In this article, we are going to discuss the 20 best rums in 2024. If you don’t care for Rum and are a Whiskey person instead, we got you covered in our list of the 25 Best Whiskeys in the World in 2024.
The role of rum in early America is often understated. When George Washington entered politics for the first time in 1757, rum was the most popular tipple in the American colonies, to the tune of 3.7 gallons per person a year. Like other prominent colonists, Washington also interacted with rum in many aspects of his life. For instance, in order to win the election in the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1758, the Founding Father attracted voters with charm, entertainment, and rum. During his campaign, Washington’s agents doled out 28 gallons of rum, 50 gallons of rum punch, 46 gallons of beer, 34 gallons of wine, and just for good measure, 2 gallons of hard cider.
In fact, in the year 1770 – the same year as the infamous Boston Massacre – the colonies that would soon coalesce through revolution, violence, and democracy into the United States were also home to more than 140 rum distilleries.
Global Rum Market:
As we mentioned in our article – 20 Countries that Export the Most Rum in the World – the global rum market was estimated at $17.4 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $24.5 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 3.5% during the forecast period.
Rum is building momentum and getting more popular in U.S.A. Today, the category is one of the most steadily growing and continues to benefit from several intersecting popularity shifts. In recent years, distillers have experimented with flavored rums, making the category much more versatile in offerings, and so today, flavored and spiced offerings account for over 57% of all rums sold.
This highly mixable spirit also provides a key function in cocktail culture. While rum is a staple of on-premise tiki bars, it is also one of the only spirits for which it’s common to blend multiple varieties in the same cocktail. According to Bacardi’s 2022 Cocktail Trends Report, four of the top-10 best-selling cocktails are rum drinks, making the spirit a must-have for all on-premise programs.
Premiumization in the Rum Category:
Rum has long been considered a spirit dedicated to tropical drinks, but in the last few years, consumer perception of the liquor has evolved dramatically. While the category is still dominated by major producers, consumer preferences are shifting away from value options and towards an appreciation for craft and aged rums. Due to the growing influence of aged and high-quality expressions, many consumers now see the spirit as a premium offering that can be sipped and appreciated in much the same way as rare whiskies and tequilas.
As with other spirits categories, premiumization in rum means finer quality ingredients and more creative barrel finishes, giving consumers a wider range of innovative flavors to explore through. While the global rum market is experiencing a period of slow growth, the premium rum category is growing at a CAGR of more than 24%.
The Rise of Alcohol-Free Rum:
The global low and no-alcohol consumer trend marks a significant shift in the drinks industry, driven by increasingly health-conscious consumers seeking alternatives to traditional alcoholic beverages. Millennials and Generation Z are the main insurgents, driving a transformation in choice and demanding more from their drinks. These younger generations are adopting a healthier lifestyle and reaping the benefits of going alcohol-free – but they’re not the only ones. From fitness fans and healthy lifestylers to a renaissance in older living, knowing what you’re putting into your body is now a key priority.
Several industry players have realized that the no-alcohol trend is here to stay and are coming up with innovative solutions to keep their current consumer base engaged, along with attracting a new generation of drinkers – and rum has been no exception.
Owned by Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO), the iconic Captain Morgan rum brand unveiled Captain Morgan Spiced Gold 0.0% in August 2023, an alcohol-free alternative to the famous Original Spiced Gold, offering a deliciously spiced flavor profile. Following the successful launch of Guinness 0.0%, Tanqueray 0.0%, and Gordons 0.0% over the past few years, Captain Morgan Spiced Gold 0.0% brings further choice to the market as the latest brand, and first dark spirit, to join Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)’s alcohol-free portfolio. With 22.9 million cases sold worldwide in 2022, Captain Morgan is the 17th Most Popular Spirit in the World.
Initially launched in Great Britain in September last year, before a further rollout across Europe in 2024, Captain Morgan Spiced Gold 0.0% Alcohol Free Rum has an RRP of under $20 in Great Britain.
Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) is ranked 4th among the Most Valuable Alcohol Companies in the World.
With that said, here are the Best Rums in the World.
Elizaveta Galitckaia/Shutterstock.com
Methodology:
To collect data for this article, we have referred to a number of sources, such as Liquor, VinePair, Men’s Journal, Reddit etc., looking for the Top Rums to Buy in 2024. To make sure we only give you the best of the best, we shortlisted rums that appeared multiple times in the aforementioned websites, assigned them a score of 1 each time they were recommended on these sources, and then summed up the scores and ranked our list accordingly. When two or more rums had the same score, we ranked them by the price (excluding tax) of their 750 ml bottles.
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20. Ron Abuelo XII Two Oaks Rum
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Abuelo Two Oaks is a sublimely smooth, smoky, and rich rum, first matured in ex-Bourbon casks, then finished in extra-charred virgin American oak. It is meticulously crafted in Panama from a blend of aged rums between 8 and 40+ years old, averaging just around 12-years old.
19. Santa Teresa 1796 Rum
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Santa Teresa 1796 is a bold rum produced in Venezuela and aged using the solera system that blends rums aged between 4 and 35 years. Thanks to its rich taste and unexpectedly dry finish, Santa Teresa is a Great Rum to Drink Straight.
With a presence in over 40 countries, Santa Teresa is a Venezuelan, family-owned rum distillery built on over 200 years of tradition, refining, and improving the techniques of rum making.
18. Rhum J.M Terroir Volcanique
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Distilled and aged in American rum barrels with two intense levels of toasting, this 3-year-old Agricole rum from Martinique celebrates the volcanic terroir of the island and the distillery in the shadow of Mount Pelee.
Since 1845, Rhum J.M has been regarded as one of the Caribbean’s most premium rum brands, renowned by some of the finest cocktail bars in the world.
17. Brugal 1888 Doblemente Añejado
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Launched in 1988 to celebrate the company’s centenary, Brugal 1888 Doblemente Añejado is a truly exceptional Dominican rum, crafted by combining the rich flavors of Bourbon and sherry casks through a double-aging process.
Edrington, the owner of Brugal Rum, became a billion-pound business in 2023, following a 22% increase in revenues from its core brands that also include The Macallan, The Glenrothes, and the Famous Grouse blended whisky.
16. Ron Barceló Imperial Onyx Rum
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Produced in the Dominican Republic, the RB Imperial Onyx is the result of the finest selection of rums aged up to ten years in American oak barriques with a high toast degree, and subsequently filtered from real Onyx stones to obtain a rum with intense, deep notes, and a unique character.
Mostly owned by the Spanish spirits company Grupo Varma, Ron Barceló is a carbon-neutral brand, certified in 2019 by the SGS Group for both the life cycle of their products and the organization.
15. Appleton Estate 15 Year Old Black River Casks
Insider Monkey Score: 5
Inspired by the Black River which was integral to Jamaica’s rum-making history and is also the source of the limestone-filtered water used to craft Appleton Estate rums, this beautiful amber-colored blend of hand-selected and column still rums have all been aged for a minimum of 15 years.
14. The Real McCoy 12 Year Old
Insider Monkey Score: 5
Named after the famed rum runner whose Prohibition spirit was renowned for its quality, The Real McCoy 12 is a small batch, single-blended rum crafted in copper stills and authentically aged 12 years in American oak Bourbon barrels. The spirit is produced with no added sugar or flavor, and is naturally gluten-free. Constellation Brands acquired a minority stake in The Real McCoy rum brand in 2018.
13. Flor de Caña 18 Year Old
Insider Monkey Score: 5
This ultra-premium sipping rum from Nicaragua has been patiently aged in small hand-crafted Bourbon casks to obtain its oaky and extra smooth finish. It was twice awarded Gold medals at the 2006 and 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competitions.
12. Foursquare 14 Year Old
Insider Monkey Score: 6
Matured for 14 years in ex-Bourbon casks, this unique expression perfectly displays what the Foursquare distillery is all about – pure single rum, aged at source, and bottled without additives.
Established in 1996, the Foursquare distillery in Barbados is owned by Richard Seale – arguably the greatest rum maker in the world.
11. Plantation XO 20th Anniversary
Insider Monkey Score: 6
To honor Alexandre Gabriel’s 20th anniversary as Master Blender, Plantation created the XO 20th Anniversary using a blend of quintessential extra-old rums from Barbados.
It was announced earlier this year that the famed brand is finally undergoing the name change that it first promised way back in June of 2020. The new name – Planteray Rum – “pays homage to sugarcane, the PLANT that gives birth to the rum, and the sun’s RAYs that are essential for sugarcane growth and ripening.”
10. Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum
Insider Monkey Score: 6
Crafted from a blend of intense and aromatic rums, this rich, complex, and yet smooth expression is aged in American whiskey casks for an unspecified amount of time and then finished for six months in deeply charred Bourbon casks.
In honor of the solar eclipse last month, Mount Gay released a new rum in 2024 – the Mount Gay Eclipse Navy Strength, a 114.2-proof bottling matured between two to four years at the distiller’s headquarters in Barbados.
9. Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva Rum
Insider Monkey Score: 6
Marrying a unique body with excellent balance, this multi-award winning, refined, and elegant blend of exclusive rums is a true reference for fine spirits lovers throughout the world.
Hailing from Venezuela, the super premium Diplomático rum brand was awarded Wine Enthusiast’s prestigious ‘Spirit Brand of the Year’ accolade in 2018 – the first-ever rum to win in this category. Distributed in over 100 countries around the globe, Diplomático Rum consists of three ranges of complex rums, including the Traditional Range, Prestige Range, and the Distillery Collection.
Recently acquired by Brown-Forman, Diplomático sits among the Top 10 Best Rum Brands in the World.
8. Doorly’s 12 Year Old Gold Rum
Insider Monkey Score: 6
Produced at the iconic Foursquare distillery in Barbados, Doorly’s 12 is a blend of rums, 90% aged for 12 years in Kentucky Bourbon and 10% aged for 12 years in Madeira cask. R. L. Seale acquired Doorly’s in 1993 and, in keeping its history, decided that it would become an export brand.
With its initial hint of sweetness and the dry oaked flavor, Doorly’s 12 Year Old is one of the Best Rums for First Timers.
7. Smith & Cross Jamaica Rum
Insider Monkey Score: 7
A mix of heavy-bodied Wedderburn style rum and medium-bodied Plummer, this exceptional Jamaican rum has not been chill-filtered, in order to retain its full flavor. This pure pot still expression delivers a tour de force of flavor that historically made it a cornerstone of classic rum drinks.
6. Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum
Insider Monkey Score: 7
Distilled and bottled for nearly 200 years in Jamaica, this highly potent spirit is handcrafted in the Caribbean country’s Nassau Valley, produced via small batch distillation, and un-aged at 125.5 proof.
Wray and Nephew White Overproof ranks 6th in our list of the Top-Ranking Rums in 2024.
5. Flor de Caña Centenario 12 Year Old Rum
Insider Monkey Score: 8
This ultra-premium Nicaraguan rum is sugar-free, naturally aged without artificial ingredients, distilled 100% with renewable energy, and KOSHER certified. A full-bodied rum with a long and smooth finish that lingers on the palate.
A family business for five generations, Flor de Caña is one of Nicaragua’s most prestigious rums, and has won a huge number of awards, medals, and commendations in the last few years.