So which Rum really is the best ?

For some reason, after many trips to the Caribbean I have suddenly realised that I LOV E Rum.

Hadn't really interested me before, had my fair share of rum punch but the big change was in Jamaica in January and Antigua last month and now I'm a convert

My question is, which one is best and why ???

Off to Barbados in Feb next year so all recommendations will be sampled.

My current supply is Antiguan English Harbour which seems very nice indeed.

Ideal topic for me!!

I would say Angostura 1824 is the best I've had, 1919 is fantastic too.

Santa Teresa 1796 is lovely.

On the cheaper side I really like Appletons, comes in a variety of blends under 25 quid and all excellent.

[Neil]

You must do the Mount Gay Rum tour then, definitely worth it!

I will for sure

El Dorado 15 for me as tastes great without any mixing.

Mount Gay at USD8 a litre from the duty free in St Lucia for mixing

In total agreement about Antigua English Harbour - nice and mellow.

My second choice is Antigua Cavalier - cheaper so good with a mixer.

I find many Caribbean rums far too acidic, especially Jamaican ones. That said, maybe I am biased - hence my username...

Try Zacapa.

In Barbados I always go for the Mount Gay Extra Old. My OH hates that I mix it with coke, but I prefer my rum that way!

A trip to the Mount Gay tour is good, but last visit we went to Foursquare distillery. There is no charge to enter and you just wander around the whole place on your own. You wander around the whole plant and there is quite an interesting exhibition on Bajan culture hidden away in a nondescript little building in the corner and even after my numerous visits to the island I found out things I didn't know. At the end there is a bar where you can taste 6 of their rums for $20BDS ($10US). We were the only people visiting when we went and when we chose 6 dark rums to taste the lovely lady behind the counter added the 2 white rums as well and I think in the end we had about 10 drinks (she did falernum and a mixed drink as well). She was really knowledgeable about the rum and it made the trip really worthwhile. They produce Doorlys, RL Seale and their own rums. We ended up buying 3 bottles, but I must admit we found them cheaper in the supermarket and at the airport duty free than they were at the distillery which was a bit disappointing.

Another vote for El Dorado here but, although the 15 is delicious, the 12 is the one which gets my vote.
It is a lovely rum which I have introduced many to, both while on holiday and here.

It is from Guyana but I, as Paul (pjh), have downed a few glasses of this in St Lucia.
The 12 has more caramel and as M&S, where you can buy it online, and maybe in store, in the UK for £36, describes

"Lush tropical fruit and spice nose with hints of honey and dark sugar. Round, mellow, full bodied palate with rich flavours of fruit...

Who am I to disagree?

And the nice thing is that it travels well..so it is as yummy here as in the Caribbean.
And drink it straight, no ice or mixers.
You should try it.
I envy you the discovery.

Our current favourite is: http://www.rondiplomatico.com/rumreservaexclusiva

...the brand may now be owned by a global giant...but it still tastes incredible!

Mount Gay Extra Old is the best I have had

Another vote for El Dorado here but, although the 15 is delicious, the 12 is the one which gets my vote.
It is a lovely rum which I have introduced many to, both while on holiday and here.

It is from Guyana but I, as Paul (pjh), have downed a few glasses of this in St Lucia.

On my part less "downed a few" than "marinaded in" the last time. I think I took on the appearance of a rum baba at one point.

I must look for the 12 when back travelling through Amsterdam next week. Duty free prices aren't bad (even back to the UK) and every couple of weeks when I log on to the airport wifi it flings me a EUR5 discount voucher.

Who am I to disagree?

Sweet dreams are made of this...

A trip to the Mount Gay tour is good, but last visit we went to Foursquare distillery. There is no charge to enter and you just wander around the whole place on your own. You wander around the whole plant and there is quite an interesting exhibition on Bajan culture hidden away in a nondescript little building in the corner and even after my numerous visits to the island I found out things I didn't know.

When last in Antigua we went to a rum distillery. None of this steel vat business, just open containers of bubbling molasses. Health and safety went as far as "try not to fall in".

Mount Gay XO is very very good and a real bargain price over in the Caribbean. Not quite such good value in the UK. Black Barrel is superb value and is very pleasant to drink neat, unlike Eclipse which is really best for mixing.
For a real treat though, Mount Gay 1703 is exceptional. Not cheap, but one for those special occasions.

After our trip to Foursquare we decided we quite liked the R L Seale rum and the 12 year old Doorlys. Have since discovered that a number of our friends have switched from Mount Gay to Doorlys fairly recently.

Me, I'm not bothered, I like both that and Mount Gay Eclipse, Extra Old, Black Barrel, 1703!

Old Monk is one of the more interesting rums's I've tasted. The local Indian staff said don't drink it, but I quite liked it. Good if you like dark rum

Available in India easily, rest of world, specialist retailers only.

Old Monk is one of the more interesting rums's I've tasted. The local Indian staff said don't drink it, but I quite liked it. Good if you like dark rum

Available in India easily, rest of world, specialist retailers only.

I think I self medicated with that in the lounge before my last flight back from Mumbai.

Do a tour of the St Nicholas Abbey distillery when in Barbados - they have 8, 12 and 18 year Rum for sale and you can try them as well.

when and did the tour at St Nicholas Abbey distillery last year and the 8 year rum was about $ 250 a bottle, Mount gay much better bet

I've got a bottle of the 15 year old St Nicholas Abbey rum that was bought for a significant birthday 3.5 years ago, it is lovely but very expensive. A trip to the abbey is well worth doing though - you get to taste the rum and watch a film of old Bridgetown which is really good, plus there is the house and grounds to explore. It is s truly beautiful place.