Best gold rum for mixing

[tym2relax]

Since I have not seen this topic elsewhere I would like to know your opinion as to what the best all-around versatile gold mixing rum is? Or, top two.....

[Paulipbartender]

Appleton VX would get my vote. Well priced, flavoursome and a great shaped bottle to pour with.

I admit my opinion may be somewhat biased by the cases they send our way :)

[Scottes]

As always, the question is: mixing what? Or, what defines a gold mixing rum?

For me, I guess I'd say that price (must be reasonable or slightly high), taste (should have a full, rich rum taste) and versatility (it shouldn't have any one distinctive "weird" taste - it should taste like rum).

I did a review a while back on 8 Gold Mixing Rums:
http://scottesrum.com/category/comparisons/8-gold-mixing-rums/
Though I have to admit that my definition then was "not cheap, not sippable."

For my "well" gold rum - cheap but good and mixable - I'd lean heavily towards the Appleton Special. For anything else, I'd have to think about what I'm making or what I'm mixing it with. But I'd like to keep the following available in order to be prepared for almost anything:

Appleton Special - For rum taste
DonQ Gold - good but lighter when you don't want to rum to be so prominent
Appleton V/X - More flavorful and complex, for more complex cocktails

I could probably survive with those 3 for the generic gold mixing rums.

[tym2relax]

Appleton Special - For rum taste
DonQ Gold - good but lighter when you don't want to rum to be so prominent
Appleton V/X - More flavorful and complex, for more complex cocktails

I could probably survive with those 3 for the generic gold mixing rums.

Thanks for this clarification. Levels of rum taste desired in drink.

[Paulipbartender]

Appleton Special - For rum taste
DonQ Gold - good but lighter when you don't want to rum to be so prominent
Appleton V/X - More flavorful and complex, for more complex cocktails

I could probably survive with those 3 for the generic gold mixing rums.

Great summary Scottes

[RumBarPhilly]

I would say... when mixing with cola, Mount Gay Eclipse is good.

When mixing with juice, I could go with Matusalem Clasico, Appleton VX,or Cruzan Diamond.

When making mojitos or other rum cocktails that rely heavily on the flavor of rum, go with the Ron del Barrilito 2 Star.

Those would be my thoughts.

[RobertBurr]

Gold Rums of note in my book include:

1 Barrel, Appleton Special, Barbancourt 3 star, Botran 8, Brugal Anejo, Cockspur 5, Don Q Gold, El Dorado 5, Flor de Cana 7, Gosling's Gold, Matusalem Clasico and Santa Teresa Gran Reserva.

Gosling's and 1 Barrel are among the most uniquely flavored golds. Barbancourt is a gold standard for me. Appleton blends some fine pot still rum with their column still rums in their gold for great flavor. Flor De Cana is a rich flavored, mature gold. Matusalem is a blend of 5 to 10 year old rums with a lot of character. Cockspur offers that classic Barbadian rum profile. El Dorado may be the best 5 year old rum on the market. The Botran 8 (and 12) are great rums for the money and have distinct flavor from the sugar cane honey base.

[Tiare]

I haven`t tried that many gold rums but i like Appleton VX and also for my tiki drinks i like the 80 proof Jamaican Lemon Hart which some say is a dark rum but i think its golden.

[tym2relax]

Gold Rums of note in my book include:

1 Barrel, Appleton Special, Barbancourt 3 star, Botran 8, Brugal Anejo, Cockspur 5, Don Q Gold, El Dorado 5, Flor de Cana 7, Gosling's Gold, Matusalem Clasico and Santa Teresa Gran Reserva.

Gosling's and 1 Barrel are among the most uniquely flavored golds. Barbancourt is a gold standard for me. Appleton blends some fine pot still rum with their column still rums in their gold for great flavor. Flor De Cana is a rich flavored, mature gold. Matusalem is a blend of 5 to 10 year old rums with a lot of character. Cockspur offers that classic Barbadian rum profile. El Dorado may be the best 5 year old rum on the market. The Botran 8 (and 12) are great rums for the money and have distinct flavor from the sugar cane honey base.

Do you by chance prefer the El Dorado 5 over the Appleton V/X?

[bluewave6]

I think I would personally rank the ED 5 over the Appelton VX for mixing.

[Rumpelteazer]

My top five favorite mixing rums (most used first):
Mt Gay Eclipse (buy the 1.75 liter size)
Appleton V/X
Cruzan Diamond
Brugal Anejo
Gosling Gold (might rank this higher but it's hard to get around here so I'm a bit stingy with it.)

[Hank Koestner]

I think there must be many variations here, depending on the type of cocktail you are making. I like Appleton VX, Gold , Gosling's Gold, And Eldorado 5.
St. Vincent's Sunset Gold is a good mixer also, but I prefer that with just a little ice.

[RobertBurr]

Do you by chance prefer the El Dorado 5 over the Appleton V/X?

The El Dorado 5 seems a bit complex for its age. I compare it to Appleton Special gold, not V/X. Both are priced very well and have good rum flavor. I would have included Sunset Captain Bligh as a good gold rum, but its hard for most people to get. I would say the same for Doorly's 5.

To me, V/X is the baseline of the estate rums, not a gold rum, but that's easily open to interpretation.

So many good rums! So little time... So interesting to debate their virtues with other rum enthusiasts.

[Dood]

Appleton Appleton Appleton here.

Appleton Special
Appleton Esate V/X

I don't usually mix One Barrel in a lot of cocktails...with its sweetness you have to be very selective about what you mix it in.

The Matusalem Classico is also quite good.

Haven't had DonQ yet...so much still out there to try.

I also have a bottle of Tanduay sitting in a bag on the table that I haven't cracked open yet...although I'm not expecting great things.

[Capn Jimbo]

A lot of gold mixing rums recommended for "all-around" mixing. Yet I'm more than curious as to why Flor de Cana's four year old has managed to avoid mention?

Why is this well reviewed, well balanced rum missing in action?

[tym2relax]

To me, V/X is the baseline of the estate rums, not a gold rum, but that's easily open to interpretation.


Probably another discussion, but why is V/X not a gold rum?


A lot of gold mixing rums recommended for "all-around" mixing. Yet I'm more than curious as to why Flor de Cana's four year old has managed to avoid mention?

Why is this well reviewed, well balanced rum missing in action?


Also curious about this. I see the Flor de Cana getting high marks for their 4 year old.

[Scottes]

A lot of gold mixing rums recommended for "all-around" mixing. Yet I'm more than curious as to why Flor de Cana's four year old has managed to avoid mention?

Why is this well reviewed, well balanced rum missing in action?
Good point. I could replace the DonQ with this stuff.

[Rumpelteazer]

Flor de Cana can be hard to find in parts of the country. When I do find it, I am less inclined to use it for mixing when other more readily replaceable rums will do just fine.

Appleton V/X is a rare bird, a sub-$20 rum that is enjoyable neat. Therefore it deserves more respect than just being called a gold rum.

[Michael]

According to the distillery database, the Sunset Captain Bligh is the local labelling of St. Vincent Sunset Extra Gold which is currently on sale at BevMo. It is now imported by a company in Utah, so U.S. domestic access difficulties may be a thing of the past. It has become one of our standard gold mixers, joining the previously favored Brugal Anejo.

[Milicent]

I have check this thread a few times and always thought of Flor de Cana 4 year old Gold. I had intended to recommend it before, so I was glad to see several others pick up the torch. It is my house gold rum and I do like it, but this circumstance is mainly due to Costco having 1.75 liters of it for between $13 and $16 (I bought a case a while back and don't remember exactly how much I paid). You just can't go wrong with that price, and it really is a solid gold rum.

If I remember correctly, Beach Bum Berry spoke highly of it and even recommended drinking it over crushed ice. I was surprised when I read it as I had never thought of drinking other than as a mixer. When I did give it a shot in a Rum Mist (rum over crushed ice), I was surprised. It is a simple rum for drinking by itself, but it did exceed my expectations.

[RumBarPhilly]

Probably another discussion, but why is V/X not a gold rum?


V/x could be considered an aged rum, as its a blend of aged rums of 5-8 years old. Appleton Special is more in the line of typical standard gold rums. (i.e. Bacardi Gold, DonQ Gold, Matusalem Clasico, Mt Gay Eclipse) It is a base rum.

That being said, Appleton VX holds very nicely when mixed with juices. Just because a rum is said to be a sipping rum, doesnt mean you cant mix it!

[RumBarPhilly]

I also have a bottle of Tanduay sitting in a bag on the table that I haven't cracked open yet...although I'm not expecting great things.

I just got a bottle of the Tanduay 15 year. Two thoughts on this rum...
It was VERY nice! however...

I didnt get to enjoy it as I got a serious stomach ache shortly after. Im hesitant to try it again, but I know I eventually will.

[Michael]

My apologies for the ignorant post with respect to St. Vincent Sunset Extra Gold availability in the U.S. After reading the thread with respect to that subject, it is apparent that this new forum member merely caught the closeout at our local Bevmo.

Several of the Bay Area locations seem to still have four or five cases each.

[Rumpelteazer]

Based on all the above mentions, I thought I'd revisit the Flor de Cana Gold 4.

In the relatively young and inexpensive rum category, this is certainly a fine product. It has pleasant honey, caramel, and vanilla flavors, and is smooth enough that it can be enjoyed neat, especially by those who haven't yet developed a taste for darker or more unusual rums.

On the other hand, I find the mild flavors subtle enough, and the finish short enough that the rum can be overpowered by many mixers. For this reason and poor availability (at least in my area) I generally do not think of it as a mixing rum.