Six to try: premium rums
1 Neisson Blanc, Martinique
£39.95-£41/70cl Master of Malt,
Royal Mile Whiskies, The Good Spirits Co This organic grain-to-glass rhum agricole has aromas of fresh sugar cane, citrus and honey. A perfect starting point for fans of blanco tequila or gin who want to see what quality unaged rum is all about. Alcohol 52.5%
2 Veritas Rum, Barbados
£32.50-£33.95/70cl Amathus Drinks, Distillers Direct, Master of Malt, Royal Mile Whiskies, The Whisky Exchange
A meeting of some of the most respected names in rum. Pot-still rum from Hampden in Jamaica joins Coffey column-still spirit from Bajan favourite Foursquare to make a fragrant white rum with aromas of pineapple, liquorice and banana. A great rum for mixing. Alc 47% 3 Worthy Park Single Estate Reserve, Jamaica
£44.50-£50/70cl Distillers Direct,
House of Malt, Loch Fyne, Master of Malt, Royal Mile Whiskies, The Bottle Club,
The Whisky Exchange, The Whisky Shop
One of the titans of Jamaica. The grass-to-glass estate has grown sugar cane for centuries, but relaunched its molasses-based rum production in the early-2000s. Its entry-level bottling is rich in sweet-savoury complexity with toast, toffee and plenty of ripe tropical banana. 45%
Alc
4 Equiano Original Rum, Barbados
£39.45-£48/70cl Harvey Nichols,
Gerry’s, Hedonism, Master of Malt, Spirits Kiosk, The Bottle Club, The Whisky Exchange Ian Burrell’s brand is a combination of spirit from Grays of Mauritius, aged in oak and ex-Cognac casks, and from Foursquare in Barbados, aged in ex-bourbon barrels. It’s ultra-smooth, with caramel, floral, vanilla and spice notes. Alc 43% 5 Eminente Reserva 7 Year Old, Cuba
£42.90-£51/70cl Hard to Find Whisky, Harvey Nichols, Hedonism, House of Malt, Loch Fyne, Master of Malt, The Bottle Club, The Whisky Exchange, The Whisky Shop Cigar box, cacao, spice, praline – if you’re looking for a decadent sipping rum, then this is it. Aged in whisky barrels, which is where some of that depth of character comes from. A cracking choice for a rum-based Old Fashioned. Alc 41.3% 6 Caroni Distillery 23 Year Old, Trinidad
£225-£231/50cl House of Malt,
Master of Malt, That Boutique-y Rum Co Parcels of prized Caroni, from the closed Trinidad distillery, can still (just about) be snapped up from specialist retailers. This bottling from That Boutique-y Rum Co was distilled in 1998. Nutty, molasses-y and dark fruity, with tropical banana. One for thoughtful sipping. Alc 61.1% D