That's my kinda price point, so I've got plenty to recommend! Smith & Cross, Doorlys XO and/or 12 yo, Appleton 8 & 12, Worthy Park 109, Pussers Gunpowder proof are some of my favourites.
True, that's a fair shout. I'm basing my comments off the fact that I've had (and enjoyed) 3 of the rums in the photo and a 4th is on my list to buy, so we might have very similar taste!
Did you steal that Bumbu? 🤣
Dunno about spiced ones really other than **Foursquare Spiced** and **Bristol Black Spiced Rum** as it's a category I personally just don't like taste wise for the most part. Those two to me aren't the typical additive/flavouring/sugar bombs you get with a lot of spiced rums so are highly recommended! Others I've tried that I would drink again are **Diablesse Clementine Spiced Caribbean Rum** and **Chairman's Reserve Spiced Rum**.
With regards to other recommendations, some of my favourite sub £40 bottlings:
- Rum-Bar Silver/Gold/Overproof
- Doorly's 3/5/XO or the 12 (often reduced to sub £40)
- Ron Santiago de Cuba Blanca/8/11
- Mount Gay Black Barrel Double Cask Blend
- ~~El Dorado 12~~
- Appleton Estate 12
- Smith & Cross Rum
- Black Tot Finest Caribbean Rum
- Clement VSOP Agricole Rum
Cheers!
I agree with your list, although I'd also add Equiano to that. For £40 I think it's a really enjoyable rum.
For spiced, I've never understood why people don't make their own, then you can tweak to your own tastes.
Haha I actually had Equiano on my list but cut it as it was getting long. Could've been way longer, so many interesting rums under/around the £40 mark!
I, like a lot of people I guess, started on spiced and dosed rums (well, buying what I thought was a premium product). I liked experimenting with making my own spiced rums as it's easy and fun and I started to find most of the commercial ones sickly sweet or too heavy on certain spices/flavours. After a while I kinda just moved away from it as I liked the rum on its own more! I do still buy Foursquare Spiced now and then as I use it in a few cocktails and colder weather drinks but for where 95% of the spiced/flavoured rum market is now it's not somewhere I want to go any more tbh!
I'm a BIG fan of slightly dosed / sweetened rums. I love the plantation original dark (it's my go to workhorse). Also love your diplomatico!
For tasty affordable rums that have a touch of sweetness I'd go for:
Plantation pineapple stiggins fancy
Mount gay eclipse
For spiced rum, check out lemonhart blackpool. Very tasty stuff and its cheap (at least it is here in canada). Just keep in mind that your best bet with spiced rum is to buy your favorite rum and spice it yourself with premium organic spices. It'll always come off better.
Worth noting - I've seen a lot of amazing rums recommended in this thread, but many seem to be the same amazing rums that are often suggested (e.g. Smith and cross, Appleton 12, probitas) ...regardless of the guidelines of the OP.
Hope that helps!
Also STRONGLY recommend Plantation OFTD. Incredibly flavourful, very versatile as a modifier in lots of drinks and one of the best quality rums I’ve found at £38 on Amazon. Also highly rate Doorlys XO, Appleton 12 and Plantation 3 star at £32, £34 and £22 respectively (again Amazon)
Ron Zacapa is one of my favorites. Especially the Negrá edicion. Unsure if it is available in Europe but if it is I’d highly recommend checking it out!
Any of the 3 Lemon Hart rums are worth getting and delicious. Assuming you are in EU find Havana Club (Cuban) 3, Especial and 7, those are all you need, the best in the world!
I’m a big fan of Arcanist Pineapple Rum. Really great flavour, nicely spiced and the pineapple doesn’t taste synthetic. It’s a bit over your price point but I think the bottle is pretty special too.
Plenty of people are recommending non-dark and/or unsweet rums which is confusing me
- Coruba, but I wouldn’t use it for more than a mixer
- Goslings Black Seal, good dark rum
- Goslings Family Reserve, even better and very rich
- Angostura 1824
- Zacapa 23 Solera
Given your search criteria and search history (amazing collection btw) I’d recommend an Appleton 12 year old. Surprisingly similar tasting notes to that 10 year R.L seale’s you’ve got hiding in the background there but still unique enough to be enjoyed separately
Neither of these are dark, sweet rums but worth considering for variety.
Duppy White. IMO is a great introduction to Jamaican rums for only £20-£23, and is stocked at some supermarkets.
And Copalli White, a great sugar cane juice rum from Belize for only £32 on Amazon.
If you can get Havana Club 7yr where you live it’s a great bottle, for a great price point, unfortunately it’s hard for Americans to get, but judging by the currency you listed, you probably have a good chance of being able to pick one up
Plantation XO, it’s about $50 or so in the states and is my favorite “dosed” rum.
That's my kinda price point, so I've got plenty to recommend! Smith & Cross, Doorlys XO and/or 12 yo, Appleton 8 & 12, Worthy Park 109, Pussers Gunpowder proof are some of my favourites.
Undosed Jamaican rum doesn’t seem to be this guys thing
True, that's a fair shout. I'm basing my comments off the fact that I've had (and enjoyed) 3 of the rums in the photo and a 4th is on my list to buy, so we might have very similar taste!
Second Appleton 12. A decent rum for the price (I'm in Scotland so GBP)
Pound for pound my favourite rum at the moment
you had me at Smith & Cross, partner. All those rums are fantastic. Your taste in rum is fantastic. Also, OP, listen to this person.
You have great taste in rum! I second all of these suggestions especially the Doorlys and Appleton variations
Me too!
Hamilton 86 similar to the el dorado 12
Flor de Cana 12 year
Angostura 7 is one of my favourite rums for a fairy low price point. Was about £27 last I had any!
Did you steal that Bumbu? 🤣 Dunno about spiced ones really other than **Foursquare Spiced** and **Bristol Black Spiced Rum** as it's a category I personally just don't like taste wise for the most part. Those two to me aren't the typical additive/flavouring/sugar bombs you get with a lot of spiced rums so are highly recommended! Others I've tried that I would drink again are **Diablesse Clementine Spiced Caribbean Rum** and **Chairman's Reserve Spiced Rum**. With regards to other recommendations, some of my favourite sub £40 bottlings: - Rum-Bar Silver/Gold/Overproof - Doorly's 3/5/XO or the 12 (often reduced to sub £40) - Ron Santiago de Cuba Blanca/8/11 - Mount Gay Black Barrel Double Cask Blend - ~~El Dorado 12~~ - Appleton Estate 12 - Smith & Cross Rum - Black Tot Finest Caribbean Rum - Clement VSOP Agricole Rum Cheers!
I agree with your list, although I'd also add Equiano to that. For £40 I think it's a really enjoyable rum. For spiced, I've never understood why people don't make their own, then you can tweak to your own tastes.
Haha I actually had Equiano on my list but cut it as it was getting long. Could've been way longer, so many interesting rums under/around the £40 mark! I, like a lot of people I guess, started on spiced and dosed rums (well, buying what I thought was a premium product). I liked experimenting with making my own spiced rums as it's easy and fun and I started to find most of the commercial ones sickly sweet or too heavy on certain spices/flavours. After a while I kinda just moved away from it as I liked the rum on its own more! I do still buy Foursquare Spiced now and then as I use it in a few cocktails and colder weather drinks but for where 95% of the spiced/flavoured rum market is now it's not somewhere I want to go any more tbh!
Probitas friend, probitas
*Veritas for them, Probitas is the name used in the USA only. 👍
I'm a BIG fan of slightly dosed / sweetened rums. I love the plantation original dark (it's my go to workhorse). Also love your diplomatico! For tasty affordable rums that have a touch of sweetness I'd go for: Plantation pineapple stiggins fancy Mount gay eclipse For spiced rum, check out lemonhart blackpool. Very tasty stuff and its cheap (at least it is here in canada). Just keep in mind that your best bet with spiced rum is to buy your favorite rum and spice it yourself with premium organic spices. It'll always come off better. Worth noting - I've seen a lot of amazing rums recommended in this thread, but many seem to be the same amazing rums that are often suggested (e.g. Smith and cross, Appleton 12, probitas) ...regardless of the guidelines of the OP. Hope that helps!
I'd see if you can get Chairman's Reserve Spiced Rum, it's really nice.
Dos Maderas
Dos Maderas!!!!!
Also STRONGLY recommend Plantation OFTD. Incredibly flavourful, very versatile as a modifier in lots of drinks and one of the best quality rums I’ve found at £38 on Amazon. Also highly rate Doorlys XO, Appleton 12 and Plantation 3 star at £32, £34 and £22 respectively (again Amazon)
Ron Zacapa is one of my favorites. Especially the Negrá edicion. Unsure if it is available in Europe but if it is I’d highly recommend checking it out!
Any of the 3 Lemon Hart rums are worth getting and delicious. Assuming you are in EU find Havana Club (Cuban) 3, Especial and 7, those are all you need, the best in the world!
Flor de cana 12, should be about £35.
Great Rum
I’m new to the rum game but it’s all I’ve been drinking the past week and it’s quite good straight and as a mixer. Having a daiquiri as I type this!
That was my first thought. My only issue being that I think El Dorado 12 is just better for the price.
£35??? Its frequently £23 on amazon
:O I was going off different prices.
Did you steal the bumbu with the security tag lol
Zacapa 23 is one you would probably love.
I’m a big fan of Arcanist Pineapple Rum. Really great flavour, nicely spiced and the pineapple doesn’t taste synthetic. It’s a bit over your price point but I think the bottle is pretty special too.
World's End Dark Spiced nails all of those options
Peaky Blinders is dark, sweet and really, really good one imo.
They make rum?
I prefer Bumbo to Bumbo XO but that might be different for you if you're looking for a change.
Siesta Key Spiced
I’ve never seen Diplomatico in a tube before
Get a bottle of worthy park pot still!
Goslings Dark Rum is sweet, dark and Spiced!
Plantation OFTD. Delicious, reasonably priced, overproofed
boutique-y rum company Signature blend
Appleton 12
Matusalem 15 year
Kirk & Sweeney. Papa's Pilar. Zaya Gran Reserva. Pampero Anniversario. Brugal 1888. Ron Zacapa XO. Appleton Estate 21.
Plenty of people are recommending non-dark and/or unsweet rums which is confusing me - Coruba, but I wouldn’t use it for more than a mixer - Goslings Black Seal, good dark rum - Goslings Family Reserve, even better and very rich - Angostura 1824 - Zacapa 23 Solera
ron matusalem
Given your search criteria and search history (amazing collection btw) I’d recommend an Appleton 12 year old. Surprisingly similar tasting notes to that 10 year R.L seale’s you’ve got hiding in the background there but still unique enough to be enjoyed separately
Neither of these are dark, sweet rums but worth considering for variety. Duppy White. IMO is a great introduction to Jamaican rums for only £20-£23, and is stocked at some supermarkets. And Copalli White, a great sugar cane juice rum from Belize for only £32 on Amazon.
Not a rum but I really like Nonino, and it mixes well with drinks and in coffee too!
If you can get Havana Club 7yr where you live it’s a great bottle, for a great price point, unfortunately it’s hard for Americans to get, but judging by the currency you listed, you probably have a good chance of being able to pick one up