FIVE OF THE BEST: LIGHT RUMS
Also known as white rum, silver or carta blanca, light rum is, as the name suggests, the lightest style of this sugar cane-based spirit. Light rums are either unaged or lightly aged and then filtered to remove any colour. They’re the mainstay of classic tropical cocktails including the Mojito, Daiquiri and Piña Colada.
1 Bacardí Carta Blanca
£13-£16/70cl Widely available
Bacardí is the original Daiquiri rum. The classic cocktail is named after the Cuban town where American engineer Jennings Cox first combined Carta Blanca, lime juice and sugar in 1898. Although Bacardí was founded in Cuba in 1862, its rums are now made in Mexico and Puerto Rico. Carta Blanca has sweet tropical aromas with banana and coconut and a touch of peppery spice, leading to a light, creamy palate with notes of tropical fruit, and a vanilla toffee edge. Lingering spiciness on the finish. A good value choice for cocktails and punches. Alcohol 37.5%
2 Diplomático Planas
£29.42-£35/70cl Distillers Direct, Hedonism, Master of Malt, Spirits Kiosk, The Champagne Co, The Drink Shop, The Little Whisky Shop, The Whisky Exchange, Tyndrum Whisky, Vida
This delicious Venezuelan rum is aged in barrels for six years and then charcoal-filtered. It means you get more complexity in your glass, with the evolved toffee, spice and creamy vanilla notes of a dark rum alongside the fresher grassy notes of a white rum. Coconut, fresh lemon, green chilli, tropical and stone fruit notes also feature. Smooth enough to sip over ice, or use it to upgrade your Daiquiri for a sophisticated sip. Alc 47%
3 Equiano Light
£32.95-£44/70cl Gerry’s, Harvey Nichols, Hedonism, Loch Fyne Whiskies, Master of Malt, Royal Mile Whiskies, The Whisky Exchange
The world’s first Afro-Caribbean rum is a blend of fresh, unaged sugar cane juice rum from Grays Distillery in Mauritius and three-year-old molasses rum from Foursquare distillery in Barbados. It’s named in honour of Olaudah Equiano, a freed slave and a prominent abolitionist in the 18th century. A percentage of company profits goes to the charitable Equiano Rum Co Foundation, currently supporting Anti-Slavery International. A very light and subtle palate, with lovely freshness. Carries its alcohol lightly. Grassy, creamy, with vanilla, and a spicy note on the finish. Alc 43%
4 Plantation 3 Stars
£22.49-£26/70cl Amathus Drinks, Amazon UK, Distillers Direct, Drink Supermarket, Harvey Nichols, Hedonism, House of Malt, Master of Malt,
Spirit Store, The Whisky Exchange, The Whisky World
The three stars are Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad: top sites for rum production in the Caribbean. This engaging blend mixes unaged spirits from Barbados and Jamaica with two- to three-yearold spirit from Trinidad, then adds a dash of Jamaican 10-year-old for good measure. A bartender favourite, 3 Stars is crisp and fresh, with plenty of spice and a grassy, almost agave-like note on the palate that’s balanced by honeyed sweetness and a creamy custard note. Great choice for Daiquiris. Alc 41.2%
5 Ron Santiago de Cuba Carta Blanca
£18-£27.50/70cl Amathus Drinks, C Gars, Gerry’s, Hard to Find Whisky, Hedonism, Latitude Wine & Liquor, Master of Malt, Spirits 24, Tesco, The Whisky Exchange This Cuban molasses-based rum is aged in white oak barrels for three years and filtered. The fresh, grassy nose is laced with banana, fudge and tropical fruit, while the palate is smooth, fresh and creamy, with banana toffee, vanilla and spice balanced by fresh green grassy notes. A well-rounded cocktail rum – try it long in a refreshing minty Mojito. Alc 38%