2026 Rum Update: What's in your glass.

[El Presidente]

It's been a while since we have done a member rum update. 

When you reach for rum right now  (2026) what are you reaching for as your daily/weekly? 

The simple Diplomatico Reserva has been my go to during 2026. Readily available, not over the top expensive. 

I am not married to any rums....just good ones. Share yours with us 

[Lucas Buck]

That Diplomático Reserva is tasty. I’ve been enjoying Kirkland 20 Year from Panama lately. 
 

[SirVantes]

There’s always one Foursquare or another open at my place. 

[loose_axle]

For everyday drinkers I've been sticking around: 

Appleton 12/ Appleton 8/ Appleton 15 (they all range $70-$100 depending)

El Dorado 12 & 15

Ron Zacapa 23 

If I can splash out a bit more: 

Doorlys 12 & 14

Dead Reckoning Rum (some great independent bottlings from a bloke in South Australia) 

El Dorado 21

Zacapa XO

Pussers Navy Strength 

Black Tot Distillers Edition

If I have mega coin then its Foursquare but it's been some time since that coin was in my account to dispose in such a fashion. 

I haven't seen Havana Club Seleccion de Maestros in Aus in an age. I used to enjoy that, don't know if I would now after being spoiled with Foursquare offerings. 

[Webbo]

Not a big fan of flavoured rums but this beauty from Manchester (sorry Salford) is perfect with a cigar. Highly recommended.

  

[Goldeneye]

Havana Club Seleccion de Maestros has become available where I live in Canada again, so I have been buying a few bottles for $50.00 a bottle. Who knows what the supply will be like down the road so while its available this will be my most common rum for a while.  

[JohnnyO]

7 hours ago, Goldeneye said:

Havana Club Seleccion de Maestros has become available where I live in Canada again, so I have been buying a few bottles for $50.00 a bottle.  Who knows what the supply will be like down the road so while its available this will be my most common rum for a while.  

The pricing is funny. In Cuba it's $60. John

[Goldeneye]

1 hour ago, JohnnyO said:

The pricing is funny. In Cuba it's $60. John

The last time I was in Cuba a couple years ago I was going to bring home a bottle of Havana Club 7 for my son for watching my dog, and it was more expensive to buy in Cuba than back home in Canada, even with all our government taxes which are very high on alcohol.

[El Niño]

For regular EOD relaxation: Flor de Caña 7

Weekends: La Marielita 18

For the in between: Abuelo 7 and Don Pancho 8

[thehat484]

I recently purchased a bottle of the Foursquare Equidem (2024 or something?) to try out. I have never drank rum outside of cocktails so I was interested to see why people were excited about it (shoutout Eddie Sahakian). It reminds me a lot of brandy. After the first sip and getting accustomed to the strength of it, I got a lot of dried fruit notes. It was great but super strong. I had it with a My Father Blue cigar but I think it would have paired better with a cigar with a bit more oomph. 

[treberty]

Foursquare Equidem as well. Fantastic, complex rum. Like drinking a stewed fruit Christmas cake.

[riderpride]

On 4/8/2026 at 2:37 PM, SirVantes said:

There’s always one Foursquare or another open at my place. 

This is on my list, but not available here unfortunately. Have a dram for me. 😀

Cheers!

 

[DOYLE]

Diplomatico is great daily drinker. Can't go wrong with it.

I have a few bottles of Foursquare, fantastic stuff.

I've mostly been drinking tequila and margaritas recently, but when I want to sip on some top notch rum I'll break out my bottle of The Royal Cane. I got lucky a few months ago and asked my local shop if they had any, didn't see it on the shelf. They found a bottle in the back and they were surprised they had it. They said that when ever they got some in they had a customer who would come in and buy it all.

 

 

[LizardGizmo]

We’ve gone down a Panamanian Rum rabbit hole and have found some fantastic stuff. I love the parallels in flavor to Cuban rum.

For me, right now, Don Pancho 8 and La Marielita 18 are my two favorites. If I don’t have those, it’s Flor de Caña 7 from Nicaragua. Some of the other guys prefer Abuelo 7, but that one doesn’t hit me the same way. I have a serious love for Havana Club 7, but can’t get my hands on it so I’m drinking it sparingly.

I love Foursquare and have a few of those around and open- though due to high ABV, I rarely pair them with cigars.

[Boxer31]

Pretty much stick to Flor de Cana for the past couple of years.

[TheCigarSoldier]

The Lizards have put me onto every Rum I drink but for me I love Mount Gay XO, Flor De Cana 18, and the La Marielita 18. Foursquare was delicious as well but you definitely gotta be in the right mood for it.

 

 

[SignalJoe]

Santiago de Cuba 11 or 12 year old.  

[ha_banos]

I need another one of these. Black tot rum. No added sugar blended from different national rums.

 

[JoshD]

Doorly's 12

RL Seale 12

El Dorado 15

Foursquare 2009

Planning on picking up something new next month.

[westg]

Doorlys Rum. It is amazzzzzzing 

[Nevrknow]

On 4/11/2026 at 9:00 AM, JoshD said:

Doorly's 12

RL Seale 12

El Dorado 15

Foursquare 2009

Planning on picking up something new next month.

I have all of those and then some. I agree on all but the Seales 12. For MY tastes I much prefer the 10 year. Or maybe I got a bad bottle?

It doesn't happen. 😁 Got a Lagavulin 16 for one Christmas that is totally undrinkable. Weird. Been drinking it for years and love it. But THAT ONE bottle..damn.

[Nevrknow]

On 4/9/2026 at 6:39 PM, Boxer31 said:

Pretty much stick to Flor de Cana for the past couple of years.

Love the 18.

[Çnote]

On 4/8/2026 at 3:38 PM, loose_axle said:

Havana Club Seleccion de Maestros in Aus in an age. I used to enjoy that, don't know if I would now after being spoiled with Foursquare offerings

FS is good, but Mastros is a totally different approach to rum. I got a bottle of Planteray Mr Fogg for Christmas that is quite charming is also about as juxtaposed against FS as possible.

[SirVantes]

On 4/11/2026 at 3:59 PM, Çnote said:

FS is good, but Mastros is a totally different approach to rum.

I got a bottle of Planteray Mr Fogg for Christmas that is quite charming is also about as juxtaposed against FS as possible.

For contrast with typical Caribbean rums, I go for Haitin clairin. It's rum, but it goes on my tequila/mescal shelf. To be honest, I pair clairin with cigars more often than I do brown rums. Terrific with an ERDM or QdO.

[loose_axle]

On 4/11/2026 at 4:12 PM, SirVantes said:

For contrast with Caribbean rums, I go for Haitin clairin. It's rum, but it goes on my tequila/mescal shelf. To be honest, I pair clairin with cigars more often than I do brown rums. Terrific with an ERDM or QdO.

Had been eyeing off this and wondering if it would work with cigars so thank you for that update! Do enjoy tequila with cigars as well. 

That's true @Çnote if I saw seleccion again I should grab just to compare. Have wanted to get the Mr Fogg but again not seen it down under.