Rum is a vast spirits category. It can be made anywhere in the world, and depending on where it comes from and how it’s produced, it can take on a number of different profiles.
Given how many variables are at play, shopping for a nice bottle can be intimidating for the untrained eye, but we’re here to lend a hand to anyone who might be in the market for some rum this December. From reliable, budget-friendly stalwarts to nerdy niche offerings from far-flung corners of the world, these are the best rums to gift this holiday season.
Best Budget Rum: Planteray 3 Stars
Best Splurge Rum: La Maison & Velier Flag Series 24 Year Old Guyana Rum 1998
Best Rum for Beginners: Ron Zacapa No. 23
Best Rum for Geeks: Holmes Cay Single Origin Réunion Island Agricole Rum
Best Rum for Cocktail Lovers: Transcontinental Rum Line High Seas
Best Rum to Impress: Appleton Estate 21 Year Old Nassau Valley Casks
Best Limited-Edition Rum: Foursquare Rum Distillery Exceptional Cask Series “Equipoise”
Best Budget Rum Planteray 3 Stars
Whether you’re mixing up Mojitos, Daiquiris, or a holiday punch, Planteray 3 Stars makes for a versatile, budget-friendly bottle. Made with a blend of aged and unaged rums from Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad, this rum goes through a round of carbon filtration to remove color, but its complexity remains intact. We get notes of brown sugar, vanilla, and freshly cut grass with herbaceous undertones on the nose and palate. Easy to afford, easy
