Best Rum Brands You Must Try (2024)

A product by Diageo, a British alcohol conglomerate, Captain Morgan was named after Sir Henry Morgan. A celebration of Jamaican heritage, the rich taste and full-bodied texture of this dark rum make the brand a popular choice. Aged in oak barrels for an intense flavor, Captain Morgan’s rich finish is rarely ever disappointing.

“Live like the Captain”, Caption Morgan’s brand label read.

Captain Morgan Rum Variants:

• Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold Rum
• Captain Morgan Dark Rum
• Captain Morgan White Rum
• Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold and Cola premix

There’s naught, no doubt, so much the spirit calms as rum and true religion.

-Lord Byron

3. BACARDÍ Rums

One of the most awarded rum brands of the world, Bacardi was established in Santiago de Cuba in 1862, and over the years paved the way for some of the most popular cocktails in the world. The light and balanced taste flavor of Bacardi rums are also ideal for sipping on their own.

Don Facundo Bacardi Massó, the creator of Bacardi Rums, set out to make a more refined version of the spirit that would suit the palate of the upcoming middle class better. Up until then, the production of rum was fairly rustic and the drink was not very popular. Massó bought a small distillery, used some European and his own techniques to make changes to the distillation process, and founded this light and crisp rum. White rum, Bacardi superior is bottled at 80 proof.

Bacardi Rums Variants:

• Bacardi Gold
• Bacardi Black
• Bacardi Superior
• Bacardi Oakheart Spiced Rum
• Bacardi Limon
• Bacardi Tangerine

4. Malibu Rum Drinks

What makes Malibu special is that it is not exactly a rum but a rum-based drink. These are Caribbean rums mixed with fruity flavors to give you a cocktail-ready spirit. The original Malibu is a mix of Caribbean rum and coconut flavoring. This smooth and refreshing drink is often deemed as sunshine in a bottle. These rums are used to make popular cocktails such as the Malibu Pina Colada, The Maliboo, Malibu Chilling Froze, etc. Malibu Rum with natural flavour has 21 to 24% Alcohol/Volume content.

Malibu Rum Flavor Variants:

• Malibu Original
• Malibu Passion Fruit
• Malibu Lime
• Malibu Pineapple

Additionally, Malibu also has a range of canned rum-based drinks such as the Malibu Fizzy Pink Lemonade, Malibu Pina Colada, and Malibu Cola.

5. Havana Club 7

An authentic Cuban rum brand, the rich layers of taste and aroma of Havana Club 7 make it ideal for sipping. Considered to be one of the largest and much-loved rum brands in the world, the dark Havana 7 rum is aged in barrels to nurture its sought-after taste. Havana Club 7 rum is infused with the flavors of tobacco, aromatic Cuban tropical fruits, and vanilla. During production, a part of the rum is always retained to be added to the new batch.

Havana Club 7 dark matured rum reveals the rich unique natural flavours of Cuba. It is soaked with sweet Cuban tobacco flavor, lush tropical fruits flavor, soft vanilla flavor and dry cocoa flavor.

Variants of Havana Club Rum: Havana Club 3, Havana Club Especial, Havana Club 7, Havana Club Iconica

Price of 750ml Havana Club 7 rum: Rs. 800

Alcohol Content of Havana Club Rum: 40%

6. Hercules XXX Rum

A product of the Karnataka-based Khoday Group, this several decades-old dark rum has not only garnered a large fan base in India, especially in the Armed Forces, it has also won awards to prove it. Hercules XXX also happens to be one of the brand’s star products, thanks to its full-bodied rich flavor and sweet aroma – two qualities that suit the Indian palate perfectly.

Hercules XXX brand produces both dark and white rums named as Hercules XXX Rum which is dark and Hercules XXX White Rum respectively.

Variants of Hercules Rum: Hercules Deluxe Rum, Hercules 3 ‘X’ Rum Hercules Rum

Price of 750ml Hercules Rum: Rs. 527

Alcohol Content of Hercules Rum: 42.8%

7. McDowell’s No.1 Celebration Rum

With notes of caramel and vanilla in its flavor profile, McDowell’s  No. 1 Celebration Rum is not only popular in India but in other parts of the world as well. A brand that packs in a punch when it comes to taste, McDowell’s No. 1 rum is produced by United Spirits Limited, a subsidiary of Diageo, and was introduced into the market in 1991.

McDowell’s No. 1 Celebration Rum has rich balanced woody warm flavored taste spirit.

Variants of McDowell’s Rum: McDowell’s No.1 Celebration Deluxe XXX Rum, McDowell’s Caribbean White Rum

Price of 750 ml McDowell’s Celebration Rum: Rs. 376

Alcohol Content in McDowell’s Celebration Rum: 42.8%

8. Contessa XXX Rum

Contessa XXX from the house of Radico Khaitan is yet another rum spirit popular brands among the Armed Forces of India. Made from quality sugarcane, the smooth, rich and light rum with a delicate flavor profile also has notes of cocoa, vanilla, and raisins. Contessa XXX Rums warm and invigorating taste makes it ideal for winters.

Price of 750 ml Contessa Rum: Rs. 260

Alcohol Content of Contessa Rum: 42.8%

9. Jolly Roger Rum

Jolly Roger rum, produced by Allied Blenders and Distillers, is marketed as the quintessential sailor’s rum. The strong, rich, and smooth Jamaican rum is not only good for sipping on its own but is also credited for the creation of a few pirate-themed cocktails such as the Clap of Thunder, Shiver me Timbers, Pirate’s Blood, The Plague and Pirate’s Cloud. Along with the regular white and dark rum, JJolly Roger alcohol brand also produces a range of naturally flavored rums for cocktails.

Variants of Jolly Roger Rum: Jolly Roger Gold, Jolly Roger Silver, Jolly Roger Spiced, Jolly Roger Special Dark, Jolly Roger Coconut.

Price of Jolly Roger Rum: Rs. 300

Alcohol Content of Jolly Roger  Rum: 42.8%

10. El Dorado Rum

The El Dorado rum was born on the banks of the Demerara River and is said to the true representation of the Caribbean rum craftsmanship. Traditional wooden stills are used in the making of this rum to maintain its authentic rich, smooth taste. The climate and oak barrel aging add a unique and unmatched flavor to this beautiful alcoholic drink.

At the Caribbean Rum Taste Test in London, El Dorado Rum brand won gold for 7 times in the first decade.

Variants of El Dorado Rum: El Dorado 3 Years Aged Rum, El Dorado 5 Years Aged Rum, El Dorado 8 Years Aged Rum, El Dorado 12 Years Aged Rum, El Dorado 15 Years Aged Rum, El Dorado 21 Years Aged Rum, El Dorado Grand Special Reserve 25 Years Aged Rum.

Price of El Dorado 12 Years Aged Rum: Rs. 4500 (approx.)

Alcohol Content of El Dorado Rum: 43%

11. Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum

The Sailor Jerry rum was named after Norman Collins, popularly known as Sailor Jerry. In the midst of World War II, Norman Collins was a tattoo artist with a true flair that enticed soldiers. His tattoos were highly sought after and considered the true sign of a man. His iconic tattoos are respected to this day.

Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum was designed to honor the maritime tradition of rum drinking and is made in the way it was enjoyed back then. This rich and smooth quality Caribbean rum has hints of cinnamon and vanilla flavor and follows in the footsteps of Sailor Jerry who was a precise, bold and flawless artist.

Price of Sailor Jerry Rum: Rs. 3600 (approx.)

Alcohol Content of Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum: 46%

12. Ron Matusalem

Born about 150 years ago, Matusalem was an icon of the Caribbean’s golden era. What makes the Matusalem rum so unique is the attention given to its manufacturing process. The rum is aged in carefully selected and charred barrels for a unique taste. The dynamic aging process used, wherein the barrels are placed at varying heights off the ground lends an aromatic and floral hint to the rum.

Price of Ron Matusalem: Rs. 7900 (approx.)

Alcohol Content in Ron Matusalem: 40%

13. Zacapa Rum

Zacapa rums from Guatemala produced a series of premium, long-aged smooth nd rich rums that won awards all over the world. The rum is aged in the highlands of Quetzaltenango, 2300m above sea level, which gives the spirit a distinct flavor and aroma. The rums are a blend of aged rums spirit ranging from 6 to 25 years. The Zacapa Royal rum is a special variant by the brand and is aged in rare King’s Wood French casks.

Variants of Zacapa Rum: Zacapa XO, Zacapa 23, Zacapa Edicion Negra, Zacapa Royal.

Price of Zacapa Rums: Rs. 7000 (approx.)

Alcohol Content of Zacapa Rums: 40%

14. Mount Gay Rum

What makes Mount Gay rum unique is that it’s deeply rooted in its birthplace that is Barbados. Filtered water, deep from the corals of the region is used in the making of this rum. For the process of fermentation, a unique strain of heirloom yeast passed down over centuries, is used in closed column stills. The liquid is then exposed to the Bajan air containing native yeasts for a round of open fermentation. This leads to the creation of a completely unique aroma and flavor.

Mount Gay rum has great aftertaste.

Variants of Mount Gay Rum: Mount Gay Eclipse Heritage Blend Rum, Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum, Mount Gay XO Rum, Mount Gay 1703 Master Select Rum, Mount Gay Pot Still Rum, Mount Gay XO Peat Smoke Expression Rum.

Price of Mount Gay Rum: Rs. 2500 (approx.)

Alcohol Content of Mount Gay Rum: 40%

15. Appleton Estate Rum

The Appleton Estate rum, Jamaican brand is yet another example of how the source of production adds to the uniqueness of a rum. The elements of the Nassau Valley greatly contribute to Appleton Estate rum’s aroma and flavor profile. Every step of the production is carefully monitored and only the best quality sugarcane is used for it. The estate is the oldest sugar estate and distillery in Jamaica with a history going back almost 265 years.

Variants of Appleton Estate Rum: Appleton Estate Signature Blend Rum, Appleton Estate Reserve Blend Rum, Appleton Estate Rare Blend 12 Years Old Rum, Appleton Estate 21 Years Old Rum, Appleton Estate 50 Years Old Rum.

Price of Appleton Estate Rum: Rs. 1500

Alcohol Content of Appleton Estate Rum: 40%

16. Barceló (rum)

Ron Barcelo brand was created by Julian Barcelo with the vision of creating the best rum in the world. These rums are now popular all over the globe and are known to have a strong mouthfeel with a spicy flavor profile along with the sweet hints of caramel.

Variants of Ron Barcelo: Barcelo Anejo, Barcelo Blanco, Barcelo Dorado, Barcelo Gran Platinum, Barcelo Gran Anejo, Barcelo Imperial, Barcelo Imperial Premium Blend, Barcelo Imperial Onyx.

Price of Ron Barcelo: Rs. 2000 (approx.)

Alcohol Content of Ron Barcelo: 38%

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few interesting FAQs about rum.

1. What is rum made of?

Rum is a spirit made from sugarcane juice or sugarcane molasses. The spirit is a clear liquid either transparent or deep amber in color.

2. Is rum healthy?

Rum is known to help improve mental health issues such as anxiety. As with all alcoholic beverages, however, moderation is key. Drinking responsibly is the only way to ensure you get only the benefits.

3. What else can you use rum for?

Rum forms the base for numerous cocktails and is also sipped on its own. Additionally, it is used in classic baked goods including Baba Au Rhum, Plum Cakes, Plum Pudding, etc.

4. What are the different types of rum?

The following are different types of rum:

• Dark rum
• Light rum
• Spiced rum
• Flavored rum
• Gold rum
• Over-proof rum