The Best Rum to Gift for Christmas 2023

White Rum, Dark Rum, Flavoured Rum and Spiced Rum, we’ve got the perfect Christmas recommendations for each to please the rum drinkers in your life.

The rum shelves are stacked at this time of year and picking out a bottle to gift can be daunting, but no more rumming and ahing, because we’ve picked out the rums that receive rave reviews from everybody.

The Best White Rum to Gift for Christmas

El Dorado 3 Year Old White Rum

This is tremendous rum for the price, using the traditional method of Demerara sugar which comes through luxuriously in the expression. It is still mightily fresh and crisp though, which white rum drinkers want, and this balance explains all the awards.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £23.95

Sunset Very Strong Rum

No, that isn’t a typo, this is 84.5% ABV, and therefore makes for a striking Christmas gift indeed. It’s molasses distilled from Saint Vincent, but don’t be thinking that this is just pure alcohol and that’s it. It’s a serial award winner for a reason, but not when treated like a 40% rum. It demands respect, and when served with a lot of mixer, or into cocktails and punches, it shines. Surprisingly smooth with a gorgeous warm glow, carrying sugary spice and coca notes on the finish, it’s more than just a throat burning gimmick.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 84.5%
Find here: £47.99

The Best Dark Rum to Gift for Christmas

Ron Barceló Gran Añejo Rum

Añejo is a categorisation we’re more used to seeing on tequila bottles, but in this case it’s applied to a stunningly smooth Dominican rum brimming with delicious sweetness. Espresso, dark chocolate, and roasted hazelnuts bring a richer, darker quality to the manuka honey, to create a rum bursting with flavour. Connoisseurs love it!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: £26.99 (usually more!)

Pusser's 'Gunpowder Proof' Black Label Rum

A rebrand of the original Blue Label, this brings the same silky complexity as that did. You’re looking at a traditional high proof dark rum in the British Naval mould, using authentic recipes. The warm flavour is intoxicating, and it really punches through with full-bodied dried syrupy fruits.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 54.5%
Find here: £37.40

The Best Spiced Rum to Gift for Christmas

The Duppy Share Spiced Rum

Duppy Share have excelled in delivering exceptional taste without overbearing sweetness with this spiced rum. It means, ‘Angel’s Share’ referencing the evaporation within the rum barrels. A rich blend of spices merge with kola nuts and pineapple, but there’s so much depth with vanilla, white chocolate, caramel, and ginger, as well as tangy citrus. Gorgeous Caribbean bottle too.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: £25.99

Golden Buck Rum

Golden Buck Rum brings a boiled sweet vibe with its cherry and vanilla infusion giving a creamy and fruity taste that stands out from other rums. Tropical pineapple and rich brown sugar come through too, and it’s just as delicious as it sounds. It has all those sweet flavours, but with maturity and authenticity and seems to go down a storm with anyone that tries it.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £34.58

The Best Flavoured Rum to Gift for Christmas

Bombo 40 Rum - Caramel & Banana

The caramelised banana flavour is deliciously complimentary to the core richness of the Bombo 40 Rum, completely coating your mouth. If you know someone that loves sweet rum, then this really is perfect because there’s no going away from it, it is very sweet. After a few servings, it gets a little too sickly but a few serves just with ice is such an indulgent treat.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £27.95

Diablesse Clementine Spiced Rum

This a gorgeous rum that embraces the Christmas spirit with bright clementines that cut through the richness harmoniously. It has a fair whack of sweetness too, but it’s natural and tastes it. Forget any throat burn, it’s pure smooth spiced rum with the distinct clementine twist, and it would make a cracking gift for a spiced rum drinker.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £28.75 (usually more!)

We’ve got a tonne of Christmas present guides all across our website currently, like our Gin one for example, so do check out these for other present recommendations!

The Best Spiced Rums Under £40

Ahoy rum enthusiasts! Spiced rum is an area that contains a lot of variety. It doesn’t help that production rules are super strict in some countries, whilst totally relaxed in others, and all kinds of characteristics can be affected including ageing and sweetness. On the plus side, this means that there will be something for everyone so rather than just splashing out on a bottle with a hefty price tag hoping that it’s a guaranteed hit, check out the best spiced rums for under £40 below!

£20-30

Redleg Spiced Rum

For value, there aren’t many if any spiced rums better than Redleg. It’s pure Caribbean spirit in a bottle, infused with Jamaican vanilla and ginger. Rich custard and apple slices rolled in cinnamon invite on the nose before delicious sweetness hits after sipping, with gingerbread and creamy vanilla. The warmth of the pepper and ginger last the distance too. This is an adventure for both rum newbies and connoisseurs and goes well served simply in a Cuba Libre.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: £21.99 (usually more!)

Depth Charge Spiced Rum

Crafted from top-notch Caribbean rum and a medley of spices, Depth Charge is a flavour explosion. Picture this: brown sugar, honey, caramel, and zesty citrus dancing together with cinnamon, clove, and peppercorn. It’s definitely smooth and layered enough to enjoy over ice with a lime wedge, but a splash of cola takes it in a new direction too. A Hurricane cocktail also comes to mind with this one.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £25.95

Black Magic Spiced Rum

Black Magic Spiced Rum, the mystical concoction of light and dark rums, unveils a flavour spectacle with vanilla, cherry, caramel, and a hint of black pepper – a proper carnival in a glass! The awards speak for themselves, picking up Gold at the World Rum Awards in 2022. This rum isn't shy either; it loves to mingle, especially with cola. But for a real "Lift Off," try it in a cocktail with amaro, honey, and a splash of Prosecco.

Size: UK 700ml / US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £26.74 / US $17.99

Chairman’s Reserve Spiced Rum

Chairman’s Reserve Spiced Rum, straight from St. Lucia, is a tropical taste sensation that punches well above its price point. Cinnamon, clove, vanilla and allspice get the party started, but it’s the balance and smoothness that’s staggering. It’s just so drinkable. A Spiced Rum Old Fashioned with this is a dream.

Size: UK 700m/ US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £28 / $26.99

£30-40

Sly Dog Spiced Rum

We loved their Christmas Crackers last year, but you really just want a full bottle. Made with aged rums from Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, it's the smooth operation of rums – suave, sophisticated, and with a hint of mystery (thanks to their secret spice recipe). There are some classical rum profile flavours, but also some unusual but very welcome notes. You'll taste pineapple chunks, brown sugar, a touch of clove, and salted caramel, but it’s how harmoniously put together everything is that won it a Gold at the World Rum Awards 2022.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £32

Pull the Pin Spiced Rum

The explosive, eye catching bottle hints at the interesting origin story of Pull the Pin, because co-founder Tom left the army to pursue the perfect Spiced Rum, and he has to be happy with the results. Guyanese in origin, if you don’t like too much sweetness in your spiced rums then this is the one for you. It’s all about the spice – a treasure trove of aromatic baking spices with cinnamon at the fore, intertwining with silky butterscotch, brown sugar, and tobacco for a super comforting drinking experience. We’d like to see (and taste) it in an extra spicy Dark & Stormy.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: £34.49

Mermaid Spiced Rum

Crafted with a blend of aged sugar cane and molasses rum from Trinidad and the Dominican Republic, Mermaid is infused with a bevvy of exotic botanicals from the Isle of Wight to bring sweet honey, apricot, rock samphire and black salt to the smooth, caramel notes. This is an instantly distinct rum that may very well surprise drinkers who don’t normally go in for spiced rums, with vibrant fruity Christmas spice and floral sweetness. It’s fun to explore this one neat but topping up with ginger ale isn’t a bad idea either.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £37.99

Rumbullion Spiced Rum

A prestigious Master award winner at the 2021 Rum Masters, Rumbullion is a warming spiced rum evoking the full-bodied and rich seafaring rums of years ago. Madagascan vanilla is added to the highest quality of Caribbean rum as well as a sprinkle of orange zest, cassia, cloves, and cardamom. Expertly crafted, intense in flavour, balanced perfectly, and packaged with such charm and attention to detail – Rumbullion on a cold evening is the stuff of dreams.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42.6%
Find here: £39.95

If you’ve found yourself here then the likelihood is that you’re really enjoying your rum, so to enhance that at home drinking experience, why not have your own dedicated rum bar? Check out 7 Things Every Rum Lover Needs!

KFC and Dead Man’s Fingers Unite for New Spiced Rum

We’re more than used to unusual drinks collaborations by now, but KFC and Dead Man’s Fingers still raised an eyebrow from us. Introducing the limited edition '11 Herbed and Spiced Rum', a bespoke blend born from the unexpected marriage of Kentucky zing and Cornish soul, aiming to tantalize taste buds and show that innovation pays off.

It’s a curious infusion of Dead Man's Fingers' spiced rum with a dash of KFC's legendary secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. Yes, the Colonel's finger-licking formula is part of this spirited concoction! This audacious blend has been artfully crafted to mark the occasion of National Rum Day (16 August), giving you a delightful reason to raise your glass and toast to creativity.

So, let’s get into what you must be wondering – the taste. Well, KFC say this, ‘Although the Colonel’s recipe remains a secret, we can reveal it has the perfect balance of our herbs and spices including black and white pepper, together with the freshly fried goodness of our golden breading that makes our chicken taste so damn good. Infused with the unmistakeable notes of Dead Man’s Fingers spiced rum, the new tipple also has whispers of creamy caramel, vanilla, treacle toffee and nutmeg’. So, on the surface of it at least, there’s no reason why the flavours wouldn’t work, but we’re yet to try (though we would love to!).

If you’re local to Margate, then you’ll get the opportunity to attend the pop-up chicken and rum shack to launch the new bottle, where you can even see how it works in a cocktail courtesy of expert on site mixologists. Zinger Punch or Colonel’s Colada anyone?

If you want to try it at home, then Dead Man’s Fingers suggest a cola pairing if you can’t pull together one of their cocktails, and you can purchase from Amazon (among other places) for £25.

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!