nice rums?

[Mark C]

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

OK, being new to this. Stopped to pick up a 6-pack of some Spotted Cow in Green Bay, and stopped in the rum aisle. They had Appleton (clear & a dark), Oronoco, Mount Gay (a clear & a dark), Kilo Kai (?) and some others that were mass market stuff I see everywhere.

I looked. I wondered. Then I thought I'd ask here.

So, how do those compare to Zaya or Ron Zacapa 23 or Brugal or Black Seal?

It all depends. I've never had Oronoco, but it generally gets ranked pretty good for a clear rum. Should make a killer mojito. I'm not a fan of the clear Mount Gay, never had clear Appleton. The 'regular' dark rums from both companies are comparable to your average bottle of Bacardi, the V/X maybe a little better, the Mount Gay Eclipse a little less. Both companies make some nice aged rums though.

Mount Gay Extra Old is comparable to Cruzan Single Barrel. I think of it as an 'entry level' aged rum. It's got a nice 'barrel' flavor, toasted caramel, etc. If you like sweet rums like Zaya/Zacapa, Extra Old may not fit your taste. If you prefer a drier style, it's worth keeping around.

Appleton is similar, though they have more of a variety of aged rums. I just finished a bottle of Appleton Extra. It was good, but not as good as Mount Gay Extra Old. The V/X is their 'standard' dark rum, again similar to Bacardi. I haven't tried the other blends, so no comment there.

If you liked the Brugal (was it clear, gold, or anejo?), try the Appleton. If they've got Mount Gay Extra Old, give that one a shot too, but I'd avoid the MG Eclipse. If you want a change of pace/clear rum, pick up the Oronoco.