It’s not always easy to live like a pirate. Indeed, spending years at sea seems more appealing than tapping furiously at a computer under dim illumination. Who wouldn’t want to try their hand at swashbuckling, anyway?
However, the prospect of being stranded on a desert island, ruthless politics, and terrible dental hygiene have, up until now, discouraged us from pursuing this wandering professional path. I apologize, Jack Sparrow.
The one thing that all of us can agree upon? The part where you drink rum.
Sugarcane is the only ingredient used to make the alcohol, including raw juice, syrup, sugar, and molasses. Geographically, it is most closely linked to the Caribbean, where it is inexpensive to produce using leftovers from the sugar industry. The area’s culture is also strongly ingrained in rum, which was first mentioned in Barbados in 1647 under the name “Rumbullion.”
Since rum is naturally sweet due to its sugar cane derivatives, adding flavors like cinnamon, peppercorn, ginger, clove, and dried fruit helps to balance it out. Because spiced rum ages longer, it is typically dark. As a result, flavors in dark spiced rums stand out.
It makes sense to assume that it is the Caribbean. Each island nation in the region, including Barbados, Martinique, Cuba, Jamaica, Antigua, and Trinidad, has a distinct and distinctive combination of positive attributes.
However, they do not possess a monopoly, as rum is also produced in the Philippines. As of the time of publishing, Tanduay, a Filipino brand, was the world’s top producer of rum, having sold 23.4 million cases in 2023, according to Statista.
A shot of rum is the first ingredient in many of the greatest drinks found on any bar menu. We’re talking about beverages that go well with holiday fare, such as mojitos, dark and stormy, Cuba libre, Mai Tais, and more.
Not at all. The spirit is year-round; try a measure of spiced rum mixed with ginger ale for an instant festive feeling if you’d like a taste of Christmas outside of December.
The spirit does not need to be cooled to be served; it does well in warm weather. Well, what do you expect from a tropically-born spirit?
The top spiced rum bottles for your ship can be found below.
The largest rum manufacturer in the world, Tanduay, produces this spiced rum, which is aged in oak barrels to provide even more smoky flavor. The complex flavors of Especia, a spirit produced from a blend of rums, include warming notes of honey, cinnamon, caramel, vanilla, almond, and gingerbread.
This bottle from Eminente is a great choice if you’re searching for a unique spiced rum to give as a present or celebrate a particular occasion. Since its distillery is located on an island shaped like a crocodile, the Cuban company designed its drink after the ultimate predator, which accounts for the ostentatious bottle. Fortunately, it is where the theme ends up being: the spirit does not taste like the reptile. As an alternative, get ready for notes of unrefined cane sugar, coffee, vanilla, and smoke to overwhelm your senses.
A bottle of Kraken, named for the fabled marine creature, is reminiscent of a pirate’s handbook, with its Victorian flagon-style bottle and exquisitely designed label. The spirit within is dark, audacious, and deadly, much like its namesake—that is, dangerously good. Anticipate a flavor that is deep and velvety, enhanced by spices that the firm has vowed to keep a secret.
If you enjoy gin, you have undoubtedly seen Mermaid Gin before; the stunning Venetian glass bottles are difficult to miss. We are overjoyed that the Isle of Wight-based distillery has now branched out into spiced rum.
This version starts with Caribbean rum, then it’s combined with fruit and spices that are harvested directly from the island, and it’s finished with a dash of sea salt.
This bottle by The Duppy Share has a Caribbean spirit, specifically from Jamaica and Barbados. This Great Taste Award-winning spirit has distinct aromas of pineapple, kola nut, and sunshine island spices. It looks especially good in cocktails, so it’s perfect for stealing the show at happy hour.
Greetings from a rum on a mission. Because it works to safeguard turtle species, Hawksbill got its moniker. Ten percent of its sales are donated to conservation initiatives in the Caribbean. As if spending so much money wasn’t worthwhile already, the spirit is also delightful, with flavors of cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, raisins, and sea salt all blending beautifully. Any time of year, muddle with cola or ginger ale for a refreshing beverage.
Rum is one product that Bacardi excels at producing. The Cuban enterprise, which has been making the spirit since 1862, is currently among the most well-known rum producers worldwide, providing the general public with light, dark, and spiced variants.
Should you be craving something spicy, the eight-year-old Reserva is a truly exceptional sample. Using a traditional family recipe, the golden spirit is aged for eight years in oak barrels beneath the scorching Caribbean sun. A taste shows aromas of banana and oak from its wooden containers, along by sweet, syrupy undertones. Pour yourself a measure and consume it neat—mixing this with anything else would be illegal.
A well-known bottle found on the shelf of any decent bartender, who doesn’t enjoy a little Captain Morgan every now and then?
Probably one of its most well-known varieties is the Spiced Gold one, which is based on the 1600s seafarer Sir Henry Morgan. Its flavor is sweet and subtly spicy, and it pairs well with strong ginger beer or ale.
This award-winning Jamaican distillery produces this Trinidad and Tobago rum, which tastes great made with all-natural ingredients. Aniseed, nutmeg, ginger, coriander seed, and other spices add a singe to the premium spirit, while vanilla pods provide a mellow sweetness. It tastes great on its own or blended into a rum cocktail.
In spite of its eerie moniker—who would really want to discover fingers in their drink, alive or dead?—this spiced rum from Cornwall is one of the most well-liked in the United Kingdom. It is best enjoyed in a Bloody Death cocktail, which is a twist on the traditional Bloody Mary. It has a hint of spiciness from nutmeg and cinnamon but stays mostly sweet.
What is superior to a regular bottle of rum? Obviously, a magnum.
Known by its antique moniker, Rumbullion, this 1.5-liter bottle is crafted to appear as though it has been transported from the 17th century and placed on your bar. There is an abundance of flavor in this place, ranging from orange peel and cloves to cardamom and Madagascar vanillas. It’s ideal for mixing cocktails at parties and makes the ideal party favor. This is where happy hour begins.
A wonderful substitute to offer a party host is rum, and Las Olas looks the part. The unaged pot still Jamaican and Bajan white rums used to make the premium spirit combine to create a spicy finish.
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A picture of the article is courtesy of Canva.
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