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Hiya chaps,
I've been through a few dark rums of late, and not found anything I prefer for sipping than the chavvy Kraken. It's really smooth, and tastes like Dr. Pepper.
What other dark rums should I be trying?
Cheers!
Ricks
Mount Gay.
Last I tried was a diplamatico smooth and nice but I'm under exposed to rum
The other good one was up the back there
Mount Gay XO, on three large ice cubes.
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My top 3 are:
Diplomatico reserva exclusiva
Mount Gay XO
Appleton estate 12yr
These are all more expensive than Kraken but are good for sipping and are every bit as sophisticated as a good whiskey.
El Dorado 12 Year. Neat with no ice.
Goslings black seal
Of you don't want to spend too much, kraken is pretty smooth.
I got a bottle of Appletons 12 yo for my b'day recently, and its a fantastic spirit, to mix it would be a waste.
I've also had a Jeffersons from Whitehaven in recent years which was good but not in the same league.
Oh, I found an unopened bottle of dark seal in my uncles house after he died - impressively alcoholic, but again not as good as Appletons.
Have a lick of some Chairman's reserve. Delicate, refined and sippable
The Gosling's Black Seal is the only dark rum you guys have listed isn't it? The rest are golden.
Im not a fan of the lighter rums.
Not tried the Gosling's yet, but did have that on the list!
It's not dark rum but spiced. Red Leg.
Anyway, rum isn't supposed to be sipped. It's supposed to be quaffed like a pirate.
You like it cos it’s a spiced rum. Not cos it’s a dark rum
some spiced golden rums could be ok for you.
Its like a beginners rum really. Tho I’m quite partial to a rum old-fashioned (or even a rum n tonic when on holiday!)
Anyway - to my mind, Southern Caribbean rums are my preference. Northern Caribbean ones don’t suit my palate
Morgan’s spiced surely... 😜
It’s supposed to be quaffed like a pirate.
Gaaaaaarrrrrr!
Discovered Pamperos whilst skiing in Italy, brought a bottle of it back and it's very drinkable. It's Venezuelan, not Italian btw.
Barti Ddu. Without doubt the best rum I have tasted. Awesome. No way I would dream of mixing it.
I don’t like the spiced rums but do like OVD, Wood"s, Pusser's and Black Seal
It’s not dark rum but spiced. Red Leg.
ended up on that at the weekend, was lovely straight.
Zacapa XO is very special
Plantation was very good. Not had it in a while so will now have to get some more!
Pussers gunpowder proof. Excellent for its face numbing qualities, tastes nice as well.
1. Mount Gay XO
2. Mount Gay Black Barrel
Diplomatico Reserva for me - espesh cos you can get it on Amazon Prime! 😂
Lamb's Navy
Gosling's Black Seal 151.
It's a winter warmer, you have been warned.
The one that I think tastes like it's already got a bit of cola in it is Rumbullion.
Apparently, Don Papa is very sipable full of cinnamon, vanilla, caramel and sugar. Altho the authenticity is questionable.
^El Dorado 12yo is probably the smoothest I've tasted.
(I get to taste lots in the trade, I'm not a rum lover tho)
Why is Kraken "chavvy"?
Pretty much all of the above to be honest.
#edit - for an unlikely mixer, rum and fresh orange juice is very refreshing as a summer drink.
Ah this brings back memories. Used to deliver charter yachts out to the Caribbean for the summer/winter change over.
Playing ibble dibble with Pussers Pain Killers No1 happy days.
Mountgay or Appletons here.
I've been playing this game far too much!!!
My Rum shelf is now brimming with bottles!
My top 3 are:
Rumbullion - caramel flavour, slight vanilla, slightly sweet
Pink Pigeon - lighter in colour, more vanilla, less sweet
Plantation XO 30th anniversary - more 'mature' taste, less sweet still, but still a hint of sugar cane.
Others to consider are:
Red Leg - dirt cheap, can be had for about £13 a bottle. Sweet, vanillary and a bit fruity.
Kracken - it's ok, a good 'basic' one
Pirates grog - can't quite remember; I drank it, so must have been OK
I didn't really like diplomatico, TBH.. nor mount gay XO
DrP
During a recent visit to Nicaragua tried some Flor de Cana 18 year old rum, it was very, very good. Expensive though at £55 a bottle.
You can't beat Zacapa !

Dark Matter, or Kraken.
Plus I think Bundaberg make one which is very nice.
DrP Plantation XO 30th anniversary – more ‘mature’ taste, less sweet still, but still a hint of sugar cane.
I've just ordered some of that.
Regular customer who is a sipper says his top 3 are:
Rumbullion
Don Papa
Plantation
I've also been asked for Pink Pigeon recently, so will have to look at ordering some, if it's available from my supplier.
Plus I think Bundaberg make one which is very nice.
It's not a lottery i would play..
I'm blessed with having a pub a nice fatbike ride along the beach which has the most amazing selection of rums. And they keep bringing in new ones.
I think all the above are on the shelf, I'm gradually working through them. I'll have another go tomorrow night.
I discovered pink pigeon last week, very good stuff. Riding home is often entertaining!
Ron Barcelo is nice
Diplomatico, Zacapa and Barcelo are all fine choices but at the more spendy end of things.
Chairmans reserve spiced is great for the money - like drinking Christmas cake! Angostura 1919 is also decent for sensible money.
+1 on the Wood's Old Navy, I don't pick up on the yacht varnish notes though..
Ok it's not a dark rum but I rarely pass up a chance to big up Angostura, lovley stuff. Not sweet, not sharp, just nice
See, I got bought some Angostura for Xmas, and wasn't a fan. Too light, too sweet, too close to whisky for me. I prefer it darker, like the difference between a lager and a porter.
Plantation XO 20th Anniversary Rum
Smooth as a very smooth smooth thing that slips down well.
I’m sure you noted my typo in my post.... I meant Plantation XO 20th birthday.... not 30th!!
RE pink pigeon... it WAS in Aldi for £20 a bottle before Xmas!!
Gutted i missed out on that!
DrP
Just remember another I had recently that was rather excellent,
Penny Blue XO
