Pirates Hold - Tavern; Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum

Ah, Rum, also known as Rumbustion, Rumbullion, Rhum, Ruma and Kill Devil; it was the drink of choice (although pirates generally were not all that picky). The fact was that rum was plentiful and cheap in the Caribbean. It, also, had the benefit of not going 'off ' as fast onboard ship as beer or wine would.

I won't pretend to have an extremely cultured taste for rum, but I do know what I like. I, also, take pleasure in being a little adventurous in trying a variety of labels and mixes. As I form an opinion (it might take a bottle or two, just to be sure), I will post a rating and perhaps some rum based recipes that I like. P-)

Anguilla Rums, Planters Gold Pyrat XO Reserve (Anguilla, British West Indies) - dark amber coloring, smells of berries with a sweet butterscotch like flavor, good for sipping or mixing, distinctive bottle if you are into bottles

Appleton Estate (Jamaica) - medium amber coloring, not quite the smoothness or complexity I enjoy in a sipping rum, it still offers good flavors when mixed in a Mai Tai

Bacardi, Superior (Puerto Rico) - clear coloring, slight sweetness to the taste, not at its best sipped straight, this rum is best for mixing, I recommend using it in a 1:1 ratio with a dark full flavored rum when putting together a rum drink of your choosing

Captain Morgan, Private Stock (Puerto Rico) - I know Captain Morgan, mass produced swill right? Not so the Private Stock, it is very smooth, perfect for sipping neat, I would not waste this in a mixed drink, dark amber coloring

Cruzan Black Strap Rum (St.Croix, U.S.V.I.) - nice dark rich coloring, very sweet flavor with strong molasses scent and flavor, I could see sipping this one neat or mixing it [thanks for the taste Bill]

Cruzan Estate Dark Rum (St.Croix, U.S.V.I.) - caramel coloring, sweet brandy like smell, suitable for sipping neat, but I prefer it as a mix

Cruzan Single Barrel Estate Rum (St.Croix, U.S.V.I.) - amber coloring, somewhat more refined than the above Estate Dark, as such it is more of a choice for sipping neat, I still consider this one suitable for mixing on occasions when I want a little more refined flavor in my mixes

Gosling's Black Seal Bermuda Black Rum (Bermuda) - rich dark color and flavor, a little harsher than the Morgan Private Stock above, but still good sipping neat, would mix well in drinks calling for dark rum [thanks for the taste Bill]. Official site

Havana Club, 7 A�ejo (Cuba) - where to start, of the rums I have tasted, this puts all of the others to shame, smooth only begins to describe it; this rum is for sipping, it would be a waste to dilute it in a mixed drink; rich amber in color, the sugar of the cane drifts in as you savor each sip [for now, I can only dream of what the 15 A�ejo must taste like]

Matusalem Gran Reserva (Dominican Republic) - amber to caramel coloring, sweet brandy like smell, original formula from Cuba, aged in French oak barrels, a very good sipping rum

Mount Gay Barbados Sugar Cane Rum (Barbados) - touted as the oldest of all rum brandings, medium amber color, a tad harsh, but better mixed as a light rum, not quite to the level of the Eclipse below

Mount Gay Eclipse Rum (Barbados) - touted as the oldest of all rum brandings, light amber color, good sipping neat although a tad harsh, but better mixed as a light rum

Myers's Rum, Original Dark (Jamaica) - rich dark color and flavor, strong molasses flavor, but good sipping neat, mixes well in drinks calling for dark rum

Pampero, Ron A�ejo, Aniversario Reserva Exclusiva (Venezuela) - dark color and strong flavor, very, very woody, fairly good sipping neat, mixes very well in drinks calling for dark rum [the woodiness gives a nice extra dimension to a Mai Tai]

Plantation Rum, Grande Reserve (Barbados) - a rich amber coloring and refined taste, the aroma is almost like a cognac in nature, this is an ideal rum for sipping, I would not waste this on a mixed drink

Pusser's Rum (British Virgin Islands) - purported to be the recipe the British navy used for some 300 years until 1970 (Black Tot Day) when the practice of a daily rum ration was discontinued. Strong stuff, 95.5 proof (most rum is only 80 proof), burns on the way down if drunk neat, nice amber color, mixes well

Ron Zacapa Centenario, 23 years (Guatemala) - medium coloring, a smooth rum with a rich sugary scent, an excellent choice for sipping

Rum Barbancort (Haiti) - medium coloring, like a fine cognac, smooth, not quite as sugary as the Zacapa above

Sailor Jerry Spiced Navy Rum (Virgin Island) - light amber color, over proofed at 92, this rum is actually not too bit harsh to drunk straight, the sugar and molasses flavors favor strongly

Sea Wynde (Jamaica & Guyana) - light amber color, over proofed at 92, this rum is a bit harsh if drunk straight, it fairs better as a mixer

Ypioca Cacha�a (Brazil) - light amber color, proofed at 78, this is a relative of rum being made from sugar cane as well, but very harsh, I would only use this as a mixer

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