(FORTUNE Magazine) – Good rum has never gotten the consideration it deserves. In the U.S. we drink more rum than we do Scotch--about half a liter a year, per capita. But much of that is in hideous concoctions with fruit juice or Coke. That's a shame. As I learned during my years living in Latin America, a 25-year-old Scotch has nothing on an undiluted 15-year-old rum. My favorites? Glad you asked.

--Appleton Estate Extra, 12 years old ($22): Billed as the oldest rum in the world (sipped by none other than George Washington), Appleton's Extra has lasted for a reason. Neat, the drink bites in a pleasant way, and the complex finish makes you want to tip the glass again quickly to figure out what it is you just tasted.

--Flor de Cana Grand Reserve, seven years old ($18): This entry from Nicaragua has been a staple of Central America's best bars for years but became available widely in the U.S. only more recently. The seven-year-old version is almost imperceptible on the way down.

--Barbancourt Estate Reserve, 15 years old ($21): If the top of Barbancourt's line proves hard to find, resort to the seven-year-old Reserve Speciale (look for five stars on the label). Both are double-distilled like fine French cognacs, with equally fine results: a tad spicy, with hints of nutmeg and cacao.

--Pampero Aniversario ($19): There is a slight bite to Venezuela's offering, but it's tempered by the woody start. Pampero is also sweeter than the rest, cherryish, but the finish is intense and lasts a lifetime. This is one to nurse.

--Havana Club Anejo, seven years old ($10): Okay, so this Cuban rum isn't sold in the U.S., but it's available in duty-free shops elsewhere, and worth any patriotic guilt. With a nutty start and a vanilla-tinged finish, it's one of the smoothest.

--Scott Norvell