High end rum for restaurant

Why not go after an Appleton 21? This is a high quality, nicely priced, authentic rum, which even if it doesn't contain sugar/additives, it gives off the impression of being sweet (hints of natural sweetness) and is certainly a proper "flag"(ship) rum, high tier-ed at that! The box and certificate is a great addition, which compliments it greatly, especially if you plan to put it on display!

@dsurtai1 I haven`t had the Foursquare Nobiliary. Would you know the tasting notes this rum have ? I`m trying to aim for different notes as the ones I already have. Just so I can possibly add it to my Rum tasting pairing what I am offering.

@Pirate I was actually looking at this one, as the bottle is quite an eye catcher and would definitely shine on the bar. The tasting notes from multiple raters, look like the one I`m aiming for. Thanks guys !

Would you have some input on Nation Panama 21 ?

Hi Kris, There is a lot of great and interesting rums out there. If you look for the sweeter category I would recommend Quorhum 30 year Annivesario or Esclavo XO which is one of the best on the sweeter side. However i would recommend that you move away from that and look for Jamaica and cask strenght in general. Hampden (Jamaica) is one of the best, if not the best destillery in the world. And the latest release Hampden Estate 8 years Old. It is truly amazing how much real rum you get for the money + no sugar or other addictives added to it.

Don Pancho Origenes from Panama, great stuff from the Master himself and a nice bottle. Rum from the Savanna distillery, La Réunion.

@VikingXO I wanted to get Quorhum 30yrm but unfortunately I cannot find any supplier nearby. thanks for the tip, I`ll have a look at the Hampden.

@Dsurtai1 Very good point ! I`m more and more leaning towards the Appleton 21yr. For me, easy to get, eye catching bottle and packaging and notes different then the rums i already have.

A favorite topic. On the sweeter side I recommend Ron Zafra 21 or 30 (if you’re willing to spend that money) from Panama. They are sweet, but not as those you have right now. Then I think you should have something from Barbados, for example a Mount Gay or something from Foursquare. Then I think you should have something from Jamaica it could be something from Appleton or Monymusk or something from the funkier distilleries Hampden and Worthy Park. At last I think you should implement one of the more easier Agricoles to start with, for example Rhum J.M XO or La Mauny XO.

On the sweet side, Centenario 20, 25, or 30 yo. Or some Oliver&Oliver Rum like the Opthimus series. Sugar free, Bottlings from Habitation Velier. Medium sweet, Single Cask from Plantation. Possible to get ?

I will agree with the suggestion of Appleton 21. However, I cannot believe that Ron Zacapa XO has not been suggested. Already in the bar is Ron Zacapa 23 Solera, so that very fancy bottle of XO would definitely entice patrons to order that one. As for me, it is a once a year guilty pleasure because it only lasts for one week. The XO is sweet and the 23 Solera is a sugar bomb. I have never tried anything from Caroni because it is not available where I live nor can it be shipped to me. Same holds true for Black Tot 50th Anniversary. Now if I was in a restaurant and saw either of those available, I would definitely order one ounce. I had a chance to order an ounce of the original Black Tot, but it was several hundred dollars for one ounce. I wisely chose to skip it especially after reading reviews on here. I cannot recommend any of the Foursquare ECS "rums" because most taste too much like bourbons and most are cask strength. Those would also require a lot of explaining from the wait staff, as well as for any of the Hampdens.

@StefanPersson Ron Zafra crossed my mind as well, but for now, it would be too sweet. We will be doing complete renovation of the dining room over next quarter, so I want definitely bring in even more rums then i have right now, including British Navy rums, Panama Rums and others, so I`ll bring similar topic again, as I want to have at least 10 rums on display. I had a look at Hampden already and try to get the Hampden 46, it looks that might be great even for nice distinctive cocktails. But as of now, the only way for me to get a hold of it is to ship it from states, which will bring the cost high.

@Rene Rum unfortunately the only one you mentioned I`d be able to get easily now is Plantation rums (Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados)

@Paul B With lots of suggestions I am facing the same problem, the availability and shipping. Very good point with the foursquare rums. Maybe down the road once I get the staff to be excited about the rums at least as I am, even though I haven`t tasted too many. But the trend of rums is on the rise and replacing the trend of Single Malts. I think as well, that it`s way more fun to discover such a diverse tasting notes within the rums. What I am aiming for is to have the rums from different countries, right now, as my selection is small. So Zacapa XO sounds good and will probably find a place after expanding the portfolio, but i think right now, I`ll go with the Appleton 21.

Kris: In addition to my prior recommendations, I would like to add Dictador XO Insolent from Columbia, Admiral Rodney HMS Formidable from St. Lucia, any of the Bacardi Facundo's from Puerto Rico, and Frigate Reserve 21 Year from Panama (but based out of Abaco in the Bahamas).

@ Paul B The Dictador XO Insolent from Colombia, will definitely find a place later on. Haven`t had it, but from the reviews, it is a must. Admiral Rodney I can only find Princessa. What would be the to go Facundo - Eximo or Exquisito ?

Kris: I personally prefer the cheaper Eximo to the Exquisito. Both are excellent. I have yet to dole out the bucks for the Paradisio and I don't count their Neo white rum. As for the Princessa, that one is VERY affordable and I have bought more than a dozen of those. Besides being a great tasting dry rum, that line of rums also provides the most reusable rum bottle that I have found. A square base, short height for the fridge, perfect fitting cork, and wide mouth for pouring. These all come in very handy for mixing batches of non-carbonated drinks ahead of time, such as complex Mai Tais.

Neo is an 8y old aged rum, but filtered. I think it's also not bad. @Kris I would take the Caroni bottle, what do they want for it? Can you get the 24y old Long Pond from Plantation (not the Extreme)? It has also a great value.

Don't serve them sweetened garbage like Zacapa, Zafra or Quorhum. The rum knowledge is on the rise, one day a wealthy rum hipster will come as a guest and ask you why do you serve the overpriced, sweetened booze, and you will have no good answer, which will damage your reputation. Serve genuinely good stuff, but not too demanding. Caroni IS demanding, it's tar-like heavy rum that requires trained, calibrated palate. I would suggest a rum like Doorly 14 - it has sweet notes, but it's not sweetened, it's complex enough, spicy, lively, interesting and has a nice bottle with a blue parrot associated with Caribbean and tropically aged alcohol. Or serve some Foursquare bottled by Velier. Or independent bottling of a demerara rum, like something from the Kill Devil line. Whatever, but not just nice bottles, it must have intrinsic qualities on its own. Thus, you will show that you know your trade.

@everybody Thank you so much everyone for your suggestions, advise and shared knowledge ! I really do appreciate that ! For now I took the Appleton 21. After expanding my bar, I`ll bring it up again, if you guys could help me create a nice selection of rums, so even a rum "Snob" would find, what he`s looking for. Thanks again, it`s been super helpful !

I still think Appleton 21 is too oaky. Sure, people will respect the number... and price tag, but they will grimace when drinking ;-) Other than that... you know, to impress snobs, you gotta take advice of other snobs ;-)

Congratulations on your newly acquired bottle! Appleton 21 is unique, because it can satisfy those who have a sweet tooth for sugary rums, since it has a natural sweetness that feels way superior to artificially sweetened rums... And at the same time, appeal to the hardcore "NO SUGAR" crowd! For a basic first step expansion, towards the "luxury" and "flagship" rum areas, it has to be one failsafe, foolproof choice! Add to that the fact Appleton is popular and widely renowned, as well as its products widely available and this is a solid purchase, under every scope! Only recently i got myself acquainted with that beauty and i feel enamored with it, to say the least! Slow sipping, smell first, breathe deeply right after swallowing... The real treat is the very long, extremely pleasant aftertaste! Cheers!

Kris: I only had one ounce of Appleton 21 at a bar. It was great, but it lost out to another much cheaper Jamaican rum in a side by side test. The winner was Blackwell's Reserve at one sixth of the price. So price never equates to quality on rums. Also, never ever listen to the sugar police when it comes to rums!!!! Always drink what you like and so will your patrons in your restaurant. While renovating, I would guess that this newly acquired bottle of Appleton 21 will be gone by the time the work is finished. Which leads to another very important point. This premium rum should be very easy to replace when gone.

Hello! In this price point in my opinion you have this great options: 1. Malteco 1987 2. El Dorado 21 3. Centenario Real 4. Zafra Master Reserve 30 5. Cubaney Centenario 30 (less expensive & quite similar is Quorhum 30) 6. Diplomatico Ambassador Selection (less expensive & quite similar is Diplomatico Single Vintage) 7. La Favorite La Flibuste 8. Abuelo Centuria 9. Millonario XO 10. Legendario Gran Reserva 15 11. Rum Company 1423 Special Cask 25 12. Barcelo Imperial Premium Blend 30 Aniversario 13. Opthimus XO 14. Plantation Guyana Cognac Ancestral Finish 17 15. Dictador XO Insolent

It depends on what province you are located in. The LCBO in Ontario has the widest range of rums....when they are in stock. Alberta and B.C. also have some good stores with great rums. If you are in Ontario and knowing that bars have a hefty markup I would suggest the Autentico Nativo 15. A great Panama rum at $75 which won't scare off a bar from trying it out. There is also the Centenario 25, but there's very low stock and it's $120. Or the El Dorado 21. Just my opinion.

El Dorado 21 year, any of the Foursquare Exceptional Cask Series or Dictador Perpetual.