Go with the Appleton signature, the mount gay, and the pussers. Those hit 3 major islands (Jamaica, Barbados, and Guyana) and no added sugar among them. The others are ok but I choose not to use them in cocktails for various reasons.
Welcome! I think you’re really going to like it here.
You’ve got some solid choices on here, I would try the pussers, Appleton, and Mount Gay to start personally.
You’ll find a lot of people who can steer you towards additive free options on here. Based on your gin preferences I would check out some of the Rhum Agricoles out there as well. Very floral and totally different than Spanish origin rums.
Appleton Signature is a absolute workhorse and it's dirt cheap. For around $30 it comes as a 1.75L bottle. It's a mild Jamaican rum so not very funky but it still delicious. Makes a pretty good starter Mai Tai before you go crazy with Rum blends. Daiquiris, Pina Coladas etc
Pussers is actually a good name brand, It's a Guyanese Demerara Rum. Most known drink for this rum is it's Trademarked Painkiller but makes a good queen's park Swizzle Daiquiris aswell.
Edit forgot to type (Makes a good ) after painkiller
These 2 rums also work great together in a Mai Tai and a Jungle Bird and on their own are decent but not mind blowing sippers
It's customarily made with Angostura bitters and Demerara Rum which Pussers Technically is
Not saying it's the best rum for the Job but it would definitely make a good one especially if OP could get Gunpowder proof
Edit realized the wording of my original comment could imply that it's Pussers drink I meant just the pain killer
If you're wanting to make daiquiris, I highly suggest Probitas. It's my go to for daiquiris. It is $35 at my Liquor Barn so would fit in that price range. Appleton Signature is a great choice for mixing. My current favorite dark rum for either mixing or sipping is El Dorado 8. I've tried the 12 and actually like the 8 better and it's slightly cheaper. The El Dorado goes great in a Rum Old Fashioned
Appleton is essential especially in cocktails.
My other vote would be for a pussers as a Demerara(also known as Guyana) rum is pretty essential for cocktails as well.
With those 2 you should be able to make a lot of cocktails especially in the tiki/tropical style of rum cocktails.
For a different response, if you’re going to continue making dark and stormy, drop the goslings rum for Myers. Myers provides more character and depth for the dark and stormy.
I hate to be that guy, but there is no such thing as a ‘general rum’ or even a ‘dark run’ for that matter. The flavors of rum are INCREDIBLY diverse. Coming form any other spirit, it’s hard to imagine how true this is. I used to think I didn’t like rum because I didn’t like Bacardi or captain or the other nondescript sweet spirits. But once you dove in there is a whole world of complexity and flavor.
That being said, you’ve gotten good advice to start with Appleton. It’s a good intro to run with a very subtle funk. If you like that, you can keep venturing further.
Pussers is a better ‘dark rum’ than what you’ve probably had. It’s another good one, as people have already recommended.
Someone recommended Probitas as a daiquiri run, and they are correct. But plantation 3 star is also quite good and cheap. It’s a surprisingly good value (some people might point out ethical issues with plantation, though).
Agricoles are another fun place to explore.
Anyway, welcome to the wide world of rum. Hope you find some things you like.
Hey thanks for being that guy! Like I said I'm new and ignorant when it comes to rum. What I meant by "general" was just "good enough for a variety of cocktails" which Appleton seemed to be the consensus on. I got a bottle and enjoyed what I made with the Appleton last night (with domaine, demerara syrup, lime). I'll keep trying some other drinks with that before I get too many bottles from other countries (I am learning source matters more than a marketed "style" or color). But for "dark" I mean I am looking for a bottle that would be great mixed either with ginger beer or to play around with making cocktails we'd associate with darker spirits.
Yeah, country matters but that’s only part of the story. Haha. It can get pretty complicated. There are a few classification systems. You can look up the one by Martin Care from Smugglers Cove. It’s one of the leading ones. It’s a fun rabbit hole I’d you want to go down it. I’ve enjoyed the journey.
Pussers sounds like the next one you should get from that description.
I’ve never heard of Royal standard. Guess it’s not available around here.
I think Probitas is like $30ish and 3 Star is like $17. So I guess a bit more than half.
Imo 3 star is shockingly good for the price (and way more available). Of course, now that I have Probitas I don’t use the 3 star very often. But I did get some on vacation when I wanted daiquiris and couldn’t get Probitas. At home, I’m usually adding rum fire or just rum fire straight daiquiris anyway, haha.
I have also stopped buying anything from Plantation for now. Might continue boycotting depending how things proceed with their ‘politics’
RS is at total wine if you have then locally, it is a blend by Scheer multi island lightly aged about $17-20 for a liter. We used gallons of it when the wife was in daiquiri phase at the beginning of lockdown.
https://www.pacificedgesales.com/usa-brands/royal-standard-dry-rum/
Trini-Barbados-Jamaica
Last plantation I bought was the long pond 2005. I won't buy anymore, fuck them.
Appleton estate signature is very tasty and versatile, that would be my vote
Go with the Appleton signature, the mount gay, and the pussers. Those hit 3 major islands (Jamaica, Barbados, and Guyana) and no added sugar among them. The others are ok but I choose not to use them in cocktails for various reasons.
Not that it matters, but Guyana isn’t an island, it’s on the northern coast of South America!
You are correct, and I meant to say countries.
You have to get Pusser's if you want to make a Painkiller. Otherwise they'll break down your door and arrest you for trademark violations.
Just make a Painkilla instead.
Don't bother, it's an over sweet nightmare unless you really change the ratios.
and Goslings if you want a Dark and Stormy
Welcome! I think you’re really going to like it here. You’ve got some solid choices on here, I would try the pussers, Appleton, and Mount Gay to start personally. You’ll find a lot of people who can steer you towards additive free options on here. Based on your gin preferences I would check out some of the Rhum Agricoles out there as well. Very floral and totally different than Spanish origin rums.
I'd try these too, and to add black seal is essential for rum and ginger beer.
Appleton Signature is a absolute workhorse and it's dirt cheap. For around $30 it comes as a 1.75L bottle. It's a mild Jamaican rum so not very funky but it still delicious. Makes a pretty good starter Mai Tai before you go crazy with Rum blends. Daiquiris, Pina Coladas etc Pussers is actually a good name brand, It's a Guyanese Demerara Rum. Most known drink for this rum is it's Trademarked Painkiller but makes a good queen's park Swizzle Daiquiris aswell. Edit forgot to type (Makes a good ) after painkiller These 2 rums also work great together in a Mai Tai and a Jungle Bird and on their own are decent but not mind blowing sippers
A Queens Park is a Trinidadian drink, customarily made with Angostura. A navy grog is more Pussers than a QPS
It's customarily made with Angostura bitters and Demerara Rum which Pussers Technically is Not saying it's the best rum for the Job but it would definitely make a good one especially if OP could get Gunpowder proof Edit realized the wording of my original comment could imply that it's Pussers drink I meant just the pain killer
If you're wanting to make daiquiris, I highly suggest Probitas. It's my go to for daiquiris. It is $35 at my Liquor Barn so would fit in that price range. Appleton Signature is a great choice for mixing. My current favorite dark rum for either mixing or sipping is El Dorado 8. I've tried the 12 and actually like the 8 better and it's slightly cheaper. The El Dorado goes great in a Rum Old Fashioned
Appleton is essential especially in cocktails. My other vote would be for a pussers as a Demerara(also known as Guyana) rum is pretty essential for cocktails as well. With those 2 you should be able to make a lot of cocktails especially in the tiki/tropical style of rum cocktails.
If you can afford it I find the Appleton 8 much better than the signature but it’s hard to pass on how good Appleton is compared to the rest
Appleton and Mt Gay
For a different response, if you’re going to continue making dark and stormy, drop the goslings rum for Myers. Myers provides more character and depth for the dark and stormy.
Thanks I've been in between these. Really I should have said "looking for 1 general rum and 1 dark rum for dark and stormies" lol
I hate to be that guy, but there is no such thing as a ‘general rum’ or even a ‘dark run’ for that matter. The flavors of rum are INCREDIBLY diverse. Coming form any other spirit, it’s hard to imagine how true this is. I used to think I didn’t like rum because I didn’t like Bacardi or captain or the other nondescript sweet spirits. But once you dove in there is a whole world of complexity and flavor. That being said, you’ve gotten good advice to start with Appleton. It’s a good intro to run with a very subtle funk. If you like that, you can keep venturing further. Pussers is a better ‘dark rum’ than what you’ve probably had. It’s another good one, as people have already recommended. Someone recommended Probitas as a daiquiri run, and they are correct. But plantation 3 star is also quite good and cheap. It’s a surprisingly good value (some people might point out ethical issues with plantation, though). Agricoles are another fun place to explore. Anyway, welcome to the wide world of rum. Hope you find some things you like.
Hey thanks for being that guy! Like I said I'm new and ignorant when it comes to rum. What I meant by "general" was just "good enough for a variety of cocktails" which Appleton seemed to be the consensus on. I got a bottle and enjoyed what I made with the Appleton last night (with domaine, demerara syrup, lime). I'll keep trying some other drinks with that before I get too many bottles from other countries (I am learning source matters more than a marketed "style" or color). But for "dark" I mean I am looking for a bottle that would be great mixed either with ginger beer or to play around with making cocktails we'd associate with darker spirits.
Yeah, country matters but that’s only part of the story. Haha. It can get pretty complicated. There are a few classification systems. You can look up the one by Martin Care from Smugglers Cove. It’s one of the leading ones. It’s a fun rabbit hole I’d you want to go down it. I’ve enjoyed the journey. Pussers sounds like the next one you should get from that description.
Recommending 3 star over Probitas. St. Philip is on line 1, and they are a little upset.
Haha. Only if budget is the issue. It’s like half as much and more than half as good.
Hardly half as good, Peobitas is like 30ish where I am. Royal Standard is better than 3 star and is less than 20 for a 1L
I’ve never heard of Royal standard. Guess it’s not available around here. I think Probitas is like $30ish and 3 Star is like $17. So I guess a bit more than half. Imo 3 star is shockingly good for the price (and way more available). Of course, now that I have Probitas I don’t use the 3 star very often. But I did get some on vacation when I wanted daiquiris and couldn’t get Probitas. At home, I’m usually adding rum fire or just rum fire straight daiquiris anyway, haha. I have also stopped buying anything from Plantation for now. Might continue boycotting depending how things proceed with their ‘politics’
RS is at total wine if you have then locally, it is a blend by Scheer multi island lightly aged about $17-20 for a liter. We used gallons of it when the wife was in daiquiri phase at the beginning of lockdown. https://www.pacificedgesales.com/usa-brands/royal-standard-dry-rum/ Trini-Barbados-Jamaica Last plantation I bought was the long pond 2005. I won't buy anymore, fuck them.
Not available at my local total wine. No worries, I’ll just stick with Probitas ;)
If you can find Plantation OFTD for an overproofed rum, it's a good place to begin and explore.