Rum: a spirit that comes in a range of styles and plays a key part in some of the world’s most adored drinks. We’re talking the Mojito, the Daiquiri, and the Piña Colada. But don’t stop there: the spirit continues to gain more followers who are interested in sipping and savouring the drink in its pure, neat form. And there’s an increasing array of exceptional rums from all over the world to try, with Gold-and-Silver medal winners in abundance at the IWSC 2023.
Sugar cane remains the key base ingredient wherever the drink is made, be that in the form of molasses or sugar-cane juice (the latter used to make rhum agricole). Molasses can be made into almost all styles of rum, from white to golden, dark and spiced – and below we’ve gathered up some of the best rum made from molasses, with 16 bottles that stole the show at this year’s IWSC.
There was Desert Diamond Distillery’s Gold Miner 11 YO Barrel Reserve Rum, a spirit from Arizona with a near-perfect score of 99/100 and which judges described as ‘heavenly’. Among other standouts were a handful of spirits backed by Scottish producers – from Matugga’s Mavuno 2022 to two expressions from Holyrood Distillery, sourced from Guyana but matured in Edinburgh. And Black Tot Master Blender’s Reserve Rum took the trophy for the category thanks to its complex, fruity and chocolatey palate.
For top examples of white and dark rums made from molasses from this year’s IWSC, read on.
HOW DO WE JUDGE THESE SPIRITS?
We run a tightly structured, rigorous spirits tasting process. That means that each spirit sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges. Most importantly, our IWSC spirit judges are experts in their field, who work across all sectors of the drinks industry. For evidence, see our full list of judges.
HOW DO WE SCORE THESE SPIRITS?
Only the best spirits sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, spirits have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver wines range from 90 to 94 points. Click here to read more on our scoring system.
MORE FROM CLUB OENOLOGIQUE
Club O is a premium lifestyle publication for curious and discerning wine and spirits lovers. Renowned for inspiring stories and trusted expertise, we connect people to the joys of the world, through the lens of wine, spirits and other interesting drinks. Based in London, our team of expert writers seek out thoughtful stories that introduce our readers to new people, places, drinking discoveries and insights, as well as exploring fresh perspectives on familiar themes. Membership to The Collection offers exclusive access to leading critics’ tasting reports, scores, tastings and events, especially tailored to collectors and investors. Our flagship Club Oenologique magazine offers even more insights for enthusiasts and collectors.
16 award-winning rums to try
