Top 50 Best High-End Luxury Rum Brands and Makers
RUM is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses, or directly from sugarcane juice, by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels. Rum can be referred to by descriptors such as "ron viejo" ("old rum") and "ron añejo" ("aged rum").
The majority of the world's rum production occurs in the Caribbean and Latin America (including The Dominican Republic, Martinique, Guatemala, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Barbados, Jamaica, St.Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Brazil, Haiti, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Peru and Cuba). Rum is also produced in the Canary Islands of Spain, Australia, Fiji, Mexico, Hawaii, The Philippines, India, Reunion Island, Mauritius, and South Africa.
Light rums are commonly used in cocktails, whereas "golden" and "dark" rums were typically consumed individually (i.e. "straight" or "neat") or for cooking but are now commonly consumed with mixers. Premium rums are also available, made to be consumed either straight or iced.
Rum plays a part in the culture of most islands of the West Indies, and has famous associations with the Royal Navy (where it was mixed with water or beer to make grog) and piracy (where it was consumed as Bumbo). Rum has also served as a popular medium of economic exchange, used to help fund enterprises such as slavery, organized crime, and military insurgencies (e.g., the American Revolution and Australia's Rum Rebellion).
Rum News, Reviews & Resources
- 5 delicious rums to drink on National Rum Day - The Telegraph.
- 6 Rum Brands You Need To Know Now & The People Behind Them - Forbes.
- 7 Of The Best Rums You Need To Try Right Now - Forbes.
- 16 Jamaican Rum Brands, Ranked - "Rum's affiliation with the Caribbean is widely known, but each rum-producing country and region has qualities that make them stand apart from one another. Consequently, each type of rum is worth exploring, including rum produced in Jamaica."
- 20 Highest Quality Rums in the World - "Rum is arguably one of the earliest known spirits due to its simple production process. Its main ingredient, sugarcane, was first known to be fermented as early as 350 BC in India. The production of sugarcane increased over time as explorers discovered islands with the perfect growing climate. Many of the best rums in the world are made in the Caribbean."
- A taste of Cuba: Maximo, Havana Club’s new £1,390 rum - The Telegraph.
- Barbados - the birthplace of great rums - The Telegraph.
- Best Rums for Mixing, According to Bartenders - "There is no spirit category as globally diverse and varied as rum. Produced everywhere from Mexico to Fiji, its spectrum of flavor is unmatched, ranging from light-bodied, grassy and dry rums, to tannic, robust versions bursting with overripe tropical fruit. Precisely because of this diversity of style, rum can be as daunting as it is exciting, growing only more so with every new release."
- Brugal Just Dropped a Tasty New Rum Aged in Toasted Sherry Casks - "Fans of sherry cask-matured single malts should try this new sipping rum."
- CachaÇa - distilled spirit made from fermented sugarcane juice. Also known as pinga, caninha, and other names, it is the most popular spirit among distilled alcoholic beverages in Brazil. The major difference between cachaça and rum is that rum is usually made from molasses, a by-product after a refinery boils the cane juice to extract as much sugar crystal as possible, while cachaça is made from fresh sugarcane juice, fermented and distilled. Some rums - in particular the rhum agricole of the French Caribbean - are also made by the latter process. Cachaça is also known as Brazilian rum.
- Caribbean Rum resurgence: 'Hellish liquor' to premium product - "Long the poison of brutish pirates and drunken sailors, rum was traditionally a cheap booze imbibed far less for its flavour than its heady effect."
- Ciara Becomes An Investor And Co-Owner Of Ten To One Rum - "It’s not just for sugary frozen daiquiris on Spring Break, or that one time you had a punch after going sailing in the British Virgin Islands. A good rum can be for celebration, both major events and those everyday victories and milestones where you’re taking time to reflect on the moment."
- India's spirited rum revolution - "For long, rum has been relegated to the bottom shelf of bar cabinets around the world with whiskeys, cognacs and gins taking prime slots. In India, rum has been a popular drink because it's cheap and easily available. But it's not a spirit that has seen a lot of experimentation."
- List of rum producers - Wikipedia.
- MINISTRY OF RUM - "Dedicated to the understanding & appreciation of the noble spirit - RUM."
- RUM - Wikipedia.
- Rum Could Be the Next Big Thing - Bloomberg.
- RUM GLOSSARY - Ministry of Rum.
- RUM Ratings - "Life's too short to drink bad rum." The Global Rum Community. Find and Rate new Rums, Tell others about your favourites and follow people that share your tastes.
- RUM XP - "The International Rum Expert Panel."
- RUMDOOD.COM - rum, cocktails & mixology.
- Snap Up Single-Cask Rums Bottled For Top Boston Restaurants - Forbes.
- Taiwan buys 20,000 bottles of Lithuania rum destined for China - "Taiwan is sharing tips with the public on how to drink and cook with rum after it bought 20,000 bottles of Lithuanian rum bound for China."
- The Best Craft Rums According To The American Distilling Institute - "Each spring the American Distilling Institute’s (ADI) conducts a Judging of Craft Spirits. The competition recognizes the top craft spirits in the US and around the world."
- THE RUM SHOP - by Rum Runner Press.
- The Tropics Meet the Mountains with Andean Oak Cask - "Mount Gay Rum unveils its fourth limited-edition expression from the Master Blender Collection."
- The very best refined & aged rums to sip slowly - The Telegraph.
- What makes a rum Jamaican? Question at heart of Caribbean legal dispute - "In October of last year, Jamaica's Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) approved amendments to the geographical indication (GI) designation for Jamaica Rum that was originally set up in 2016. The biggest change is that ageing the rum overseas is now prohibited."
- World’s Best Rums, According To The 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition - "The San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) has just released its list of the top rums from its 2023 judging. The Best in Show category winners will be announced at the Top Shelf Awards Gala and Grand Tasting on June 16 and 17 at Resorts World in Las Vegas. Tickets for the event are available at the Top Shelf website or through ReserveBar."
- World’s Best Rums, According To The 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition - "Called the 'Oscars' of the spirit world, the SFWSC has spotlighted the best spirits in the world for forty-four years. As one of the largest international spirits competitions, it runs every bottle received through an extensive blind taste-testing panel of industry experts. Landing a medal at the event (they award bronze, silver, gold, and double gold) elevates any bottle. But making the finalist list signifies something special that drinkers should search out immediately."
- World’s Best Sipping Rum - According To The Experts - Forbes.
Top 50 High-End Rum Brands: A-Z
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- 10 CANE
- ANGUSTURA - The House of Angostura (also known as Angostura Limited) is a Trinidad and Tobago company famous for the production of angostura bitters, invented by the company's founder. The company is also a distiller and is the major producer of rum in Trinidad and Tobago.
- APPLETON ESTATE JAMAICA RUM - since 1749.
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- BACARDI - founded 1862.
- BACARDI 151 - has an alcohol content of 75.5%, compared to the usual 16%-18%.
 - Banks The Endeavour Limited Edition No 1
 - Berrys' Guyanan Rum
 - Black Tot Last Assignment British Royal Naval Rum - "Bottled from the last consignment of stock of British Navy Rum, which had been hidden in storage since Black Tot Day in 1970."
 - Blackwell Rum 007 - "Chris Blackwell Releases 60th Anniversary Collector’s Edition Blackwell Fine Jamaican Rum." In celebration of the 60th anniversary of James Bond and the film Dr. No, Chris Blackwell - the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the owner of Ian Fleming’s former residence, GoldenEye - has launched a collector’s edition box of his prized Blackwell Fine Jamaican Rum, which is out now. A rare gift for the James Bond connoisseur, the Blackwell Rum 007 collector’s edition features a special bottle of Blackwell Fine Jamaican Rum (750 mL in the US and 700 mL in the UK/Europe), sold exclusively on blackwellrum.com and 007.com and retailing for $700. Fewer than 1,000 boxes were made, and all are hand-numbered and include a personalized and signed note from Chris Blackwell.
 - Botran Aged Rums - "The taste of perfection. Award winning Botran Rum, a rum that is not just aged but nurtured."
- BRINLEY GOLD RUM
- Brinley Gold Shipwreck Spiced Rum
- Brugal - since 1888. "Premium Rim from the Dominican Republic."
- Brugal Maestro Reserva - "Brugal’s fifth generation Maestros Roneros, select ex-sherry casks and toast them in-house to mature this naturally sweet rum. Ideal for sipping neat, it offers a balanced blend of creamy vanilla, caramel, toasted nuts, and subtle hints of smoke."
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- C -
- CAPTAIN MORGAN
- CAVALIER
- COHIBA RUM
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 - Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Rum
- DON LORENZO RUM
- DON Q
- DOS MADERAS PX
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- EL DORADO
- ENGLISH HARBOUR
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- FLOR DE CAÑA - "The Slow-Aged Rum."
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- GOSLINGS RUM
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- HAVANA CLUB - "The real Cuban rum for Mojito and Daiquiri cocktails."
 - Havana Club MÁximo Extra AÑejo Rum - "The Supreme Expression of Cuban Rum." Handcrafted by blending the best and oldest rum reserves that have been left to age in Havana Club’s cellars, respecting the genuine tradition of Cuban rum-making. This process ensures that only 1,000 bottles of Havana Club Máximo are crafted each year.
- HOLEY DOLLAR RUM
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- L -
- LA FAVORITE
- LARK
 - Legacy by Angostura - "The World's Most Expensive Rum." Legacy by Angostura is quite simply rum without equal. Created by Angostura of Trinidad - makers of the world’s most awarded rum range - to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the independence of Trinidad, only 20 decanters of this precious liquid will ever be released. Each carries with it a price tag of US$25,000, making Legacy by Angostura the world’s most expensive rum.
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- MALIBU RUM
- MATUSALEM RUM - established 1872.
- MAUI DARK RUM
- MONTANYA RUM - "Award-winning, obsessively-crafted high mountain rum."
- MOUNT GAY RUM - since 1703. "The Rum That Invented Rum."
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- Oliver - established 1874. "Rum for Connoisseurs."
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- Puntacana Club EsplÉndido Rum
 - PUSSER'S RUM - "The Single Malt of Rum."
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- R -
- RON ABUELO Añejo
- RON BOCOY
- RON BRUGAL
- RON CARUPANO
- RON CORTEZ BLANCO
- RON DIAZ
- RON Pampero Aniversario
- RON VIEJO DE CALDAS
- RON ZACAPA
- RUM PUNCH
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- SANTA TERESA - founded 1796.
- SEVEN FATHOMS RUM - aging rum underwater.
 - Skotlander - since 2013. "White rum made from some of the world's finest sugarcane molasses. Slowly distilled. The freshest and purest water in the world is then added. Danish water. Seriously, it is the best. That's all. Enjoy for great cocktails. Produced and bottled in Denmark by Nordisk Brænderi."
- STROH ORIGINAL - since 1832.
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 - Ten To One - "Rum Reimagined." Ten To One is a contemporary and elevated spirit, designed to challenge expectations, and reinvigorate the way people taste, experience, and talk about rum.
- TOMMY BAHAMA RUM
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- WATSON'S DEMERARA & TRAWLER RUMS
- WRAY & NEPHEW - top-selling high strength rum in the world.
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 - Zacapa Ron - premium rum produced in Guatemala since 1976.
- ZAYA GRAN RESERVA
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