Your One-Stop Guide to the 20 Best Rum Brands in India
“There’s Naught, No Doubt, So Much The Spirit Calms As Rum And True Religion”
Rum is a celebratory spirit, and we Indians have consistently showcased our great affection for it than any other clear spirits in India. Today, rum claims a huge fanbase as the people of India have always had a preference for dark spirits over any other beverages. We Indians have consistently had an inclination for dark rums and it is the prime reason that rum grew rapidly in our living culture than gin or vodka. Another reason why rums are more popular in India is, it’s produced by using the local sugarcane and the extracted liquid is then aged in oak barrels. Rum is one of the most devoured drinks within the Indian community and ranges from flavored rum, dark rum, to spiced rum. A large portion of the rum-producing nations is in Latin America or around the Caribbean Islands, which affirms its association with sailors. With an ever-increasing number of exotic rum brands entering the Indian marketplace, it tends to be a little herculean in picking the best one. But Fret Not! As we bring to you a carefully curated list of the 20 best rum brands in India that will keep your spirit alive. Let’s get started!
1. Bacardi
The founder of Bacardi — Don Facundo has significantly marked its presence through its self-invented world-famous black, open-winged fruit bat logo that signified the mark of brotherhood and self-confidence. Sweet and fruity on the palate, the Bacardi rum is highly-appreciated for its subtle flavors and affordability. Of all the flavors, its Dark Rum (Bacardi Select), White Rum (Bacardi Superior), and Gold Rum (Bacardi Gold) are the most popular ones. The rum is abundantly available in almost any wine shop across the world and can be enjoyed by sparing a few bucks only. Founded in 1862, this family-owned spirits company has more than 200 brands and labels today with a sales presence across more than 150 countries.
Alcohol Content: 42.8%
Price: 1 liter — INR 1300
2. Malibu
A flavorsome rum, owned by Pernod Ricard, Malibu is made with Caribbean rum that offers a rich coconut aftertaste. Undertaking you to satisfaction like no others, this rum is flavored with numerous tropical fruits such as passion fruit, pineapple, mango, island melon, and banana. Available in assorted variants, Malibu is one of the best rum money can buy for you. For an unforgettable experience, try its Malibu Fresh — mingle with mint and a double-strength version of Malibu Black.
Alcohol Content: 21%
Price: 750ml — INR 1650
3. Captain Morgan
A true rebel in the segment of best rum, Captain Morgan rum is named after the 17th-century Welsh privateer of the Caribbean, Sir Henry Morgan. It is a spiced rum that is marketed in India by Diageo, and Since 2011, the label has used the slogan ‘To Life, Love and Loot‘. The rum is made of sugarcane which is carefully distilled and then aged in oak barrels for up to a year, which adds a golden hue and character to it, and further, the flavors and spices are being added. Captain Morgan rum boasts of rich flavors of vanilla, brown sugar, and aromatic spices and is one of the incredible spiced rum that blends wonderfully into fancy cocktails.
Alcohol Content: 42.8%
Price: 750ml — INR 780
4. Havana Club
Havana Club is one of the best rum brands in India known for its versatile range of offerings. A few of its best-selling labels are Havana Club Añejo 3 Años, Havana Club Añejo Reserva, Havana Club Añejo Blanco, Havana Club Añejo 7 Años, and Havana Club Añejo Especial. Founded in Cuba in 1934, Havana Club is the 5th largest selling rum brand in the world which has its expansion across 120 countries. The brand also has a plant in Punjab and is bottling in India since 2008. Goes easy on the pocket, this is a rum every chocolate and vanilla lover would cherish.
Alcohol Content: 40%
Price: 750ml — INR 800
5. Hercules
Hercules is one of the most popular rum brands in the country that observes its significant demands from the defense segment. Relatively smooth on the palate, this dark rum offers a rich, complex flavor that does not leave you with a hangover. Easy on the pocket, the brand produces both white and dark rum and offers three incredible variants — Hercules Deluxe Rum (Dark), Hercules XXX Rum (Dark), and Hercules White Rum. Of the three, the Hercules XXX Rum is the most commonly consumed one.
Alcohol Content: 42.8%
Price: 1 liter — INR 527
6. McDowell’s №1
McDowell’s №1 is one of the most affordable and highly consumed rum brands in India that is manufactured by the United Spirits Limited (USL), headquartered in Bengaluru. This people’s choice rum flaunts a dark color and runs smoothly on the palate with a sweet note of vanilla and caramel. In 1990, the brand launched its Celebration (Dark) and Caribbean (White) variant of rum that was sold in 13 countries. Awarded with many prestigious awards, including a Silver medal from the Beverage Tasting Institute in 2008, the brand overhauled Bacardi as the ‘world’s best-selling rum brand’ in 2015.
Alcohol Content: 42.8%
Price: 1 liter — INR 376
7. Jolly Roger
Jolly Roger is an authentic dark rum that gives an exotic taste in every sip. The rum is carefully blended with original matured Jamaican pot-still rum and natural spices. Made of fermented molasses, the Jolly Roger features a rich aroma with a well-balanced taste. The rum comes in an elegantly designed family bottle that’s enough to quench the thirst of your loved ones.
Alcohol Content: 42.8%
Price: 750ml — INR 270
8. Contessa
A product of Radico Khaitan, Contessa is a highly prestigious rum that is globally known for its smooth and bold taste. The rum is made out of cane juice spirit and aged for 12 years. Contessa is a full-bodied rum that has notes of vanilla, cocoa, and dried fruits. Hugely popular with India’s military, this cheap rum brand in India has its expansion across 60 countries and has won several awards for its quality including, a Bronze medal at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (2007) and Silver medal at Monde Selection (2008).
Alcohol Content: 42.8%
Price: 750ml — INR 260
9. Old Port
In 1948, Amrut Distillery started manufacturing rum and brandy with a vision to offer affordable liquor options to our military personnel and started the supply to army canteens throughout India. It has become very popular in the country as it was easy on the pocket and offers great quality as well. Rich in molasses and featuring a bright copper hue, the old port contains hints of flavors of vanilla and butterscotch with a dry and fruity palate. The brand offers 4 unique variants of rum, that are — Old Port Deluxe Rum, Old Port Matured Rum, Amrut XXX Classic Rum, Amrut XXX. Of the all, Amrut Old Port Deluxe Rum was awarded 91 points at the Ultimate Spirits Competition in 2014.
Alcohol Content: 40% (approx.)
Price: 750ml –INR 260
10. Sailor Jerry
Sailor Jerry Rum is one of the best products of Sailor Jerry Ltd. that is owned by an American tattoo artist Sailor Jerry, who underlies this company in 1999 with a vision to produce a range of things. This people’s favorite spiced rum, Sailor Jerry features the pleasing aroma of vanilla that makes an incredible spiced mojito. The rum flaunts a decent amber hue with a bit of a red tinge that makes it a perfect selection for any cocktails.
Alcohol Content: 46% (approx.)
Price: 1.5 liter — INR 3604
11. El Dorado
Produced by Demerara Distillers in Guyana, El Dorado is a range of superb Demerara rums that have consistently won the highest International awards. Its unique taste of burnt sugar and oak wood is mostly because of the tropical climate of the lush country of Guyana. The aging process is greatly increased by the steady temperature and high humidity — resulting in rums that age between 15–25 years.
Alcohol Content: 43%
Price: 700ml — INR 4500 (approx.)
12. Ron Matusalem
Started as a family affair by the Camp brothers in 1872, the Ron Matusalem is a Caribbean premium rum that is now produced in the Dominican Republic. One of the top premium rums, Ron Matusalem offers an intensely fruity and nutty taste followed by a rich note of vanilla on the palate and features a delightful aroma of chocolate, caramel, and flora. The rum is processed through the Solera aging process which is the key to its complexity where numerous mature rums are blended carefully.
Alcohol Content: 40% (approx.)
Price: 700ml — INR 7900 (approx.)
13. Ron Zacapa Centenario
Produced in Guatemala, Ron Zacapa Centenario is a premium rum with complex flavors which is distributed and marketed by Diageo. It was created in 1976 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the foundation of Zacapa, a town in eastern Guatemala, and was the result of the blending, stabilization, and maturing processes of long-aged rums. The rum won first place in the premium rums category 4 years in a row at the International Rum Festival and is the first rum to be included in the International Rum Festival’s Hall of Fame.
Alcohol Content: 40% (approx.)
Price: 700ml — INR 7000 (approx.)
14. Mount Gay
Mount Gay rum is produced by Mount Gay Distilleries Ltd. of Barbados and is one of the world’s oldest commercial rum distillery. It is sold in 110 countries and is a product of 310 years of knowledge, refinement, and experience. The rum has a very distinctive flavor and is commonly used in cocktails.
Alcohol Content: 40%
Price: 1 liter — INR 2500 (approx.)
15. Appleton Estate
Appleton Estate is known for its long-aged signature editions that produce rich and aromatic rums with cinnamon and butterscotch flavors. Most prestigious and oldest of all of Jamaica’s sugar-cane estates, this rum brand in India is a favorite drink of many rum enthusiasts.
Alcohol Content: 40%
Price: 700ml — INR 1500 (approx.)
16. Angostura
Angostura is a globally appraised brand known for its smoothness and deep flavors of tamarind, clove, and cinnamon. The owner of Angostura claims that each rum bottle is cent percent Trinidadian and is produced in one distillery on one Island. This Caribbean rum is further aged, blended, re-casked, and upon maturity hand-drawn for bottling. The rum is creamy, gentle, and incredibly smooth with a warm and rich flavor of vanilla.
Alcohol Content: 44.7%
Price: 750ml — INR 700 (approx.)
17. Barcelo
A royal name and proud brand of distinct rums from the Dominican Republic! Barcelo is a classy rum that was founded in 1930 and has its plant and distillery in San Pedro de Macorís. The brand manufacture 8 variants of rum that are sold in over 50 countries, ranking it the 4th largest exporter of rum in the world. The rum boasts of strong-sweet and spicy flavors with a hint of caramel. If you don’t bother spending a few bucks for a classy rum, then Barcelo is the label you should experience once.
Alcohol Content: 38%
Price: 750ml — INR 2000 (approx.)
18. Old Monk
Old Monk is not just a rum — it’s a religion in itself. Introduced in 1954, the Old Monk is the most cherished dark strong rum brand in India. The Old Monk is blended and aged for a minimum of 7 years, and the produced outcome is the dark brown hue strong rum that offers a robust vanilla flavor on the palate. The rum is produced in Ghaziabad and sold all over the world. The brand has successfully maintained its fame in the marketplace without any advertisement and has been the biggest IMFL brand for many years. Old Monk offers 6 variants under its arm — Old Monk Supreme Rum, Old Monk Gold Reserve Rum, Old Monk XXX Rum, Old Monk Deluxe XXX Rum, Old Monk White Rum, and Old Monk Legend-Limited Edition Rum. All the labels offered by the company are highly affordable and promise the same great quality each time you gulp.
Alcohol Content: 42.8%
Price: 1 liter — INR 760 (approx.)
19. Clement
One of the most classic rum with great legs distilled from the finest selection of sugarcane juice, this VSOP Rhum by Clement features an elegant sophisticated style and utterly yummy on the palate. A subtle and light scotch, the Clement is gentle and oaky with a deep vegetal character and a rich smoky finish. As opposed to industrial rum distilled from molasses, this carefully aged sugarcane-based Rhum Agricole bears more resemblance to Cognac and is a true representation of what it means to be pure, natural rhum. A must ‘Rhum’ to sample and experience, this elite brand is carefully crafted for the true Rhum aficionado.
Alcohol Content: 40%
Price: 700ml — INR 4857
20. Goslings
Bermuda’s largest export, Goslings trademarked its name from the unique black wax that was originally used to seal the bottles but interestingly there’s actually a black seal on the label today. Produced in Bermuda since 1806, Goslings is a full-bodied and highly textured dark rum that features a rich and well-balanced flavor of vanilla, butterscotch, caramel, molasses, and toast. While pleasantly aromatic with herbal sharpness, this extremely unusual and most complex spirit boldly distinguishes itself on the palate.
Alcohol Content: 40%
Price: 750ml — INR 1600
Rum is an integral part of every celebratory moment, and no drinking occasion is complete without a large peg of rum. It has something to offer for every kind of rum enthusiast. So, this was our bucket list of the 20 best-selling rum brands In India, and we hope you are now all sorted and ready to make drinking plans.
“Let’s Embrace Some Rum And Royalty”
FAQ’s
Q. What are the health benefits of Rum?
A. Lowers blood pressure and lowers the chances of heart diseases.
Q. Is rum gluten-free?
A. Rum can be produced only from fermenting sugarcane juice which is a syrup from molasses or from sugar itself. So, rum must be gluten-free as there is no grain involved.
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