Searching for higher quality budget priced rums

[Schock Therapy]

I am always checking the local LDB website for new rums to try. I have already splurged on some very expensive bottles, but now I am getting curious about some cheaper rums that I haven't tried yet. I don't want to load up my already crowded liquor cupboard with lousy rums that i don't want to drink, so I would like to put up a list of budget priced rums that I am curious about, and invite comments from all of you!

Angostura 1919 $39.99 (only 6 bottles available at one store...is it worth the drive?)
Brugal Anejo $29.99
Cockspur $23.52
Diplomatico Reserva $36.62
Ron Barcelo Aged Amber $25

These are all cheap to average in price; do any of them stand out in terms of quality or is it a case of "you get what you pay for"?

[RobertBurr]

sometimes you get a hell of a deal. currently among the very best deals here:

El Dorado 5 (in the new 750 ml bottle) $8.99
Botran Anejo (1.75 liter) $13.95
Doorly's Gold (750ml) $10.95

[Schock Therapy]

sometimes you get a hell of a deal. currently among the very best deals here:

El Dorado 5 (in the new 750 ml bottle) $8.99
Botran Anejo (1.75 liter) $13.95
Doorly's Gold (750ml) $10.95

$8.99 for 750ml of rum? Not in this part of the world my friend! Maybe a little airline bottle for that price!

[dom]

Here the ED5 sells for 25$. What a deal at 9$.

I don't think the Angostura 1919 is worth the 40$. Some people like it, but it has this artificial vanilla taste that tells me this is not a premium rum.

I really like the Brugal line. Since they are not available here, I would say that every time I have the opportunity to buy a bottle, I do so. The price seems right at 30$.

For the Cockspur, if it's the Bajan crafted 12 yo you are talking about, 24$ is a good deal for this very good rum.

The other 2 I don't know about.

Dom

[RonJames]

The 1919 I think I've seen around here for around $20US. I know liquor is more expensive in Canada but paying double would make me double over. Both DR rums are good and seem to be ok to good as sippers. There's always westerhall or Bacardi 8 which tend to be less demanding on the wallet.

[Ben]

I would say the Brugal Anejo has the best quality/price ratio.

[Duffman]

Shock, you're right in that we don't have a huge selection of well priced/tasting rums up here.

My experience says that the Brugal Anejo and Barcelo Aged are good mixing rums and at $25 the Barcelo is the best tasting bargain out there. A splash of coke, a couple splashes of soda and you're off to the races.

A couple you didin't list that are available here are the Flor de Cana 5 and 7 yr. These are pretty good mixers too. And speaking of the Flor de Cana, I ususally order a case of the Flor de Cana 12 yr every couple of months from the 39th and Cambie liquor store. For $40, it gets my vote as best tasting yet economical. As one of my buddy's says, " the FDC stands for 'forget de cola'".

If you're looking for some of this and interested, I'll be ordering a case next month.

Cheers,

Duff

[JMac]

The Diplomatico is worth it....I have a bottle of the Exclusiva and its great....

[Hours of Wealth]

$8.99 for 750ml of rum? Not in this part of the world my friend! Maybe a little airline bottle for that price!

i hear ya, its about 25$ here, or 1$ an ounce. more for better rums

the diplomattico i hear is really good, ive had the agnostura..........it was quite good actually, although i don't profess to be much of a "savante" at the time. i knew more than the average person but my pallet was (and is to a certain extent) unrefined

[Carbon]

I'm not a fan of the Brugal. It's in a category of its own, though as I have yet to experience a rum this smooth with a taste that offends me. There's just something off about it.

In any case, El Dorado 5 is great as others have said. The regular Cockspur is pretty good as well, and I prefer it to the Mount Gay Eclipse for a Bajan gold (although a side by side, blind comparison is in order). The Mount Gay Sugar Cane Rum is very good as well.

I'll post more later when they come to mind, but I believe there is at least one thread on this subject with a lot of information.

[Schock Therapy]

Shock, you're right in that we don't have a huge selection of well priced/tasting rums up here.

My experience says that the Brugal Anejo and Barcelo Aged are good mixing rums and at $25 the Barcelo is the best tasting bargain out there. A splash of coke, a couple splashes of soda and you're off to the races.

A couple you didin't list that are available here are the Flor de Cana 5 and 7 yr. These are pretty good mixers too. And speaking of the Flor de Cana, I ususally order a case of the Flor de Cana 12 yr every couple of months from the 39th and Cambie liquor store. For $40, it gets my vote as best tasting yet economical. As one of my buddy's says, " the FDC stands for 'forget de cola'".

If you're looking for some of this and interested, I'll be ordering a case next month.

Cheers,

Duff

I have a bottle of Flor de Cana Black Label, which I consider a decent mixer, but not a sipper. Most of the time these days I am taking my rum neat, so I don't want to load up on mixer quality bottles! I have never seen Flor De Cana 12yr in the stores, I assume it is special order only? If so, I'm in for a couple of bottles for sure.

I wonder what other rums we can order up by the case! That would be one way of increasing our selection!

[Duffman]

Shock, you're right. The FDC 12 yr is special order. A couple of years ago I was in the Cambie and 39th LDB store and was asking about rum; they pointed me to this little woman employee they called "the rum lady." Anyways, I got to speaking with her and found out that not only was she a LDB employee, she was a rum lover.

So she ordered me in a case of the FDC 12yr and I've been ordering it by the case ever since. I got a bunch of buddies who are big fans so its never a problem filling out the order.

She even lets me know when she special orders in other items, like most recently ED 15 yr, which they now stock. My new favourite. But they seem to have dropped the Matusalem Gran Reserva. A true crime. Maybe we can order a case of that too.

I'll let you know when I order the next case or FDC.

Born to Rum (sorry Bruce)

Duff

[Chris]

If you are more into the sippin' kind, I would definitely recommend the Diplomatico over the Brugal. A seven dollar difference is a small price to pay for such a difference in taste.
Brugal Anejo makes for a good mixer, but I wouldn't pay $30 for it unless the bottle is the large size sold in the DR.

[Vanpatt]

I'd definitely be interested in a bottle or two of FDC 12yr if you're ordering a case. I'd also go in on other special orders of rums we don't have stocked here in BC (maybe the FDC 15yr?).

[bluewave6]

I find the Diplomatico Reserve has more of a profile than the Exclusiva, which I find overly sweet. I also find the Zacapa 15 to be a better bargain than the 23 yr. The great thing about rum is everyone has their own preference and there are more than enough rums to fill each prefered flavor :)

[Vanpatt]

Can't speak for the Exclusiva but just had my first taste of the Diplomatico Reserve last night and I thought it was excellent.

I'm trying the Brugal Anejo for the first time right now and can't say I really like it; to me it has an overwhelming taste of leather although it is very smooth. Maybe I should be mixing it as suggested.

[Schock Therapy]

I just picked up the Diplomatico Reserva today. I have only had one taste of it so far. My first impression was that it is not bad, although I found it had a bitter aftertaste that I didn't like much. I will have to see how I feel about it when I revisit it next time.

[Chris]

I just picked up the Diplomatico Reserva today. I have only had one taste of it so far. My first impression was that it is not bad, although I found it had a bitter aftertaste that I didn't like much. I will have to see how I feel about it when I revisit it next time.

eek.gif I hope you didn't get a bad bottle! The word "bitter" is usually not something you hear in regard to rum.

[Hank Koestner]

Eat a little something then drink some water. Sometimes a rum like the Reserva might seem a little bitter on the finish if your palate is a little stale.
I find that a hint of bitterness is sometimes a sign of a well balanced rum, off setting the sweet. If there is too much of a bitter flavor, that is not a good sign. Everyone's palate is different, though. You could be more sensitive to bitter flavors.

[tym2relax]

Eat a little something then drink some water. Sometimes a rum like the Reserva might seem a little bitter on the finish if your palate is a little stale.
I find that a hint of bitterness is sometimes a sign of a well balanced rum, off setting the sweet. If there is too much of a bitter flavor, that is not a good sign. Everyone's palate is different, though. You could be more sensitive to bitter flavors.

That's good to know Hank. Thanks.

As far as the Diplomatico Exclusiva goes, I just picked up a bottle and really like it. I don't think it is any sweeter than Zaya or Zacapa 23. Lots and lots of flavor and a nice finish.

[Schock Therapy]

I'm having another glass right now, and it is definitely better than my first taste. I still taste a slight bitterness, but it's not nearly as unpleasant as it was. Must have been something I ate!

[primate77]

Best cheap cheap cheap bottle of rum I own (and can pass as a sipper if you've already downed a decent amount of alcohol) has got to be Palo Viejo.

At $7.99 for a750mL bottle, it's got them all beat regarding quality versus price point. This is not a junk rum - but it is a junk price!

[rumdog007]

Best cheap cheap cheap bottle of rum I own (and can pass as a sipper if you've already downed a decent amount of alcohol) has got to be Palo Viejo.

At $7.99 for a750mL bottle, it's got them all beat regarding quality versus price point. This is not a junk rum - but it is a junk price!

Good call. Both the gold and the white are a surprise for the price!

[Carbon]

I'm trying the Brugal Anejo for the first time right now and can't say I really like it; to me it has an overwhelming taste of leather although it is very smooth. Maybe I should be mixing it as suggested.
Looks like the group having this opinion of the Brugal is growing more numerous every day.

[rumdog007]

I am had Ron Abuelo 7 Anos for the first time last night.:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

I found it in Houston, TX this week.

Not expensive, light and tasty. Viva Panama!

[Edward Hamilton]

I find the Diplomatico Reserve has more of a profile than the Exclusiva, which I find overly sweet. I also find the Zacapa 15 to be a better bargain than the 23 yr. The great thing about rum is everyone has their own preference and there are more than enough rums to fill each prefered flavor :)

I've loved the Zacapa 15 or their Anejo for years, especially since the 23 was changed in anticipation for the Diageo takeover of that brand.

[Edward Hamilton]

I am had Ron Abuelo 7 Anos for the first time last night.:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

I found it in Houston, TX this week.

Not expensive, light and tasty. Viva Panama!

I'm surprised that you hadn't sussed out Abuelo a long time ago. That's a nice rum indeed. The first time I tasted it was at a rum tasting where it stole the show and it Zacapa hadn't had the cutest Colombian server they would have served more rum.

[rumdog007]

I wish I had found it earlier, Ed. No distribution in CA, to my knowledge, though. I'm having some more, now. It has that slightly bitter bite on the finish which I have grown to love. It needs nothing, too.