What Are The Finest (And Most Expensive) Rums in The World?

Rum is one of the world's most prized spirits. Historically linked to the age of pirates, both for its provenance (the best come from the Caribbean) and for the supplies stored on ships sailing the seven seas during the era of great voyages. Rum, a distillate obtained from sugar cane or molasses, boasts a fascinating history and an unmistakable flavor. Let's take a look at the world's most expensive and prized rums.

From The Sugar Cane to Your Glass

Sugarcane is grown in tropical and subtropical climates. The juice extracted from the cane is fermented to obtain must, which is then distilled to make rum. The product can be aged or not, and this process gives the rum an amber color and a more complex flavor.

There are different types of rum, each with its own distinctive characteristics:

• Light or white rum: This type of rum is generally aged for a short time or not at all. It has a fresh, light flavor, ideal for cocktails like mojitos, daiquiris, and Cuba libres.
• Golden rum: This rum has been aged in wooden barrels for a variable length of time, giving it a golden color. It has a more complex flavor than light rum, with notes of vanilla, caramel, and spice. It's excellent enjoyed neat or in cocktails like Rum Punch.
• Dark rum: Aged longer than gold rum, dark rum has a deeper color and a rich, intense flavor. The barrels it's aged in can be made of various types of wood, such as oak and mahogany, which contribute to its characteristic aromas of dried fruit, chocolate, and tobacco. It's perfect for enjoying neat or as a base for robust cocktails like the Mai Tai.
• Rum agricole: This rum is made using fresh sugarcane juice instead of molasses. It's typically produced in the French Caribbean islands, such as Martinique, and has a citrusy, earthy flavor. It's beloved by enthusiasts for its complexity and unique character.
• Spiced rum: This type of rum is flavored with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and other aromatics. It has a warm and enveloping taste, perfect for winter cocktails.

These are just a few of the different types of rum available, and each offers a unique tasting experience. Whether you're a cocktail lover or a tasting enthusiast, there's a rum to suit every occasion and palate.

What Are The Most Expensive and Valuable Rums in The World?

The most expensive rum in the world is undoubtedly the El Dorado Grand Special Reserve Rum, launched in 2016 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Guyana's independence from Britain: it costs $500,000. It is also one of the most valuable (and rightly so), and its price is also based on an 18-karat gold medallion.

In second place is something unique: the oldest surviving case of rum, dating back to 1780, sold for $128,000. The product appears to have been distilled in Barbados and comes from one of the 47 plantations worked by thousands of slaves where Edward Lascelles, the first Earl of Harewood, lived.

In third place is a Jamaican rum from 1915, bottled in 1940: its value (26,000 dollars) is due to its rarity as only four bottles of Wray and Nephew Rum exist. Just off the podium is Legacy by Angostura, created to celebrate Trinidad & Tobago‘s 50th anniversary of independence in 2012. It costs 25,000 dollars and is sold in a luxury package with a stopper and decanter made by Asprey of London, jeweler to the Prince of Wales.

Interesting, however, is the case of the British Navy, which has bottles of Jamaican rum produced up until 1970: they cost 3,000 dollars each and were last opened at the wedding of Prince Andrew, the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Prince Philip.

Among the most expensive bottles in the world is a very well-known brand: Havana Club Maximo Extra rum, one of the best-selling rum brands, is an "ultra-premium" blend of rums of different ages. It comes in a crystal decanter and is limited to just one thousand bottles, priced at $1,700 each.

There's also an Italian bottle among the most expensive in the world: the Caroni 1974 costs around $1166 (€1,000). It's only Italian by brand, though: the rum is Caribbean and arrived on the market almost by accident. Luca Velier, owner of the well-known liquor distributor, found several cases of an old rum in the abandoned Caroni warehouses in Trinidad, which, upon analysis, proved to be truly excellent. About 10 years ago, we experienced a sort of Caroni mania, and now it's one of the most sought-after premium rums in large cocktail bars around the world.