Rum has been climbing the popularity rankings again this year with more and more people purchasing it to experiment with in cocktail making at home. From sipping rums to those designed for mixing, we’ve been so impressed with the quality of the rums we’ve tried over the last 12 months, so, without further ado, here are our recommendations for some of the best rums to gift your loved ones this year!
Tidal Rum
A stunning rum that mixes the flavours of the Caribbean with a little bit of the UK. Tidal rum is a blend of rums from Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and the Dominican Republic that has been infused with oak smoked Pepper Dulse seaweed from Jersey of all things! It is sweet and aromatic, with a salty and earthy note to it. Try mixing it up in an Old Fashioned or drinking it with soda and lime. Yum!
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £34.95
Worthy Park Reserve 2010 Madeira Cask Finish Rum
One of the first of two double-matured releases to come from the Worthy Park Estate in Jamaica, this particular rum was distilled in 2010 and then matured for 8 years in ex-bourbon and then 2 years in ex-madeira casks before being bottled in 2020. Was it worth it we hear you ask and our answer is a big YES! It’s sweet and fruity, with hints of caramel, vanilla, pineapple and a slightly spicy edge on the finish. A beautiful sipping rum.
ABV: 45%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £58.75
Abuelo XV Cognac Cask ‘Napoleon’ Rum
It’s very hard to go wrong when picking up a bottle of Ron Abuelo and we might actually go as far as to say this is our favourite bottling of theirs yet! Aged for 15 years in barrels which used to hold Napoleon Cognac, this Panamanian Rum is really smooth with extremely deep, rich flavours of fruit and coffee. Try it on the rocks – you won’t be disappointed!
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £60.89
Blackwell Rum + Blackwell Rum Truffles
Now, here’s a Christmas combo for the rum lover in your life! Rock and Roll legend (who founded Island Records), hotelier and rum producer Chris Blackwell has collaborated with Charbonnel et Walker to produce some epic rum truffles. Inspired by Jamaica where both Blackwell (who owns GoldenEye) and Charbonnel et Walker Chairman, Galvin Weston, have strong roots and a family heritage, these are dark and rich with a real rum flavour - stunning with a tot of the rum itself. Combining music, rum and chocolate, tucked under the truffle box lid is an exclusive playlist, accessible via a QR code, curated by Blackwell.
Blackwell Rum Truffles: £16 here and at most Charbonnel et Walker concessions.
007 Blackwell Jamaican Rum: $35 / £35 here
World of Zing Festive Cocktails
Designed and crafted by Channel 4 Sunday Brunch cocktail expert Pritesh Mody, World of Zing has launched its boozy Christmas range, which includes Cocktail Christmas Cards, Bottled Christmas Cocktails and Christmas Cocktail Baubles! From Salted Caramel Espresso Martinis to Mince Pie Manhattans, the collection has the perfect tipple for everyone! Oh my goodness. Mince Pie Manhattans…
Bottled Cocktails (500ml) £22-£25 / Cocktail Baubles: From £18.50 per set
Find here: worldofzing.com
Eminente Reserva 7 Year Old Rum
Not only does this rum have a snazzy scaly bottle, it is also an extremely appealing Cuban rum. Made with 100% Cuban sugar cane, it has the freshness of a traditional Cuban white, light rum and the complexity of a more aged one with its notes of rich tobacco, smoke and coffee blending seamlessly with its floral and cherry notes. It works beautifully neat, but just as well in a very posh Dark ‘n’ Stormy if you fancy!
ABV: 41.3%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £43.95
Havana Club Cuban Spiced Rum
Havana Club does rum and it does rum well. Period. Its Cuban spiced rum is its first spiced expression and it is no exception this rule. Made from a combination of double aged rum complemented by a variety of spices, guava, toasted coconut, vanilla and pineapple, we love mixing this up into a Cuba Libre but to be quite honest it is delicious however you want to try it so get sipping!
ABV: 35%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £21.95
The Salford Spiced Rum
A tribute to the dock workers who brought Caribbean rum into Salford Docks during the 1800s, this small batch rum is expertly infused with vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and Caribbean fruits leading to a beautifully smooth, fruity and spicy rum. Not only is the rum itself amazing, but the bottle is something to write home about too. Designed by local artist “DaveDraws”, it features a really intricate doodle of the Salford dock area. Try it neat, in a rum and coke or if you’re feeling a bit ‘extra’ in a mango Daiquiri!
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £35.90
Liberté Spiced Rum
Before we even get in to how delicious this spiced rum is, we feel the need to point out that it is an absolute steal at only £14.99! A beautiful blend of Trinidadian and Dominican rums aged in ex-bourbon casks, this rum has notes of coffee bean and cocoa powder, vanilla, orange peel and cinnamon. It tastes great sipped alone but works equally as well in a Dark ‘n’ Stormy!
Find in a Lidl Store Near You!
Looking for more? We also have Christmas gin, white wine, red wine, gift sets and luxury whisky guides available!