Mount Gay Eclipse

As a Sailor, I am partial to Mount Gay. For me it is a drink that should reside in every bar and rum owners bar.
Is it the best rum. No not by far! But for me it is a "standard", something by which you can judge and rate other rums by.
At first your nose will pick up a soft floral bouquet, then hit by spices. I find the taste rather smooth to start with then eclipsed by spice and flavor.

Nothing too crazy or special, just a good basic simple rum.

For $20, you'd be hard pressed to find a better rum. Very smoothe! A tad on the sweet side with very prevalent molasses/burnt sugar notes, but not too sweet. I really enjoy this one.

But by that all is said, it was not bad at all, but also not great. A true avarage rum.

Exactly what I look for in a great rum to mix. I don't generally drink rum straight so this really works for me. Good rum nose, with hints of vanilla but can seem harsh by itself. Makes a great monitor or rum punch...

Used to be my my go-to rum. Almost always mixed. A good value rum that drinks smoothly with minimal harsh ethanol aroma. Not too much character, either, but doesn't let you down. Nice and dry, and having no additives is a huge plus.

I have been searching for rum with a traditional flavour that goes back to the beginnings. This may be the oldest known brand and the flavour is smooth and right down the middle as sweetness vs edginess goes. This makes sense as some suggest Eclipse is the benchmark by which rums are compared.
To have such a history it seems a bit plain and may have a bit too much influence from the bourbon barrels it is aged in. Good tasting straight with a nice finish a little heat and a nice aftertaste.

Light body, good taste both warm and chilled. Not a bad option for under $20.

I generally drink it over ice with a splash of water, but a good choice for mixed drinks too. One of the best in it's price range and worth the few dollars more than some lesser runs.

As the title would suggest this is my baseline for all rums. This was the first rum I found when I switched from drinking spiced rum to non-spiced. It has what I feel are subtle notes and nothing extravagant jumps out at you. I would recommend this rum to anyone who is new to rum drinking and should be a staple in anyone's liquor cabinet.