wow. i love this thread. i prefer amber-->darks. white rum is good for some cocktails, but i still tend to use an amber for a better mojito. i also have found if i buy better quality rums, i don't want to mix them with anything. yum.
once every couple months i try a new one.
can't limit my list to the carribean...but here's some faves in no particular order:
mount gay extra old [barbados] - my 'everyday rum' from the birthplace of rum
doorleys xo - [barbados] - another standby
zaya - an amazing breakfast rum [trinidad]
ron zacapa cenatario - all are superb, but the xo is probs the finest rum i've ever tasted [costa rica]
ron matuselum grand reserva - [cuba]
[why are there so many rons?]
el dorado - the aged stuff is good, finally landed a bottle of 21 and it's staggering [guyana]
cruzan single barrel - amazing single barrel rum [st. croix]
angostura - 1824 & 1919 [trinidad]
gosling's black seal - best black rum ever, and reasonably priced [bermuda]
i also like flor de cana alot, as well as pyrat xo and havana club is a good party/mixer rum. appleton's is not bad either.