Rum is one of the most beloved spirits in the world, with a history that dates back to the 17th century on Caribbean sugar plantations. Rum used to be sailors’ and pirates’ favorite drink because it was made from fermented sugarcane molasses and aged in oak barrels, but now it is a popular spirit around the world. We will explore the best rum brands, spiced rum brands, and coconut rum brands in this article, so you can choose the one that will most satisfy your taste.
Rum
Rum is now sold in a lot of great bottles because it is finally getting the attention it deserves. Numerous nations manufacture various styles, each with its own flavor profile.
Every country has its own rules regarding the distillation and aging of rum, which may make things difficult at times. Fortunately, some research can assist you in determining exactly what is in the bottle. It is also important to know the rum brands so as to know which one satisfies you.
What Are the Different Rum Types?
For liquor to be called rum, its main ingredient must be something made from sugar, like sugarcane or molasses. Most nations also want at least a year’s worth of aging. Before starting a rum tasting excursion, there are a few crucial concepts to understand.
#1. White Rum
White rum serves as the base for the majority of rum drinks, such as mojitos, pina Coladas, and daiquiris (it also goes by the name light rum). It is a pure, new cultivar that is sometimes grown for one to three years to make it more mature. White rums are fantastic cocktail mixers but not ideal for sipping because they often have less flavor than their darker siblings.
#2. Gold Rum
The middle child, gold rums, are often matured for several years to achieve a light amber tone and a richer flavor. We’d advise a quality gold rum if you’re just going to have one bottle of rum in your bar. A quality bottle can be enjoyed neat or added to almost any rum beverage (yes, you can get away with using gold rum in white rum recipes).
#3. Dark Rum
Extra-old rum is referred to as “dark rum,” sometimes known as “aged rum” (typically older than 10 years). However, most aged or black rums will have a full-bodied, rich flavor that’s perfect for sipping and employing in particular cocktails like a Dark N’ Stormy. The distinction between dark rum and gold rum is hazy.
#4. Aging
Similar to cognac, aging distinguishes distinct rum kinds. Most rums fall into one of three categories: white, gold, or dark. Darker tones occur with prolonged age and occasionally with the addition of spices. You might see these names on labels or in recipes for rum drinks, even though they don’t mean anything. Also, rums are almost always distilled and aged in tropical places, which speeds up the process of aging.
Best Rum Brands
There are a lot of rum brands you can choose from, but choosing the best rum brand is very important. So as not to waste your money on just any rum brand, we’ve listed the best rum brands below to help you out:
#1. Diplomatico
The Diplomatico distillery in Venezuela, which is at the foot of the Andes Mountains, makes one of the best rums in the world. The spirits are combined after being aged in former bourbon and malt whiskey barrels; they are then put back into barrels, but this time in sherry casks, to give them rich layers of fruity flavor.
Diplomatico has won a lot of awards, which is not surprising since it makes some of the best rums in the world.
#2. Mount Gay Black Barrel
Barbados is famous for its rum, with Mount Gay being one of the best. Master blender Trudiann Branker recently made some big changes to the Black Barrel expression, such as letting it age for three to seven years, adding a little more pot still distillate, and letting it finish in heavily charred ex-bourbon barrels for one to six months longer.
#3. Ron del Barrilito
This Puerto Rican rum company is well recognized for its handcrafted small-batch rum, which tastes fantastic both neat and in cocktails. Each blend is aged in old American white oak sherry barrels, and the company is proud that it doesn’t use any coloring or additives that are made in a lab.
The Ron del Barrilito Three Stars, which includes blends aged between six and ten years, is the most well-known rum produced by the firm. a fruity, easy-to-drink rum with a smoky aftertaste that lingers on your palate for a long time as a result. The two greatest ways to drink it are on the rocks or in your preferred Old Fashioned.
The Ron del Barrilito Five Stars, which is manufactured from rum mixes aged for up to 35 years, is a good choice if you’re seeking something a little more special with a lingering finish. It has a smoky wood finish and some of the smoothest rum we’ve ever tasted, along with aromas of vanilla, almonds, and tropical fruit.
#4. The Real McCoy
The Real McCoy stays loyal to what made the great American sea captain Bill McCoy an icon. Bill McCoy was smuggling rum from the Caribbean on his boat and selling it off the coast of New York during the Prohibition era.
He consistently sold clean, unadulterated rum, earning him the moniker “the real McCoy.”
Today, the company that makes the brand’s rum does not use any artificial sweeteners, flavors, or additives. Their rums are meant to be enjoyed leisurely while sipping.
#5. Plantation Rum
Plantation Rum got its start when its owner, French cognac producer Alexandre Gabriel, began selling cognac barrels to Central American rum producers. He had a keen interest in rum at that point and went on to produce a wide range of excellent bottles.
The bottles come from fascinating regions of the world like the Caribbean, Fiji, Panama, or Peru, and the majority of them are matured for a second time in French cognac casks, creating some unusual flavor harmonies.
#6. Don Q
Don Q rum, which hails from Puerto Rico and is named after the celebrated Don Quixote, has a rich past. Extremely well-liked by the locals, it has an age range of three to ten years and is a reasonably priced introduction to the world of fine rums.
The company has a wide range of expressions, such as the Don Q Cristal, which has been aged in American oak whiskey barrels for two to five years and is good for cocktails, and the Don Q Reserva 7, which has been aged in American oak whiskey barrels for at least seven years and is good for sipping and has a strong whiskey taste.
#7. Ten To One
With no additional sugar, flavor, or color, this is a combination of Jamaican pot-still rum and Dominican column-still rum. The brand’s mission is to sell high-quality rum at a reasonable price without trying to change or hide the spirit’s natural taste. Ten to One takes great delight in these last two elements.
This white rum is complex enough to be appreciated on its own, so try it in any traditional rum cocktail or just have a taste.
#8. Bumbu Original Rum
The flagship bottle of the Lil Wayne-approved company Bumbu, this gold rum has a naturally sweet flavor and a manageable 35 percent alcohol by volume (Bumbu’s 18-year XO is also fantastic). Bumbu Original is a small-batch, hand-blended drink made in Barbados that tastes like old rum. It’s another adaptable option for sipping neat or adding to cocktails because of the flavor’s combination of caramel, cinnamon, and almonds.
#9. Appleton Estate
With a nearly 300-year history, the Jamaican company Appleton Estate has demonstrated to the world that authentic rum is produced without the use of sugar, and the excellent standards of their products back this up.
Even in Jamaica, it is against the law to add sugar to domestic rum. Appleton Estate rums make excellent alternatives for both cocktails and the more serious drinkers out there.
#10. Goslings
Goslings is a fairly well-known name that has Bermudan roots dating back to 1806. The company has long held the title of Bermuda’s top exporter, a title it continues to hold today.
Their full-bodied, rich dark rum has become quite well-liked, especially among followers of the dark ‘n’ stormy cocktail. It has a silky finish.
There is a reason the business copyrighted the drink’s name; it demands that only Goslings Black Seal rum and Goslings ginger beer be used in its preparation.
#11. Flor de Caña
In addition to producing some of the best rums in the world, Flor de Caa is a sustainable company that cares about the environment. It is based in Nicaragua, at the foot of the San Cristobal Volcano.
Alfredo Francisco, an Italian explorer, built the distillery in 1890 when the family-run enterprise first started operating. They have a variety of rums, including the 30-Year-Old, which was produced in a small batch of only 400 bottles, indicating its excellent caliber.
#12. Rhum Barbancourt
Since Rhum Barbancourt is manufactured from the same sugarcane juice as Rhum J.M. above and not molasses, the two rums share a similar production method and are among the best that Haiti has to offer.
It’s a premium rum that’s reasonably priced and accessible to a range of ages, and it tastes wonderful on the rocks. It is smooth and dry, lacking the typical sweet scent of other rums, making it even more unique.
#13. Rhum J.M.
Rhum J.M., who was born on the island of Martinique, is unlike other rums you may be familiar with. The island’s name for the spirit is “Rhum Agricole,” and it is produced without the use of molasses. A distinctive rum is created by fermenting and distilling sugarcane.
It has a fascinating amber color, and flavors of oak, vanilla, maple, caramel, and almond, as well as earthy and grassy overtones.
#14. Plantation Xaymaca Special Dry
Dark rum is aged rum that looks dark because it has been in a barrel and has come into contact with wood, but it is not an official category. Of course, the liquid may also contain molasses or caramel coloring to make the color darker. A wonderful black rum with only a hint of caramel color is made from plantation rum. Xaymaca Special Dry is a blend of Jamaican pot-still rum aged for one to three years in Jamaica, then another year in cognac casks in France. It has a distinctly French flavor due to its French ownership.
#15.Don Papa
Don Papa is a high-quality aged rum from the Philippines. Its taste and ingredients come from what makes the island unique.
Even though the brand has only been around since 2012, it has already shown what it can do. Their 10-year limited edition rum has a deep, rich flavor and is packed with aromas of dried fruits, chocolate, and a little hint of oak. It is matured in charred barrels.
#16. Brinley Gold Shipwreck
On the island of Saint Kitts, a family-run company called Brinley Gold Shipwreck produces some of the best rum in the world and has won numerous accolades for it.
Brinley Gold Shipwreck is one of the rum brands that is known for being smooth and tasty and for the unusual spices they use to make it. Their spiced rum features flavors of nutmeg, clove, orange, vanilla, and island spices.
Their recipe was created in memory of a British ship that went down in 1782 off the island’s coast.
#17. Ron Zacapa
In the rum industry, Ron Zacapa is another well-known brand. The rums made at the artisanal distillery in Zacapa, Guatemala, are made by fermenting first-press virgin sugarcane with yeast from pineapples.
The alcohol is then taken to the top of the valley, which is about 7,500 feet above sea level, and left to age in the fresh mountain air. As a result, the rum has a distinctively smooth and sweet flavor.
One of the few female professional blenders in the world, Lorena Vasquez of Nicaragua, is the face of the Ron Zacapa brand.
#18. Equiano
In honor of former slave and freedom warrior Olaudah Equiano, a premium rum brand has been named Equiano. They work to end contemporary slavery while promoting freedom and equality around the world.
The world’s first rum to combine African and Caribbean spirits has been released, and its well-balanced smells of sweet fruits and toasty spice have everyone in awe.
#18. Facundo
The rum Facundo is unlike any other rum. The company is known for its extra-aged premium spirits, and its best product to date is the Facundo Paraiso XA rum, which can be aged for up to 23 years.
Nothing is rushed when making rum, and only the best sugarcane is used. The fermentation and distillation processes are also always getting better. The end result has a distinctive flavor and aroma of roasted walnuts, rich caramel, and chocolate. unquestionably an excellent pick.
#19. Ron Barceló
Julian Barcelo started making Ron Barceló Rum in the Dominican Republic in 1929. It is now thought to be one of the best rums in the world. Ron Barceló Rum has a nice, light brown sugar hue.
It has a scent of wood spices that is followed by notes of butterscotch, vanilla, almond, orange, and banana peel. It’s a drinkable one with just a hint of alcohol burn.
#20. Barrell Rum “Tale Of Two Islands” 8 Year
Barrell Bourbon is always looking for and mixing great bourbon from distilleries all over the country. The company entered the rum market a few years ago and has since produced a number of various styles. The most intriguing is perhaps “Tale of Two Islands,” a Jamaican pot-still rum that was finished in Islay whiskey barrels after spending eight years in Jamaican rum barrels. This added a lovely layer of smoke to the spirit’s quirky sweetness.
#21. Bacardí
With a history spanning 160 years, Bacardi has a lot to be proud of. When you don’t know what else to order, it’s a safe decision, even if it’s not the best in the world.
One of the best-known rum brands in the world, it’s a well-balanced rum that blends nicely in a variety of drinks, especially when you consider its white rum distilled in Puerto Rico.
#22. Dictador
Dictador is a high-end rum brand from Colombia that has the advantage of its oceanfront position in South America, which has a climate that is perfect for producing sugarcane.
Instead of utilizing molasses, they distill virgin sugarcane honey to create their rum, which is then aged in fine oak barrels. The end result is exceptional rums, with the Dictador 20 Year Old being one of their greatest examples. It has sweet aromas of caramel and vanilla, as well as cocoa and toasted honey.
#23. Barceló Imperial
This Dominican rum from Barceló, which leans toward the sweeter end of the flavor spectrum, is a combination of rum aged up to 10 years in former bourbon barrels. According to Lynnette Marrero, bar director at Llama Inn and Llama San NYC, it includes flavors of dried cherry, vanilla, and a little cinnamon, as well as overtones of brown sugar and sweet caramel. It is made by distilling cane juice five times, which removes the grassy taste and lets some of the spice notes come through.
Barceló Imperial premium rum is still reasonably priced and goes well in an Old Fashioned, as well as when sipped straight or poured over a lot of ice.
#24. Holmes Cay
Holmes Cay rums have ABVs ranging from 55 to 64 percent, so they’re not for the faint of heart. The business has concentrated on making the best single-cask rum it can without using any sugar or adulterants.
These rums should be enjoyed slowly, much like a complicated scotch whisky, because they are a little bit too powerful for some people but have incredible flavors.
#25. Brugal Añejo Superior
This Dominican Republic rum is aged for two to five years in American oak, which gives it vanilla, spice, and wood flavors. Although it isn’t the oldest rum available, it definitely tastes much older than its actual age. It also works well as a whiskey alternative in drinks like the Old Fashioned or Manhattan.
Coconut Rum Brands
A dessert rum should always include coconut rum. Not only does it taste sweet and smooth, but the coconut finish also has a strong tropical flavor. This tasty rum, which can be found in well-known drinks like Bahama Mamas and Pina Coladas, has gained popularity.
Many coconut rums have entered well-known pubs and eateries all over the world, so you don’t actually need to be in a tropical region to enjoy a fun and lively tropical drink.
#1. Siesta Key Toasted Coconut
This coconut rum is made in a unique way that gives it a stronger flavor and makes it stand out from its competitors. Siesta Key creates a coconut rum with actual roasted coconut to give it an “as real as it gets” coconut taste in small batches at an artisan distillery in Sarasota, Florida.
According to reports, Siesta Key Toasted Coconut Rum is a product that has raised the bar for the U.S. rum market and is unique to the rum sector. Siesta Key Toasted Coconut Rum stands out because of the unique way it is flavored and because of how rich coconut is in general.
#2. St Petersburg Distillery Oak & Palm Coconut Rum
St. Petersburg, Florida, is known for a lot more than just its clean beaches and holiday crowds. A coconut rum that can become your favorite is made by the St. Petersburg Distillery and is called Oak & Palm Coconut Rum. It combines natural Florida oak with other natural ingredients, like coconut.
The Oak and Palm Coconut Rum from the St. Petersburg Distillery has a soft vanilla aroma with a hint of sugary sweetness. The creaminess combined with the creamy coconut transports your tastebuds to another world. Remember the faint flowery undertones you detect at the finish.
This coconut rum has a 35% ABV and 70-proof alcohol content.
#3. Wicked Dolphin Coconut Rum
Although the name suggests otherwise, Wicked Dolphin Coconut Rum isn’t a mythical beverage. Wicked Dolphin is a Florida native who makes spirits with a distinctive flavor and color. The ingredients are prepared, fermented, and distilled in Florida, where they are then stored in the distillery’s barrel area.
To achieve the most genuine, tropical flavor possible, The Wicked Dolphin Coconut Rum is created with actual coconut water combined with other natural components. Wicked Dolphin takes pride in using less sugar than other national brands while making their rums.
This coconut rum has a full, robust flavor as well as a delicate body with overtones of vanilla. The fresh, uncomplicated coconut is as real as it gets, and the fragrances will transport you to a tropical island.
#4. Coconut Cartel
Most people who hear the word cartel immediately conjure up images of the iconic Pablo Escobar and his band of skilled smugglers. The good news is that buying Coconut Cartel is completely legal (as long as you are of legal drinking age, of course).
It is not intended to combine Coconut Cartel with other ingredients to make a drink. This darker coconut rum is intended to be sipped, not mixed. The distillery’s tropical smells transport you to Guatemala’s white-sand beaches, where the coconut water is being freshly gathered. Enjoy the nutty flavor that this silky coconut rum has to offer, together with undertones of sweetness and salt.
#5. Sugar Island Coconut Rum
Sugar Island Coconut Rum has an extraordinary flavor of fresh coconut. The only rum that can be produced by Sugar Island is light and silky, with a balanced flavor of creamy and delicate coconut notes.
Sugar Island takes great satisfaction in how versatile its coconut rum is. It’s not only ideal for sipping on your own, but it’s also the ideal coconut-flavored rum for your tropical concoctions. Whatever kind of rum drinking you like, Sugar Island Coconut Rum can accommodate you.
This delicious Virgin Islands-made coconut rum is just what you need to feel like you’re on an island.
Spiced Rum Brands
Many people criticize spiced rum brands. People often think of it as a cheap party drink, and in the US, they often think of it as a mixer for frat houses. Drink only with the intention of swiftly becoming extremely drunk.
#1. Bristol Black Spiced Rum
This gorgeously rich and subtly warming spiced rum is full of fruity and spicy flavors.
You get a wonderful winter warmer of a drink when you blend rich, plump raisins, apples, and just the right amount of orange zest with ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
A bottle of this won’t stay in many rum drinkers’ cabinets for very long because it is best served on its own.
#2. Foursquare Spiced
A fantastic golden mixing rum from the outstanding Foursquare Distillery in Barbados that is both delicate and nicely aged.
Foursquare Spiced is less “spiced” than some competitors’ ordinary rums in many aspects. This is spiced rum, but the spices don’t take over the rum. Instead, they add to it. Foursquare Spiced makes exquisitely smooth blended beverages.
#3. Dark Matter Spiced Rum
Excellent packaging and a genuine enthusiasm for rum production. The first rum distillery was erected by the Ewen brothers in Scotland’s whisky region.
Dark Matter is another spiced rum that eschews the vanilla aroma, adding real spices to a hot young rum. Unexpectedly, this spiced rum tastes great in a Bloody Mary (yes, with tomato juice!). Try it!
#4. Old Amazon No1. Tonka Bean Infused Rum
Although Tonka Bean Infused 100% Pot Still Rum won’t be everyone’s cup of rum, Old Amazon No. presents a very nice surprise to those brave enough to taste it.
This rum is not for the timid, as it contains tonka beans, a vanilla substitute that is outlawed in several nations, including the US.
It tastes great and is hard enough to make you feel a little bit like a pirate when you eat it.
#5. Pusser’s Spiced
When it came out in 2014, Pusser’s Spiced promised to give people who drink spiced rum a more authentic experience.
It is one of the brands of spiced rum seasoned with cinnamon and ginger. Since Sailor Jerry was reformulated in the UK, a plethora of vanilla-flavored imitations has invaded the market. Pusser’s Spiced provides a fantastic alternative.
Even though the alcohol content isn’t very high (35%), this spice tastes rich and warm. It is a tremendous eye-opener for the genre of spiced rum brands.
What Are the 5 Types of Rum?
Here are the 5 types of rums you can choose from:
- Light rum.
- Gold rum.
- Dark rum.
- Black rum.
- Spiced rum.
Which Rum Is Best for Beginners?
Are you a rum beginner? These are some of the rum brands you can take as a rum beginner so as to avoid regrets:
- Appleton Estate Signature Blend
- Rockpool
- Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva
- Mount Gay Eclipse Rum
- Plantation Original Dark Rum
- Zacapa Centenario
Which Rum Is Best for Cold?
The finest rum to drink in the cold to remain warm is a dark, aged rum with lots of taste, like Bacardi Black Rum, also referred to as “black magic rum.”
Is Rum Good for Health?
Yes, rum is good for your health. According to studies, people who use rum in moderation have a 38% lower risk of developing kidney cancer than those who don’t. According to one study, the health benefits of rum drinking include a lower risk of lymphoma and thyroid cancer. One 1.5-ounce serving of rum eases tension.
Which Is Better Rum or Brandy?
Rum is a rare beverage that is consumed at events and other social occasions. On the other hand, brandy is frequently sipped following meals. Because of its calming and relaxing effects, brandy is a common beverage to have after dinner.
Conclusion
These are some of the top rum brands you should be aware of and check out, whether you are an expert in the craft of rum production or you are just beginning your exploration of the fascinating world of rum.
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