Rum comes basically in 3 varieties:

- LIGHT: this is your basic silver rum that is clear, and has a vodka-like appearance. I believe that some people may drink it by itself, but this is the ideal rum for mixing. Think about it! Rum is made from molasses. Have you seen molasses lately? Lemme tell you... it is not clear. A good example is Bacardi Superior.

- DARK: this is the more aged rum, that retains more of the color of the molasses, and some of the aromas. It can be used for mixes, but the really good ones can be sipped as brandy. A good medium rum is ideal for cigar smoking. Bacardi 8 and Appleton are good examples.

- AWESOME DARK: There is only one kind of heavy rum that I am aware of: Ron del Barrilito. This is a thick Puerto Rican rum that can only be compared with nectar, the drink of the gods! Do NOT insult this drink by mixing it! Instead, get a cognac glass, a good cigar and be allowed to be taken to heaven. (Cigar is optional).