The World’s Top Rums From International Spirits Competitions

Every year thousands of rums are entered in international spirit competitions. Less than 10% earn Gold medals or the even rarer Double Gold. Only a handful can aspire to the crown of world’s best. Here are some of the contenders.

Rum was the first truly international spirit. It was and continues to be produced worldwide. At last count, more than 120 countries produce rum across hundreds of different brands and thousands of different expressions.

Each region has its own distinctive approach to rum production, from the heavy, molasses-based rums of Jamaica and Guyana to the lighter, cane juice-based Agricole rums of Martinique and the aged, sophisticated expressions from Barbados to Australia to the Philippines.

This wide diversity in brands and producing countries showcases the global appeal and variety of rum, making it a favorite among spirit enthusiasts worldwide.

Below are 15 of the world’s top rums. All of them have been Double Globe medalists in one or more international competition. They are a mix of established rum producers and new craft distillers, with winners spanning the globe from Fiji to Thailand and the Caribbean to Great Britain.

The top five rums in the White Rum category are Revival Rum, Pure Cane Spirit, 43% ABV (UK); Rhum Barbancourt, Haitian Proof White 110, 55% ABV (Haiti); Bayou, White Rum, 40% ABV (US); Club Kokomo Spirits, Artisanal White Rum, 45% ABV (US); and Oxbow Rum Distillery, Small-Batch White Rum, 45% ABV (US).

Bayou and Oxbow are in Louisiana, and Club Kokomo is in California. Louisiana, followed by Florida, Texas, and Hawaii, is the largest producer of sugar cane in the United States. It has increasingly become a center of craft rum production using locally sourced cane juice and molasses.

The revival rum is an aromatic white rum with banana and brown sugar aromas accompanied by floral and earthy notes on the palate with a smooth finish.

The Barbancourt Rum, on the other hand, features a clean and herbaceous rum with notes of papaya and banana on the nose and brown sugar on the palate with good purity and a clean finish.

Barbancourt is one of the world’s great rums. It’s exceptionally well-priced. It’s unusual in that it uses alembic Charentais stills. These are the same kind of stills they use in Cognac. At a retail price of under $20, Barbancourt is also an exceptional value.

The Bayou White Rum, on the other hand, features a warm honey nose with a creamy palate with some heat and balanced with notes of vanilla and dried fruits.

The Club Kokomo Artisanal White Rum, on the other hand, features a bright rum with tropical and candied fruit on the nose and palate followed by a creamy mouthfeel and lingering finish.

Finally, the Oxbow Small Batch White Rum exhibits an aromatic and oily nose with stone fruit, pepper, and spice on the palate, followed by a clean and powerful finish.

White rum, also known as silver or light rum, represents more than half of the rum market, although its share has dropped. Its versatility in cocktails makes it popular and its lower aging requirements make it quicker and cheaper to produce.

Brown or golden rum, which gets some oak cask aging, and dark or aged rums, which are often matured for extended periods and tend to have richer, more complex flavors, make up a smaller percentage of the rum market but represent its fastest-growing segment.

The top five rums in the Best Dark/Gold Rum category are Calazan, Ron Añejo Calazan, 40% ABV (Venezuela); Phraya, Deep Matured Gold Rum, 40% ABV (Thailand); Holmes Cay, Fiji Single Blended Rum, 46% ABV (Fiji); Black Tot, Black Tot Finest Caribbean, 46.2% ABV (Guyana; and Black Tot, Master Blender’s Reserve 2023, 54.5% ABV (Guyana).

These five rums represent a truly international mix, ranging from Fiji to Venezuela and Guyana to Thailand. Black Tot has a core of rums from Guyana but has historically also included rums drawn from Caribbean producers as well.

The Calazan Ron Añejo features vanilla, fruitcake and oak on the nose followed by notes of allspice and toffee on the palate and a long lingering fruity and caramel laced finish.

The Phraya Gold Rum, on the other hand is a wonderful and well-balanced rum with notes of dried dates, prunes, and molasses on the nose; butterscotch, toffee, and mocha on the palate and a smooth lingering finish.

Holmes Cay Fiji Single Blended Rum is produced at the South Pacific Distillery for Holmes Cay. The company, founded by Eric Kaye, provides pure, unadulterated rums from different regions worldwide. It sources and bottles exceptional single-cask and limited-edition rums without any added sugar, color, or flavor.

Fijian rum is known for its high quality and exceptional tropical and fruity profile. This rum is distilled using a combination of column and pot stills, contributing to its complex flavor profile. The aging process typically takes place in American oak barrels, with the tropical climate of Fiji accelerating the maturation process and imparting unique characteristics to the rum.

The Fiji rum is a robust, full-bodied rum with floral, caramel and vanilla notes on the nose and palate followed by a balanced and long finish.

Black Tot is one of the world’s outstanding rum brands and has been a perennial medalist in international spirit competitions. The Black Tot Finest Caribbean Rum is an elegant rum with toffee and plum on the nose followed by notes of tropical fruit, anise, vanilla, and banana on the palate along with rancio notes of leather and wax and a long flavorful finish.

While the Black Tot Master Blender’s Reserve 2023 is a delicious and well-balanced rum with clove and citrus on the nose, followed by candied fruits, anise, chocolate, and toffee on the palate and a lingering carmel note on the finish.

Extra-aged rums have been the fastest-growing segment of the rum market. These rums spend years maturing in oak casks and share many of the characteristics of ultra-aged whiskies and Cognacs, albeit with a rum twist.

The top five rums in the Extra Aged Rum category are Saltwater’s, Crew Only, 8 YO, 40% ABV (Germany); Flor de Caña, Flor de Caña 18, 40%, (Nicaragua); Zacapa, Zacapa XO, 40% ABV (Guatemala); Mount Gay, Single Estates Series, 55% ABV (Barbados); and The Impex Collection, 2007 15 YO Long Pond Rum Cask 12 ITP 50, 52.8% ABV, (Jamaica).

Saltwater’s rum is created by Saltwater Gmbh, an independent German bottler that blends rums from all over the world to create unique aroma and taste profiles. The rum features banana and nutmeg on the nose followed by toffee, leather, tropical fruits and molasses on the palate. It has a a creamy, lingering finish of tropical fruit notes.

Flor de Caña is a renowned rum brand from Nicaragua with a history dating back to 1890. It was established by the Pellas family in Chichigalpa, near the San Cristóbal Volcano, which provides a unique climate for aging rum.

The company is recognized for its commitment to sustainability and fair trade practices. It is one of the few rums globally that is certified Fair Trade, reflecting its adherence to ethical production standards and environmental conservation.

Flor de Caña’s rums are rich and complex with exceptional smoothness. They feature notes of nuts, caramel, and vanilla, with a subtle hint of spice and oak.

The Flor de Caña 18 YO is a well-aged and balanced rum with toffee, chocolate, and baking spice aromas, including brown sugar and banana notes on the palate and a long caramel laced finish.

Zacapa XO is a premium rum produced in Guatemala by Ron Zacapa Centenario, a Diageo-owned company. This exquisite rum uses an unusual and complex production process.

Unlike many rums made from molasses, Zacapa uses the first press of sugar cane juice, known as virgin sugar cane honey. It also uses a strain of yeast derived from pineapple. The company believes the proprietary yeast strain enhances the rum’s tropical fruit notes. The fermentation occurs at sea level in a controlled environment, and distillation employs a column still.

Maturation, however, occurs at what Zacapa calls the “House Above the Clouds.” Its warehouses are at an altitude of 7,500 feet (2,300 meters) above sea level in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. The cool temperatures and thin air slow down the aging process, allowing for a more gradual development of flavors.

Zacapa also employs a solera-like aging system of fractional blending. The rum is aged in a series of barrels that previously held American whiskey, Oloroso Sherry, Pedro Ximénez Sherry, and French oak Cognac barrels.

The Zacapa XO Rum is crafted from a blend of rums aged between 6 and 25 years drawn from their solera aging system. Zacapa rums are smooth, full-bodied, and extremely complex, offering an intricate bouquet of dried fruit, dark chocolate, vanilla, and a hint of almond. Subtle spice notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of clove add depth to the aroma and flavor.

The rum features butterscotch and sugar cane aromas on the nose with caramel and toasted oak on the palate, and a clean finish.

Mount Gay Rum, established in 1703, is the world’s oldest continuously operating rum distillery. Located in Barbados, Mount Gay is the island’s largest rum producer. The distillery was founded by Sir John Gay Alleyne, whose name the brand honors.

Mount Gay’s Single Estate range of rums showcases Barbados’s unique terroir. Single Estate rums are produced from specific varieties of sugar cane grown on a specific estate, distilled, aged, and bottled entirely within the island. This terroir-driven approach allows each bottling to be a distinctive expression of the local climate, soil, and cane variety and reflects traditional rum-making techniques.

The Mount Gay Single Estate Rum exhibits notes of toffee and plum on the nose, followed by notes of tropical fruit, leather, anise, vanilla, and banana on the palate, and a long, flavorful finish.

The Impex Collection is a series of single-barrel or small-batch, independently bottled spirits that showcase unique and rare expressions from various distilleries around the world.

The 2007 15-Year-Old Long Pond Rum Cask 12 ITP 50 hails from Jamaica’s renowned Long Pond Distillery. The rum highlights the distinctive characteristics of Long Pond’s traditional rum-making techniques.

Long Pond Distillery, located in Trelawny Parish, Jamaica, has a storied history dating back to the 18th century. It is famous for producing high-ester rums known for their intense and complex flavors. The production process at Long Pond involves using traditional pot stills and a prolonged fermentation period. This extended fermentation, often using wild yeasts, results in a high concentration of esters, which are compounds that contribute to the rum’s aromatic and flavor profile.

The term “ITP” refers to “Intense Tropical Punch,” indicating the high ester count in this rum. This is a full-bodied and complex rum that features intense and vibrant notes of tropical fruits, particularly banana and pineapple, along with flavors of vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, seasoned oak, and a touch of spice. There is also a bit of old leather and a hint of cold smoke.

The high ester content gives it a bold, pungent character that is rich, intriguing, and at times overwhelming.

The Long Pond is a bold rum with earthy, banana, and vanilla notes on the nose, brown sugar, molasses, orange, and allspice notes on the palate, and a spicey and lingering finish.

Pricewise, these rums vary from less than $20 to as much as $300. There is a flavor profile to suit every palate here and plenty to explore if you are a rum enthusiast.