Lyme Bay Winery Jack Ratt Lugger Rum: Best Spiced Rum
Price: £33 | Buy now from Master of Malt
Both sumptuously smooth and intriguingly spicy, this dark rum from Lyme Bay Winery is truly something special. The heady mix of nutmeg, orange peel, cloves and vanilla immediately hits you as you take a sip and makes it a fabulous tipple to enjoy neat or with a little ice. If you prefer a longer drink, the strong flavours of this rum also work well alongside cola or ginger beer, though we reckon it would suit a spicy cocktail too.
Luggers won a gold award at the 2019 International Spirits Challenge in the flavoured or spiced category, and once you try it, youll understand why. If youre a fan of slightly sweet, yet incredibly complex rums, this deserves a place in your drinks cabinet. Its like drinking Christmas, except its as enjoyable in the sun as it is on a cold night.
Key specs Alcohol content: 40% Bottle size: 70cl Country of origin: Caribbean
Copalli Barrel Rested Rum
Made in Belize, this organic craft rum is distilled from fresh sugarcane juice and pure canopy water from the jungles surrounding the distillery.
Aged in American oak used bourbon barrels, the result is a rich smoky aroma, with a powerful spiced flavour. Delicious served neat, Copalli also acts as a flavourful base for cocktails – especially those set out in the companys delicious daiquiri recipe series that will help at-home mixologists mix it up this Christmas.
Copalli is a zero-impact, one-estate distillery who grow their own non-GMO, heirloom sugar cane. It is hand cut from their 3000-acre farm, so this is a rum to be enjoyed guilt-free.
Best For Daiquiri: Diplomatico Rum Reserva Exclusiva
Courtesy of Drizly.com
- ABV: 40%
- Tasting Notes: Banana, Date, Orange
I love the richness of this rum, and it tastes like a spiced/malty banana cake, says Katsumi Yuso Ruiz, bartender and co-owner of Curio Bar, Roger’s Liquid Oasis and Brass Tacks in Denver. It makes for an amazing winter daiquiri. Combine this Venezuelan dark rum with some lime and simple syrup, and enjoy one all winter long.
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Best Overall: Appleton Estate 21
Courtesy of Reserve Bar
- ABV: 43%
- Tasting Notes: Banana, Brown Sugar, Ginger
Id go straight for the Appleton 21-year-old, says Alex Jump, bar manager at Death & Co. in Denver. This Jamaican rum is a premium expression in the distillerys lineup. Its copper pot distilled with lovely notes traditional to a Jamaican rum of banana and pineapple, she says, as well as notes of baking spice and ginger from the extended aging.
Kraken Black Spiced Rum
Kraken Black Spiced Rum is inspired by the legend of the sea monster known as the Kraken. While its an alluring story on its own, its quite fitting that it has a rum, in particular, named after it.
Legend has it that the Kraken attacked a ship sailing across the Caribbean islands that happened to be carrying a significant amount of rum. The ship disappeared and was never seen or heard from again. Neither, of course, was the rum.
This rum is aged for a short time in oak barrels and is then blended with several spices, most notable of which include cinnamon, clove, and ginger. Its the ginger that makes this a great choice for a nice and spicy dark n stormy. The ginger in the cocktail mixes well with the ginger already present in the rum and creates an enticing and extra spicy flavor for those that like it strong.
The rum itself offers an array of flavors on the palate, including ginger ale, chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, clove, pepper, and a touch of vanilla. The finish is warm with a stronger hit of vanilla and a hint of coffee and pepper on the end.
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What Is The Best Rum For Cocktails
Rum has been an extremely popular cocktail ingredient since the spirits popularity began to rise in the 1920s. Mixing rums are often lighter than other kinds of rum and dont tend to be aged for a very long time.
Here are some of the most popular rum brands for making cocktails:
Bacardi operates out of Hamilton, Bermuda and remains a family-owned private business. This popular liquor brand offers superior white rum, gold rum, dark rums and some delicious flavored rums.
Captain Morgan rum produced in the U.S. Virgin Islands, with a range including spiced gold rum, dark and white rum and tiki mango and pineapple rum.
Cruzan Rum also based in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Cruzan is owned by Beam Suntory. The brand was founded in 1760 and now makes a wide range of flavored rums as well as more traditional rums.
Malibu a coconut flavored rum liqueur from Barbados.
Types of rum cocktails: Piña Colada, Mai Tai, Rum Punch, Cuba Libre, Dark & Stormy, Mojito, Daiquiri, Egg Nog and Long Island Iced Tea.
Can You Drink Rum If You Are Diabetic
Wines tend to have less carbohydrate than beer so may have a less pronounced affect on sugar levels. Spirits on their ow, such as whiskey, vodka, rum and gin, have no significant carbs in and therefore shouldn’t push blood sugar values up. If you have them with a mixer this will need to be taken into account.
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Middle Shelf Dark Rum
1. Ron Zacapa 23
Ron Zacapa 23 is a robust and complex expression from Guatemala. Its complexity comes, in part, from the blend of rums aged anywhere from six years to 23. They also distill their rum from virgin sugar cane honey instead of molasses, which gives it a truly unique and distinctive flavor and smoothness.
Once blended, the concoction matures further in a series of casks that were previously used to age American whiskies, sherries, and fine wines. The result is a complexity like no other and a delicious combination of flavors.
Noted as a fantastic rum for sipping neat, the palate offers sweet notes of roasted coffee, vanilla, butterscotch, and dark chocolate in front. This is followed by fresh fruit and citrus in the middle with herbal accents and hints of nutmeg and ginger.
The finish offers a combination of sweet and nutty with notes of caramel, tobacco, cedar, and roasted nuts.
2. Papas Pilar Dark Rum
Papas Pilar Dark Rum is a special expression that was inspired by Ernest Hemingway and his great love for adventure. Ernest Hemingway once purchased a boat and though it was ordered from a catalog, he requested many changes and customizations. He called it Pilar.
He went on to use the boat to catch one of the worlds biggest sharks and ultimately lived a full and often unconventional life thats still talked about today.
3. Flor de Cana 12-Year-Old Rum
Goslings Family Reserve Old Rum
A faithful replication of one of this revered distillerys greatest hits. Goslings Family Reserve seeks to honour the ‘old rum’ that kept the Bermudan population buzzing after World War I. Bitter cocoa and black pepper play against bright orange and orchard fruits in this vibrant, complex classic. Read our full Goslings Family Reserve Old Rum review.
Available from:
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Myers Original Dark Rum
A rum doesnt become one of the most popular examples of a style without having some merits.
Myerss Original Dark Rum offers a robust sweetness with flavors of wood and caramel that show off the liquors capabilities.
Most often enjoyed in a mix, especially eggnog, punch, or hot ciders, you can also try it alone. It will give you a good idea of how dark rums should taste for a very affordable price.
Diplomtico Seleccion De Familia
Premium Venezuelan rum with a cult following. This distillery situated at the foot of the Andes is as at one with its environment as it is with its rum and that shows in the freshness and complexity of the product. This bottle is gentle yet punchy in the right places with vanilla and exotic fruits blanketing a layer of baking spices and muted white pepper. Read our full Diplomático Seleccion de Familia review.
Available from:
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How Is Rum Made
The process for making rum is really quite simple. Still, nevertheless, production methods may vary slightly across different regions, which is why there is a wide range of flavour profiles among the different varieties.
Using molasses and raw sugarcane, the production process begins with fermentation which is accomplished by adding yeast and water to the base.
Once fermented, the product is distilled to isolate and concentrate the alcohol from the mix. The final steps in making a fine rum are ageing the rum in casks, and then blending to balance the flavour.
Mount Gay Eclipse Barbados Rum
- Alcohol by Volume : 40%
- Country: Barbados
Review
The golden colour of Mount Gay Eclipse Barbados Rum is alluring. It evokes thoughts of luscious nectar flowing from the tropical foliage that blankets the tropical island with which it shares its name.
This rum is indeed fruity and floral with hints of vanilla omnipresent from the very first taste. Of course, as with the majority of complex rums, smoky notes arise in the midst of tasting this amber liquor which finishes in a bright, clean fashion.
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Best For Mai Tai: Hamilton Overproof Rum 151
Courtesy of Drizly.com
- ABV: 75.5%
- Tasting Notes: Stone Fruit, Baking Spice, Banana
This is a rum for the banana bread lover, says Jess Weinstein, beverage director for Maydan and Compass Rose. Roasty, vanilla, caramel, and rotten banana forever. This blend of rums from Demerara Distillers is aged for up to five years, and bottled at a very high 151 proof, really letting the flavors explode and providing a buzzy boost to a Mai Tai or any tropical cocktail.
The 9 Different Types Of Rum: Best Rums For Sipping Cocktails And More
Rum is such a diverse spirit. It can be used for sipping, cocktails and more types of drinks than any other alcohol on the market. There are many types of rum to choose from as well, each with their own unique flavor profile and aging process.
In this article we will look at different types of rum, including white rum, dark rum, black rum and gold rums as well as premium aged rums.
When it comes to the different types of rum, there are many options available. Understanding what type or flavor you want will help guide your decision in choosing which one is best for drinking and cocktails. Here we break down some common types that you will find.
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Best Rums For Rum And Coke
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Rum and Coke, a simple cocktail that originated on the tropical Caribbean island of Cuba, has since become a hugely popular drink around the globe.
Made with cola, light rum, and garnished with lime, it is one of the most refreshingly straightforward mixed drinks in existence. Here in this review, we explore the 10 best rums for rum and coke you should consider.
What Is The Highest Quality Rum
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Penny Blue Rum Batch 4
Produced in Mauritius, Penny Blue is named after the ultra-rare stamp which features as the centrepiece to the islands museum and was the first ever stamp issued outside of Great Britain. Matured in ex-Scotch whisky casks and ex-American Bourbon casks, it is produced in batches in conjunction with Londons Berry Brothers and Rudd, the oldest wine and spirits merchant in the world.
Available from:
Ovd Demerara: Best Budget Dark Rum For Mixing
Price: £18 |
This cheap-as-chips rum might not have all the complex flavours of some of our other favourites, but its still a good buy nonetheless. OVD stands for old vatted demerara and is a style of blending unique to Guyana. Its distilled in a wood Coffey still in the region, before being sent to Glasgow to be blended.
Much like the other dark rums on our list, there are strong flavours of toffee and dried fruit. However, OVD has a shorter, spicy finish thats a little less complex and is why its our favourite for mixing, rather than sipping. Try this in a dark and stormy cocktail or mixed with your favourite cola for a lovely long drink thats perfect at parties.
Key details ABV: 40% Volume: 70L
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Dark Matter Spiced Rum
When you think of rum, it is usually palm trees and beaches that spring to mind, not the wilds of the Scottish highlands. Dark Matter, however, is produced at one of Scotland’s rare rum distilleries, making a spiced version of the sweet spirit which is full-bodied with notes of clove. Try it in a hot chocolate.
Available from:
Best White: Paranubes Rum
- ABV: 54%
- Tasting Notes: Pineapple, Herbal, Earthy
Jess Weinstein, beverage director at Maydan and Compass Rose in Washington, D.C., is fond of this white rum from Oaxaca, Mexico, a region better known for mezcal than for rum. Throw a rock in it, maybe a lime twist, she says, and catch all of the minerality, roasted pineapple, and good kind of floral and fresh green vibes.
- ABV: 40%
- Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Cherry, Chocolate
Facundo Paraiso is an ultra-premium expression from Bacardi, one of the best-known names in rum worldwide. It uses rums aged up to 23 years, says Brendan Bartley, head bartender for Bathtub Gin Speakeasy Bar. Once blended, its finished in ex-cognac barrels. The French oak gives the rum a softer oak finish, letting the beautiful sophisticated flavors come through. The nose gives you vanilla, biscuit, cherry, and milk chocolate qualities, and the palate gives more richness of nuttiness, stewed fruits, salted caramel qualities.
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Bacardi Superior Light Rum
If you are looking for the best rum for rum cake, its time to be choosy. Your Bacardi rum cake should not be overpowering because it has a light aromatic flavor ideal for traditional rum cake recipes.
This is a great light bodied rum that has a very neutral flavor, great to add it to your cake the next day. It is perfect for creating the depth of flavor of your personal preference. It works well with almost any recipe and adds just enough sweetness without being too sweet!
This rum has vanilla notes which pair beautifully with most fruits, cake mixes, as well as nuts or seeds like coconut, almond or pumpkin.
It is simply another of the best rum for rum cake, adding a dash of this in your batter will complement every flavor beautifully!
Hamilton Overproof Rum 151
Hamilton Overproof Rum is perfect for anyone who wants to add a little extra kick to any of their drinks while retaining the flavors from dark rum.
The experience starts with the nose of this rum that isnt overpowered by the alcohol. You pick up on ripe bananas and roasted spices.
Hamilton ages this rum for five years to help bring out the flavors of vanilla, toasted caramel, and banana.
They hit the banana hard in this drink, giving you a fun and uniquely island taste for anything it touches.
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Best For Dark N Stormy: Goslings Back Seal Rum
Courtesy of Drizly.com
- ABV: 40%
- Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Baking Spices, Fruit Cake
Goslings is a classic dark rum and a key ingredient in the Dark n Stormy cocktail. The company sources its rum from a few Caribbean countries, and then blends and ages it in Bermuda. This is a bartenders favorite and a really excellent example of what makes a dark rum stand out.
Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 Sistema Solera Rum
- Alcohol by Volume : 40%
- Country: Guatemala
Review
With such a classy bottle design and a deep amber colour, Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 Sistema Solera Rum appears to be almost too special to open. However, make no mistake, this rum was definitely meant to be shared and enjoyed.
Smooth caramel and sultry vanilla mingle with cocoa, cinnamon and orange. The ageing process, which can fall anywhere between 6 to 23 years, catapults this rums flavour profile high into the stratosphere.
Notes of light mahogany and spiced oak are apparent with each sip of this slightly viscous rum, adding to its depth. Yet, Centenario 23 is certainly complemented by the addition of ice-cold cola and a wedge of lime.
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Cruzan Black Strap Rum
Bakers, you will love Cruzan Black Srap Rum if you are looking for strong molasses notes in your cake. While it adds a dark richness to any recipe, the sweetness is not overpowering. Certainly, one of the best rum for rum cake!
This rum is distilled from pure sugar cane, then aged in oak barrels until it turns black as coal . Its one of the most full-bodied rums available and has deep molasses flavors with spicy undertones. It is perfect to have the best rum cake recipe ever!
It has a little more kick than some of our other suggestionsbut when baking with it, you want to be sure that you dont cut down on any of the liquids or leavening agents so that you dont lose any of its great flavor!