Building a starter's shelf

[Rob L]

I'm looking for a little help building a starter's shelf. I think based on what I can afford and how much I'll actually drink over sever months, 5 bottles might be a pretty good number to start with (I'm completely blown away by some of the collections I've read here.)

I'd like to cover as many varying ages, styles, and origins as I can and based on reviews, what I think I might like and what's available to me (in my price range.) I've come up with 5 that I think I might like to start with;

1. Plantation Rum (Barbados) - Aged 5 years

2. Angostura 1919 (Trinidad and Tobago) - Aged 8 years

3. Appleton Estate Extra (Jamaica) - Aged 12 years
(I really struggled with this selection because I badly want to have the Eldorado 12 in my collection. I just figured any collection no matter how small would be incomplete without an Appleton selection.)

4. El Dorado Special Reserve (Guyana) - Aged 15 years
(Like Appleton, I just don't think I'd be have a 'collection' without a Demerara rum.)

5. The Kraken Black Spiced Rum (USA)
(I figure this covers both dark and spiced rum... for now.) I do enjoy rum and ginger beer and ale.

Now, like I said in my intro, Mount Gay Extra Old really turned me on to rum. I will forever be comparing new rums to this. I hope the ones I'm thinking of don't disappoint me in comparison. I'll always have this in stock if I can help it. (So I guess that makes 6 sipping rums.)

Your comments on these selection and alternatives/recommendation for swapping some of these out for others would be appreciated!

As a side, my wife also enjoys the odd splash of rum here and there but will always have it as part of a Cuba Libre... Can anyone recommend a nice one that I can also sip with a price tag suitable for mixing? Would I be sinning to just use the Appleton Extra that way?

[Stevo77]

That looks like a good start! Personally I would ditch the Kraken. I found it not spicy enough and too 'creamy'......not enough oomf for me personally. Maybe try Foursquare Spiced or Elements 8 Spiced and Goslings Black Seal for your ginger beer / ale. Just a personal preference.....there are far more experienced folk on here to guide you.
Maybe a Havana Club 7 for your Cuba Libres? I sip that with a cube of ice and a little lime.

[Rob L]

Thanks. I was/am considering Gosling's Black Seal but I don't see Gosling's Ginger Beer available here anywhere and I really want to do it the proper way. Or, does it really matter?... Thanks for the suggestion on the Cuba Libre Rum... It's well, Cuban and it's currently on sale at the LCBO!

[Stevo77]

I recently picked some up and it really does make a difference to a dark 'n stormy.....but your favourite should see you right for now!
If the HC7 is on sale then you may have just found yourself a bargain!

[djmont]

I think you'll find that there are many options comparable to (or better than) Gosling's Ginger Beer. Barritt's was the traditional brand in the Dark n Stormy until Gosling's started making their own.

That being said, I find that Gosling's is pretty much only good in a Dark N Stormy, so unless you plan to drink a lot of those, there are better alternatives for a dark rum. And you've already got Appleton 12 on your list anyway.

How about a Flor de Cana? And Steve is right -- you definitely need a white.

Nice list!

[Rob L]

Originally Posted by djmont

How about a Flor de Cana?

Nice list!

The 5 year is currently available to me.

[djmont]

I haven't tried the 5, but I like the 7 (which I believe is supposed to be similar). If it's really expensive, though, I probably wouldn't bother.

[DJ Mal]

How about an aged Rhum Agricole? Not sure if its available to you but La Mauny 1749 is not too expensive and a good place to start for an agriclole.

[Rob L]

Can't get 'em here but thanks for those suggestions.

[Ben]

Originally Posted by The Sarge

I'm looking for a little help building a starter's shelf.

1. Plantation Rum (Barbados) - Aged 5 years

2. Angostura 1919 (Trinidad and Tobago) - Aged 8 years

3. Appleton Estate Extra (Jamaica) - Aged 12 years

4. El Dorado Special Reserve (Guyana) - Aged 15 years

5. The Kraken Black Spiced Rum (USA)

Hello neighbour,

It's a good selection you made considering what's LCBO has to offer.
Personally, I would skip the 1919, at 41.25 it is way overpriced. LCBO used to sell it under 30$ just a few years ago. This rum is heavily vanilla-based, and only good as a mixer (in my opinion). At that price range, you would be better served with the Matusalem 15 years, which is even cheaper at 39.95, and you would have a rum Dominican-based.

If you want to go for a spiced or black rum, I would personally trade the Kraken for either the Sailor Jerry, the Gosling's Black Seal or Mount Gay Black rum, since you love MGXO.

Your other selections are solid, you can't go wrong with Plantation, Appleton Estate is a cornerstone for rum production, and ED 15 is a solid choice. You may consider subbing it for the 12 years, which has a solid quality/price ratio as well.

Somebody was suggesting a rhum agricole, you don't really have access to Martinique or Guadeloupe rums, but the Barbancourt from Haiti would be a nice introduction, it is quasi-agricole.

Other good choices for the future would be Diplomatico Reserva from Venezuela at 34.95, Smith and Cross from Jamaica at 38.50 or the Chairman's Reserve from St.Lucia at 34.85.

Cheers!