The best rums in the world
The top 3 according to 2,215 votes from people: Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 (Guatemala) · Foursquare Exceptional Cask Series (Barbados) · Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva (Venezuela). (Updated Apr 3, 2026.)
Sipping rums that experts, competitions (IWSC) and the RumRatings community rate highest, from Caribbean pot-still legends to Latin American aged rums.
Top 12
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1
Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 (Guatemala)
Solera-aged at 2,300 m in the highlands; Luxe Digital's best overall and five-time 'best rum in the world'.
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2
Foursquare Exceptional Cask Series (Barbados)
Richard Seale's rums; the 14-year Equipoise scored 99/100 at IWSC 2024.
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3
Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva (Venezuela)
Rich, sweet aged rum, best under $50.
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4
Appleton Estate 21 (Jamaica)
Joy Spence's flagship from the oldest continuously running estate in Jamaica.
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5
Mount Gay XO (Barbados)
From what is claimed to be the world's oldest rum brand (1703).
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6
El Dorado 15 (Guyana)
Demerara rum from historic wooden stills.
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7
Flor de Caña 18 (Nicaragua)
Volcano-side distillery, smooth and dry.
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8
Hampden Estate (Jamaica)
Funky, high-ester pot-still rum adored by geeks.
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9
Havana Club 7 Años (Cuba)
The classic Cuban añejo, for sipping or cocktails.
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10
Planteray XO (Barbados)
Cognac-cask finished rum from Maison Ferrand, formerly Plantation.
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11
Bacardí Reserva Ocho
Eight-year rum from the world's biggest rum brand.
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12
Rhum J.M XO (Martinique)
Agricole rum from fresh sugarcane juice, AOC Martinique.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 12… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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13
Santa Teresa 1796 (Venezuela)
Solera rum from the Aragua valley.
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14
Clément XO (Martinique)
Rhum agricole from Habitation Clément, made from fresh sugarcane juice and aged in oak.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (16)
Diplomático is too sweet for me, but great for beginners.
Appleton 21 is an incredible sipping rum.
Foursquare is still the best rum distillery in the world.
Flor de Caña 18, smooth and not sweetened.
Bacardí on a best-of list? Come on.
Reserva Ocho is actually decent, don't judge by the white rum.
Rhum J.M XO is beautiful, agricole fans rejoice.
Zacapa 23 at #1? It's sweetened. Foursquare should be first.
Agreed, Richard Seale's rums are the best in the world.
Mount Gay XO, Barbados in a glass.
Clément XO is missing, the best agricole for me.
El Dorado 15 is incredible value.
Santa Teresa 1796 is solera aged, very interesting.
Hampden is a funk bomb, not for beginners 😂
Rhum agricole from Martinique deserves more spots
Havana Club 7 for mojitos and daiquiris, perfect.