We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
The best white and dark rums for 2024
Tried and tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute
Tested by Callum BlackFood and Drink Testing Manager
As the evenings start to lighten and we approach the spring and summer months, we think your drinks trolley deserves a sunshine-ready selection of white and dark rums all year round. They're essentially summer in a glass.
So, the Good Housekeeping Institute has been busy testing a wide selection to find the very best on the market
Best rum 2024
Our love for rum is on the rise, with UK sales surpassing £1 billion annually, overtaking whisky. We asked global rum ambassador and RumFest founder Ian Burrell why he thinks the category is proving so popular right now.
"The rum category is constantly evolving, with consumers becoming increasingly curious — and in turn more knowledgeable — about the spirit." he explains. "This is likely down to its versatility, with a style suitable for every cocktail, even those that don't normally call for rum.
"You can use a heavy Jamaican rum instead of Scotch, a medium-bodied Barbados rum instead of Irish whiskey, a Venezuelan rum instead of cognac, or a light Puerto Rican rum instead of vodka."
What is the best type of rum?
Whether you prefer the light, bright notes of un-aged white rum or something darker and more decadent, there really is a rum for everyone. To help you choose the best rum for you, we’ve included our top-scoring white and dark rums below, and categorised them as follows:
- Light and uncomplicated
- Tropical and fruity
- Fruity and spicy
- Dry and spicy
- Rich and treacly
Is white rum better than dark rum?
Well that depends on how you plan to drink it. The tropical flavours of white rum are typically used to make mojitos, or simply enjoyed with a splash of juice. A good quality dark rum, however, is better suited to sipping, just as you might enjoy whisky.
Just to confuse matters, there’s also spiced rum, which is blended with additional fruit and spices.
How we test rum
Our panel – made up of 10-accredited WSET experts and rum-loving consumers – put 36 white and dark rums to the test, comparing the supermarket steals to the big-brand bottles.
Each was tried neat and blind, to avoid brand bias, allowing the full flavours to shine through. Our testers were on the lookout for smooth, easy-drinking styles, with well-balanced sweetness and an exotic array of fruit.
These are their favourites for 2024. Bring on the sunshine.
Best white rum
Score: 80/100
Tropical and fruity
With notes of rich brown sugar, coffee and chocolate, coupled with vanilla, apricot and raisins, this tropical-tinged white rum has a lot going for it. Our panel felt our winner would be best in a short cocktail — such as the classic daiquiri— to allow the complex layers to shine.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 40% |
Score: 75/100
Tropical and fruity
A mix of Caribbean rum and Cornish water, this spirit pays homage to more swashbuckling times when rum was smuggled onto UK shores. The sweet tropical fruit is pronounced, but there’s also a gentle smoky note, with some testers reminded of calvados.
And contrary to how we’d normally recommend you drink white rum, this one is so silky smooth, it’s great for sipping.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 40% |
Score: 74/100
Light and uncomplicated
When it comes to rum, Bacardi is a brand you can trust, scoring highly with our testers. Stock up in confidence, with this great-value, one-litre bottle, which displays light toffee, ripe apricot and a delicate floral note that won’t overpower other ingredients in cocktails.
Key specifications
| Volume | 1L |
|---|---|
| ABV | 37.5% |
Score: 74/100
Tropical and fruity
At 63% ABV, this fiery Jamaican rum is not for the faint hearted and comes with a bold alcoholic kick. However, the burn is beautifully balanced with tropical fruit — banana, pineapple and mango — as well as sweet molasses, biscuit and raisin. It's clear to see why it’s one of the best-selling rums in the world.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 63% |
Score: 74/100
Tropical and fruity
Replacing Diplomatico’s Blanco Reserva, this spicy white rum is also aged for six years but has a higher strength of 47% ABV compared to its predecessor. While not overly complex, our panel found the coconut flavour stood out.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 47% |
Score: 70/100
Light and uncomplicated
Looking for a simple rum for cocktails? Look no further. Budding mixologists will appreciate the mild aroma as it won’t dominate delicate mixers. However, some found the medicinal flavour slightly lacking in sweetness.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 37.5% |
Best dark rum
Score: 90/100
Rich and treacly
As the name suggests, this Panamanian rum is matured in both ex-bourbon barrels and charred American oak for over a decade.
This allows the liquid to develop decadent notes of toffee, caramel, butterscotch and banana. It's an absolute beauty, scoring top marks with our panel, and making it a must for dark rum fans.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 40% |
Score: 82/100
Dry and spicy
With notes of toffee apple, creamy vanilla, leather and dried raisins, this Nicaraguan rum needs to be sipped slowly to be fully appreciated.
As complex and rich as any whisky, you’ll find layers of flavour that slowly reveal themselves, including burnt sugar. Our testers enjoyed the long-lasting finish and silky-smooth mouthfeel.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 40% |
Score: 78/100
Fruity and spicy
Mount Gay’s Black Barrel expression is finished in heavily charred bourbon casks. The result? A fruity rum with notes of juicy apricot and raisins, some floral notes, and a peppery bite. This Bajan dark rum also has a beautiful caramel and nut aroma, which unfurls with each sip.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 43% |
Score: 78/100
Fruity and spicy
From the team behind Hayman’s Gin comes this Caribbean-distilled, but London-blended, dark rum. Short and sweet, expect a quick flash of butterscotch and brown sugar, alongside apple, pear and caramel notes.
There’s a little heat on the finish, and our panel found the flavour disappeared more quickly than they’d hoped, but it’s nevertheless a tasty option. And we think the striking bottle makes this the perfect gift.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70 |
|---|---|
| ABV | 43.1% |
Score: 75/100
Rich and treacly
Made using Philippine sugarcane, and aged for seven years, Don Papa’s small batch dark rum is on the sweeter side, and a touch syrupy, but far from being one-dimensional. Orange blossom, vanilla, cardamon and caramel make this a decadent, grown-up treat.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 40% |
Score: 72/100
Fruity and spicy
If your cocktail of choice is a pina colada, Co-op's own-brand dark rum is the spirit to stock up on. Dominican Republic and aged Barbados rum is blended with pineapple for a sweet tropical hit.
Our testers thought the smooth, golden sugar flavour would work a treat in a boozy milkshake too.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 40% |
Score: 70/100
Fruity and spicy
Both the own-brand white and dark rums from Sainsbury's impressed testers, with the latter being described as perfect with lime and coke. It’s gently spiced with ginger, dried fruit and dark sugar coming through, and while not overly complex, it’s silky smooth.
Key specifications
| Volume | 70cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 37.5% |
Score: 70/100
Dry and spicy
While not the most aromatic spirit our testers sampled, Morrisons’ dark rum is good value for using in cocktails, with notes of burnt sugar and caramel. Try it with coke for a simple every day serve.
Key specifications
| Volume | 1L |
|---|---|
| ABV | 37.5% |
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
Callum is our Food and Drink Testing Manager and has been part of the world of professional catering for 10 years, from cheffing to food manufacturing. While working in manufacturing he specialised in bespoke product and menu development for several start-ups and well-known brands such as Wrap It Up! and HOP Vietnamese. He holds the WSET Level 2 in wine, a Level 3 in spirits and has a particular interest in agave spirits.
The best summer wine deals to shop now
The best afternoon teas in London
8 best fruit and veg delivery boxes for 2025
12 best flavoured gins, expert tested
