See full version: Bartenders Shout Out The Best Dark Rums For Winter Sipping
Dark rums — with all of their caramelized sugar, sweet tropical, and vanilla-spice-inflected flavor notes — are actually perfect for this time of year. And like whiskey, the well-aged stuff is ideal for sipping over a single ice cube. Jeremy Duffy, bar manager at Arvada Tavern in Arvada, Colorado has simple parameters when looking for a winter rum. here
“When I’m looking for a rum to sip on this time of year,” he says, “I just look for something unique and flavorful. Same as any time of year, really.” here
As we barrel towards the holidays, you’re probably planning on stocking up on bourbon, Scotch, rye, and other styles of whiskey. And while we’d never tell you not to do that (we love whiskey!), we would urge you not to forget about rum. Especially dark rum.
That seems straightforward enough. But which “unique and flavorful” rums are worth your money right now? We asked 10 of our favorite bartenders to shout out their picks for the best dark rums to drink neat as winter settles in. [links]
The term “dark rum” doesn’t have a legal definition, but it generally refers to rum that is dark brown in appearance due to aging or the addition of molasses or caramel coloring. Expect notes of vanilla, brown sugar, and toffee along with a bit of sweetness, which makes this type of rum an excellent choice to sip or use in a variety of cocktails. There are so many different brands to choose from, it can be overwhelming. We spoke to some industry experts to find out their top picks for the best bottles of dark rum to drink right now. here
Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here . We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. here
“Plantation Original Dark is an excellent addition to the bar,” says Chris Keller, bartender at Osaka Ramen in Denver. This bottle is a blend of rum from Barbados and Jamaica that is brought to France to age for another three to six months. “Drink with a couple of ice cubes and let the flavors of vanilla and smoke mingle with its natural sweetness,” says Keller.
[links]
See The Best Rum To Buy Online
Although sugar cane juice rum may sometimes be made in Spanish areas as well, it tends to be mostly associated with the French style. more
Overproof rums are typically made for domestic markets for mixing punches and may also be used for cooking, especially when preparing a flambé dish.
A bottle that commemorates one of the saddest days in the Royal Navy’s modern history – the day the daily ration of rum for sailors finally ended. This bottle pays homage to the old navy rums that warmed the bellies of sailors for centuries, drawing on flavours that define the islands the rum came from: tropical fruits meet ginger and fiery chilli, modulated by deep, dark cocoa. Read our full Black Tot Rum review.
This is a Guyanese rum from a mythical distillery. The bottle comes from the place that gave us demerara sugar, and it doesn’t disappoint on that front. The El Dorado 12-Year-Old marries vanilla and baking spices with dollops of burnt sugar and squeezed dark fruits. Read our full El Dorado 12-Year-Old review. [links]
Made using sugarcane molasses, rum is one of the oldest spirits in the world. It has an uncomfortable history fraught with slavery and conquest, but rum’s present and future is full of vibrancy and life. more
An award-winning rum with a pirate theme, named after the famous mutiny victim Captain Bligh. This bottle comes from the idyllic island of St Vincent, and is smooth, with vanilla and honey dominating. But, it’s also kept lively by punchy pepper and bitter coffee notes. Read our full Captain Bligh XO review.
Premium Venezuelan rum with a cult following. This distillery situated at the foot of the Andes is as at one with its environment as it is with its rum and that shows in the freshness and complexity of the product. This bottle is gentle yet punchy in the right places with vanilla and exotic fruits blanketing a layer of baking spices and muted white pepper. Read our full Diplomático Seleccion de Familia review. here
A dark rum is one that has been barrel-aged, typically for a longer period than its golden and white counterparts.