I'm looking to broaden my horizons and delve into some nice rums to accompany good cigars. Bourbons, scotches and Irish whiskeys, I'm familiar with, but rums are something new to me. Looking for something with a lot of flavor and no small amount of sweet, complex notes. How about recommending a good rum to a brother for sipping neat. :-)
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I enjoy Zaya rum.
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http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=76

This is the thread that broadened my rum horizons. :-)
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Great timing Rob! I'm actually sipping on some rum while smoking a pipe. I'm sipping on an El Dorado 8 yr old cask aged rum that was gifted to me by Eric (smokin5) recently. I can say it follows the tasting notes described here:

http://theeldoradorum.com/our-portfo...ged/8-year-old

It is smooth and quite a tasty rum:-)
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So do I. It's a steal of a deal considering how aged and the price. I like an aged Rum from India, but forget its name. Squat bottle. Good liquor store will have it. Also a virtual giveaway.
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Zaya, Zacapa, La Flor Decana 12yr, Appleton Estate 40yr, Mount Gay Eclipse or Black, Cruzan Single Barrel, Pyrat just a few that I enjoy.
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Ron Zacapa is great for sipping
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Seeing as you are a bourbon and whiskey drinker I'd say find some Goslings Family old Reserve. Also try the CA thread above and also check out rumratings dot com
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Flor de Cana 12-year old.
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Santiago 20 year old.
The best rum I've tasted, by a country mile. Great stuff, almost as good as an old brandy (thinking Armagnac here).

You might however have to go to Cuba to get it.

Can't imagine why you'd want to go to Cuba....

:-)
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Oh wait you deal with noggins / brains …. oh that explains you being a smart ass and rubbing in the going to Cuba angle. :-)


:-)
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:-)
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Each region of the Caribbean has different style to it. Similar to cigars. You'll need to try a few and see which is your favorite. Some names like Appleton & Goslings carry a price premium to them, but even with them it's still cheaper than a whiskey of the same barrel age.

Worst comes to worst, just make Dark 'n Stormy's with it.
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I generally mix my rum with coke...with this in mind, I stay away from really high end sipping rums, but I have some suggestions for you that are very nice and reasonably priced.

El Dorado 8 & 12 (15 yr or 21 yr for sipping)
Flor de Cana 5 (this is great Nicaraguan Rum with coke and lime...and many Nica cigars)

I'm interested in buying my first bottle of single malt over the holidays. Maybe you can help me here...I've read a lot, and it seems the Highland Park 12 is a decent beginner choice. Any other suggestions?

Cheers!
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Greg - for single malts - start gentle. Speysides are generally more "accessible" (Glenfiddich being the entry level sample, but Glendronach a much nicer example).

Highland Park is really fine whiskey. Personally I like the 18 year old version, which has a distinct heather/floral note to it. Macallan is also easy to get into, as it is usually sherry-esque and is fantastic with Cuban cigars.

Leave Islay's peated monsters for later. These are IMHO the best in scotch to pair with cigars and oysters, but are not easy as a starting point.

Follow the "dew on the rose" principle. Try the malt straight up - no ice anywhere near the glass* - after trying it neat, add the tiniest bit of water (dew on the rose) - which will bring out the more delicate aromas.

(*Chilling the scotch will make the esters precipitate, and you lose half the aroma.)

It is 8:00am and I'm thirsty......

:-)
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My favorites:

Ron Zacapa XO - pricey but really good.
Ron Zacapa 23 - my go to when I can find it on sale.
Zaya - pretty good and I can find it for around $25 a bottle.
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Thank you Neil! Great suggestions..you must have known the "ice/no ice" question was on deck. :-) I agree, I will go neat to start...then build from there.
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Glenmorangie The Original one of the smoothest and best of the "Glen" scotches. Everyone knows the name Glenlivet, but the Glenmorangie is far superior, IMHO. Also nice is Glenfiddich.
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All rum suggestions noted here are good choices, and for a dark rum......try the Kraken, I was pleasantly surprised by it.
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+1 for this list. Good stuff that you can get in the states
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