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Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The World's Best White Rums, According To The SF World Spirits Competition
The Unaged Rum Finalists From The 2025 SFWSC Photo, courtesy Tasting Alliance/San Francisco World Spirits Competition Five rums are finalists for the World's Best Unaged Rum at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The SFWSC is one of the world's most prestigious spirit judging events, and both consumers and the beverage industry closely follow its results. Below are brief backgrounds and tasting notes for the finalists. Burdekin Rum is a small-batch, Australian craft, Jamaica-style rum distilled in Queensland. The Coral Sea Strength edition is a high-proof unaged rum. It's made from molasses, distilled on a pot still, and designed to highlight the raw, estery potential of Queensland sugarcane. The rum is fruity and briny on the nose, featuring green banana, overripe pineapple, molasses funk, and a hint of coastal salinity. It's robust and full-bodied on the palate, with a rich oily mouthfeel. It exhibits layers of tropical fruit, white pepper, herbaceous and grassy notes, and burnt sugar. The finish is long and fruity, with lingering notes of fermented or oxidized fruit, a hint of minerality, and a funky, estery tang. Oak House Distillery, based in Gainesville, Georgia, produces Silver Rum from 100% molasses. Distilled in small batches, it's crafted to be a mixable, slightly fruity white rum with a subtle flavor profile and minimal burn, ideal for rum-based cocktails. The rum is ester-forward and aromatic on the nose, featuring vanilla sugar, coconut cream, honey, tropical fruits, especially banana, and digestive biscuits. It's smooth and balanced on the palate, expressing molasses and candied/marshmallow sweetness, almond and tropical fruit. The finish is long and slightly sweet, with lingering notes of earth and fruit. Dark and Stormy Rum Cocktail with Lime and Ginger Beer getty Based in Washington, D.C., Cotton & Reed produces this pot-stilled white rum using a wild yeast fermentation of grade-A molasses. According to the company, 'the rum is designed to capture fermentation complexity' and showcases the distillery's signature estery, bold character. The rum is herbaceous and estery, featuring Rhum Agricole-style notes of fresh and oxidized apple, ripe plantain, lemongrass, and funky, overripe melon. It's aromatic and slightly estery, with a funky note on the palate, exhibiting brown sugar, citrus, pineapple, and a hint of earthy funk. The finish is medium-length, with lingering fruit notes and a touch of wet stone minerality. Ten To One is a Caribbean rum brand founded by Marc Farrell. The brand has been a perennial medalist in international spirit competitions. This expression is a blend of Dominican Republic and Jamaican rums. It's non-chill filtered, unaged, with no added sugar or additives, and showcases a combination of Jamaican funk and Dominican smoothness in a versatile, premium white rum. The rum is aromatic and fruity on the nose, featuring tropical fruit with hints of pineapple, lychee, lemon peel, and fresh-cut grass, layered over persistent but subtle molasses aromas. On the palate, it's lightly funky, with a layered complexity exhibiting guava, white pepper, coconut, and citrus zest flavors. The finish is dry and crisp, with a slightly peppery backdrop and lingering fruit notes. Planteray (formerly Plantation) 3 Stars is a blend of unaged and lightly aged rums from Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad. It's charcoal filtered to maintain a clear appearance. Each island contributes a unique component: fruitiness from Barbados, funk from Jamaica, and crisp lightness from Trinidad. The rum is very aromatic on the nose, featuring banana peel, vanilla, citrus oil, and a hint of herbaceous grassiness. It has a light to medium body on the palate, showcasing notes of brown sugar, apple, tropical fruit, white chocolate, and a hint of funky esters from the Jamaican component. The finish is long and crisp, with lingering fruity and spicy notes. White rums are typically used as a cocktail base, but these rums offer a degree of layered and nuanced complexity that would make them equally adaptable for cocktails or enjoyed straight up. Stylistically, they run the gamut from traditional, column-distilled molasses-based rum to more Rhum Agricole-style rums, featuring a range of flavors from fruity to Jamaican-style funk. If you're a rum enthusiast, there's bound to be a rum here that you'll enjoy.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The World's Best Aged Rums, According To The SF World Spirits Competition
The Aged Rum Finalists From The 2025 SFWSC Five rums are finalists for the World's Best Aged Rum at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The SFWSC is one of the world's most prestigious spirit judging events, and both consumers and the beverage industry closely follow its results. Below are brief backgrounds and tasting notes for the finalists. Jamaica's Worthy Park Estate has been distilling rum since 1741 and is renowned for its molasses-based, 100% pot still rums. The Select Rum is a lightly aged expression, typically matured for 4–6 years in ex-bourbon barrels at the estate. It's a classic Jamaican pot still rum. The rum is bold and expressive on the nose, featuring ripe banana, molasses, baking spice, and a hint of funky overripe mango. It's rich and robust on the palate, showcasing layers of tropical fruit, vanilla, caramel, and charred oak, balanced by peppery spice and earthy undertones. The finish is long, fruity, and slightly dry, with lingering notes of banana bread, clove, and subtle smoke. Worthy Park's 109 Rum is a high-proof expression created as a modern take on overproof rum. It is a blend of pot-still rums aged 4 to 10 years. Its deep mahogany hue suggests significant oak influence. It's designed for bartenders and rum enthusiasts who crave intensity and depth in a rum. The rum is intensely aromatic on the nose, featuring pronounced notes of molasses, cola syrup, baking spice, dried pineapple, and classic, funky Jamaican ester aromas. It's full-bodied and robust on the palate, showcasing dark/burnt caramel, charred wood, grilled banana, and spicy notes of cinnamon and clove. The high proof adds structure and brings out the flavor components, without adding harshness. The finish is long, with lingering notes of nutmeg, black tea, and funky stone fruit. Worthy Park 109 is a high-impact rum that strikes a balance between power and polish, making it ideal for sipping with a splash of water. Fine Cuban cigars and glass of rum on wooden table Despite its clear appearance, Planas is an aged rum from Venezuela's Diplomático Distillery. It's matured for up to 6 years in ex-bourbon, ex-malt whisky, and ex-sherry casks, then charcoal-filtered for clarity. It blends column, batch kettle, and pot still rums, showcasing finesse and complexity. The rum is elegant and aromatic on the nose, featuring notes of coconut cream, vanilla, lemon zest, and subtle almond and caramel undertones. It's creamy and smooth on the palate, exhibiting notes of white chocolate, toasted coconut, citrus peel, and a slight undertone of caramelized sugar. The finish is long and refined, with lingering notes of vanilla, nutmeg, and subtle floral aromas. Kaniché Fiji is a Fijian molasses-based rum aged first in Fiji, typically in ex-bourbon barrels, then finished in cognac casks in France by Maison Ferrand. This double cask maturation imparts both fruity tropical richness and a French oak polish. The rum is fruity and aromatic on the nose, featuring ripe banana, honeycomb, baking spices, and toasted coconut aromas. The palate is smooth and full-bodied, with nuanced complexity showcasing notes of vanilla, caramelized pineapple, dark cocoa, wood spices, seasoned oak, and a subtle leather note. The finish is long, with lingering notes of fig, baking spices, and seasoned oak wood. Xaymaca, pronounced zay-muh-kah, the indigenous name for Jamaica, is Planteray's homage to 100% Jamaican pot still rum. It's a blend of distillates from Long Pond and Clarendon, which are either unaged or minimally aged. It is designed to showcase the funky, ester-rich character of classic Jamaican rum. The rum is aromatic and funky, featuring notes of green banana, grilled pineapple, fermented mango, and a touch of olive brine. It's dry and robust on the palate, showcasing notes of unripe banana, citrus pith, clove, burnt sugar, and leather, with a subtle earthy and slightly savory undertone. The finish is long and complex, with lingering notes of pepper, tropical fruit, allspice, and an ester-rich, funky character. These rums have all been aged five years or less; nonetheless, they showcase powerful, robust flavors and a pronounced cask wood influence. They will add character and depth to rum cocktails and can also be enjoyed straight up. From the classic aromas and flavors of funky Jamaican rums to the lighter, fruitier style of Venezuelan and Fijian rums, there's a rum here for every palate.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
The World's Best Ultra-Aged Rum, According To The SF World Spirit Competition
The Ultra-Aged Rum Finalists From The 2025 SFWSC Eight rums are finalists, five for the World's Best Aged Rum 5 Years & Older, and three for World's Best Overproof Rum at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The SFWSC is one of the world's most prestigious spirit judging events, and both consumers and the beverage industry closely follow its results. Below are brief backgrounds and tasting notes for the finalists. Cartavio XO is a premium rum from Peru, crafted by Destilerías Unidas. It's a blend of rums aged up to 18 years, matured in a solera system using American, French, and Slovenian oak casks. It reflects Peru's balanced, elegant rum style, which is less sweet than its counterparts in South and Central America, with a greater influence from its dry Andean terroir. The rum is refined and smooth on the palate, featuring aromas of dried fig, orange zest, vanilla, and old leather. It's soft and full-bodied on the palate, showcasing roasted nuts, baking spices, cocoa powder, and caramel with a subtle tannic dryness. The finish is long and layered, with lingering notes of cedar, caramel, and dark chocolate. Ron Zacapa 23 is a renowned Guatemalan rum crafted from virgin sugarcane syrup, aged in a solera system for up to 23 years in ex-bourbon, sherry, and Pedro Ximénez casks. Aged at an altitude of over 7,500 feet in the highlands of Quetzaltenango, it is known for its sweet, velvety character. The rum is aromatic and lush on the nose, featuring caramelized banana, raisin, vanilla, baking spice, and brown sugar. It's silky and sweet on the palate, showcasing notes of molasses, toffee, dried fruit, cinnamon, and a hint of cherry liqueur. The finish is long and semi-sweet, with lingering notes of vanilla and toasted oak. This expression blends rums from Barbados, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Guyana, and Trinidad, aged up to 15 years. It's a celebration of Caribbean and South American rum terroirs, combining pot and column still influences. The rum is complex and layered on the nose, featuring molasses, ripe plantain, vanilla, orange zest, and cocoa nibs. It's dry and fruity, showcasing tropical fruit, roasted nuts, allspice, brown sugar, and burnt caramel. The finish is medium in length, with lingering notes of fruit, spices, and seasoned wood. Elegant tray with two glasses of rum, cuban cigars, chocolate and coffee beans. The tray is adorned with tobacco leaves. This XO expression is a blend of rums aged in Barbados and finished in French cognac casks at Maison Ferrand. Initially crafted to celebrate Alexandre Gabriel's 20th anniversary as master blender, it represents the classic Planteray style of tropical richness and French refinement. The rum is rich and aromatic, with notes of ripe banana, coconut, tobacco leaf, vanilla, and a hint of spice cake. It's smooth and robust on the palate, expressing notes of dried fruit, crème brûlée, nutmeg, toasted almond, and a hint of fresh grape must. The finish is long and elegant, with lingering tropical fruit, soft baking spices, and seasoned oak. Puerto Rico's oldest rum brand, Ron del Barrilito 3 Stars, is a solera-style rum aged 6 to 10 years in ex-Oloroso sherry barrels. Unlike many rums from the region, it is unsweetened, showcasing a drier, more structured profile. The rum is fruity and dry on the nose, featuring toasted walnut, dried apricot, cinnamon and clove spice, seasoned oak, and Sherry aromas. It's smooth and complex on the palate, showcasing candied orange zest, roasted nuts, seasoned oak, dried fruit, and cocoa powder. The finish is long and layered, with lingering notes of caramelized citrus, nutmeg, and seasoned wood. Worthy Park Overproof is a 100% pot-still Jamaican rum. It's made from a combination of molasses and cane juice distillates. Aged for several years in ex-bourbon barrels, this is an ester-rich expression of traditional Jamaican rum, featuring bold tropical and grassy character. The rum is intense and funky, with notes of green banana, overripe pineapple, olive brine, and pronounced aromas of molasses and pepper. It's robust and very flavorful on the palate, with an oily texture and a notable mouth weight, showcasing classic Jamaican funk flavors, herbaceous cane juice, charred oak, brown and burnt sugar, and clove. The finish is long and fruity, with lingering notes of spice and herbal funk. Liberty & Plenty Distillery is a North Carolina craft distiller producing Caribbean-style rums under the Cap & Cane Spirits brand. This Overproof Rum blends high-ester molasses-based rum and lighter distillates. It's intended for cocktail applications, particularly tropical and classic rum punches. The nose is fresh and vibrant, featuring notes of sugarcane, lemon peel, and vanilla, with subtle earthy and funky undertones. It's smooth and remarkably well-balanced for an overproof rum, showcasing toasted coconut, light esters, citrus, and slight spice notes. The finish is long and slightly peppery, with lingering notes of herbaceous cane, dried fruits, and seasoned wood. O.F.T.D. is a Royal Navy-style rum developed by Planteray. According to the company, 'Alexandre Gabriel, our award-winning cellar master, scoured rum-joints around the world to find six grizzled old salts and together, they came up with this blend. The rum, sourced from Guyana, Jamaica, and Barbados, captures the intensity and richness of classic navy-strength rums. The rum is robust and aromatic, featuring molasses, coffee bean, ripe banana, burnt orange, and clove. It's smooth and syrupy on the palate, showcasing dark sugar, black licorice, charred oak, baking spice, and a pronounced note of tropical funk. The finish is long and flavorful, with lingering notes of dark fruit, anise, and espresso. These rums are flavorful and intense, presenting a broad array of intense flavors and textures. They can be used to craft potent cocktails and are also outstanding sipping rums. They offer a diverse range of aroma and flavor profiles. If you're a rum enthusiast, these rums are well worth exploring.
