647420 Tue Aug 25 11:52:46 -0700 2009 14 36 Spirits 0 4976551 What is not too expensive for mixing cocktails, but still good enough for occaisional sipping, maybe in the $20-25 range? Lemon Hart? Flor de Cana? Barbancourt? Meyer's? Others? TIA. Tue Aug 25 11:52:46 -0700 2009 19098 equinoise 1 4976925 If you really twisted my arm, I would say Lemon Hart, but it is a bit much for sipping. Many real dark rums are intended for punches and the like, and not really sipping rums. Something like Barbancourt, while wonderful for sipping, would not stand up in a Dark and Stormy for example. My preferences: - Brugal Anejo not really dark, but great for sipping - Any of the aged Barbancourt rums for sipping. - Barrilito Three Star, very dark, lots of flavor, great for sipping, but overkill in a cocktail - A dark rum like Goslings, Pussers, Lemon Hart Demerara, or Meyers for punches and the like Tue Aug 25 13:31:46 -0700 2009 4976551 10169 StriperGuy 1 4977706 Zaya rum if you can find it... Tue Aug 25 17:39:37 -0700 2009 4976551 13161 barleywino 2 4979282 The only Zaya available to me is the 12 year gran reserva, which, as a result of ludicrous WA state liquor policy, costs over $45 (compare with ~$30 online). That's a bit rich for mixing, IMO. Any other suggestions? P.S. you must be happy to be free of the WSLCB regime. Wed Aug 26 09:07:52 -0700 2009 4977706 19098 equinoise 3 4979714 on the contrary, here in Massachusetts we can't even get liquor shipped in from other states, unlike Washington...count your blessings! Wed Aug 26 11:00:20 -0700 2009 4979282 13161 barleywino 4 4989439 That's no longer true. I order from shoppersvineyard.com with some frequency. Sat Aug 29 19:31:19 -0700 2009 4979714 10169 StriperGuy 5 4989518 Thanks! Sat Aug 29 20:18:56 -0700 2009 4989439 13161 barleywino 1 4989281 old monk from india Sat Aug 29 17:44:25 -0700 2009 4976551 135229 thew 1 4989884 For an all-purpose Dark rum - I like Goslings. Decent for sipping, too. My new favorite rum for cocktails and sipping is El Dorado 5-year old Demera. This is not too expensive (under $20 in my area) and has a lot of character. Sun Aug 30 05:23:43 -0700 2009 4976551 71633 jerryc123 2 5017617 The El Dorado 12 and 15 are both fantastic for sipping Wed Sep 09 16:23:35 -0700 2009 4989884 89493 scubadoo97 3 5020140 But the El Dorado 15 is too hard to find to mix (at least in our area)! And too good. Personally, I would buy two bottles- Coruba for mixing and the El Dorado or Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva for sipping. Thu Sep 10 13:36:28 -0700 2009 5017617 97825 Coconuts 4 5020164 Can't find Coruba at all in Boston. Thu Sep 10 13:43:44 -0700 2009 5020140 10169 StriperGuy 4 5021479 The only El Dorado I use for mixing is the 5 YO and to be honest I seldom mix rum for myself. Fri Sep 11 05:24:14 -0700 2009 5020140 89493 scubadoo97 1 5019823 Aside from the rums others have mentioned, I'd like to add Pampero Aniversario to the list. It's quite inexpensive ($25, I think?), mixes relatively well, and is not bad for the occasional sip (not fantastic, either). And it comes in a leather pouch, which is kind of a cute touch (that said, I recommend throwing out the pouch, as I find the leather smell to be distracting from the rum experience, but YMMV). Thu Sep 10 11:59:38 -0700 2009 4976551 65478 davis_sq_pro 1 5020410 I like Old Monk and Sailor Jerry's. Thu Sep 10 15:17:02 -0700 2009 4976551 16672 phatchris