Sipping Rum?


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MA
Madjack πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ | 0 ratings Author Posted 17 Jul '17

I'm looking to buy a good sipping rum, but I'm having some trouble deciding. After some research, the current contenders are: Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva - Managed to steal some from my Dad a while ago, and it was amazing. Dos Maderas PX 5+5 - Expensive, but sounds pretty good. Mount Gay Extra Old - Also sounds pretty good, much cheaper than the maderas. Cruzan Single Barrel - Quite expensive, lower ratings than the others. Matusalem Gran Reserva 15YO - Lower ratings than the others. Anybody particularly like it? Mocambo 20 Art Edition - Cool bottle, low ratings. Appleton Estate 12YO- Supposed to be very good. Never had it. That's pretty much it, feedback on any of these or suggestions on any other other options would be much appreciated. Cheers.
GR
Graham Davie πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ | 66 ratings Replied 17 Jul '17

Hi Madjack, it's all down to the individual mate. From your list, not tried them all admittedly, but for me it's the Diplomatica Res Exc. My personal favourite at this moment in time. It's not to everyone's taste, but hey, that's what makes rum so interesting. Cheers graham. Recently tried the D M 5+5, if you like the Dip Res Exc you will appreciate this one. Very smooth and sweet, but not as sweet as DRE. You cannot really go wrong with MG xo, It’s pretty much a staple amongst most rum drinkers. Enjoy, graham.
Rene Rum avatar image
Rene Rum (PREMIUM) πŸ‡¨πŸ‡­ | 547 ratings Replied 17 Jul '17

Hi Madjack, you have to try them all ! :-) It's like Graham said "it's all down individual". First of all, you have to find out which kind of rum style you like. If you like pure rum without sugar and colour then go for the Mount Gay XO or any other Barbados rum Rhum Agricole are also free from sugar and add's. If you like sweet rum, then I would go for the Diplomatico (good value for the price) By the way, I like the Matusalem 15yo, not very special but yummy, it's the Spanish style "Sistema Solera" they are usually a bit boring but nice to drink. If you like hard stuff, go for the Jamaican style like the Appleton If you have enough time and like to explore flavours try something like the Maderas. I personally avoid the Mexican stuff. Cheers mate
MA
Madjack πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ | 0 ratings Author Replied 18 Jul '17

Cheers for the replies, I think I might go with the diplomatico for now but I'll certainly try them all over time. Appreciate the help.
Andy avatar image
Andy (PREMIUM) πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ | 142 ratings Replied 3 Aug '17

Diplomatico RE is very good, but relatively common as well. Might be fun to venture out to something a little more rare, especially when sharing with friends - kind of cool having something they likely haven't seen. Maybe a Zaya or similar would be good to start with as pretty mild and not overly expensive.
AL
Alan πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ | 89 ratings Replied 5 Aug '17

Diplomatico doesn't just add a little sugar to its rums, it adds a ton: 41g/l (that's approximately 10 teaspoons per litre!!! While Jamaican and Martinique AOC rums have flavor (to spare!) straight out of the still, many other distillers use the chemical interaction between the high esters in the distillate with the wood casks in which they're aged. I would recommend sampling an exquisite aged Jamaican rum (Smith & Cross), an aged Barbados rum (Foursquare special cask blends) and then compare the complexity of pure chemistry with artificial enhancement of most Spanish style rums.
TO
Tom πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ | 230 ratings Replied 18 Nov '17

Depends on a number of variable, in my opinion! Do you want sweet or dry? Dark or light? Jamaican or Bajan? Agricole rhum, Cachaca or rum? Spiced or not? Aged, or not? Price range? Floral or Fruity? You definitely have a plethora of choices as the rum industry continues to provide us with an influx of new rums as well as new distilleries, especially in the States.
CH
Charles M πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ | 149 ratings Replied 5 Dec '17

Dos Maderas - I had the 5+3 because I thought it sounded interesting. Disappointing. But Tom is right when he says that there are a number of variables. It is so personal, and rum so diverse, that it is nigh on impossible to say. Personally, the first thing I tend to discount (although do have once in a while) are Agricoles. Not really my style, although when I have one, I do like them. Anyway, I only ever drink rum straight up. I like the cheap ones. I like the medium priced ones. The expensive ones seem far too often to be trying too hard. As I say, it is personal taste, and I am sure that many will think I am mad drinking some straight up. Cheap: Doorly's 5yo, Chairman's Reserve Mid priced: Bermudez Anniversario, Sunset Cpt Blight XO, Doorly's 12yo etc Expensive (or rather, a bit more expensive): Foursquare Zinfandel, Mezan Panama 2004, Hechicera, Admiral Rodney Prices are of course different in different countries. The two "expensive" ones that I recently had that were really very nasty, was a Valdespino Viejo and Abuelo XV Oloroso. Over worked and fake. Those are my current thoughts, but then I go through stages and what appeals now, may be different in a few months. But above all else "one man's meat, is another man's poison!"
SN
Snookerman πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ | 167 ratings Replied 6 Dec '17

Charles' suggestions are either ones I can vouch for or would like to try. La Hechicera is on my list of need to tries and is sold in M & S. I'd add Plantation 20th XO to the list. That's very smooth indeed.