Last Updated on March 1, 2024 by Lydia Martin
Nothing beats a tasty rum and Coke mixed that has silky and spicy Jamaican rum. No matter the occasion, Jamaican rum mixed drinks will never leave you feeling unsatisfied.
And in the rum category, most Jamaican rums are exceptional. So if you’re looking for something new for your next party, check our list of the best Jamaican rum brands you should try.
Top 12 Must-Try Best Jamaican Rums
12. Smith & Cross Traditional Jamaican Rum
Average Price: Approximately $33 per 750ml (Drizly & TotalWine)
Alcohol Content: 57% ABV
Why We Like It: As one of the heaviest pot still rums available, it will surely bring you back to the 19th-century Jamaican spirit. The cane juice, molasses, and sugar syrup are sourced from the Hampden Estate mill and distilled from the same distillery.
Its clear and bright golden yellowish color is attractive, with an aroma of black pepper, tobacco, and cinnamon that creates a tingling hit. The flavors of tropical fruits, ester, clove spice, brown sugar, and vanilla are well-balanced.
11. John Crow Batty Rum
Average Price: Approximately $49.99 per 750ml (Taljaimaicanbox)
Alcohol Content: 80% ABV
Why We Like It: John Crow Batty Rum is one of the best Jamaican brands among other white overproof brands. Given its high alcohol content, this rum is perfect if you’re looking for something substantial to complement your cocktail or for sipping alone.
But remember, drink this rum with caution and make you also have a strong stomach and alcohol tolerance.
And just a quick fact, John Crow is Jamaica’s version of moonshine. So if you love moonshine, you must try John Crow Batty Rum now.
10. Appleton Estate
Average Price: Approximately $22.99 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV
Why We Like It: One of the senior and prominent brands in Jamaica is Appleton Estate. Since 1997, Masters Distiller Joy Spence, has led the company, using the “cane-to-cocktail” ideology.
This means that Appleton is responsible for everything from sugarcane harvesting and distillation to rum blending and aging.
What we like about Appleton Estate is its wide range of collections – from their signature spirits aged 8 years, 12 years, 15 years, and 21 years to seasonal limited-edition rum blends. Also, Appleton Estate is great for making cocktails.
9. Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum
Average Price: Approximately $25.97 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 63% ABV
Why We Like It: Wray & Nephew, the sister company of Appleton Estates, was established by a businessman and bar owner, John Wray, in 1825.
The overproof white rum has a whopping 63% ABV and is conventionally served and mixed with grapefruit soda and a dash of water. If you love Tiki cocktails, little drops of the overproof Jamaica rum are an excellent addition.
8. Hampden Estate
Average Price: Approximately $64.99 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 23% to 60% ABV
Why We Like It: The rums from Hampden Estate are crafted using pure spring water and wild fermentation within the pot stills. You can expect distinct funky flavors due to high esters levels (a compound in their rums produced during fermentation).
Notably, Hampden Estate Pure Single, 84 proof, with notes of tropical flavors, spices, and smoke, the brand’s flagship spirit.
If you’re feeling particularly daring, try the brand’s White Overproof Rum, with 60% ABV — featuring intense cherry, spice, and wood flavors. Plus, the Hampden Estate Pure Single and Overproof Rum are as unique as they come.
7. Blackwell Rum
Average Price: Approximately $23.75 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV
Why We Like It: One of the best Jamaican rum brands is Blackwell Rum, founded by Chris Blackwell of Island Records Fame. The Blackwell Rum is distilled, blended, and bottled by Wray & Nephew in an old family rum recipe style.
Expert’s Theory: Wray & Nephew and Appleton Estates were allegedly owned by Blackwell’s mother’s family at some point in their histories.
Their Jamaican Gold Black Rum has a sweet caramel taste with tropical fruits, molasses, and spices. So, this makes Blackwell Rum the best Jamaican spirit, perfect for the Passion Fruit Hurricane.
6. Myers’s Rum
Average Price: Approximately $25.99 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV
Why We Like It: Myers’ Original Dark Rum is a buttery and black rum very different from other rums due to its warm feel.
Owned by the Sazerac Company, Myers’s Rum uses 100% molasses [1] from Jamaica, fermented, then distilled and aged using white oak barrels.
Myers’s Rum is more widely available of the brand’s two rums (with Platinum White rum). What you’ll surely love about this dark rum is its complex relish with tones of sweet caramel, dark chocolate, and honey.
It is ideal for cocktails such as Planter’s Punch and Dark ‘N’ Stormy.
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5. Rum-Bar Rum
Average Price: Approximately $27.63 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV
Why We Like It: Rum Bar is relatively a newcomer, established in 2007. It is crafted by the Worthy Park Estate, located in Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica.
You can select from their wide variety of spirits – from their Gold, Silver, and White Overproof rums. All are distilled using copper pot stills sourced from Scotland.
Besides, Rum Bar introduces its Gold Rum, which goes ahead due to its (at least) four-year aging process using bourbon barrels. It mellows out the banana and apple flavors, with vanilla notes, within this Rum Bar spirit.
4. Hamilton Rum
Average Price: Approximately $27.99 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 46.5% ABV
Why We Like It: Hamilton Rum, Worthy Park distilled, is crafted by Ed Hamilton, a webmaster, rum importer, and author of Ministry of Rum.
The Hamilton Rum introduces three Jamaican rums: Jamaican Pimento Dram, Jamaican Pot Still Gold Rum, and Jamaican Pot Still Black Rum. These rums were developed after consulting bartenders, bar owners, and local liquor store owners across the US.
You’ll love the Black Hamilton Rum, which gives a strong aroma – brightened with black sugar-based double-strength caramel.
Liqueur Pimento Dram, in particular, is a blended allspice or Jamaica Pimento, raw sugar, and pot still rum to add a specialness to rum cocktails and punches.
3. Monymusk Plantation Rum
Average Price: Approximately $32.99 per 750ml (Totalwine)
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV
Why We Like It: Clarendon distillery, a massive, modern distillery partly owned by the parent company of Captain Morgan, crafts Monymusk rums.
National Rums of Jamaica runs Monymusk, a shared venture between two private companies and a branch of the Jamaican government.
The most exciting part is that Monymusk introduces three Jamaican rums: Special Reserve, Classic Gold Rum, and Special Gold Rum – rum-aged for at least two years using American oak barrels.
This Special Gold rum is on the lighter and sweeter side among the Gold Rums, with notes of fruit, orange, and caramel.
Then, the Monymusk’s Special Reserve rum is aged for ten years, resulting in a spicy, rich vanilla, and caramel palate. You can definitely enjoy its smoothness on the rocks or on its own.
2. Royal Jamaican Spiced Rum
Average Price: Approximately $22.99 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV
Why We Like It: One of the best Jamaican rums, the Royal Jamaican Spiced Rum is a molasses-type of rum made from sugar cane and aged in oak barrels on the island. This is delectable on its own or with your favorite mixer.
The caramel-ly background is silky smooth, and you can expect a charred honey aroma with spicy and wood smoke notes. The finish is undoubtedly satisfying, with honeysuckle notes soon after.
This is one of the best Jamaican rum brands, especially if you’re a fan of honey-infused yet spicy and smoky spirits. Also, if you’ve tried Appleton Estate before, the Royal Jamaican Spiced Rum has subtly more columns on a lighter side.
1. Worthy Park 109
Average Price: Approximately $27.99 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 54.4% ABV
Why We Like It: The most highly recommended and one of the best Jamaican spirits is the Worthy Park 109.
It is crafted to be your go-to spirit if you want a high-proof, flavorful, and full-bodied 100% pot still rum. This dark-aged rum is matured in wooden oak casks and bottled at 54.4% ABV to add robust flavors and strength to your favorite cocktails.
Every drinker would surely love this Jamaica-crafted spirit as this is a blend of up to 3 years old rum aged in ex-bourbon casks with American white oak.
Worthy Parks’ dark rums feature deep undertones, and the palate and nose contain banana, orange, pineapple, and tropical fruit fragrances.
FAQs
Why is Jamaican rum so good?
Jamaican rum is so good due to its intense flavors and aroma. It emphasizes tropical fruits such as bananas and pineapple.
The good flavors of the best Jamaican rum brands are derived from the wild fermentation process and components like muck, cane acid, and dunder, which other rum brands do not use in their rum-making process.
What rum is only sold in Jamaica?
The rum you can only buy in Jamaica is the Wray & Nephew White Rum. It embodies the reputation of being the best in the world and is an integral part of island life.
Can you drink Jamaican rum straight?
Yes, you can drink Jamaican rum straight. But we suggest drinking it with a splash of water (or coconut water) and a lime slice. Alternatively, you can enjoy it neat.
Does Jamaican rum get you drunk?
Yes, Jamaican rum can get drunk. And you can feel the intoxication fast when your BAC levels are high, if you have an improper sleeping pattern, or drink on an empty stomach.
Why are Jamaican rums funky?
The Jamaican rum is funky because it contains a wide array of unique aromas from organic compounds that are referred to as “esters [2].” The bouquets may vary from tropical ripe fruit tones to overripeness.
What makes Jamaican rum unique?
Jamaican rum is often fermented using special yeast strains and distilled in traditional pot stills, resulting in a robust and flavorful spirit with a complex aroma and taste.
What are some popular Jamaican rum brands?
Some popular Jamaican rum brands known for their quality and flavor include Appleton Estate, Wray & Nephew, Hampden Estate, and Smith & Cross.
Can Jamaican rum be enjoyed neat or in cocktails?
Yes! Jamaican rum can be enjoyed neat to savor its complex flavors, or used as a base spirit in cocktails such as Mai Tais, Rum Punch, and Dark ‘n’ Stormy.
Final Verdict
If you’re confused with all the available rums in the market, this list of the best Jamaican rum should provide you with some great ideas.
Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned rum drinker, you’ll find something you can enjoy here. But we suggest trying them all out for yourself. All are delicious, historical, and crafted-wise.
References:
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318719
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/ester
