The global bar scene continues to favor established names, but the race among rum brands is getting noticeably tighter. According to Drinks International, legacy players still dominate top bars worldwide, even as premium challengers intensify competition for shelf space.
Once again, Bacardi, Havana Club, and Planteray hold the top three positions among the world’s best bars. Together, these brands serve as the house pour in nearly two-thirds of the venues surveyed by Drinks International.
However, while the podium remains unchanged from 2025, the margin between these leaders continues to shrink. Only a handful of bars now separate each brand, signaling that loyalty at the top is no longer guaranteed.
After the top three, the rankings drop sharply. Diplomático sits in fourth place, but intense competition follows close behind. Just a few votes separate Diplomático from Brugal in tenth position, highlighting how fiercely premium rums now compete for visibility in elite bars.
Drinks International attributes this pressure to two converging forces: a surge of premium rum launches over the past decade and a broader market slowdown. As a result, top bars have become strategic battlegrounds where every placement matters. For 2026, Brugal of the Dominican Republic and Takamaka from the Seychelles enter the bestselling list for the first time.
Perhaps the most unexpected result sees Clairin claim the top spot on the trending list. The Haitian rum enjoys cult status among bartenders, yet its high-ester profile rarely suits classics like the Daiquiri or Mojito.
According to Drinks International, one explanation may lie in the bar community’s solidarity with Haiti amid recent challenges, including Hurricane Melissa, ongoing political instability, and gang violence. Bartender support appears to have translated into visibility, even if volumes remain modest.
Drinks International publishes its annual Brands Report every January and has done so for 16 consecutive years. The report analyzes purchasing behavior across the world’s leading bars.
To build the data set, the publication selects bars from The World’s 50 Best Bars and its regional North America and Asia lists. To ensure global balance, editors also include approximately 5% “editor’s picks,” focusing on standout venues in underrepresented regions. The panel rotates annually to maintain accuracy and fairness.
Bar owners and head bartenders then review their sales data and rank their three bestselling brands across each spirits category, plus beer, Champagne, and mixers. Bestselling rankings rely on hard sales figures, while trending selections reflect professional sentiment. As Drinks International notes, brands that trend strongly often convert that buzz into higher sales the following year.
Read the whole report here: https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=c08fbdd5-850e-40c9-b068-e5f66629a1c3
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Drinks International Article — Brands Report 2026: Rum, written by Shay Waterworth
The image of the article is courtesy of © Truecreatives via Canva.com
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