my option are limited here in Nebraska, so I'm stuck with the all powerful internet to fulfill my desires. I've sampled Pyrat Cask 23 as I mentioned, but for a "top shelf" rum I'm rather what I'd say new. I have my favorites:
Mt Gay XO, Zaya, Flor de Cana 7, and Oronoco; but for a rare or seldom buy I'm rather perplexed. Do I try something new? (i.e. Ron Abuelo Centuria) , do I go for a "french style" , Clement XO ? Do I go for the bottle design to dictate? ( Mocambo Art Edition, R.L. Seale's Finest ( I've only sipped once)) Porfidio Single Cane Anejo (disgusting stuff in my opinion) ? or do I play it safe and simply order what I know (kinda lame for the rum venturer I know but we all love what we love)... I guess with that said, in all of its vagueness where would you go for your next level of rum enlightenment?
There's nothing wrong with getting your rum from the internet - I live in NYC and have to find many rums that way.

I agree with those saying to use your "top shelf bottle" money to buy everything you can to educate yourself instead of shooting for one big ticket item. There plenty of great stuff relatively cheap out there. Keep an eye on the origins and syles of rum you buy to avoid duplication of similar style rums by different brands.

Artic Wolf does have a good list there for you to start with (except the Havana Club, which he can get and you and I just have to be jealous dammit....HMMR).

Let our good friends Seth at Shopper's Vineyard and Forrest at HiTimes Wines help you out as a starting point. They are both posters on this site. From Shopper's Vineyard, if you like Zaya and you want to try something upscale, you MUST buy the Zacapa XO (http://www.shoppersvineyard.com/store/pc/RON-ZACAPA-XO-CENTENARIO-SOLERA-GRAN-RESERVA-ESPECIAL-RUM-302p12453.htm). They have this rum for $50, when it is more than $100 just about everywhere else. You will not be disappointed.

Another personal favorite of mine is Smith & Cross. This is a wonderful overproof funky old-style Jamaican rum. GREAT for mixing but a bit aggressive as a sipper (though I've certianly sipped a bunch). I usually find this one for around $30.

I also love El Dorado 15 as a great example of a demerara that you can mix with or sip as you please. You should find this one for around $30 too. Don't get me started on the ED25 - this to me is the only >$150 rum that is really really worth the price.

To me the best value sipper is the Diplimatico Reserva Exclusiva - around $30 a bottle and just fantastic to sip. I don't think I ever mix with this rum.

Drifting over to agricoles, there are several to try, I love the whole line of Clement rhums, but they can be pricy (most agricoles are due to the production process). You can also try the rhums from St. James to get a feel for the agricole style without spending a ton of dough.

Most recently, I have renewed my love of the Plantation rums - this is a great way to try a number of different styles of rum all made under one name. I especially like the Guyana, the Bardados 5 and the 20th Anniversary Barbados (http://www.drinkupny.com/Plantation_Twentieth_Anniversary_p/s0472.htm?utm_source=Vinquire&utm_medium=WineFeed&utm_content=Plantation+Twentieth+Anniversary+Extra +Old+Barbados+Rum&utm_campaign=base&v_traceback=c0710_0430_f0710_0519). They are all good, but these are the ones that stand out to me.

Oh, like many people here I could go on and on and on, but the fun is just diving in and finding what you like. Get on a bunch of email lists for the on-line sellers, they often have specials like no shipping costs on orders above a certain amount, so that can take the sting out of buying from the interweb.

oh - and try Banks 5 island for a great white rum. One my favorites.

[SeldomSeen]

Yeah. What he (leisure master) said. But try the El Dorado 12. I prefer it over the 15. But do your own comparison and judge for yourself. Btmup.gif

[Tripdforlife]

I have taken Arctic Wolf's and Leisure Master's ques and have 2 bottles of rum on there way; Zacapa XO and Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva. Along with the dozen or so other rums under my belt, this should enlighten me that much more and push me to new bounds. Now for the other 300 on the list.

[ShadeRF]

My favorite I have tried thus far is the Don Q Gran Anejo. Absolutely wonderful rum.

[Tripdforlife]

I considered Don Q for quite awhile; but as the blend starts rather young I figured it would come close to comparison with Cruzan Single Barrel; as I do love this rum I'm looking for the next "wow" rum. And for the area I'd much rather try Trigo's Riserva Aneja, I think.

[Rum Ball]

Diplomatico or Zacapa, cant go wrong either way.

[losty]

Diplomatico or Zacapa, cant go wrong either way.

Agree!! Also any of the ED ranges.gzzg + Cruzan SBHMMR

[Tony8669]

I'll have to say I love the El Dorado 15yr and 21yr rums, sweet and flavourful rums.

I also love the Plantation 20th anniversary rum sweet and flavourful with a hint of coconut.

Last but not least I love the Ron Zacapa Centenario XO rum again sweet smooth flavourful rum.

I just bought the English Harbour 25yr rum and the El Dorado 25yr rum because of the reviews but have not tried them yet.

I'm new to the forum and to rum sipping so my description are not the best learning as I go.

[Mikeycanuk]

While not top $, I really like the Angostura 1824. It's smooth and not too sweet.

[jrl915]

I agree with Plantation 20th anniversary and Zacapa 23. If you like them slightly drier, try Santa Teresa 1796.

[Ruminsky Van Drunkenberg]

St. Nicholas Abbey 10 for sure (but it'll dent your wallet)
Havana Club Barrel Proof
AD Rattray Caroni 13 year old
El Dorado 21 year old
English Harbour 1981 25 yr old
I'm not a raving fan, but the Mount Gay 1703 is pretty good
Appleton 12 year old is simply a solid rum
Cruzan Single Barrel
Renegade Rums are hit or miss but I like most of them
Juan Santos 21 yr old
Cavalier 1981 if you can find it

Actually this list is a little specious, because truth to tell the best rum is always the one I happen to be drinking on any given evening...but these are among my favourites and I keep buying them.