8 Of The Best Dark Rums Under £30

The amount of choice within dark rum, let alone all rum, can be quite overwhelming. But if you know someone who can wade through to find the best value bottles it’s a pretty good problem to have. Lucky for you, that’s us! No more (r)umming and ahing by the supermarket shelves – check out our best options for £30 or less below!

Mount Gay Eclipse

We start our Caribbean holiday in Barbados, swinging by the world’s oldest commercial rum distillery, Mount Gay. Eclipse is named after the 1910 total solar eclipse, and the flavour is out of this world to match. It’s a blend of Bajan rums (what rums from Barbados are called if you didn’t know!), meaning no additives are present except caramel for that beautiful amber colouring. It’s quintessential Bajan nectar, enjoy!

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £20.19 // US $26.99

Iguana Rum

‘Iguana tell you about this amazing rum’ is the best pun we have for this, so we’re just going to get straight into it. It’s a centuries old recipe from Cuba that made it’s away over to Panama where this is now made. Five years of maturing in oak barrels delivers a subtle oakiness and a hint of vanilla and spice. No crazy flavours, just a quality Panamanian rum. It makes a rock-solid base for any rum cocktail for sure.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £20.27

Dunderhead Rum

You can be forgiven for not knowing what ‘dunder’ is, so let us help. It’s the liquid left in after distilling a rum batch (kind of like backset in bourbon production). It’s not alcoholic but can be added back in to bring new flavours, and that’s exactly what Dunderhead do. If you like Jamaican rums bursting with tropical flavour, then you might just be a Dunderhead! That’s no insult. There’s so much flavour for under £30 with pronounced notes of banana, pineapple and orange all packing a punch. Do not dunderestimate this one ;)

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £21.95

Ron Barceló Gran Añejo

A dark and delicious, well rounded Dominican rum with layers of flavour. Espresso, dark chocolate, and toasted hazelnut are a trio with a track record for tastiness, and we’re spoiled with manuka honey too. Indulgent ingredients at a fantastic price make this hard to beat. You’ll want to taste everything here so just lime and ice would be perfect. But let’s be honest this will suit any rum cocktail down to the ground as well – so go for whatever mood takes you!

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: UK £22.99 // US $21.99

Skipper Demerara Rum

We love a good vintage bottle and Skipper have stepped up to the plate with this one. Except it isn’t vintage in style, it is actually vintage – the label hasn’t changed since 1930! They’ve been distilling in Guyana since then, finetuning their rich and raisin-y Demerara Rum. Don’t change what isn’t broke as they say. Beautiful inside and out!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £23.44

Plantation Original Dark Double Aged

There’s a reason this rum picked up the top award at the Rum Masters in 2019 as well as 2020, and it remains one of the top value choices today. A tasty combination of Caribbean rums infused with plum, banana and vanilla before being further matured miles away in Southwest France. It’s a rum that’s been everywhere and that should definitely end up in your glass. Add ginger beer, ice, and lime and you’ve got yourself a top-notch dark ’n’ stormy.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £23.45 // US $17.99

Havana Club Anejo 7 Year Old

This is Havana Club’s first attempt at a sipping rum rather than a cocktail rum, and they hit the nail on the head first time because this Cuban Dark Rum has picked up more Gold Medals than Usain Bolt since its release. Matured in bourbon barrels, it carries notes of iconic Cuban tobacco, tropical fruits, and vanilla. What’s not to love? See for yourself why it’s so popular by trying it neat over ice as intended.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here £24.95

Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve

Appleton Estate celebrated their 250th anniversary in style with the release of this sweet and velvety smooth rum. Aged for 8 years in tropical Jamaica, it won Gold at the San Francisco Spirit Awards once it was unleashed, praised for its layers of honey, toffee, and warming spice. It’s delicious sipped neat but would sit perfectly in a Mai Thai with ice and lime too.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £27.45 // US $34.99

For more rums to build a brilliant cocktail around, try these.

Or, if rum isn’t your thing, well done for making it to the end anyway, and explore our great value whiskies or best gins guides.

Rum's The Word: 6 Quality Rums You Need To Try

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

The Best Sipping Rums for Summer

Words by Colin Hampden-White

When most people think of rum, they think generally of rum and a mixer or a cocktail. Rum and cola, or a Pina Colada, or one of my favourites, a Zombie, with all three main styles of rum mixed together over crushed ice with Wood’s 100% proof floated across the top. Not for the faint hearted, but delicious.

There are also brands which are synonymous with rums you can find in a supermarket such as Bacardi, which are very good. Most of these rums tend to be white rums. They are not really designed for sipping. In contrast, many dark rums are also made for mixing. Lamb’s rum comes to mind. My suggestions today are oak aged rums, but not too dark, and are rums I would happily sit down on a summer’s evening, pour over ice and sip.

Suncamino

Sumcamino comes from South Africa and means a journey to the sun, so seemed completely appropriate for this article. It is most definitely a summer rum. It is the world’s first floral rum. Unlike other rums which use all sorts of botanicals, Sumcamino literally uses flowers to flavour the rum. They have used hibiscus, orange blossom and honeybush, which is a flower and not a type of honey. These botanical flowers lift the rum giving complex sweet floral notes as the types of flowers would suggest. This rum makes very good cocktails, but I think it stands out on a hot summer’s day over a little ice in a tumbler. A rum not just for the beach, but rather a country garden.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £29.95 

Market Row Botanical Rum

Market Row is a rum with five years of aging in ex-bourbon barrels. Being a blend of rums from Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Barbados it is complex and very well balanced. A selection of botanicals is then added when the rum is re-distilled at the Brixton Distillery. The flavours include vanilla and lots of spices like cloves, black pepper, allspice and mace, but there are also floral notes of hibiscus, Turkish delight, and black tea with a background sweetness of caramel. It’s complex, yet easy going with a light touch on the palate. Another good summer sipping rum.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £29.99

J.G. Thomson Bold Jamaican Rum

When I think of Jamaican rum, I think about the classic funky flavours they deliver. There’s an almost indescribable nose and flavour which is created by leaving the fermentation tanks open so that all sorts of things including wild yeasts can sit on top of the fermenting liquid and fester away. It’s a flavour profile that you’ll either love or hate, but it is very worth buying a bottle to find out if you love it or not because if you do love it, you’ll really love it and be joyous you’ve found it. This rum is pot distilled with maturation in ex-bourbon barrels for three years in the tropics and then more time in barrels in Scotland. With flavours of overripe bananas, acetone and very nearly vegetal, there are also sweet chocolate and caramel flavours to balance everything. It’s a little crazy, and I’m very glad J.G. Thomson went the whole hog and didn’t hold back. Brilliant rum for summer and if you haven’t yet. Find out if you’re a lover or not.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £37.50

Admiral Rodney Officers release No.2

This is the second release in the Officer’s Release series. It was distilled in 2009 and finished in ex-Irish whiskey casks, which is a little different. This gives the rum some summer fruit flavours of raspberries, cherries and plumbs as well as spicy flavours of cloves, allspice and a little nutmeg in the background. There is a little sweet chilli too. All these flavours lead to quite a rich rum, especially with the good long aging, but it somehow manages to be delicate and smooth, and perfect for summer. Perhaps a rum to sip later in the evening by a fire pit. It is a little more expensive than others but is certainly still good value in terms of flavour and experience.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: £69.95 

Havana Club 7

I reckon this is the bargain of the aged rums. Having had seven years of tropical aging in Cuba, it has a lot of flavour and has won loads of awards. This was the first Havana Club expression to be created for sipping rather than being placed in cocktails. Mind you, if you wanted to upgrade a cocktail, then this is a cracker to do it with, especially using it instead of whisky in an Old Fashioned or Manhattan. For me, I’d be quite happy pouring it over a couple of large ice cubes, kicking back and relaxing!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £24.95

Hampden Estate 8 year old

Now it wouldn’t be right for me not to include Hampden in a line-up of rums. This is a rum which although not very dark in colour, has eight years of aging and is full-bodied. There is a decent dollop of that typical Jamaican funk, which is a style the Hampden distillery excels at. There are lots of punchy, estery notes giving fresh mango, and very ripe banana with lots of creamy vanilla and oak spice. With all the esters, this rum does well over ice for a little cooling and dilution. One of my all-time favourites. But I could be biased!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £55.69

Decorrum

This is a spiced rum, with loads of flavour - a selection of spices and honey with a little ginger, vanilla cloves and orange peel. The bottle is designed in an art deco style hence the name. But what I really like about this rum is the abv. With all that flavour, the abv is only 37.5% which makes it perfect for summer sipping. Either over ice to let it dilute slowly, or neat, as it isn’t too strong. Either way, it is a great, flavoursome all-rounder.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: £40

Abuelo XII Two Oaks

My last offering is a big rich rum, which for me is a late-night rum sitting out under the stars with a fat cigar. Having been aged in two different types of casks, there is lots of complexity. This has also been aged for over a decade, firstly in ex-bourbon barrels and then finished in heavily charred virgin American oak. This gives a little smokiness in the background. There is also lots of creamy sweetness alongside dried fruits and soft spices. It is sumptuous and satisfying.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £46.95

If you’re more of a rum cocktail fan, then why not have a read of The Best Rum To Elevate Your Cocktails or how about checking out these 7 Rums That Scream Luxury?

The Best Rum to Gift This Christmas

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!

Great Gifts for Father's Day

Father’s Day is nearly upon us and it’s highly unlikely he will genuinely want new pants and socks, or so we have been told! So, this year, give him something special just for him - though he may even share it with you if you’re good! Here’s our pick of special boozes and other thoughtful items. There’s something for every budget.

Red Wine

Bodyguard 2017 from Daou Vineyards, Paso Robles, California

For when only a full-bodied, velvety red will do. This stunning looking bottle wrapped in a large, Gustav Klimt-esque label with gold foiling looks as good as it tastes. A powerful blend of 60% Petit Verdot and 40% Syrah, it has a bit of everything you want in a fine, red wine from juicy cassis, raspberry and cherry fruit to notes of warm, cooking spice, truffle and cocoa with a waft of freshly crushed herbs and tobacco leaf in for good measure. It’s big and brooding - a winner with steak or simply alone in the man cave with a good book.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.7%
Find here: UK From £45 // US $33.08

Champagne

Bollinger PN VZ16

A very special, brand new iteration of James Bond’s favourite fizz, the PN VZ16 is made exclusively from Pinot Noir from Verzenay in Champagne and the house describes it as “an inimitable vision of an iconic grape variety”. The base for the wine is the fantastic 2016 vintage with older, reserve wines, the oldest of which being 2006. The PN collection was created to celebrate all the unique expressions Pinot Noir can give and this is the second in the range. Think red apple skin with tangy notes of rhubarb, plum and pear, hints of tropical fruit, a cool saline core and a pleasing, nuttiness on the finish. A simply stunning wine that’s drinking now or will keep. Very smart packaging too!

Size: 750ml
Find here: £80

Rum

Eminente Reserve Rum Aged 7 Years

This fabulous new rum from central Cuba has been made using 100% sugar cane and aged for seven years in white, ex-whisky, oak barrels. It’s extraordinary in that it manages to harness the freshness of a traditional Cuban white, light rum with the subtle complexity of a more aged one. We love it for its spicy notes of pepper and ginger, which mingle seamlessly with fresh cherry and plum flavours and quirky notes of tobacco, cocoa and coffee bean. Glorious neat, over ice, with simple mixers or even in cocktails. 

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

Tequila

Pancho Datos Reposado Tequila

If dads need to be a bit more ‘reposado’, then a bottle of top end, sipping tequila could be the answer. This is a 100% agave reposado that has been ‘rested’ for six months in white oak barrels that previously held bourbon whiskey. There will be no shotting this with lime and salt though, please! Think creamy vanilla fudge notes here with a classic earthiness from the agave itself and a lovely salinity that keeps it fresh. Have it alone over ice or it makes a banging Paloma Reposado! (1 part tequila to 3 parts pink grapefruit soda, lime or grapefruit garnish). The name Pancho Datos by the way, celebrates the work of historian and poet Ricardo Grijalva de León who made his name during the Mexican Revolution in 1910. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £49.95

Irish Whiskey

Bushmills 21 Year Old, Triple Distilled, Rare whiskey

For a sipping whiskey that will knock anyone’s socks off, this 21 year old, blended, Irish superstar from the whiskey gem in Northern Ireland’s crown is hard to beat. With 19 years spent in oloroso sherry and bourbon-seasoned casks, it then spends a further two years in madeira casks. The result is a silky smooth and unctuous spirit with enormous depth of flavour. Every sip will offer something new, from fruit cake, to cocoa, chocolate, raisins, hazelnut and caramel. Just, wow. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £159.90 // US $268.79

Scotch Whisky

Spirit of Art Whisky Range by Distillers Art

If your father is a fan of Scotch and beautiful landscapes, this spirited gift combines the two beautifully. Like us, the company believes that Scotch whisky, like wine, is synonymous first and foremost with the place it comes from, from the soil and aspect to the barley, the water… everything. What Distillers Art do is look at the character of an area and commission an artist to create a limited edition, signed print to go with it, which comes with the whisky (inside the tube, so frame is not included). We just adore this concept of where art meets spirits. Choose from the stunning landscapes of the Spey, Ben Rinnes hill, Islay and more with famous whisky names such as Clynelish, Caol Ila and Craigellachie.

Size: 700ml
ABV: From 53%
Find here: From £130

English Whisky

Masthouse Column Malt Whisky from Copper Rivet

Hailing from Copper Rivet Distillery in Kent, this limited-edition whisky is only the second in their Masthouse range. It’s also the first column still single malt ever to be released by a British distillery (Scotch whisky must be produced in a pot still) and is made with Belgravia barley malt, which is grown locally on the Isle of Sheppey. Unfiltered and matured in first and second-fill ex-bourbon casks, what you get is a lighter style of whisky with appealing notes of caramel, banana and baked apple pie up front with creamy, orchard fruit flavours on the palate. It’s fresh and perky and each bottle comes with a copy of Copper Rivet’s own Invicta whisky charter.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: £44.95

Shanky’s Whip Black Liqueur & Whiskey Blend

A quirky, retro one in looks this. Thoroughly Irish, Shanky’s Whip is a sweet and creamy liqueur made from a blend of black Irish whiskey and other Irish spirits blended with natural vanilla and cream flavours before being infused with caramel. The box is inspired by the look of vintage Irish matchboxes and features fantastical Irish jockey, ‘Shanky’ who was the wild boy of racing. His character was known for being one that always one bucked the trends and once, when thrown from his horse, he returned to a race with an ostrich, a cart and a whip. Naturally! Lots of fun and there are many ways to drink it. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 33%
Find here: £23.95

No-Lo

OTO CBD Cocktail Bitters

We’ve tried and tested this (non-alcoholic) product over time and can honestly say that it works and is fabulous. Not only does it add an intriguing, warm and spiced flavour to cocktails with its extracts of licorice, cacao and lemongrass, but we’ve also had it in a our morning decaf latte and mixed it with a little warm water at night, so it’s wonderfully versatile. CBD in the right quantities can melt away anxiety in a way that does not make you feel anything specifically; it’s more about the bad stuff that it makes you stop feeling. Just add 4 dashes to your drink of choice and there you are. 

Size: 100ml
CBD: 1800mg
Find here: Currently £63.20 on offer (usually £79)

Juke Cordialities

Created by well-known wine writer Matthew Jukes, Jukes Cordialities are a very swish looking, intriguing take on non-alcoholic wine, so we expected these to be good! Made using fruit, vegetables, fresh and dried herbs, spices and flowers with a backbone of fine, organic apple cider vinegar, these are complex, interesting and very tasty non-alcoholic drinks that actually mimic the complexities of wine very well, while offering some intriguing, new flavour profiles. Naturally made, these are ultra low calorie, unfiltered and unfined without any manipulative techniques so they can also throw a small sediment. Quirky, beautifully packaged and worth a go if dad is trying to moderate. The gift box includes 9 small bottles, enough for around 15-18 glasses. 

Size: 9 x 30ml bottles
Find here: £35

Cool Stuff

The Checkin Journal

With Father’s Day coming at the end of Men's Health Week (June 15th - 22nd), we wanted to highlight a thoughtful gift to help men become more aware of their thoughts and feelings with an eye to improving their mental health. This simple, beautiful journal does this with its space for daily checkins. It’s a collaboration between MAL Paper and Matt Johnson, a Mind Ambassador and TV Presenter with the express aim, as Matt says, “to help the user connect with their emotions in an unapologetic way, without fear of judgment.” It’s simple and incredibly effective. Even better, for every journal sold, Mål Paper donates £2 to Mind Charity.

Find here: £21.95

Glencairn Whisky Pipette

After hundreds of requests from fans of their iconic Glencairn whisky glass, Glencairn have released their very own whisky pipette to go with it. The perfect length for the glass, this pipette is made from hand-blown glass and holds the ideal amount of water to help moderate flow (1ml).  It also has a very sweet little mini glass to weight the top. For £6, it’s a bit of a no-brainer and it is also available to buy as a set with a Glencairn Glass or a jug.

Find here: £6

CBD gummies by Cold Pressed

The one for stressed out dads who need to take some time for themselves. These cute and tasty gummies by British CBD brand Cold Pressed are made using a cold-pressed extraction method to retain the organic goodness of the CBD. 100% natural ingredients, vegan and with 10mg of cannabidiol in every gummy, these bonbons with benefits are available in strawberry, grape, apple, grapefruit and pineapple flavours. The CBD extraction process they used is brand new to the UK and ensures that all of the added benefits such as vitamins, omegas, nutrients and phytonutrients remain within the extract.

Size: 30 gummies per jar
CBD: 10mg per gummie
Find here: £6.99 per jar

Not found what you were looking for here? Fear not! We have plenty of other suggestions for great wine, spirits, beer and no-lo for you to check out too.

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!

A Rum for James Bond, 007

Words by Colin Hamdpen-White

The first scene of the first James Bond film, Dr No, opens in Jamaica as James Bond author Ian Fleming had a house there and spent a lot of time there, including writing many of the Bond novels. It seems incredible that it has taken until now for a rum, especially a Jamaican rum, to be released for the franchise.

Ian Fleming’s Jamaican home “GoldenEye” is now owned by Chris Blackwell of Island Records fame. Chris has developed GoldenEye as a resort for visitors, opening the house up to visitors in 2011 and as well as a love for Bond, he has a love for rum. Having produced rum for a number of years, he has now joined forces with the 007 franchise and launched a special 007 limited edition of his Blackwell Fine Jamaican Rum.

It brings me great pleasure to write this. I also have a strong love for Jamaican rum and the Hampden distillery on the island is the same as my family name. I had high expectations for this rum, and it doesn’t disappoint. The rum is aged and very fragrant, warming and rich. Having been aged in American oak barrels there is a good degree of sweetness and the spirit, created from sugar cane using both column and pot stills, has very good balance and complex flavours; more than one would expect of a single distillation blended rum.

Chris Blackwell doesn’t create the rum himself; he ages rums and for this expression worked with Jamaican distillers J. Wray and Nephew, who are well known Jamaican rum producers making the “Uncle Wray” rums.

Chris says “James Bond has been a big part of my life, from my childhood lunches with Ian Fleming at GoldenEye to being a location scout on the first movie, Dr. No (1962). It was a pleasure working alongside the No Time To Die production team in Jamaica providing our iconic rum for the set in James Bond’s house, which has made this very special relationship come full circle.” says Blackwell. 

The limited-edition rum features an augmented reality experience available via the website on the bottle where Chris Blackwell comes to life to share life stories, music selections, cocktail recipes, and gives more information about the rum.

The rum will be available in good drinks shops, bars and restaurants from November 2020 and will retail for £35 in the UK. It will be available on-line, and also in France and Italy. 

Are you a rum lover? If so, make sure you check out these luxury rums, and if you’re looking for a bit of variety, have a look at these four rums from across the globe.

7 Rums That Scream Luxury

Words by Colin Hampden-White

Oak aged spirits are having their hay day at the moment and with good reason. There are very few other drinks which have such depth of flavour, smoothness of texture, history and expertise in their making and passion in their drinking. We wanted to compile a few here which we are particularly fond of and can be found easily. These are luxury rums, exhibiting the best characteristics of a spirit coming into its prime.

Old Man Rum Expression 1

A genuine world first in terms of its taste, age, provenance and character, this rum has been created by an exquisite union of seven peerless rums from Barbados, Guyana and Jamaica. The youngest rum in this exceptional, cask-strength blend is 25 years - the remaining six rums range from 26 to 33 years of age. If you’re into the best of the best, then this one is definitely for you.

ABV: 57%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £3500

Black tot 40 year old rum

Following on from the Black Tot Last Consignment, this range continues to shine a spotlight on extraordinarily old rums with the Black Tot 40 Year Old. A Demerara rum distilled back in 1975 in Guyana, matured for four decades and bottled at 44.2% ABV. Safe to say that this ought to be astonishing, and with rich flavours of liquorish, black olives, black treacle, cigar box and spices we know it is. For those who like a little savoury with their sweet, tuck into this.

ABV: 44.2%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £1495

Dictador 2 Masters 1972 Glenfarclas

The folks at Dictador teamed up with Glenfarclas over in Scotland for this 2 Masters release! The rum itself was distilled in 1972, and after a few decades of ageing was transferred to Port casks for its first finishing period. Its second finishing period was spent in Scotland, where it rested for seven months in a single third fill sherry cask which previously held 2002 vintage Glenfarclas. It was finally bottled at 45% ABV in a release of 378 bottles, each of which bears the fingerprints of both Dictador master blender Hernan Parra, and Glenfarclas production manager Callum Fraser. A special rum for Scotch lovers, this hits the spot.

ABV: 45%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £850

Havana Club Triuto 2019

It's the 2019 release of the wonderful Havana Club Tributo! This is the fourth release of the special rum, and which was launched at the 2019 Habanos Festival in Cuba. Created by three generations of maestros del ron Cubano, with each master selecting a rare aged rum base from various decades. Finally, these three rums were then blended with a rum which spent many moons in French oak, and bottled at 40% ABV. Only 2,500 limited bottles were released, handsomely presented with wooden presentation box. For a perfectly balanced rum from Cuba, this is hard to beat, so if smooth is what you dig, then grab a shovel.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £350

The Last Caroni 23 Year Old 1996 Full Proof

Here we have a very special release of Caroni rum, dubbed The Last Caroni because it's made from Velier's last remaining stocks from the distillery. The expression is made up exclusively of heavy rums, a vatting of 24 casks matured in both Guyana as well as Trinidad and Tobago. It's all been bottled up at full proof, a burly 61.9% ABV. Old for the bold and those who like it big and bold.

ABV: 61.9%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £390

Malecon Seleccion Esplendida 1976

A 1976 vintage rum from Panama's Malecon and its Seleccion Esplendida range. Malecon take plenty of influence from Cuban rum production methods, so don't be surprised to find similarities between this ones and your favourite Cuban rums. Intensely flavoursome stuff, as you'd expect from such a lengthy maturation with flavours of Roast chestnuts, honey, tobacco leaf, old oak and new leather, waxy orange. Mellow is this rums middle name, and we love mellow rums, if you do to, then this one will slide down nicely.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £434.96

Hampden 17 Year old Berry Brothers

With a surname like mine, I couldn’t resist including a rum made on an estate named after my own family. Hampden estate rum is well known for its fruity estery flavour profile and this expression is no different. There are more expensive Hampden Rums on the market, but this is one of my favourites. The Hampden Estate on Jamaica was around at the same time as Berry Brothers in the 1700s, so it only seems fit that the rum comes from Berry Brothers. I’m passionate about fruity rums and if you are too, then this is one not to miss.

ABV: 58.1%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £87.32

If you enjoy rum, but are looking for a more reasonable price point, Aidy can point you in the right direction with his Four Stunning Rums From Around the World.