"Lastly I thought part of the point of rum was the additives? If you take away all the tweaked rums leaving behind only the "pure ones" how many would you have left?"
Q, good questions. My suggestion is that you take some time to skim through the five chapters of an e-book I started to publish at the main Project site - they are here:
http://www.rumproject.com/
Although the information is now some years old, it remains mostly valid, except that I would no longer recommend Ron Matusalem for the Cuban style standard (for those check out the Cuban style section here at the forum).
If you read these chapters, you'll be ahead of most of the so-called tasters, included our rotund friend who quite literally is only a few months ahead of you. The whole notion of those chapters is to give you the tools you need to develop your own palate - more easily done than you think as long as you give it some attention.
As per your quote above, its quite the opposite. Flavored rums are legally required to be labelled as such, and sugar and other additives greatly alter the character and flavor of the so-called "rums" to which they are added unlawfully. Many of the age statements are likewise not to be believed, and often are lower quality rums that are marketed for great profit by using an expensive presentation.
If you read the Project for awhile you'll soon learn that there are more pure rums than you'd think. Some are yes, a bit more expensive, but others are very affordable (following). A good starting point would be any Barbadian rum, any Jamaican and perhaps Barbancourt. Especially recommended are Mount Gay Extra Old, Seales 10, Appleton Extra, Wray & Nephews Overproof, Pussers Blue Lable, Barbancourt Five Star.
Once you understand what an unmodified, pure rum tastes like you will no doubt come to reject the sugar and hidden flavor bombs like Diplomatico and 1919 - both HEAVILY altered (these are really mixed-drinks-in-a-bottle liqueurs, and function mostly as delivery vehicles for additives and sugar. They do NOT represent real rum.
For comparison, consider Scottish single malts and blends, Irish Whiskey and bourbon - all of which are pure as the driven snow in comparison. When you buy a good one, you are tasting the whiskey, not an additive from Dupont. Collecting rum before you know which ones are honestly made is a waste of precious time and money.
Last, you simply cannot underestimate the value of following the truly competent and well known reviewers for many reasons. You'll be challenged, you'll learn and you know their palates are relatively accurate. They will lead you to appreciate just what makes a good spirit, good. Otherwise, its the blind leading the blind...
