Welcome to the sun-kissed world of rum. Where the gentle breeze of exotic islands mixes with the sweet aromas of ripened sugarcane. As we slowly indulge in a flavourful journey, it's time to fill our glasses with 2024's most popular rums!
2024 has already brought us a wealth of masterful distillates, from the tropical treasures of the Caribbean to the sophisticated distilleries of Latin America and beyond. Whether you are a true rum connoisseur or just beginning your adventurous journey of discovery in the world of rum, this list will enchant you with its diverse flavours and unparalleled quality. So, get ready to indulge your taste buds with this year's most exquisite rums. Cheers and enjoy every sip of this extraordinary drink.
Place 10: Planteray Pineapple Rum
Planteray Pineapple Stiggins Fancy Rum 40° (Planteray Blend) is a rum from Trinidad by the Planteray (formerly Plantation) brand. It falls within the rum group under the category Mélasse.
In this product, you will find quite strong fruity notes right from the start. You will notice these flavours immediately and determine your first impression. Spicy as well as sweet hints are noticeable, but these flavours are only slightly present. They give extra character and depth to this drink, without really pushing it in any particular direction.
Based on this profile, you can conclude that this rum has a distinct, recognisable character.
Place 9: Planteray 3 Stars White
Planteray Three Stars White rum is an exquisite blend of white rums sourced from three Caribbean regions. With its perfect balance and refined character, this rum embodies the essence of tropical craftsmanship.
Nose: Tropical fruit, vanilla, sugarcane.
Flavour: Mango, coconut, spices.
Finish: Sweet, exotic fruit, lingering.
Place 8: Planteray Sealander
Plantation Sealander is a masterpiece of blending, combining expertly aged and unaged rums from three exceptional islands. Alexandre Gabriel used his unrivalled expertise to add a touch of cane syrup for perfect sweetness, before reducing the blend to a 40% alcohol content with osmosis water. Every drop is then carefully filtered and bottled, preserving the magic of this exceptional rum.
Nose: Sweet with aromas of juicy pear, sweet quince jelly and red berries, all enhanced by delicate notes of smoked molasses.
Flavour: Rich and refined. You will discover flavours of golden clover honey, spicy liquorice, silky beeswax, creamy vanilla and sweet plum.
Finish: Long-lasting and persistent, with aftertastes of cooked apple, exotic tonka bean and dried banana, allowing you to cherish every moment.
Place 7: Canerock Spiced Rum
Canerock Spiced Rum 40° is a rum from Jamaica by the Planteray (formerly Plantation) brand. It falls within the rum group under the Mélasse category.
The spicy, fruity, as well as sweet flavours are quite present, but do not dominate. They help determine the flavour, profile and character of this drink but are less decisive as any strong notes. Floral hints are noticeable, but these flavours are only slightly present. They add extra character and depth to this drink, without really pushing it in any particular direction.
Based on this profile, you can conclude that this rum has a fairly pronounced character.
Place 6: Planteray Barbados Grande Reserve 5 years
Planteray Barbados Rum Grande Reserve Aged 5 years 40° (Planteray Blend) is a rum from Barbados by the brand Planteray (formerly Plantation). It falls within the rum group under the Mélasse category.
The spicy, as well as fruity flavours are quite present, but do not dominate. They help determine the flavour, profile and character of this drink but are less decisive as any strong notes. Floral, woody, as well as sweet hints are noticeable, but these flavours are only slightly present. They add extra character and depth to this drink, without really pushing it in any particular direction.
Based on this profile, you can conclude that this rum has a fairly pronounced character.
Place 5: Planteray Grande Reserve
Planteray Grande Reserve rum 40° (Planteray Blend) is a rum from Brazil by the brand Planteray (formerly Plantation). It falls within the rum group under the Mélasse category.
The fruity, as well as sweet flavours are quite present, but do not dominate. They help determine the flavour, profile and character of this drink but are less decisive as any strong notes. Floral, as well as spicy hints are noticeable, but these flavours are only slightly present. They add extra character and depth to this drink, without really pushing it in any particular direction.
Based on this profile, you can conclude that this rum has a fairly pronounced character.
Place 4: Flor De Cana 12y
A 12-year-old ultra-premium rum that is sustainably produced (carbon neutral & fair trade certified) and contains no sugar. Sourced from a 5th generation family business, naturally aged in bourbon barrels with no artificial ingredients, distilled with 100% renewable energy and kosher certified. A full-bodied rum with an exquisite and smooth finish. Best enjoyed in a rum old fashioned or with a splash of premium sparkling water or ginger ale and an orange twist.
Nose: Aromas of red fruits, honey and toasted nuts.
Flavour: Wood, vanilla and baked apples. A balanced and smooth finish.
Place 3: Planteray Guatemala Belize
Planteray Gran Anejo Guatemala & Belize42°(Planteray Blend) is a rum from Guatemala by the Planteray (formerly Plantation) brand. It falls within the rum group under the Mélasse category.
The spicy, as well as fruity flavours are quite present, but do not dominate. They help determine the flavour, profile and character of this drink but are less decisive as any strong notes. Floral, woody, as well as sweet hints are noticeable, but these flavours are only slightly present. They add extra character and depth to this drink, without really pushing it in any particular direction.
Based on this profile, you can conclude that this rum has a fairly pronounced character.
Place 2: Planteray Original Dark
Planteray Original Dark is a dark rum that embodies the heritage and tradition of rum from Barbados. With its deep aromas and complexity, this rum offers an exceptional taste experience, characterised by character and elegance.
Nose: Caramel, vanilla, woody.
Flavour: Dark chocolate, ripe fruit, subtle spices.
Finish: Toasted oak, tobacco, soft sweetness.
Place 1: Planteray Barbados XO
Planteray Barbados XO rum 40° (Planteray Blend) is a rum from Barbados from the Planteray (formerly Plantation) brand. It falls within the rum group under the Mélasse category.
The fruity, as well as sweet flavours are quite present, but do not dominate. They help determine the flavour, profile and character of this drink but are less decisive as any strong notes. Floral, woody, as well as spicy hints are noticeable, but these flavours are only slightly present. They add extra character and depth to this drink, without really pushing it in any particular direction.
Based on this profile, you can conclude that this rum has a fairly pronounced character.
That's quite a lot of Plantation you'll say. True, with more than 40 references, Planteray/Plantation is by far our biggest and most tasted rum brand in our range. However, if you're not into Planteray, we still list our top 10 alternative rums for you!
Place 10: Dictador 20 year
What makes this Dictador 20 year special is that it was created according to the Solera system. What is the Solera system? This involves stacking barrels of different ages on top of each other, with the oldest rum sitting at the bottom. Bottles are filled from these lower barrels, and then the barrel is replenished with rum from the row above, etc. The result is a blend of quite a few different ages that results in a flavourful, complex final product that is still consistent in quality, style and recognisability. Because the oldest barrels at the bottom are always diluted with younger rums, the final product in a properly functioning Solera system, after decades of production, basically still contains traces of the very first, oldest rum the process ever started with.
The woody, spicy, as well as fruity flavours are quite present, but do not dominate. They help determine the flavour, profile and character of this drink but are less decisive as any strong notes. Sweet hints are noticeable, but these flavours are only slightly present. They add extra character and depth to this drink, without really pushing it in any particular direction.
Place 9: New Grove Bourbon Cask
New Grove Bourbon Cask is a rum from Mauritius from the New Grove brand. It falls within the rum group under the Mélasse category.
Floral, woody, spicy, fruity, as well as sweet hints are noticeable, but these flavours are only slightly present. They add extra character and depth to this drink, without really pushing it in any particular direction.
Based on this profile, you can conclude that this rum has a fairly mild character, without extremes.
Place 8: Hampden OWH 2016 Habitation Velier
Hampden 2016 is a pure Jamaican rum, made from molasses and distilled in an iron still. Aged 7 years in aged bourbon casks, this rum offers a rich and complex sensory experience. With this version of Hampden OWH 2016, the Habitation Velier range offers us a complete exploration of the eight brands of the legendary Jamaican distillery. OWH, one of these brands, stands for Outram Warmold Hussey and underlines the connection with the family that took over the distillery in 2009. Characterised by the lowest ester content of all Hampden rums, this rum offers empyreumatic notes and distinctive character after 7 years of maturation at Trelawny.
Nose: Rich and captivating, with aromas of vetiver, rubber, cane sugar and camphor. On aeration, medicinal and empyreumatic notes emerge, followed by exotic fruits such as banana and pineapple.
Flavour: Lively and nervy, with straightforward, full-bodied flavours. A bold blend of coriander, tar, cane sugar and geranium honey entices the palate, with hints of toffee and ripe banana on the finish.
Finish: Long and present, with distilled strength supporting the palate. Milky, fruity and menthol notes refresh an increasingly floral finish.
Place 7: Lazy Dodo
The fruity flavours are quite present but do not dominate. They help determine the flavour, profile and character of this drink but are less decisive as any strong notes. Floral, woody, spicy, as well as sweet hints are noticeable, but these flavours are only slightly present. They give extra character and depth to this drink, without really pushing it in any particular direction.
Based on this profile, you can conclude that this rum has a fairly mild character, without extremes.
Place 6: Hampden 8 years
The history of Hampden Estate dates back to 1753 when the first traces of a sugar cane plantation can be found there. In 1779, the stately Hampden Great House was built, still the distillery's landmark. After a long and eventful history, the estate came into the possession of the Hussey family in 2009, who set out to restore its former glory and tradition. Since 2018, official Hampden bottlings have been back on the market and immediately became a benchmark in the rum world with their distinct style and flavour.
The spicy, as well as fruity flavours are quite present, but do not dominate. They help determine the flavour, profile and character of this drink but are less decisive as any strong notes. Woody, as well as vegetal hints are noticeable, but these flavours are only slightly present. They add extra character and depth to this drink, without really pushing it in any particular direction.
Place 5: Long Pond 2005 Cambridge
In the Simon Thomson Cambridge Estate (STCE) category, this Long Pond 2005 Cambridge, aged entirely in a tropical climate in bourbon casks, has an ester content of 550 to 700 grams per hectolitre of pure alcohol. Influenced by empyreumatic and medicinal elements added in its youth, the flavour and aroma palette has acquired exotic, vanilla and powder notes over the years, as demonstrated by the retro-nasal cocoa scent.
Nose: Refined and distinguished. The delightfully balanced nose is apricot-like, mineral, empyreumatic (hydrocarbons), exotic (mango), camphor-like, toasty (coffee), chocolatey, rooty (ginger), hot (cayenne pepper), woody (sandalwood), spicy (cardamom) and floral (honeysuckle).
Flavour: Lively and full-bodied. The attack reveals a delicate texture and exactly reproduces the mineral, empirical and warm character of the nose. The midpalate then includes fruity (apricot, mango), vanilla and fine woody notes.
Finish: Long and rich. At the beginning of the finish, cane sugar, molasses and geranium honey soften the flavour palette. The soft texture is characterised by notes of salted butter toffee and toffee.
Place 4: Hampden 8 Marks
The 8 Marks Collection with a 1-year maturation in Bourbon casks is the latest addition from the Hampden Estate distillery. Each bottle in this collection reflects the impact of a year's maturation in Bourbon casks on the distillery's 8 different brands. Thanks to Jamaica's tropical climate, the flavours develop intensely and offer a rich and complex taste experience. This collection is accompanied by a flyer detailing the history of the distillery, the characteristics of each brand, the maturation process and the resulting aromatic components.
Nose: Rich aromas of vanilla and toffee mingle with the characteristic notes of the Hampden Estate distillery's 8 Marks, offering an enticing invitation to dive in and enjoy.
Flavour: On the palate, the smoothness of the matured bourbon blends harmoniously with the complex flavour profiles of the 8 Marks, creating a balanced and engaging taste experience.
Finish: The aftertaste is long and rewarding, with lingering notes of vanilla and toffee that leave a lasting impression, highlighting the art of oak maturation and the Hampden Estate distillery's exceptional heritage.
Place 3: Smith & Cross Navy Strength
Smith & Cross Navy Strength is a rum from Jamaica from the Smith & Cross brand. The spicy, as well as fruity flavours are quite present, but do not dominate. They help determine the flavour, profile and character of this drink but are less decisive as any strong notes. Floral, as well as vegetal hints are noticeable, but these flavours are only slightly present. They add extra character and depth to this drink, without really pushing it in any particular direction.
Based on this profile, you can conclude that this rum has a fairly pronounced character.
Place 2: Flor De Cana 18Y
Flor De Cana 18y Cent Gold is a rum from Nicaragua by the Flor De Cana brand. It falls within the rum group under the Mélasse category. This rum matured in Bourbon Barrel casks. It is a 70cl version and has an alcohol content of 40%.
Place 1: Flor De Cana 12y
A 12-year-old ultra-premium rum that is sustainably produced (carbon neutral & fair trade certified) and contains no sugar. Sourced from a 5th generation family business, naturally aged in bourbon barrels with no artificial ingredients, distilled with 100% renewable energy and kosher certified. A full-bodied rum with an exquisite and smooth finish. Best enjoyed in a rum old fashioned or with a splash of premium sparkling water or ginger ale and an orange twist.
Nose: Aromas of red fruits, honey and toasted nuts.
Flavour: Wood, vanilla and baked apples. A balanced and smooth finish.
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I've known Broekmans since I graduated in 2006 and thanks to Jan I've come to know the passion for spirits. I dedicate myself every day to the webshop, customer service and all the IT involved. In my spare time, besides whiskey, I can also really enjoy rum, but just as much as a gin tonic or a simple bellini. In the words of Martien Meiland, if there's no alcohol in it, don't call me!
