Suggested rums for a tasting, from left: Rhum Barbancourt, 8 year old; Flor de Cana Centenario, 18 year old; El Dorado 12 year old; Appleton Estate 12 year old; Rum Clement V.S.O.P.; Rhum Barbancour, 18 year old; El Dorad, 3 year old; Banks 5 Island. DEB LINDSEY / WASHINGTON POST

Robert Burr, founder of the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival. ho / ho

Jamaican Punch DEB LINDSEY / WASHINGTON POST

For a rum tasting party, eight is a good sampling. Deb Lindsey / WASHINGTON POST