Let's figure out the essential rum needed for a home Tiki bar?

HI Folks,

I thought we could crowd-source this list as the vast variety of rum available can be a bit overwhelming when stocking a home tiki bar (including myself).

I've tried to break down the 10 types of rum (from Beachbum Berry app. site, and other exploration) needed for a respectable tiki bar. Next, I was hoping everyone could submit their top 3 rums in each category in the $20-$45 range.

I admit that the category list may be flawed as well - What do you think? Changes Replacement?

Here's what I'm thinking:

1. Light Puerto Rican Rum (or substitute)
   (1) Flor De Cana White (2) (3)

2. Gold Puerto Rican Rum (or substitute)
   (1) Flor De Cano 7 year (2) (3)

3. Gold Jamaican Rum
   (1) Appleton V/X (2) (3)

4. Dark Jamaican Rum
   (1) Myer's (2) (3)

5. Demerara Rum
   (1) El Dorado 12 (2) (3)

6: Overproof Rum
(1) Lemonhart 151 (2) (3)

7. Virgin Islands Rum - Gold
   (1) (2) (3)

8: Barbados Rum
(1) (2) (3)

9: Rum Agricole (aged)
(1) Barbancourt 5 - 8 Year (2) (3)

10: Spiced/Flavored Rum
(1) (2) (3)

Based on what's available in the Chicago area, and in general, my budget, here goes:
Maybe we should add a sipping/splurge category?

1)Ron Zacapa 23 2)Zafra 3)El Dorado 15 yr

1. Light Puerto Rican Rum (or substitute)
   (1) None? Been using Cruzan for sub, and Cruzan Gold(Aged)at that(I'm cheap)

2. Gold Puerto Rican Rum (or substitute)
   (1) See Above

3. Gold Jamaican Rum
   (1)Smith & Cross!!! (2)Appleton V/X (3)?

4. Dark Jamaican Rum
   (1)Coruba-beats Myer's anyday(2)Appleton Extra (3)Myer's

5. Demerara Rum
   (1)Lemonhart 151 - not just an overproof!!! (2)El Dorado 5-fine for many Tiki drinks (3)El Dorado 15 -awesome by itself, esp when someone else is buying

6: Overproof Rum
(1) Lemonhart 151 (2)Wray & Nephew (3)?

7. Virgin Islands Rum - Gold
   (1)See Above (2) (3)

8: Barbados Rum
(1)Plantation-good bargain (2)Mount Gay (3)?

9: Rum Agricole (aged)
(1) Agreed, like the Barbancourt 3 & 5 star(is it really an agricole though?) (2) (3)

10: Spiced/Flavored Rum
(1)Kraken -(good with lime & splash of soda) (2)Sailor Jerry (3) Not a big fan overall of spiced rum

Good Call - Definitely need the fine sipping category!

1. Light Puerto Rican Rum (or substitute)
   (1) Havana Club (2) Cruzan (3)

2. Gold Puerto Rican Rum (or substitute)
   (1) Havana Club (2) Cruzan (3)

3. Gold Jamaican Rum
   (1) Appleton V/X (2) (3)

4. Dark Jamaican Rum
   (1) Coruba (2) Myers (3)

5. Demerara Rum
   (1) Lemon Hart 80 (2) (3)

6. Overproof Rum
   (1) Lemonhart 151 (2) Bruddah Kimo (3)

7. Virgin Islands Rum - Gold
   (1) I think of this category as the same as Puerto Rico & Cuba (2) (3)

8. Barbados Rum
   (1) Plantation (2) (3)

9: Rum Agricole (aged)
(1) St. James (2) (3)

10: Spiced/Flavored Rum
(1) Kraken (2) Homemade spiced using Martin Cate's recipe (3)

I'd love to see this fleshed out with a voting system. Then when I'm shopping for a type of rum I can get the best rated one that the liquor store I'm in has that I can afford!

My list is based on what I can get where I live which means making use of the "or substitute" clause in some cases...

1. Light Puerto Rican Rum (or substitute)
   (1) Havana Club Anejo Blanco (2) El Dorado 6 year silver

2. Gold Puerto Rican Rum (or substitute)
   (1) Havana Club Anejo Reserva (2) Flor de Cana 7

3. Gold Jamaican Rum
   (1) Smith & Cross (2) Appleton V/X

4. Dark Jamaican Rum
   (1) Appleton Extra (2) Coruba

5. Demerara Rum
   (1) El Dorado 12 (2) Lemonhart (3) El Dorado 5

6: Overproof Rum
(1) Lemonhart 151 (2) Wray & Nephew

7. Virgin Islands Rum - Gold
   see gold P.R. cstegory

8: Barbados Rum
(1) Doorly's XO (2) Mt. Gay XO

9: Rum Agricole (aged)
(1) Barbancourt 3 star (not really an agricole but as close as I can get where I live)

10: Spiced/Flavored Rum
(1) Kraken (2) Sailor Jerry

I'm not sure where Cruzan Blackstrap and Gosling's Black Seal fit in the list or if they'd even be considered important overall but I couldn't make a few of the drinks I like without them.

Cruzan Light
Cruzan Gold
Appleton V/X or Smith and Cross (both is preferable)
Appleton Extra
El Dorado 12y or Lemon Hart 80 (both is preferable)
Barbancourt 8 year 5 star
Lemon Hart 151
Coruba Dark
Rhum Clement VSOP

Crusan Aged Light
Bacardi Gold
Appleton Special (Gold)
Appleton Extra (12 yr old)
Smith & Cross
El Dorado 5yr & 12yr
Kohala Bay
Lemon Hart 151
Coruba
St. James Old
Clement VSOP
Pussers
Mt. Gay Black Barrel
Zaya
Barbancourt 5-Star
Black Seal

That's my Tiki rum supply.

I like this post :) I will tweak the bottles used slightly but keep it within the same number:

My preferred whites:
• Light mixing rum (Puerto Rican or substitute) – Bacardi Superior
• Cuban Rum – Havana Club 3
• White OP Rum – Wray & Nephews
• White rhum agricole – Trois Riveres Blanc

My prefferred golds & darks:
• Gold mixing rum (Puerto Rican or substitute) – Bacardi Gold
• Gold Demerara rum – El Dorado 5
• Gold rhum agricole – Saint James Amber
• Suitably gold & dark Jamaican Rum – Appleton 8 (aka Appleton Reserve)
• Dark Demerara rum – Woods 100
• Dark mixing rum – Goslings 151

Other bits like bitters, gin, brandy, pimento dram, orgeat, falernum, etc etc are likewise essential.

About my choices:
Bacardi Superior is unpopular but IMO good in a Cuba Libre. It adds alcohol but softens the strong flavours if paired with white OP or white rhum agricole in a blended drink. Havana Club 3 is great for cuban drinks but has an edge that works less well with coke & other ingredients. Im happy with Bacardi Gold, El Dorado 5 & Woods 100 at the moment but my next purchases will be Bacardi 8 , El Dorado 8 & LH151.

Having switched between gold & dark jamacians rums in a few recipes, Im happy either fits so I opt for Appleton 8 (it’s a bit of both, also a bit more premium for Mai Tais). I will be buying another gold agricole as Saint James Amber is only OK IMO; Ive heard good things about Rhum Barbancourt 8.

This bar combo allows me to make:
Mojitos & Hemmingways using the Havana Club 3. Ti Punch with rhum agricole, rum fruit punch with the white OP rum. Cuba Libre’s & Fogg Cutters with the Bacardi Superior. Missionarys Downfalls & Sumutra Kulas using the Bacardi Superior paired with the white OP or white rhum agricole (to pep it up).

Navy Grog, Three Dots, Donga Punch, Mai Tai, Coconaut, Dons Special Daiquiri, Dark n Stormys & Queens Park Swizzles using the gold & darks.

These are 16 cocktails that I really like & I think Ive hit on good combos.

Here's a list of what I have also made using that bar & what I could with some close subs:
Ancient Mariner, Castaway, Diaquiris, Doctor Funk, Fish House Punch, Hurricane, Jaguar, Mai Tai Swizzle, Molokai Mule, Painkiller, Pina Colada, Rum Runner, OQ Cooler, Shrunken Skull, Test Pilot), as well as some I have forgotten...
Im just such not a fan of those.

I do make a 1934 Zombie (using a Woods 100) but am probably missing something without LH151 ~ I will retry the Zombie with LH151 when I get some!

So… I have made 32+ rum based drinks to date using that bar.

I know there are some drinks I could make but haven’t made yet – Beachcombers Gold, Rum Barrel, Blood Of Kapu Tiki, Corn & Oil, etc etc ~ Im still exploring!!!

Spanish style white Rum: Cruzan Aged Light/Flor de Caña 4 Dry White
Spanish style gold Rum: Flor de Caña 4 Dry Gold
Aged Spanish style gold Rum: Bacardi 8
Jamaican gold Rum: Appleton VX/Smith & Cross
Jamaican Dark Rum: Coruba/Appleton 12/Kohala Bay
Barbados Gold Rum: Cockspur/Doorley's/Mount Gay
Mixing Demerara: El Dorado 5
Overproof: Lemon Hart 151/J Wray/Bacardi 151 (for flaming and Rum Runers)
White Rhum Agricole: Clement Pure Canne
Aged Rhum Agricole: St. James Royale Ambre/Clement VSOP/DePaz
Spiced Rum
English Dock Style Rum: Pussers 84 proof/Pussers 95.5 proof
Spiced Rum: Kraken/Sailor Jerry/Old New Orleans Cajun Spice

Other mixers I like to have if I'm not broke: Cruzan Blackstrap/Barbancourt/Ron de Barrilito 2 Star/Rhum Negrita