The first time I cracked open a bottle of Mount Gay’s new white rum, the whiff of pure ethanol was so strong I thought my girlfriend was doing her nails again. Even though its bottled at the standard 80 proof, Eclipse Silver packs a serious punch and punch is just about the only thing its good for. Which isn’t a put down; unlike Mount Gay’s delectable Extra Old, this inexpensive ($16) blend from Barbados is meant to be paired with mixers. Compared to Bacardi superior, it’s a slight improvement, adding smooth notes of vanilla and banana to any Cuba libre or daiquiri.