Words by Colin Hampden-White
In the last few years, the world of rum has exploded. The easiest way to tell how popular rum is becoming is to look at the supermarket shelves, the independent spirits specialists, and duty-free. As with whisky, when wine no longer dominated the duty-free (travel retail) shelves, some of that space whisky took over has now been taken over by rum. In the specialist rum world, auction prices have been rising. As rare whiskies like Port Ellen and Brora from closed distilleries used to be found at retail for a couple of hundred pounds, rums like Caroni like their whisky equivalents are now reaching into the thousands.
What does all this mean for the consumer? It means more choice, and good quality at the supermarket and specialist retail end. It’s the specialist retail side of the rum market that I find the most interesting. What would be known as premium rums are great value and there are big differences in style, but the quality is really shining through. I have found a few favourites over the last couple of months and thought you might like to know about them and maybe try a few that sound like rums you’d like. Unusually for me, there is no Hampden in this list, but then I can’t really say it’s a new discovery!
Bumbu
The first offering of Bumbu was a little weaker, but now the rum is at 40% it makes a big difference. It is still extremely smooth having been aged in the Caribbean and traditional spices which would have been used in the 16th and 17th centuries. These spices give lots of tropical fruits like caramelised banana and there are touches of ginger and chocolate. Overall it is rich, smooth and has a sweet edge without being sweetened.
ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £35.99 // US $34.99
MacNair’s Exploration Rum Jamaica - Unpeated
The rums under the MacNair’s Exploration collection are all blended by Billy Walker of GlenAllachie fame. The un-peated Jamaican expression was distilled at Clarendon distillery in Jamaica. This pot still rum was sourced by Master Blender Billy Walker from Southern Jamaica’s Clarendon Distillery and transferred to the cool Scottish climate for full maturation at The GlenAllachie Distillery. Initially filled with a mixture of American and French oak at 86% ABV, the rum was left to mature for 30 months at high, medium and low ester levels. After being expertly blended and reduced to 69% ABV, the spirit was re-filled to similar casks to complete its maturation journey. Even with two different wood types the rum still shines through with its unmistakable fruity tropical and slightly high estery funk. This is a great introduction to the rums of Jamaica.
ABV: 46%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £44
Mezan Chiriqui Moscatel Cask
This expression from Mezan comes from Panama and is named after the Chiriqui province in western Panama. The distillery uses sugar cane from its own plantations and even its own strain of yeast for fermentation giving the rum a unique flavour. The rum is also “untouched” as they call it, meaning no sweeteners or colouring has been added. These are small batch rums so will change, coming from different distilleries or having different styles. So, if you like this one, it’s a good idea not to buy just one bottle!
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £32.50
Spirited Union Queen Pineapple & Spice
This is by far the most natural flavoured pineapple rum I have come across. With the slightly lower than normal abv it is very drinkable and also makes a brilliant Daiquiri. The pineapples used, Queen Victoria pineapples, are much smaller than normal pineapples, being about the size of a large lemon. These give fresh pineapple flavours and the spices added give waves of cinnamon, and there are nutty flavours and touches of brown sugar. Rich and comforting, and very mixable.
ABV: 38%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £24.59
Appleton Estate 12 Years Old
This isn’t exactly a new discovery for me, and I have listed it before. But if you haven’t yet discovered it, then it’s about time. One of my all-time favourites for under £40. From Jamaica, it is fruity, but it also has lots of complexity with nutty flavours and crème caramel. The spices come through on a creamy plate along with brown sugar and fresh guava. The finish is very long, and this rum is great to be sipped or mixed.
ABV: 43%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £42.99 // US $45.99
Caroni 1996 21 Year Old 100% Imperial Proof
For the collectors or sippers of rare, exquisite rums, this Caroni is one of the best I’ve tried. It originally came to market at a little under £200 and just a couple of years later can be found for around double that if you’re lucky, and I’ve seen it sell for £500. It was aged for 21 years in Trinidad which created a huge 86% loss of liquid to the angles. It was then shipped to France and bottled in 2017. The style of the label is a reproduction of a 1940’s classic label and was created in homage to a golden period in Trinidadian rum.
ABV: 57.18%
Size: 700ml
Find here: Find at Auction for £350 - £500 (as of August 2022)
The above rums should give every rum fan something to explore and if you are at the beginning of your rum journey, a couple to start with which should whet your appetite for further exploration are the Bumbu, and if that wasn’t a new one for you, the MacNair’s. Both are very different, but both are delicious.
Enjoyed reading this? Then how about checking out The Best Rums to Elevate Your Cocktails or why not check out The Best Rum for under £30