The 10 Best Caribbean Rums for Any Budget [Expert Picks]

Written by Taster's Club Internal Team | Updated July 2025

1. Foursquare Rum Distillery Convocation

Foursquare Rum Distillery has revolutionized modern rum production with an outstanding bottle that’s perfect for any spirits collection. The distillers do this by combining traditional pot still methods with column distillation techniques. What sets Foursquare apart is their refusal to add sugar or artificial flavoring which leaves the natural character of the rum to push through. This approach has earned them countless awards accordingly.

Tasting Notes: The nose opens with rich vanilla, coconut, and other tropical fruit. The palate presents layers of caramel, banana, and warm baking spices. With a long and satisfying finish.

Region: Barbados | ABV: 62.0% | 750ml

2. Hampden Estate 8 Year Old Rum

Hampden Estate is known for crafting high-ester rums (help with flavor and aroma) that reflect centuries of Jamaican tradition. This 8 Year Old rum is created using wild fermentation, natural spring water, and copper pot stills. A truly traditional process. It’s then aged in the tropical climate for that developed and sought after taste.

Tasting Notes: This bottle opens on the nose with bold notes of banana, pineapple, and other tropical fruit with earthy hints. The palate opens robustly with intense fruit flavors, black pepper, and exotic spices balanced by oak. The finish is powerful and persistent.

Region: Jamaica | ABV: 46.0% | 750ml

3. Diplomático Rum Reserva Exclusiva

Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva is crafted at Venezuela's renowned Diplomático Distillery. This distillery enjoys a unique microclimate that accelerates aging and makes it unique among top Caribbean rums. This particular bottle features a blend of rums aged up to 12 years in small oak barrels. Their traditional column stills and pot stills work in harmony to create a rum that's both elegant and full of character, making it a perfect gateway into premium Caribbean rum.

Tasting Notes: The nose you’ll get honey, vanilla, and dried fruit with subtle floral notes. The palate then presents rich flavors of toffee, orange peel, and warm spices. The finish is smooth and warming, with lingering oak spices.

Region: Venezuela | ABV: 40.0% | 750ml

4. Appleton Estate Black River Casks 15 Year

The Appleton Estate Black River Casks 15 Year celebrates over 270 years of rum craftsmanship. It gets its name after the Black River which is a vital water source for the distillery. The rum is then crafted and aged for a minimum of 15 years in American oak barrels to develop that sought after complexity. Perfect for sipping or a complex cocktail.

Tasting Notes: Rich aromas of coffee, dark chocolate, and dried fruit are present on the nose with emerging hints of tobacco and spice. The palate then delivers layers of molasses, orange zest, and hints of oak and vanilla. The finish is long and satisfying.

Region: Jamaica | ABV: 43.0% | 750ml

5. Ron Zacapa Rum Solera Gran Reserva 23

This Caribbean rum selection uses a unique solera aging system borrowed from sherry production. Ron Zacapa Rum Solera Gran Reserva 23 benefits from cool temperatures and low humidity that allow for gentle maturation, as it’s aged high in the mountains at 2,300 meters above sea level. The complex blending process includes younger rums that are gradually introduced to older ones for that incredible depth.

Tasting Notes: The nose opens with luxurious aromas of dried fruit, honey, and nuts with hints of vanilla. On the palate, you’re comforted with deep flavors of fig, raisin, and caramel blended with warm spices. The finish is exceptionally long with lingering notes of dried fruit and oak.

Region: Guatemala | ABV: 40.0% | 750ml

6. Rhum JM Terroir Volcanique

Rhum JM's Terroir Volcanique highlights the unique process of sourcing from different areas, the concept of terroir. This rhum agricole is crafted from estate-grown sugarcane where it’s pressed within an hour of harvest for freshness. The distillers then use a copper column still, the rum is distilled and aged in French oak barrels for that unique Caribbean taste and uniqueness from the ageing process.

Tasting Notes: The nose uniquely presents fresh grass, citrus, and floral notes. The palate then presents tasteful sugarcane flavors, tropical fruit, and spice. The finish is clean and lingering with notes of citrus, herbs, and volcanic minerality.

Region: Martinique | ABV: 43.0% | 750ml

7. Planteray Rum XO 20th Anniversary

Planteray Rum's XO 20th Anniversary is a true testament to rum blending. It combines carefully selected rums from Barbados aged in both the Caribbean and France regions. This double-aging process, known as "double maturation," allows the rum to develop incredible complexity. Each climate plays an influence in its characteristics. The French aging in cognac barrels adds elegant notes and sophistication. While the Caribbean aging provides tropical character and a unique sipping experience.

Tasting Notes: This rum has deep notes of vanilla, honey, and dried fruit on the nose. The palate opens with complimentary layers of caramel and warm spices that’s balanced by oak tannins. The finish is long and sophisticated, with notes of fruit and spice.

Region: Barbados | ABV: 40.0% | 750ml

8. El Dorado Rum Aged 15 Years

Guyana's El Dorado Distillery preserves rum-making history through their unique collection and use of antique wooden stills. Some even date back over 300 years! This bottle specifically showcases rums distilled in these historic Enmore and Diamond stills. These stills impart unique characteristics to the blend, while tropical aging in Guyana’s humid climate enhances its depth.

Tasting Notes: The nose offers rich aromas of toffee, dried fruit, and spice. On the palate, flavors of molasses, orange peel, and warm spices blend with oak and vanilla. The finish is warming and complex, with lingering notes of fruit, spice, and gentle oak tannins.

Region: Guyana | ABV: 40.0% | 750ml

9. Dos Maderas Rum 5+5

This unique rum begins its journey in Barbados, where it's aged for five years in American oak barrels before being shipped to Spain for an additional five years in sherry casks. The Spanish climate and sherry barrel influence create a rum unlike any other. The result is a complex spirit that showcases how different aging environments can transform rum, creating layers of flavor that evolve with each sip.

Tasting Notes: The nose opens with notes of nuts, dried fruit, and sherry with slight hints of vanilla and spice. The palate delivers a complex flavor with raisin, honey, and warm spices. The finish is long and satisfying with elegant sherry characteristics.

Region: Caribbean | ABV: 40.0% | 750ml

10. Myrtle Bank 10 Year Old Jamaican Rum

Myrtle Bank is a tribute to one of Jamaica's most iconic rum brands and was originally established in the late 19th century. This specific bottle honors the distillery’s legacy with a 10-Year-Old rum that embodies the essence of traditional Jamaican rum-making. The journey begins with copper pot stills, the rum then matures in the tropical climate for that robust character. What sets this bottle apart is its high-ester content, showcasing the bold, funky "hogo" profile. A hallmark of Jamaican rum heritage.

Tasting Notes: On the nose, expect vibrant aromas of tropical fruits and molasses. The palate delivers intense complexity with layers of spice and earthy undertones. The finish is long and bold, with a lingering hint of funk and oak.

Region: Jamaica | ABV: 60.0% | 750ml