Rum - of many different styles and flavors - is the major spirit of Barbados. You can buy spiced rum, coconut rum, silver rum, gold rum, vanilla rum and several other types from this Caribbean island; all of them are well made and work beautifully in mixed drinks.

There are some examples of aged rums, some matured for as long as ten years, that have greater complexity, with notes of creme brulee, toffee and brown spices that are very elegant; these are ideal sipped on their own.

In general, rums from Barbados are value-priced, from $12 to $25 on US retail shelves.