Holiday Gift Guide: Rum

While the Caribbean may now be synonymous with rum, Americans have been drinking the rich and complex alcohol for a long time — we're talking hundreds of years. Back in the colonial era, there were even dozens of distilleries in the Northeast producing the stuff.

So if you're looking for a traditional holiday present, we suggest picking up a bottle of the liquor. And to make your shopping experience easier, we got Michael Neff, co-owner of acclaimed New York bar Rum House, to be our Holiday Gift Guide rum expert. He narrowed down the burgeoning selection to just five favorites, any of which we're sure your friends and family will appreciate.

And to help them fully enjoy their spirited gift, fix them a few rum-based cocktails. The Daiquiri, the Mojito, and the Dark 'n Stormy are, of course, crowd-pleasers.

But if you really want to impress, whip up a big bowl of the Puerto Rican seasonal staple (and eggnog cousin) Coquito. Our recipe comes from talented New York bartender Giuseppe González. It calls for coconut cream, warming spices, and, naturally, rum.

Get our full Rum Holiday Gift Guide on Liquor.com.