From your criteria, try the following:

Appleton dark rums from their Special on up through their various Estate rums.

Avoid all Bacardi rum except their Black.

Mount Gay is good, Meyer’s is good.

If you like flavored rums, try Kraken.

I really like Brugal 1888 Ron Gran Reserva, but I don’t know how available it is and it is kind of expensive.

I have a collection of good rums from traveling in the Caribbean, but most are difficult if not impossible to get in the US. I even have a Scottish rum that that is truly awful, it tastes like Fireball whiskey.

Trust me, it's worth the time and expense to get ALL of the ingredients. You'll thank me later.

Pina Colada

¼ cup measure:

1 clear rum
¾ dark rum
7/8 coconut cream (warm to room temperature for an hour or so, to get to fluid from solid)
5/8 whipping cream
¼ pineapple (or half can)
3-5 dashes bitters
5 shakes nutmeg
2 measures pineapple juice
2 cups ice

blend to taste
add more ice if needed to get the right consistency (thick creamy ice slush)
top with nutmeg

optional: garnish with pineapple

I love Appleton for something you can get most places. A classic dacquiri with Appleton is great. I mean the rum, lime, syrup version, not a frozen strawberry concoction.

I also got turned on to Barbancourt 15 for an Old Fashioned. Here's how to make it...

Plantation X/O, as mentioned, is great. When you can find it.
Captain Morgans Private Stock is available most everywhere, very reasonably priced, and our go to for on the rocks rum.

Another spiced rum to try is Sailor Jerry’s, 92 proof so much higher than most spiced rums like Captain Morgan.

I'm rather fond of Kirk and Sweeney's. It's in a cannon ball looking bottle. Can't find aged statements anymore, but it's still some good stuff.

South Georgia's own Richland Rum. They grow and harvest their own cane then distill, age and bottle in the tiny SW GA town of Richland. They produce 5 expressions but the classic Single Estate rum is fantastic.

I'm also a big fan of the 25yr Flor de Cana but I think the Richland product is as good and much less expensive.

Not a rum drinker so I asked a friend who is also a bourbon drinker who has dabbled in rums. He suggested:
Barbancourt 15 Yr Old
Myers's Dark
Gosling's Black Seal Rum
Pyrat XO Rum

Another vote for Aniversario. Excellent.

Another upvote for the Barbancourt rums… especially the 8yo.

I like Pyrat XO as well… but it hits some people oddly… some get an orange soda or varnish-like aroma. That’s never happened to me, though. Great bottle… if you like packaging details.

ANGOSTURA 1919
https://drizly.com/liquor/rum/...9-premium-rum/p18312

This thread certainly interests me. I wanted to like rum for a change from the two spirits I usually drink. I spent some money on a couple of premiums (I guess), I know Zaya was one of them. I just find them unpleasantly sweet. I now have a bottle of Havana Club white, I can tolerate that, and it’s a good mixer. I may take another foray based on this thread. Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:
South Georgia's own Richland Rum. They grow and harvest their own cane then distill, age and bottle in the tiny SW GA town of Richland. They produce 5 expressions but the classic Single Estate rum is fantastic.

I'm also a big fan of the 25yr Flor de Cana but I think the Richland product is as good and much less expensive.

Second this! Very little left in Richland but the distillery, but we got a tour when passing through the area. Super nice people.

Always like the Pussers blue label to make a painkiller cocktail while on vacation.

Low carb guy here, thinking about trying some rum since my beer drinking has be reduced. What's a good mixer with something like an Appleton 12? I want something on the premium end that I can still find at most decent+ establishments.

Many good suggestions here. I've been a rummy for lo these many years, have tried most of those mentioned. Recently was gifted some Pilar. Most amazing! Lots of small flavor nuances. Sure wish they sold it in NC....

I ended up getting some Pilar and it's good. I still want to try the Appleton 12 but they didn't have any. Other Appletons were available like an 8? and a Signature blend. Is the 12 the sweet spot?

I am partial to Myers Dark, but no one carries it in my small town. It seems spiced rum has taken over the market around here.

Pusser's Rum site (and store locator)