In a world dominated by traditional spirits, non-alcoholic spirits are gaining popularity, offering a chance to savor the flavors without the alcohol content and nasty hangover.
So whether you’re the designated driver or simply seeking a guilt-free indulgence, we’ve explored the finest products to bring you this ultimate guide.
Get ready for a delightful journey of flavors and discover the best non-alcoholic rum that captures the essence of the classic spirit without compromising taste.
Top 12 Best Non Alcoholic Rums To Try
12. Ceder’s Classic Non-Alcoholic Spirits
Average Price: around $25
Nose: Oak and ginger aroma
Palate: Smooth mouthfeel with oak and nutty flavors
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Why We Like It: Ceder’s offers a line of non-alcoholic spirits with different flavors to cater to the taste buds of their consumers with health concerns.
“Unleash a mocktail paradise, savor Best Non Alcoholic Rum’s charm.” – Liquor Laboratory
While these products are non-alcoholic gin substitutes, we still love how they provide a refreshing twist and herbaceous profile to our favorite cocktail drinks.
Read: Recommended Rums For Rum & Coke Cocktail
11. ArKay Alcohol-Free Rum
Average Price: around $45
Nose: Subtle cloves and brown sugar notes
Palate: Toasted spice, star anise, and ripe banana
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why We Like It: This alcohol-free rum is one of those bottles that gets stuck at the back of our storage, making us regret not having it a bit earlier.
It offers all the goods of an alcoholic rum without a hangover. Its smoothness and mellow taste makes it an ideal alcohol-free rum replacement for any occasion.
10. Monday Zero Alcohol Rum
Average Price: around $45
Nose: Sweet tobacco aroma and tropical fruits
Palate: Burnt caramel, mocha, and roasted coffee
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why We Like It: Monday Zero alcohol offers a delightful non-alcoholic rum alternative for classic cocktails like Daiquiris and Dark ‘n’ Stormy.
This non-alcoholic rum, paired with tropical fruit and spices, makes us feel the Caribbean spirit whenever we use it on our favorite rum-based cocktail recipes.
9. Sans Bar Summer Carnivàle (White Rum Substitute)
Average Price: around $40
Nose: Light tropical with hints of citrus
Palate: Coconut-forward and vibrant
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why We Like It: A delightful alcohol-free rum from Australia, this white rum substitute is perfect for crafting tropical mocktails like Pina Colada, Rum Punch, and Mojito.
As one of the best alternatives, we can now enjoy reunions with old friends and colleagues without alcohol.
It is a must-try non-alcoholic rum with low sugar content that tastes like traditional rum but without the headache.
But what are the top rum drinks to bring to the beach?
8. Sans Bar Caribbean Getaway (Dark Rum Substitute)
Average Price: around $40
Nose: Smokey, charred oak
Palate: Smooth golden caramel taste, cayenne pepper
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why We Like It: Surprisingly, this dark rum alternative tastes like the alcoholic version, if not better. It has a softer and smoother profile that still captures the essence of the classic rum.
It is not just an alternative but a guilt-free indulgence if you prefer dark rum without alcohol.
7. Fluère Non-Alcoholic Spiced Cane Dark Roast
Average Price: around $40
Nose: Roasted coffee and chocolate
Palate: Sugarcane, citrus, and spices
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why We Like It: This Fluère Spiced Cane bottle pairs perfectly with ginger beer and lime juice. But it also works excellent when crafting a refreshing non-alcoholic Old Fashioned cocktail.
Using rum in old fashioned is a simple twist to the usual whiskey base spirit used for this cocktail [1]. And honestly, this alcohol-free rum tastes better in cocktails than drinking it straight.
Read: Non-Alcoholic Vodka Alternatives
6. Naked Life Spiced Caribbean Dry & Lime
Average Price: around $40
Nose: Strong alcohol smell
Palate: Brown sugar, vanilla, and warm spices
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why We Like It: We really like the alcoholic aroma of this spiced Caribbean rum because it makes us feel like we are drinking the real deal.
The spirit delivers exciting rum flavors, especially with other ingredients like pineapple juice, simple syrup, and coconut milk for a pina colada. But what’s the best alcoholic rum for pina coladas?
5. Caleño Dark & Spicy
Average Price: around $30
Nose: Pineapple and other tropical aromas
Palate: Coconut notes and caramel hints
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why We Like It: Caleño Dark & Spicy is a remarkable alcohol-free drink that skillfully elevates classic cocktails like Mojitos and Dark and Stormy.
This alcohol-free rum alternative with zero alcohol content can help create a sophisticated non-alcoholic cocktail drink with lemon juice, soda water, or ginger beer.
Read: Top Non-Alcoholic Tequilas
4. Sea Arch Coastal Juniper Non-Alcoholic Spirit
Average Price: around $30
Nose: Strong juniper aroma
Palate: Citrusy with subtle saltiness
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why We Like It: This alcohol-free drink with crisp and well-balanced flavors is another favorite.
The refreshing coastal botanical notes of Sea Arch make it an excellent choice for elevating your alcohol-free mixed drinks. However, this one is challenging to find in the United States.
3. ISH Spirits Non-Alcoholic Rum, Caribbean Spiced Spirit
Average Price: around $35
Nose: Light aroma
Palate: Very spicy flavor and Madagascar vanilla notes
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why We Like It: This spiced rum embodies the essence of the Caribbean, elevating alcohol-free cocktail drinks, even for health-conscious drinkers. We usually add ginger beer with this non-alcoholic rum to enjoy a refreshing and delightful drink.
ISH is another company that offers alcohol-free beverages like spiced rum alternatives, branding their products as “GinISH” and “RumISH,” along with other non-alcoholic drinks, like wines and cocktails [2].
2. Ritual Zero Proof Rum Alternative
Average Price: around $30
Nose: Strong dark rum and alcohol smell
Palate: Warm vanilla and cinnamon-forward flavors
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why We Like It: This drink is an award-winning, healthy, and alcohol-free rum substitute that will delight your taste buds. At first, we thought that this non-alcoholic spirit contained alcohol in it because of the strong smell.
But zero-proof means it has no alcohol, and its taste is like a watered-down rum version. Ritual Spirits deliver that kick and strong aftertaste of an alcoholic drink, but we prefer it more in cocktails than drinking it neat.
Read: Recommended Non-alcoholic Gins
1. Lyre’s White Cane Spirit & Spiced Cane Spirit
Average Price: around $36
Nose: Fresh sugarcane with citrus hints (White Cane), toasted nuts with warm spices (Spiced Cane)
Palate: Crisp and sugarcane forward (White Cane), warm with tastes of aromatic spices (Spiced Cane)
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why We Like It: Lyre’s White Cane and Spiced Cane Spirits are two of the best alcohol-free substitutes for rum that we have ever tried. They taste just like the real thing, which we were pleasantly surprised by.
If you want the light and subtle sweetness of rum, go for the White Cane. But if you want the warming spice of Spiced Rum, then the Spiced Cane Spirit is the answer.
Note: Average prices are based on the official product websites. The star rating was determined based on a blind test, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. Each product was evaluated on its overall quality, flavor profile, complexity, smoothness, and overall enjoyment.
Our Taste Test Criteria
Taste & Flavor Profile
Our team considers taste the most important category when ranking non-alcoholic rums. Rum is an alcoholic drink with various styles but is usually used for many cocktail drinks [3].
NielsenIQ’s data shows the market for non-alcoholic beer, wine, and spirits grew more than 20% last year — and more than 120% over the last three years.” – Greg Rosalsky, Reporter and Writer
The two offerings of Lyre’s get the most votes during our tasting.
Smoothness
Although we love having rum in cocktails, we also appreciate drinking it straight. Non-alcoholic rum alternatives with velvety, smooth textures with no harsh aftertastes are given high points.
Versatility
Making mocktails, or non-alcoholic cocktails, are made with the same ingredients and process as a regular spirit [4]. And for an alcohol-free rum, it should go well with tropical flavors and other mixers like orange juice, soda water, lime juice, and bitters, and even when added with crushed ice.
Price & Value
Although we have added the price to our categories, it only has a few points because these non-alcoholic spirits are much more expensive than those alcoholic products.
Quality of Ingredients
As mentioned, the non-alcoholic rum brands we have discussed here are a bit pricier than the alcoholic spirits we can find in the market. That’s why we needed to recommend products that will give you value for your money.
The quality of ingredients of each non-alcoholic spirit should be top-notch to guarantee the actual flavors of the alcoholic rum drink.
FAQs
Is there a non-alcoholic drink that tastes like rum?
Yes, various non-alcoholic drinks that taste like rum are widely available now. These drinks are usually made of natural flavors, glucose syrup, molasses, or sugarcane juice.
Is there a zero-alcohol rum?
Yes, a zero-alcohol rum imitates all the rum’s flavors without the headache and intoxication. You can also use these beverages in classic rum cocktails, like a Smoke Robin, Mai Tais, or Rum Punch.
What can I replace rum with non-alcoholic?
You can replace the rum with other non-alcoholic alternatives like orange juice, vanilla extract, and molasses. But you must adjust your recipes because these ingredients have different consistency and subtle flavors.
What is a good substitute for rum?
Vodka and whiskey are suitable substitutes for rum if you are looking for distilled spirits. But for non-alcoholic counterparts, various brands like the ones on our list are ideal substitutes for this alcoholic drink.
Where do you buy non-alcoholic rum?
You can buy non-alcoholic rum in local grocery stores, online retailers, specialty liquor stores, or directly from the brand’s website. But how much rum can get you drunk?
Can non-alcoholic Rum be used in cocktails?
Yes, non-alcoholic rum can be used in a variety of cocktails and mixed drinks as a substitute for traditional rum. It allows individuals to enjoy classic rum-based cocktails without the effects of alcohol.
What are some cocktails I can make with non-alcoholic Rum?
Cocktails such as virgin piña coladas, mojitos, daiquiris, and mai tais can be made using non-alcoholic rum. These drinks offer the same tropical and refreshing flavors associated with traditional rum cocktails.
Does non-alcoholic Rum have the same flavor profile as traditional Rum?
Non-alcoholic rum is formulated to replicate the flavor profile of traditional rum as closely as possible. While it may not be identical, it offers a similar taste experience without the alcoholic content.
Key Takeaways
Rum is a distilled spirit primarily produced in the Caribbean and Latin America. It used to be a part of the daily ration to the British Navy, but now, it was more associated with mixed drinks and cocktails.
Classic spirits like rum usually contain 40% ABV, making it easy for people to get intoxicated even with a small amount. That’s why health-conscious individuals are now focusing on the alcohol-free alternatives of rum.
These beverages won’t let you miss out on the fun of gathering and catching up with your friends but without the nasty hangover.
References:
- https://www.thespruceeats.com/rum-old-fashioned-recipe-5096011
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2022/06/22/delicious-drink-without-buzz-non-alcoholic-beverages-rise/9119514002/
- https://www.insider.com/guides/kitchen/what-is-rum
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mocktail#
