Best Rum Brands

New to rum and not sure where to start? These are the houses worth knowing — one accessible, community-loved bottle from each of rum's best brands, so you can taste your way across the category. The best rum brands you can buy now.

Curated by , Founder of RumX
1,731 tastings
Ranked by the RumX community
Updated June 2026

Oliver is the founder of RumX, the community behind the world's largest rum database. He works daily with the tasting notes and ratings of tens of thousands of rum enthusiasts.

Rums in this list

  1. Best for: Newcomers and fans of sweet, coconut-forward sipping rum

    Beloved as a first rum: coconut, vanilla and caramel in a soft, sweet package. Most agree it's easy and pleasant, but experienced drinkers find it too sweet and short on complexity.

  2. Best for: People starting out who like sweet, soft, low-heat sippers

    Loved as a first sweet sipper, divisive among enthusiasts. Caramel, vanilla and chocolate, easy and round, but many find it too sweet, thin, and heavy on marketing.

  3. Best for: Beginners and people who like sweet, soft, dessert-style rums

    Loved as a first rum for its sweet, smooth vanilla-caramel character. The honest split: sugar-averse and experienced drinkers call it too sweet, flat and one-dimensional.

  4. Best for: Fans of balanced, oaky Barbados rum and anyone wanting a reliable everyday bottle

    Members love it as a daily sipper with strong value — vanilla, coconut, oak and chocolate, well balanced at 48%. The common gripe: it's less complex than the ECS releases, and a few find it a touch thin on the finish.

  5. Best for: People wanting an easy first Jamaican or a fruity everyday sipper

    Most people love it as an easy, affordable entry into Hampden — banana, esters, gentle spice. Hardcore fans of the Overproof find it a touch watery and short on funk.

  6. Best for: Whisky and bourbon drinkers exploring classic Barbados rum

    Well-liked as a smooth, balanced everyday Barbados rum with coconut-vanilla warmth. The common gripe: pleasant but not very complex, and the finish runs short for the age on the label.

  7. Best for: People who like very sweet, dessert-style rums and rum newcomers

    Loved by beginners and sweet-rum fans, dismissed by many enthusiasts as too sweet and artificial. The pretty decanter gets more agreement than the liquid. One of the more rum-like Riise bottlings, but the sugar still dominates.

  8. Best for: People who like sweet, smooth, uncomplicated sippers

    Well-liked as an easy, sweet everyday sipper — vanilla, caramel and a peppery edge. The catch: it's clearly sweetened and light, so bolder-rum drinkers get bored.

  9. Best for: People new to rum who like sweet, soft, dessert-style sippers

    Deeply divisive. Beginners find it soft, sweet and easy; experienced drinkers call it artificial, too sugary, and "not a rum." Best mixed with cola or treated as a dessert liqueur.

  10. Best for: People who like sweet, sherry-forward sippers and dessert rums

    Loved as an easy, sweet sherry-forward sipper and a common beginner favorite. The recurring gripe: too sweet, the rum itself gets buried, and the 40% can feel a touch sharp.

  11. Best for: People wanting an easy, less-sweet entry into Guyana rum

    Widely liked as an everyday Demerara sipper and a clear upgrade on the sweetened predecessor. Common gripes: thin body, short finish, and a touch of bitterness from the wood.

  12. Best for: People easing into Cuban, Spanish-style sippers

    Well-liked as a gentle, everyday Cuban sipper full of vanilla, caramel and coffee. The common gripes: short finish, a bit thin, and not much complexity for seasoned palates.

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