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Best budget rum? |
TikiTacky
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Nov 23, 2010
Posts: 626 |  Posted: 2010-11-24 08:49 am Permalink
There've been plenty of discussions about the best rum, and the list usually consists of rums in the $50+ price bracket. But with the "new economy," sometimes cheaper isn't just better, it's the only choice.
What's you're favorite inexpensive rum? Mention whether it's for sipping or mixing. We're looking for that sweet spot of price and flavor.
I'll start with Flor De Caña 4-year at around $18 a bottle for mixing. I haven't had enough experience with other rums to comment on it as a sipper.
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Swanky
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 03, 2002
Posts: 4899
From: Hapa Haole Hideaway, TN
| Posted: 2010-11-24 09:23 am Permalink
Some of the best are also rather cheap.
Eldorado 12 year can be bought at about $20-25 Excellent rum
My favorite sipper these days is Clement VSOP which is $29 here, but on sale for $19! Yum!
When out of the above, I sip Appleton Extra or VX. A standard good rum that is not expensive.
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rev_thumper
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 10, 2007
Posts: 329
From: Koala Kabana, New England
| Posted: 2010-11-24 12:55 pm Permalink
Mt. Gay Eclipse is a sipper and a mixer and often available for less than $20 for a handle.
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Shaun of theTiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 25, 2008
Posts: 109 | Posted: 2010-11-24 10:03 pm Permalink
You can get the excellent 4-star Rhum Barbancourt in the $20 range. Other good rums in that price range and lower are: Appleton Estate V/X, El Dorado 12-year, Cockspur Gold, Bacardi 8-year, and Tanduay.
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CucamongaChango
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 13, 2008
Posts: 264
From: Denver, CO
| Posted: 2010-11-27 4:04 pm Permalink
Another vote for that 12 yr El Dorado... that stuff is crazy delicious.
With the Appleton, I'd spring the extra few dollars and upgrade from the V/X to that Estate Reserve. But, if it's only ever gonna be in cocktails, the V/X is fine and dandy, too.
And... for a good dark Jamaican, if you can find Coruba, grab it. That stuf is like 15 bucks a bottle... A BARGAIN!
For a seriously pungeant bargain, the Pyrat XO can usually be found for 20 bucks.
Happy drinking.
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Chip and Andy
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 13, 2004
Posts: 2095
From: Corner table, Molokai Lounge, Mai-Kai.
| Posted: 2010-11-28 05:34 am Permalink
For mixing you can't go wrong with some stuff typically on the bottom shelf...
Eldorado Gold is around $12 a bottle in my area. Enough flavor to make it work, inexpensive enough to use generously.
Ron Rico Gold is around $15 a bottle. Same as above. Ron Rico used to be premium top-shelf stuff back in the day, today not so much. It still has just enough flavor to make it a worthy rum for your budget bar.
Angostura makes a brand called Old Oak that is pretty decent for its price. The White is not much better than a sweet vodka. The Gold, however, makes a pretty decent Mai Tai when paired with some Appelton. And again, they are in the sub-$15 bottle range.
Depending on your region you can sometimes find rebates or discounts, up in the northern end of the US right now there is some kind of deal on Cruzan 9 where the final price per bottle works out to less than $10 each.
Even in this 'New Economy' the same rules apply to your bar just like they did way back when.... get the best booze you can afford. There is no shame in having/using lower priced bottles. Unless your a cheapskate and cutting corners and then you should be beaten with the sticky side of the barmat.
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Rum Balls
Grand Member (first year)
Joined: Oct 04, 2004
Posts: 842
From: Portland, OR
| Posted: 2010-11-29 07:35 am Permalink
Here in "no sales tax" Oregon, these are my basics:
Cruzan light & dark for $15
Coruba dark for $15
Appleton VX for $18
You can also get Cruzan's new "9" spiced rum here right now for $12
And also a minor correction to a post above: Quote:
| 4-star Rhum Barbancourt |
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That'd be the 3-star...Barbancourt's other "starred" rum is 5-star.
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MadDogMike
Grand Member (6 years) 
Joined: Mar 30, 2008
Posts: 6884
From: The Anvil of the Sun
| Posted: 2010-12-20 06:21 am Permalink
Myers Dark is available in my area and inexpensive, I notice it didn't make the list. I read that the flavor of Meyers can be over powering, I guess that's a bad thing?
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Wayfarer
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 03, 2009
Posts: 300
From: Italy, but not by choice
| Posted: 2010-12-20 07:19 am Permalink
The thing about Myers's is, if you put it in your cocktail you might as well not add anything else because the Myers's is about all you'll taste.
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MadDogMike
Grand Member (6 years)
Joined: Mar 30, 2008
Posts: 6884
From: The Anvil of the Sun
| Posted: 2010-12-21 7:46 pm Permalink
I have been studying this thread as I'm due for a new bottle of gold and wanted to get something decent but reasonable priced. All I have been able to find in my area is Bacardi, Malibu, Capt. Morgan, Parrot Bay, Meyers, Sailor Jerry, a tiny over-priced bottle Pyrat XO Reserve, and an ocassional bottle of Kraken (I already have one of those). Not wanting to wait 'til my next trip to the big city, I picked up a 0.75L bottle of Cruzan 2 year on sale at Von's this week for $10.
I don't know who Proof66 is, but they have good things to say about several of the budget rums listed in this thread. Out of over 200 rums, Cruzan 2 and Flor de Cana 4 are ranked numbers 10 & 11. Mt Gay Eclipse is in the top 25%. Number 1 rum on the list was Mt Gay Extra Old at $35, most expensive was Real Carupano Legendario for $1000!
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Maitai Mike
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Sep 20, 2010
Posts: 22 | Posted: 2011-01-11 5:44 pm Permalink
Cruzan Aged rums. Approx. $15 here in NC.
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Dr. Coruba
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 02, 2008
Posts: 108 | Posted: 2011-01-13 4:14 pm Permalink
Quote:
| On 2010-12-20 06:21, MadDogMike wrote:
Myers Dark is available in my area and inexpensive, I notice it didn't make the list. I read that the flavor of Meyers can be over powering, I guess that's a bad thing? |
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Quote:
| On 2010-12-20 07:19, Wayfarer wrote:
The thing about Myers's is, if you put it in your cocktail you might as well not add anything else because the Myers's is about all you'll taste. |
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If you can get it, give Coruba a try. Often on special for less than Myer's but imo a much better rum.
In the under $15 category, I think that the Cruzan rums are good. I still find even the aged for under $15 bucks around here. I have also become a fan of Mt Gay's "Sugar Cane Rum" which I've gotten for a little over $15. Flor de Cana 7 is another well under $20 on special that I enjoy. It and Coruba make a very fine Mai Tai.
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thePorpoise
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 23, 2011
Posts: 989
From: Tampa Bay
| Posted: 2012-05-31 2:00 pm Permalink
am curious as to everybody's favorite budget (under $20) rums, re light, gold, and dark rums, primarily for cocktails...
my picks:
Appleton Estates white; Cockspur gold; Gosling's black seal.
[ This Message was edited by: thePorpoise 2012-05-31 14:01 ]
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Atomic Tiki Punk
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 19, 2009
Posts: 4925
From: Costa Misery
| Posted: 2012-05-31 2:35 pm Permalink
About a $1.29
[ This Message was edited by: Atomic Tiki Punk 2012-05-31 14:36 ]
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bigtikidude
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 10, 2004
Posts: 8584
From: Anaheim,Ca.
| Posted: 2012-05-31 5:02 pm Permalink
Shouldn't that read Bacardi on it?
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