10 Rums That Make Great Gifts on any Budget.

[@leonardoolivo8872]

Not a single rum from some of the best rum distilleries in the Caribbean from Venezuela, Colombia, Guatemala, Nicaragua... Really guys? Check some of there and then probably make another video Santa Teresa 1796 Diplomatico Carupanero Rob de Caldas Zacapa just mention some.. Come on ..

[@makeanddrink]

Bah humbug

[@gavincassells7585]

In many parts of the world Spanish style rums are the only ones available, and they are overpriced sugar filled young rums masquerading as a premium product. They are a step up from Bacardi or Captain Morgans, but often not enough to justify their price points. This definitely applies to the Zacapa rums which are widely available in duty frees, but they are solera rums with an average age of only 5 or 6 years (which doesn't make them bad, just hard to justify their price point). I really like what DUSA puts out, and their mix of pot and column stills, but the Diplomatico brand is tarnished by the high sugar content of some of their products. That said I really like their pure pot still stuff and like a lot of other Caribbean producers they are becoming more transparent about dosage and are trying to reduce it. But essentially a lot of this style of rum is mass produced continuous column distilled industrial rum. Which is not to say that there aren't standouts there too, but its also easy to see why people quickly move on from this style as their awareness of the rest of the rum world grows.

[@raamaskadafi]

15 years ago, zacapa 23 was a legitimately delicious product, but when diageo bought a controlling stake in 2011 and it switched to solera, it's still an okay product but the loss of depth of flavor was shocking. Of course it kept the same price point. I'd never buy it again.

[@therumrevival]

Thanks for having me on, Derek! This was a blast to shoot.

[@ultimatemaitai]

Great picks, can't complain. Appleton 15 to me is so much more flavorful and full bodied than Appleton 21 and half the price, so it's great option for something higher end.

[@jcloiseau]

Also the 21 is so oaky

[@Joshdr99]

I just looked at it at the store today and haven't tried it yet but I think I might have to now.

[@socialswine3656]

gotta find me a bottle of that

[@simonwatson3418]

That’s 21 off my list! 15 was on there anyway but not sure I can justify the price point for the older stuff (my rum to buy list is long and distinguished!)

[@robmichaels4728]

Love the colab with The Rum Revival- please keep more of these coming. Love the gift ideas.

[@DomProvenzano]

Can’t say enough how consistently excellent your videos are. From the look to the editing, the amount of research that is clearly invested, this is easily my favorite tiki channel, and one of my favorite KZbin channels overall. You deserve WAY more attention.

[@makeanddrink]

Thanks, Dom! Your support is much appreciated

[@whyattn]

I will always tune into the Derek and Arminder show! Love the collabs!

[@skwebs]

Love this collab

[@kevind.3389]

Awesome picks. Hadn't considered any of these bottles, they all stand out as unique and interesting.

[@makeanddrink]

That's really cool. We did'nt have any precise rules other than price but thought it would be fun if they were not super common but for the most part accessible. All good options!

[@hakupaku42]

I've made several Corn 'n Oils with Foursquare 2010 (treating it like an old fashioned, with Angostura and lime bitters) and can confirm it's delicious

[@pmcd101]

WHERE'S PROBITAS!?!?!? Kidding - great video!

[@makeanddrink]

Got to go against the grain sometimes! But I mean I do have 3 bottles of Probitas, everybody.

[@JohnKelly2]

Barbancourt just doesn't get enough recognition. I'm glad to see it on your list. 4 Star is my favorite.

[@makeanddrink]

Agreed. Judging by most comments I see people prefer the 4. I’ve not had 15 but did do a Daiquiri comparison of white, 4, and 8 and preferred 4.

[@kawonewilliams1949]

You west coast guys are spoiled for choice. This is an awesome video, and I'm happy to say I have a few of those bottles, but I'll be on the lookout for some when I go back home to NYC. There are way better options there than in the south.😊

[@makeanddrink]

🌞 spoiled rotten

[@miksologia]

I've been following both of you on KZbin and it feels strange seeing you guys in the same video. I love Arminder's semi nerdy (in a good way) approach to rums and Derek's "historically accurate" approach on cocktails. I'm not into sipping any kind of spirits myself, cocktails are my thing. However I just bought (online) an Appleton 21 for myself as a christmas gift. It cost 105€ in Germany ($113) and I absolutely plan on using it in cocktails. I also have the Appleton 12 and found it to be great so looking forward to the 21 in cocktails as well. Here in Finland we really don't get a great selection of rums. Alsmost no Jamaican rums are available here.

[@artemis9019]

Thank you this helps

[@shridhar811]

Some phenomenal picks!

[@makeanddrink]

Thank you!

[@mbalash3755]

Find your favorite liquor store and talk to the owner. If you’re a regular, he just might order special requests and stock them for you. You have to be a regular customer though. I have one near me and he’ll get me anything I want. I’m very lucky😊

[@stephane.foisy.186]

All of those sound great. Not many available in Canada but I will look for them!!!

[@JasonBunting]

Perfect

[@ScottyCycles]

Equiano works well in Mai Tai!

[@makeanddrink]

Not sure I'd I've tried that yet but it's on my Mai Tai To Do List. List is pretty big at the moment.

[@mmwosu]

Whisky guy when the Rum guy’s “premium” category is coming in at $70: 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@makeanddrink]

Taste better too!

[@mmwosu]

@@makeanddrink Taste is subjective, so not always 😉 Will say I’d prefer a nice pour of a sipping rum to a pour of bad whiskey any day though. Whisky prices are just outta control right now, especially Scotch

[@jcloiseau]

Hey Arminder! Do you know what would make a great gift? Rum fire! I heard Derek "lost" a bottle recently :p

[@makeanddrink]

Hopefully he’ll come back over and tell us more about it. Maybe even share a cocktail.

[@therumrevival]

haha it would indeed! We'll just have to see what comes of that bottle

[@odiec5567]

I love anything Foursquare Exceptional Cask, though they are starting to get pretty spendy. The Sagacity and Redoubtable were some of my favorites the past few years. I would also recommend an El Dorado 15+ year or Dictador Insolent/Perpetual if you can find them as an expensive gift.

[@makeanddrink]

Great reccomendations. And yes, a little too spendy for me since I focus on cocktails but still great nonetheless.

[@tomhubbard7053]

My only issue with this list is that I cannot find the Denizen here in Indiana, but that is my problem😊

[@markhatley-k6s]

Agreed! I’ve never seen it on a shelf here in Indiana, and I have looked.

[@bigmountain19]

Have you mixed with paranubes before? Is it worth the extra money for an unaged rum?

[@makeanddrink]

Yes but not sure I would reccomend unless you knew it was somerthing you liked. While it is a little pricer than normal they do come in 1L bottles (at least mine did).

[@bigmountain19]

Derrick. Just bought this and made the oaxacan Mai tai. As a lover of Mezcal before rum this might be my new favourite rum. Incredible. Make yourself the oaxacan mai tai!

[@SandstormGT]

If you could choose any Foursquare Exceptional Cask Series..... Would it still be 2010 or would you go with another?

[@makeanddrink]

Not something I have enough experience with to comment. I don't collect them and while I think they're great, I don't plan on collecting them. Not in the near future at least.

[@kenwhiteley79]

What kind of Drink Mixer is that on the right? I have a Chrome Hamilton Beach one on its way but that one is a beaut.

[@makeanddrink]

It’s a Hamilton Beach Number 30 from the early 1940s.

[@tothefinlandstation]

Can you explain Barbancourt? What is the deal? Not an agricole, but what is it then?

[@makeanddrink]

Rhum Agricole is essentially an appellation for Rhum from Martinique. This was set up by France but not all countries recognize it. The US does not which is why you may find some rum in the US calling itself Agricole. It’s like champagne having to be from France. The US does recognize that but not all counties do. We have Bourbon which must be made in the US, but no one is mandated to follow those rules unless we force them to through trade agreements. Barbancourt is a cane juice spirit similar to Agricole, Cachaca and Clairin (also from Haiti) but those may have additional geographic or production rules that apply to them.

[@cynthiamartinez5884]

​@makeanddrink Is it similar enough to use in recipes calling for agricole? None of my local liquor stores carry agricole but one of them does have Barbancourt.

[@tothefinlandstation]

@@makeanddrink what about flavor wise?

[@jcloiseau]

​@@tothefinlandstation FR here: it's pretty similar. Rhum agricole is basically produced from pure sugar cane juice, so is barbancourt. There will be some differences on the production methods as agricole (like cachaça) has specific requirement but really it falls in same ball park. Personally, I find clairin (sajous in particular) to be a funner a more unique "rum" produced from pure sugar cane juice coming from haiti. However, barbancourt is a nice family company that does A LOT of charity

[@makeanddrink]

Yes and no. You’ll find different brands use different production methods so it’s not always an apples to apples comparison. I find Barbancourt to be closer to Cachaca and much milder. A good entry to cane juice spirits. Much more mild than many of the popular Agricoles which are very grassy/floral. But not all line up that way so it’s hard to say what can substitute.

[@waldoguti]

Is there really no Venezuelan or Guatemalan rum on your list? The information is very little credible.

[@makeanddrink]

It’s just a fun gift guide. Were weren’t ranking the 10 best rums with the most added sugar.

[@SandstormGT]

Hahaha..... Dominated.

[@sdcorrey]

Just subbed to @therumrevival too!