Kraken Black Spiced Rum

Apart from "the beast," we're generally fans of liquor named after monsters — and Kraken Black Spiced Rum ($22) is no exception. This upscale, but not crazy-expensive, spiced rum is a nice alternative to your normal well-residing rum, and comes in a handsome old-school jug-handled bottle adorned with a label that begs for a spot on the counter instead of being hidden in the cabinet.