About Puerto Rican Spirits

About Puerto Rican Spirits
Spirits in Puerto Rico are dominated by rum. It is the national beverage of the island; moreover, through clever marketing, the producers have done an outstanding job of capturing export business, as 70% of the rum consumed in the USA is from Puerto Rico.

As with rums from other Caribbean nations, there are several versions (aged, unaged, añejo, aged 8 years, etc); however, quality while excellent for a few top examples, tends to be regarded as less than other rums from lands such as Haiti, Dominican Republic and Barbados.

There are some aged Puerto Rican rums meant for sipping, but most are used for mixing in cocktails.

Top Picks for Puerto Rico

Don Q Reserva Especial Rum
94 points
$40
A smoky sipper with rich sugar and char notes.
Don Q Reserva 7 Rum
92 points
$36
With its vanilla wafer notes, this would make for an excellent Old Fashioned inspired cocktail and a great sipper.
Bacardi Mojito
92 points
$11
A tangy Mojito RTD that delivers citrusy, minty goods.
Don Q Gran Reserva Añejo XO Rum
92 points
$54
Very clean and crisp with just a hint of traditional Rum funk to go well in classic cocktail applications.
Bacardi Superior White Rum
91 points
$16
Best Buy
Very light and refined with a touch of vanilla sweetness and green florals to remind you that this is still a product from sugar cane.
91 points $16 Best Buy
Bacardi Reserva Ocho Rum
91 points
$32
Liquified caramel; its seeming simplicity is more than made up by a purity and density of confected flavor goodness.
Bacardi Reserva Ocho Rye Cask-Finished Rum
91 points
$32
A tasty, do everything aged Rum with a little bit of sweetness to make the fruit and caramel really pop.
Don Q 7 Year Pedro Ximénez Cask Finish Specialty Rum
90 points
$49
Perfect with a cigar or a single ice cube, this satisfying, lightly smoky rum finishes with warm raisins and dried plums.
Bacardi Rum Punch
88 points
$11
A rich, candy-like rum punch RTD for sweet teeth.
Kirkland Signature Spiced Rum
87 points
$15
Best Buy
A touch sweet and vanilla forward, this is a crowd pleasing spiced Rum that is a natural pairing if you're "and Coke-ing" it.
87 points $15 Best Buy