Building a starter's shelf

[Demomonkey]

The Sarge

Find an LCBO that stocks Havana Club seleccion de maestros before it's all gone and pick up a bottle. It's a superb example of a cuban style sipping rum.

Actually, it's just a superb rum period.

If it doesn't go on your first run list, definitely put it at the top of your future rums to buy.

[Rob L]

Okay, will do.

[millrace]

I'm no expert, just an enthusiast, but I have tried a number of the choices in the thread so I might as well put my 2-cents in.

I agree on the El Dorado swap. I could hardly tell the difference between the 12yr and the 15yr. I actually had some guests do a taste test on this at a party a couple years ago. One guy, who doesn't know rum that well, picked it out right away, and a bunch of others simply kept asking for more of both! At any rate, I can barely tell, if at all. It's a good rum but not my favorite. (I love the Mount Gay Extra Old the best as well!)

Personally, here's my list:

1) Mount Gay Extra Old- got to have that. Perfectly blended rum with just the right barrel hints. (My choice of back up here is the Cruzan Single Barrel- just a fantastic rum, in my opinion)

2) Ron Zacappa Solera 23- unique flavor. Very interesting complex flavor. It's truly a special rum and probably would be my favorite if not for the fact I got used to the MGXO long before.

3) I like the Goslings Black Seal a lot. As others have mentioned, it is great for mixing with ginger beer - Barrett's diet is my favorite, followed by the Goslings. I also sometimes mix the Zacappa with it (sorry if that offends anyone). Tastes great.

4) I'd recommend the Rhum Barbancourt 8yr as a great choice for zesty flavor. I have a bottle of the 15 as well, which is pretty incredible, but I think the 8yr is the best 8yr I've tasted so that is my pick. It's such a great flavor.

5) For the sugar cane style, I'd pick St. James Extra Old Rhum- it's really good and much cheaper than the La Favorite Rhum Agricola Vieux, which I believe is over priced. The Saint James Rhum Ambre is a decent little rum too and it is a 2yr.

Maybe I'm showing my naivety with my list, but that's how I'd go for 5.

Adding a lighter rum for 6) Westerhall 4yr.Plantation Rum. Very unique flavor and very good.

Finally, if we go with the British type, I'd pick the Green label Cadenheads. It tastes very different and a bit harsh, but it has grown on me over the years and when I drink it, I know who it is, you know what I mean? Very true to self, that one. I actually have some of the 15 yr siting on my shelf still, but oddly enough, I like the roughness of the 4yr better, as they both retain the same unique flavor.

[Card Player]

I like the 1919 better than the 1824. I guess maybe I'm more of a bourbon fan, and like the barrel influence on it. Doorly's XO is a good choice. The second maturation in sherry cask I thought would over sherry it (i find this with most whiskies sherry finished), but it turned out to be very well balanced.

[bttb22]

Here's my starter shelf:
1. Plantation 5 year (Barbados)
2. El Dorado 12 year
3. Appleton 12 year
4. Cruzan Single Barrel
5. Kraken

[AdOrAdam]

In your bar think a good white rum for mojitos, daiquiris & general mixing would prove essential!

You have included my favourite sippers to date (Plantation 5 Barbados
Angostura 1919, El Dorado 12 & Ron Zacapa 23).

This thread might help you if you fancied a mixing bar & could push the boat out to more bottles:

http://ministryofrum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6494

Cheers