This Rums of the Year list is drawn from the results of the top international spirit competitions. Below is an overview of current rum industry trends and tasting notes on the 2024 Rums of the Year.
Here is a Rums of the Year list drawn from the results of the top international spirit competitions. Below is a concise overview of the current rum industry trends and tasting notes on the 2024 Rums of the Year.
Below is The 2024 Rums of the Year
Bacardí Gran Reserva Limitada, Bacardí Distillery, Puerto Rico
The rum is rich and layered, with flavors of vanilla, tropical fruit, toasted almonds, and subtle oak spices. The texture is velvety, and the finish is long and smooth.
Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva, Destilerías Unidas S.A., Venezuela
It is deep and rich, with toffee notes, dark chocolate, orange peel, and warm spices. It is smooth and velvety, with a balanced sweetness and a lingering finish.
El Dorado 15 YO Rum, Demerara Distillers, Guyana
It is rich and full-bodied, with flavors of dried fruit, dark chocolate, toffee, and hints of vanilla. The finish is long and luxurious, with subtle oak and spice.
Mount Gay XO, Mount Gay Distillery, Barbados
It is aromatic and complex, with ripe banana, vanilla, dried figs, and toasted oak notes—a long, warm finish with lingering spices.
Ron Zacapa 23, Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala, Guatemala
Aged in a solera system, this rum has a complex profile of caramel, vanilla, dried fruit, and honey. It is smooth and balanced, with a slightly sweet finish.
Flor de Caña 18-Year Rum, Compañía Licorera de Nicaragua, Nicaragua
It is dry and elegant, with toffee, honey, and dark chocolate flavors. The finish is smooth and slightly smoky.
Plantation XO 20th Anniversary, Maison Ferrand, Barbados/France
Lush and creamy with tropical fruit, coconut, caramel, and vanilla. It has a luxurious finish with a balance of sweetness and oak.
Santa Teresa 1796, Santa Teresa Rum Estate, Venezuela
A solera-aged rum with a balanced flavor of caramelized nuts, toffee, dried fruit, and soft spices. Smooth and elegant with a long finish.
Foursquare Exceptional Cask (2004), Foursquare Distillery, Barbados
It is bold and rich, with flavors of vanilla, dried fruit, caramel, and oak spices. The finish is complex and layered.
Rhum Clément XO, Clément Distillery, Martinique
It is rich and refined, with notes of vanilla, honey, toasted nuts, and subtle spice. The finish is long, smooth, and balanced.
These rums represent the pinnacle of quality in the rum world, having Gold Medal at multiple international spirit competitions. They present a broad array of aromas and flavors reflecting the international scope of rum. They are all outstanding and worth a taste.
(Edited and extracted from Forbes)