You might not know it, but Puerto Rico is one of the biggest and best rum-producing nations in the world. Located between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic, east of the Dominican Republic, the climate of Puerto Rico is just right for producing the sugar cane from which rum (or ron, as the locals know it) is made -- which the island nation has been doing since the 1500s. Today, more than 80% of the rum consumed in the USA hails from this island. So if you’re in the market for a good ron, you won’t go wrong with help from this alphabetical resource of the 10 best rums from Puerto Rico.

Bacardi Anejo
The first Bacardi rum distillery was founded by Don Facundo Bacardi Masso in 1862, when rum was considered the drink of pirates and other ne’er do wells. Today, Bacardi is the world’s largest privately held, family-owned producer of rums, selling more than 200 million bottles annually in 200 countries. It is the fourth-largest spirits company in the world, grossing more than $3.3 billion in 2004.

Bacardi Anejo is a rum that has been aged for six years to enhance its subtle flavors. A brownish-amber rum, with aromas of pink peppercorns, caramel and spice, Bacardi Anejo starts soft and sweet and finishes dry with a smoky, peppery note. On the whole, an excellent medium-bodied rum.

How to serve: Don’t bury this one in a mix; serve it straight up and let the subtle notes roll around your mouth.

Bacardi Superior
Bacardi Superior is a dry and smooth rum with subtle spice flavors. It’s a light rum, low in aromatics, but with a dry flavor and finish. Above all, it’s an excellent mixer and obviously among the world’s best for a reason.

How to serve: Bacardi Superior is the ideal mixer, especially if you’re out for a dry complement to a mixed drink. Try it in a mojito or fall back on an old classic: Rum and cola.

Captain Morgan Private Stock
The good Captain’s origins date back to the 17th century, though Morgan himself would have bristled at the idea of being portrayed as a pirate; his official title was that of a privateer, a ship's captain who has his government’s authorization to attack and plunder an enemy nation’s shipping concerns.

Sea scoundrel or not, in 1944 the Seagram Company began producing their famous rum under his name when it bought a Jamaican distillery from that country’s government. Today, Captain Morgan is the fourth-largest brand of spirit in the USA and the 11th largest in the world.

If you’re looking for the best the Captain has to offer, try his Captain Morgan Private Stock. It’s rich and full-bodied, with a smooth, dark texture and tastes of subtle island spices that give it a nutty, sweet, candy-like flavor.

How to serve: Sit back and sip this one. It makes a great, refreshing drink when served on the rocks with club soda.

Don Q Anejo
Named after Cervantes’ fictional character, Don Quixote, Don Q is one of Puerto Rico’s top brands of rum and competes internationally with the world’s best. A favorite among rum connoisseurs, the award-winning Don Q Anejo is the pride of the Don Q brand because of the authentic production process behind it. Aged in wood barrels for two to nine years, Don Q Anejo exudes a bouquet of cognac-esque flavors that make it one of Puerto Rico’s preferred sipping rums.

How to serve: Though Don Q Anejo is smooth enough to be mixed, the exquisite taste makes it ideal for taking straight or on the rocks.

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