The Best Rums for Summer

The sun is shining, the temperatures are climbing – it’s time to crack out the rum! Even if your holiday is in Britain this year, you can celebrate tropical-style with our pick of the best rums for summer…

Eminente Reserva 7 Year Old

Besides being slightly obsessed with that scaly bottle – an echo of the crocodile that slithers across the label – we also love this Cuban rum for its freshness. Made with 100% Cuban sugar cane, its rich tobacco, smoke and coffee notes are tempered by floral and cherry dancing across the palate. At the price point you’ll probably want to drink it neat, but if you’re feeling summer-festive, there’s no shame in mixing it into a very posh Dark ‘n’ Stormy or smooth rum-based Old Fashioned.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 41.3%
Find here: £43.95

Equiano Rum

Why make rum from one distillery when you can make it from two? Equiano is a classy meeting of Barbados’s Foursquare distillery and Gray’s in Mauritius. The former’s rum is aged in American white oak, the latter’s in French oak and Cognac casks, then they’re blended and aged in ex-bourbon casks. It’s a novel idea, with a deliciously distinct result: a marmalade, raspberry and caraway-noted rum, rich in chocolatey notes. It does more than just taste good, too; named after Olaudah Equiano, a freedom fighter involved in the abolition movement, the company donates 5% of annual profits towards equality projects.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £39.90

Havana Club Añejo 7 Years

The Cuban brand is a staple on UK shelves, so you’ve probably tried Havana Club’s entry-level white rum at some point. But if you’ve never sampled the Añejo 7 Years, it’s time to get involved – with its buttery, toffee, cigar box notes, it’s a complex pour meant for straight sipping rather than the usual mixing. We’re especially big fans of that creamy, rich finish, pretty darn impressive at the price point.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £25.45

Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva

Hailing from Venezuela, this smooth sipper is made from a blend of exclusive rum reserves, aged for up to 12 years. We love the retro-styled bottle, but the liquid is pretty darn delicious too; think aromas of dark chocolate, toffee and liquorice, and a long fudgey finish on the palate. You could drink it on the rocks, but it also shines when mixed into classic cocktails – anyone for a rum-based Manhattan?

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £36.95

Don Papa Sherry Cask Finish Rum

This isn’t a spirit for just slugging into your rum and cokes – but you probably could tell that from the price. This crafted rum from Philippines-based rum brand Don Papa is designed for slow, meditative sipping. A whole lot of work has gone into it; it’s first aged for four years in ex-bourbon casks in the steamy foothills of Mount Kanlaon, then decanted into a range of sherry casks where it rests for 18 months before being blended and bottled. The result: tons of complexity and a deep, dark flavour – think rich chocolate, star anise, caramel and prunes, plus plenty more.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: £69.50

Hattiers Premium Reserve Rum

A British-made rum? Well yes, kinda. Hattiers is produced by an indie rum blender in Devon – but using aged spirits hailing from throughout the Caribbean and South America. Soft Dartmoor water is used from blending the rums hailing from Guatemala, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Panama, and the result is a refined, sippable number with peach and cinnamon aromas, and a palate of stewed orchard fruit, spice and chocolate. It’s complex enough for rum fans, but approachable enough for newbies, too.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £36.90

Mount Gay Eclipse

Mount Gay is synonymous with Barbados, and you can’t go to many places on this island without running into a golden glass of its rum. This, their classic bottling, is named after the ‘double phenomenon’ of a solar eclipse and the passing of Hailey’s comet in 1910 – though the distillery company itself dates back to 1703. When you’re after an entry-level rum with notes of honey, vanilla, tropical fruit and spice, this one’s a no-brainer. Perfect for cocktail-making sessions with friends.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £23.50

Blackwell Black Gold Fine Jamaican Rum

Ever heard of Island Records? It’s the music label home to superstars including Bob Marley – and it was founded by Chris Blackwell, the same man who created this Jamaican Rum. You might wonder how a music exec got into distilling, but Chris’s mother’s family once owned J. Wray & Nephew and the Appleton estate – so, arguably, it’s a natural fit. And his affordable Jamaican rum, made to a traditional recipe, is just what you need for a rum punch – spicy, oaky and caramelly, with tropical fruit hints.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £27.15

Enjoyed reading this? Then how about checking out The Best Rums to Elevate Your Cocktails or 7 Rums That Scream Luxury?

The Best Rums To Gift For Christmas

Rum has been one of the winners of lockdown, with sales skyrocketing as people experiment more with cocktails at home and build their own home bars. We’ve also been hugely impressed with the new rums we’ve seen this year. Here’s our selection of the best that would make great gifts for your loved ones - or yourself. My goodness, we deserve a tot this Winter!

Hattiers Rum  

Hattiers source fine rums from around the world and blend and bottle them in Devon. Perfect for sipping alone or mixing, they currently have three to choose from: a navy strength, which is like a fresh danish pastry with banana cream filling; the premium reserve rum, which is perfumed and silky smooth and a premium, blended aged white rum, which is reminiscent of vanilla fudge with pineapple notes. Highly recommended. 

ABV: 40% - 54.5%
Size: 70cl
Find here: £37.50 - £56

Equiano Rum 

This is the world’s first African and Caribbean rum blend, named after Olaudah Equiano, a freedom fighter who played an important part in the abolition movement. In this rum, two great distilleries combine: Foursquare in Barbados and Gray's Distillery in Mauritius. The Foursquare is aged in American white oak, while the Gray's is aged in both Cognac casks and French limousin oak before the both are put together and left to mellow in ex-Bourbon casks. The result is rich and creamy with notes of chocolate, toast, orange peel and a kick of ginger, with some red fruit on the finish. Great for sipping or in cocktails! 

ABV: 43%
Size: 70cl
Find here: Master of Malt or Equino.com

Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva

This stunning sipping rum from Venezuela is molasses-based and produced with a blend of exclusive rum reserves aged for up to twelve years. With wine-like viscosity, this rum is super smooth with a beautiful nose of orange peel, toffee and licorice with elements of carmel and fudge on the finish. Elegant and delicious. 

ABV: 40%
Size: 70cl
Find here: UK £38.75 // US $39.99

Merser & Co Double-Barrel Rum

One of Helena’s absolute favourites, this is an elegant, understated style of golden rum, created by blending aged rums from Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Guatemala and Panama before giving them a secondary cask maturation and being bottled in London. A great one for sipping over ice, with its subtle vanilla pod, caramel and tropical fruit notes. 

ABV: 43.1%
Size: 70cl
Find here: £34.95

Don Papa Rye Aged Rum

This delicious new edition from the Don Papa: the rum Gods based in the Philippines, has been aged for four years in American rye casks. The result is a fragrant, peppery and spicy rum that’s silky smooth and quite different from what they’ve done before. We love it and are very happy sipping it alone. Launching this week at Harvey Nichols!

ABV: 45%
Find here: £65

‘The 45’ Scottish Spiced Rum

Handcrafted in Glasgow in very small batches, 45 Scottish Spiced Rum is a golden rum infused with interesting local botanicals such as smoked seaweed and liquorice as well a ginger and orange zest. At 45% it is flavourful and very distinctive. A perfect addition to some festive cocktails.

ABV: 45%
Size: 70cl
Find here: £37.50

Black Tot 50th Anniversary Rum

This Rum celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Black Tot Day, which is the day in 1970 when rum rationing to those in the Navy ceased. A special limited edition, this rum hails from the Caribbean with a blend of rums from Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad, and is rich with layers of flavour including Vanilla pods, dark chocolate, nuts and baked bananas. Touches of mint, liquorice and lime juice keep everything in balance. Sumptuous and decadent, this is a great rum for Christmas.

ABV: 54.5%
Size: 70cl
Find here: £110

Fire Dept. Coffee: Rum-infused

Rum lover and a coffee lover? US brand Fire Dept. Coffee is a veteran-owned business that's run by firefighters who sell high-quality coffee, with 10% of net proceeds donated to help first responders that have become sick or injured while on the job. They have a fantastic range of booze-infused coffees too including this rum one! It’s a delicious, sweet and very smooth coffee where the rum flavour comes through in just the right amount. Also try their bourbon, tequila and other whiskey-infused coffees for a festive pick me up!

ABV: 0%
Size: 12oz
Find it at Firedeptcoffee.com $19.99

Love whisky too? Then make sure to check out our 2020 whisky gift guide! Oh, and let’s not forget our vodka, tequila and gin gift guides too!

Best Rums to Elevate your Cocktails

Leith Rum

The Leith Spirits range grows once again with the addition of Leith Rum! Inspired by the maritime history of Edinburgh, this expression features a blend of tasty rum and Madagascan vanilla, which has helped to round out the spirits flavour profile and bolster its creamy, honeyed notes. Ought to go well in all sorts of cocktails and with a medley of mixers - particularly cola.

ABV: 40%
Buy it now for £39.95

Sailor Jerry

A spiced rum created by the famed tattoo artist 'Sailor Jerry' Collins. This is perhaps our favourite spiced rum and it makes an incredible spiced mojito! The recipe was recently changed, and made slightly less sweet, but spicier.

We know that some of you out there aren't so keen on the new recipe so here’s a tip, you can correct the flavour of the new version very easily by adding some dark sugar and vanilla essence to the bottle and giving it a good shake - it really does work!

ABV: 40%
Buy it now for £19.99

Lamb’s Navy Rum

Lamb's rum is a very good value for money Navy rum made with rums from Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana. This dark rum covers all the bases. It’s got plenty of complexity from the blend of rums, which makes it stand out in a cocktail. It is smooth so it can be drunk over ice if need be, and the price versus quality ratio is brilliant. Drink up!

ABV: 40%
Buy it now for £17.54

Appleton Estate Classic White

I am bias towards rums made in Jamaica, as you will see from my last selection here, but for now here is one made in Kingston, Jamaica, Appleton Estate Classic White rum and it is exactly that; a classic white rum. Perfect for mixing, it wouldn't go amiss in a Yellow Submarine or a traditional mojito.

ABV: 40%
Buy it now for £17.83

Havana Club Añejo 7 Year Old

Feast your eyes upon Havana Club Añejo 7 Year Old, a wonderfully flavoursome Cuban rum that is no stranger to awards. Back when it was created, this was the first Havana Club expression that was intended for sipping neat rather than for using in cocktails and mixed drinks. Though saying that, if you think your cocktails could use an upgrade of rich, aged rum tastiness, this stuff is ace. We've been particular impressed when using it in place of a whiskey for Old Fashioned and Manhattan cocktails...

ABV: 40%
Buy it now for £25.84

Rumbullion!

A sure-fire hit from Ableforth's, Rumbullion! is a warming spiced rum, based on the kind of rich, full-bodied rums the seafaring fraternity would have enjoyed centuries ago.

At its core lies a blend of the very finest high proof Caribbean rum, to which was added Madagascan vanilla and a generous helping of zesty orange peel and it is finished with a handful of cassia and cloves and just a hint of cardamom.

Rumbullion! proudly flaunts its maritime inspiration with a label that bears a hand-drawn illustration of a Navy grog tub, emblazoned with the words: “The Queen, God Bless Her”, each bottle is wrapped in crinkled brown paper, wound with twine and sealed with black wax. You can enjoy it neat, or with ice and a squeeze of fresh lime, but it makes amazing cocktails too.

ABV: 42.6%
Buy it now for £34.90

Hampden Estate Rum

I’ve not just chosen this rum because of the name! The Hampden Estate in Jamaica has long produced excellent aged rum, much of which goes into blends, making it a bit hard to come by (independent bottlers do sometimes get their hands on a few casks, mind). However, the time has come for the distillery to release some of its aged rum itself! This edition is made using pot still rum, is matured in Jamaica and bottled at 46% ABV - and it's excellent. It is a high ester rum with a blast of fruity tropical fruits which really stand out in a cocktail. It might be the most expensive rum on this list, but it’s definitely worth it.

ABV: 46%
Buy it now for £54.95

Stroh Inländer 80

Yes, the 80 does mean 80% ABV. For those of you who like to have a lot of punch to a cocktail, and not just in the flavour department, Stroh 80 is an intense, fiery spiced rum from Austria, made with all kinds of spice extracts and essences. It is worth trying in warming hot chocolates, or in spicy cocktails such as the Jagertee. Drink it responsibly.

ABV: 80%
Buy it now for £29.20

If you’d like to explore some more from the world of rum, why not try 7 Rums that Scream Luxury or Brilliant Rums under £30