Barbados is generally considered the birthplace of rum, and still produces some of the highest quality light and dark rums around. Undoubtedly, the Caribbean, including other islands such as Cuba, Jamaica and Puerto Rico make the most rum in world but increasingly, unique, hand-crafted rums are being produced globally as the ‘rumnaissance’ continues to thrive.
With rum predicted to sell 173 million nine-litre cases in 2024, up from 2022’s figure of 158m, people’s perception of rum solely being a spirit for mixing has shifted to that of sipping and savouring like whisky, or increasingly tequila. With that in mind, The Bottle Club has developed a list of 10 rums, from the four corners of the world to mark World Rum Day. Whether you like you rums light, dark, spiced or flavoured, a unique rum to suit everyone’s taste is waiting to be discovered…
Scotland
Cabal No. 1513 Aged Rum, 70cl: £36.99
A 100% natural rum. No added sugar, no artificial colouring, no unnatural flavourings and non-chill filtered to preserve all naturally occurring tasting notes. Cabal No.1513 comprises selected aged rums, sourced from renowned distilleries in Guatemala, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Panama. All are made using a combination of pot and column distillation techniques. The blend is then finished in hand-selected Pedro Ximénez casks in Speyside, Scotland, for up to five months.
England
Dead Man’s Finger’s Coffee Rum, 70cl: £19.49 – currently reduced from £21.49
Dead Man’s Fingers spiritual (no pun intended) home can be found at the Rum & Crab Shack in the touristy town of St Ives. This is where the concept and name began albeit now the distillery is based a few miles up the road in the city of Bristol. A full-flavoured and rounded blend of Cornish Spiced Rum and freshly percolated coffee, with notes of raisin, vanilla, cumin, clove and chocolate orange.
Wales
The Original Rummers Banana Rum, 70cl: £22.49 – currently reduced from £24.49
Rummers Banana Rum is a celebration of the tropical and fruity allure of ripe bananas. It captures the essence of this beloved fruit and transforms it into a spirit that's great for sipping or mixing into creative co*cktails. Whether used to enhance your favourite mixed drinks or savoured as a flavourful sipper, Rummers Banana Rum offers a taste of the tropics and the pure pleasure of banana.
Netherlands
Spirited Union Lemon and Leaf Botanical Rum, 70cl: £31.99 – currently reduced from £44.27
Spirited Union Lemon and Leaf Botanical Rum is created from the distillation of its Agricole-style rum with delicious zesty lemons grown along the sun-filled Amalfi coast in pursuit of an unrivalled fresh taste. These lemony flavours have been united with the delicate earthy tones of kina bark, together with Sarawak pepper and sarsaparilla root for a complex spicy finish. Uncommon freshness has been pioneered by distilling blue eucalyptus leaves to create a balance of refreshing lemon and herbal flavours.
France
Spytail Cognac Cask Rum, 70cl: £27.49 – currently reduced from £28.49
The Spytail Rum Company is based in the Cognac region of France – famous for not only its namesake brandy, but also the production of some of the finest spirits and liqueurs in the world. Spytail Cognac Cask is a Caribbean rum (Trinidad and Guyana), which is transported in oak wood across the Atlantic to France, where it matures for 3-6 months in cognac barrels. Dark mahogany in colour, this rum has a sweet aroma with ginger and a touch of smoke. On the palate you can enjoy notes of brown sugar and ginger snaps with orange zest and peppery notes.
Spain (Canary Islands)
Ron Meil Indias Rum Liqueur, 70cl: £15.99 – currently reduced from £18.49
Ron Miel Indias Rum Liqueur is a blend of premium spirit and natural ingredients. A smooth and exquisite liqueur made with molasses from Indian sugar cane fields, it has an inviting aroma, featuring notes of almond, honey and brown sugar and delivers a warm, rich sensation of spice and sweetness.
India
Wild Tiger Coco Rum, 1l: £28.99 – currently reduced from £49.99
Wild Tiger Coco Rum is produced in Kerala, state of southern India. Kerala is named after the coconut tree with “Kera” meaning Coconut tree and “Alam” meaning land so means “Land of Coconut Trees”. Offering up intense coconut tasting notes complementing the Indian white rum base. The Wild Tiger brand donates 10% of its profits towards Tiger Conservation in Southern India.
Thailand
: £25.49 – currently reduced from £27.90
A delicate aged rum liqueur balancing flavours of pisang banana, cinnamon and nutmeg. Luxurious in its nature, ripe and fruity, with tangy kiwi and sweet banana alongside a whack of zest and spices. A completely unique rum, proudly showcasing its provenance.
Philippines
Don Papa 7-Year-Old Rum, 70cl: £35.99
Don Papa Rum was first created in 2012 and made it to the UK two years later. Distilled in small batches from sugar cane grown on the Philippines island of Negros and aged in American oak for seven years, this rum is packed with vanilla flavours and a hint of spice.
Fiji
Cargo Cult Spiced Rum, 70cl: £28.49 – currently reduced from £29.99
Cargo Cult is a spiced rum made with Oceanian sugarcane. A blend of rums from Fiji, Australia and Papua New Guinea, this rum is punchy with a big hint of spice and works particularly well in a long drink with either coconut water, ginger beer or cola.
