Best Bay Rum?

[Gam]

My favorite is Meehan's Bay Rhum from Bonny Doon Farm :)

[sanuginz]

Captain's Choice is as good as it gets. Other honourable mentions (to my nose) are DR Harris, St. John's and the Dominica bay rum / lime hybrid.

[cdrross]

Tried Captain's Choice - great vendor to deal with but for me I felt it was just a bit to heavy on the spice scent. Maybe its my body chemistry.

I receive a sample pack of the Ogallaga just the other day.
Sage and Cedar - very nice. Being a backpacker it does take me into the woods and makes a fine compliment to the DR Harris Marlborough soap.
Sandalwood - very nice - almost comforting
Limes and Peppercorns - the jury is out on this. I find the scent a bit confusing as the spice seems to be competing with the citrus rather than complimenting each other.
Regular - not bad.
I will keep going on the samples but it looks like the Sandalwood and the Sage & Cedar will be my top two.

[Viseguy]

Gabels BR has an interesting, almost smoky scent to it. But my favorite BR splash is a mix of Pinaud V.I. BR + Master BR + Gabels Lime. I use it three or four times a week -- when I'm not splashing on AV or Proraso.

[OkieStubble]

If anyone here has Superior 70, Pinaud virgin island and Masters bay rums, you have got to try mixing a little of each together in equal parts. Got bored one day many months ago, so I started mixing stuff. VDH/Williams, Musgo Real cream/MWF soap for a lanolin superlather! :) But I hit the jackpot mixing these cheap priced bay rums that can be picked up at Walgreens and Sally's.

The glycerin in the Masters takes out the hell fire bite of the Superior and Pinaud. And really mellows out the' cloveyness' (is that a word?) of the Pinaud. What you have left is a not to sweet, not to clovey bay rum that has really nice sillage and longevity and a very nice middle of the road projection.

Smells like Christmas! It will be my go to AS for the holidays.

[GeauxLSU]

I recently tried Turtle Bay bay rum and love it. It comes in an 8 oz. flask, which I don't like. Forget their shaving soap, but the bay rum is excellent. I found it on feePay.

[Viseguy]

If anyone here has Superior 70, Pinaud virgin island and Masters bay rums, you have got to try mixing a little of each together in equal parts.

Sounds good. I'll have to look for Superior 70 next time I'm in Walgreens.

[barneykiller]

I really enjoyed Masters Bay Rum as a aftershave but I love using Ogallala bay rum and sandalwood aftershave as a cologne because the scent lasts so long.

[PeterM]

D'oh! What a thoroughly frustrating thread!

Most of the Bay Rums mentioned here are produced in the US by manufacturers who won't accept non-North American orders (because of alcohol content?) I was able to order a sampler of Ogallala without any problem, all of them very pleasant, though not as long-lasting as I'd like, but since I see it's based on witch hazel rather than alcohol the possible problem with many others remains.

I tried Dominica and Royall when I was living in LA 25 years ago, liked both, and have had "care packages" carried to Ireland by visiting friends (most recently in 2000, which isn't very recent at all.) On the only occasion I've seen Dominica in Europe, it was severely marked up - the 10oz bottle that's $14.00 in the US is €28,00, or about $36.50!

What I'm using at the moment is a brand called Bonfield's (made in bulk for the barber-shop trade, I think) which is €12,00 for 500ml, smells fine, lasts well etc., but is just a chemical mix of (reads) Methylated Spirit, Distilled Water, Bay Oil and E155 (brown dye.) Not a trace of peppercorns, bay leaves...or even rum!

You lucky lot! At this rate I'll end up making my own!

[Gogo]

For me Superior 70 is the best. The scent is simply bay oil and is quite fleeting. I appreciate that because I don't like to smell like anything. I guess that's a good quality of most bay rums. I have found that the medicinal properties of Superior 70 keeps my skin looking and feeling healthy. Pinaud Bay Rum for some strange reason makes my skin feel great too. Captain's Choice was a good blend between the two.

I've also used McLas which is kind of like Superior 70 but mentholated. I have found McLas is not as skin friendly as Superior 70 though.
St. John's was great too, but didn't last and sort of pricey.
Royall smelled awesome but again, more expensive.

My 2 cents.

[ChiefWahoo]

I might order some of this Superior 70. I see it on walgreens.com but they don't carry it in the shave aisle of my local stores. At $2.50 a bottle, I don't think I can lose.

[AngusSmythe]

Is there really any substitute for St John's Virgin Island Bay Rum? I think not.

[cb91710]

My den includes Captain's Choice, Ogallala, and Pinaud.

[miatapaul]

I might order some of this Superior 70. I see it on walgreens.com but they don't carry it in the shave aisle of my local stores. At $2.50 a bottle, I don't think I can lose.

If you have a Hispanic market in your area, they often carry it.

[windycityshaver]

Captains Choice!

[mwleach58]

Pinaud Clubman Virgin Island Bay Rum. The one. The only. Accept no substitutes.
All other brands are mere pretenders.

[brother cavefish]

Hawleywood No 9

[Littlemax]

Pinaud Virgin Island Bay Rum !!!. You can also follow some of the Bay Rum threads here on making your own batch. Very easy to make.

[Goggles]

Pinaud VI bay rum is the best for me. Plus, my nine yr old daughter (LOTH in training) really likes it.

[brucered]

just got to try Krampert's today...WOW.

it was very very nice. it's the only bay rum, i've been able to use with NO burn, absolutely nothing. i found Captain's a very nice scent, but it burned the crap out of me (not from bad shave either). i tried captains again a few days later, same thing. i can however use a little Captains mixed with 444 and it seems to offset the sting (who knows, that's my best guess)

but i used a sample of Krampert's today and was a little scared at 1st, that i would have redness and stinging. i put a little in my hands, rubbed together and applied. much to my delight, no stink. so i used some more, no issues.

i see a full bottle of this in my near future