:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Jonahheadshot-c418072fe2b64bcd92a2f9a702923fd7.JPG)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Screenshot2023-07-19at4.02.25PM-485ee93396484fcba2d932420cf38fc8.png)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/best-white-rums_2000x2000-b878d7f7d9bc4df68862beb4122600d5.jpg)
Liquor.com / Laura Sant
Rum's popularity continues a steady climb worldwide, especially spiced brands and aged expressions. Darker rum can be an especially good sipping choice, but white rum is a true cocktail staple, and an often misunderstood category.
Many mistakenly believe all white rums to be unaged, though a greater share are actually matured for three to six months. Sometimes this period can be longer depending on climatic conditions or style within which it's produced—one of our favorites, Diplomático Planas, for instance, is a white rum aged for up to 6 years. The result is a clear spirit that brings the inherent vanilla, brown sugar, and fruit notes of rum to life without imparting any color. This aging period can occur in oak casks, but white rums are more often matured in stainless steel tanks, before being filtered to remove all or most of the color.
There are more options than ever when it comes to white rum expressions. We tasted and tested to find this year's top picks, from new offerings and cocktail favorites to splurge-worthy bottles and the best white rums on a budget.
Here are the best white rums to drink right now.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ten-to-one-caribbean-white-rum-a70098ce5d9847bdbf3d175753b9e799.jpg)
Region: Dominican Republic, Jamaica | ABV: 45% | Tasting Notes: Banana, Grass, Citrus
Born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, Marc Farrell was on the finance industry fast track and was named Vice President at Starbucks—the youngest in the company's history—before founding Ten to One Rum. This career pivot was a personal one, a way for him to share his love of rum and his Caribbean heritage by introducing a premium product with no sugar, color, or flavor added at an affordable price.
This blend of Dominican column still rum with funky, high ester Jamaican pot still rum makes for a complex, tropical fruit-forward white rum with light citrus and grassy notes. Coming in at a comparatively higher proof of 45% ABV makes this rum especially good for cocktails. This versatile rum will shine in a classic Daiquiri or Mojito and can be sipped on its own.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ScreenShot2020-11-25at12.06.55PM-17a0bc9d4e3f4e2e85b1e92425ad03d4.jpg)
Region: Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad | ABV: 41.2% | Tasting Notes: Brown sugar, Tropical fruit, Candied orange
"Plantation 3 Stars White Rum is a mix of the best three terroirs in the Caribbean: Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad,” says Carlos Lopez, the bar manager of Stiltsville Fish Bar in Miami Beach. “It’s the perfect rum for a classic Daiquiri and Mojito.”
This expression is a blend of unaged and two- to three-year-old rum, with a touch of older Jamaican rum for some extra flavor.
Related: The Best Cocktail Books
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/fivebanksrum-2aa8f6ce8d2e45ee9408245ce37aab58.jpg)
Region: Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, Java | ABV: 43% | Tasting Notes: Earthy, Pineapple, Pepper
Inspired by a 1920s-style blended rum, Banks Five Island Rum founder and master blender Arnaud de Trabuc, with the help of legendary barman Jim Meehan, created this blend of 21 rums from 6 separate distilleries coming from 5 different islands: Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, and Java. All the individual rums reflect their own unique terroirs have been barrel aged from 3 and 12 years, charcoal filtered to remove any color, and then blended at the distillery in Amsterdam, Holland.
Named for the 18th-century botanist and explorer Sir Joseph Banks, this rum is fairly dry, with complex, earthy undertones, ripe pineapple notes and a bright peppery finish. This flavorful white rum is sure to stand out in a shaken Piña Colada, where balance is key.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/cdn.cliqueinc.com__cache__posts__243189__best-rum-for-mojitos-243189-1512066250864-main.700x0c-30b5ebe026fd464d9477edfd80bb7594-863315b8f3ea4bb2b0dbea6a1269b8f2.jpg)
Region: Puerto Rico | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Pineapple, Vanilla, Banana
"Havana Club Añejo Blanco has a clean taste with fruity aromas, hints of vanilla and oak,” says Reniel Garcia, the bar director of Havana 1957 in Miami Beach. “It is distilled in Puerto Rico using a two-part aging process.”
The rum is aged for a year, then blended together and aged for another two months. The result is the perfect rum to mix with some lime and mint for a classic Mojito.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/cdn.cliqueinc.com__cache__posts__243189__best-rum-for-mojitos-243189-1512065975674-main.700x0c-233263becf074e20b713b79ca0140e40-e4fed80c49ea41409e045f4925adaff6.jpg)
Region: Puerto Rico | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Citrus, Coriander, Ginger
Puerto Rico's Bacardi is practically synonymous with affordable rum. And, because it is a dependable white rum so budget-friendly, it is ideal for mixing up large batches of Mojitos or Piña Coladas for a crowd.
“Bacardi Superior is the go-to classic white rum for all sorts of cocktails,” says Darnell Holguin, co-host of the Azucar y Limon podcast and beverage partner of Las' Lap. “[It] has a wonderful balance of flavors from its proprietary blend. There are notes of almonds and lime that are complemented by hints of vanilla, and the finish is dry, crisp and clean. It’s delicious with just soda and lime.”
Try this in a Bacardí Cocktail—basically, a Daiquiri with grenadine added. This under-the-radar cocktail was one of the most popular cocktails in the 1930s.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Webp.net-resizeimage2-be4626e9a9b34af3a0bee33af176b281.jpg)
Region: Martinique | ABV: 50% | Tasting Note: Sugarcane, Tropical fruit, Spice
This spirit is spelled with an “h” because it’s actually rhum agricole from Martinique. That means that it’s distilled from sugarcane juice instead of molasses. Rhum J.M might cost a bit more than your average bottle, but is still a steal when considering the quality to price ratio. Providing an earthy palate, it also offers notes of citrus, banana and caramel, tasting great on its own or used in any cocktail.
Related: The Best Cocktail Mixers
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/diplomatico_rum-1fd2fadeeff74fd4a14f5bd6d8ac8d2a.jpg)
Region: Venezuela | ABV: 47% | Tasting Notes: Citrus, Cream, Vanilla
Diplomático is a rum distillery based in Venezuela. “This rum stands out for its aging process (six years), which results in a rich and chewy rum with notes of cappuccino and a nutty finish,” says Frederic Najem, the director of food and beverage at Bank & Bourbon and Loews Philadelphia Hotel.
Najem says this rum can be enjoyed neat or on the rocks, or it can serve as the perfect main ingredient for delicate cocktails.
Related: The Best Cocktail Shakers
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/12336192913438-66a245450e904184ac1f76fb66ac8af9.jpg)
Region: Trinidad, Jamaica | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Grass, Oak, Vanilla
People might not think of white rums as ideal sippers on their own, but if the spirit is well made and has a complexity of character, these can be excellent enjoyed neat or over a large ice cube.
“Denizen White Rum is a great product at a solid price point,” says Frederic Yarm of The Smoke Shop in Somerville, Massachusetts. “The producer acquires aged rum stocks from Trinidad and Jamaica, blends them, and charcoal-filters out the color.”
The end result? A stunning rum that can hold its own in a bounty of tropical drinks, or complex enough to stand on its own, making this a good choice to reach for when you’re in the mood to sip.
Related: The Best Flasks
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/12291763372062-efad0214128c43f4abf5c0a7a5cf1cb0.jpg)
Region: Jamaica | ABV: 63% | Tasting Notes: Stone fruit, Banana, Cake
“Wray & Nephew Overproof Jamaican Rum is a great one to have around,” says Cory Mendonca of Main St. Provisions in Las Vegas. Mendonca likes to making cocktails with this rum by splicing it with other rums or spirits as the base; he also uses this rum in small amounts as a modifier.
“It lends this fiery, sort of ‘old world,’ eau-de-vie intensity and earthy rum funk that can really add some curiosity to a cocktail,” he explains.
Use it in a cocktail to really add intensity of flavor, along with a boost in ABV, which will dilute nicely when mixed with the other ingredients.
Related: The Best Ice Cube Trays
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ScreenShot2020-11-13at10.18.00AM-90674ea5a8ee499383ed883312bcecab.jpg)
Region: Barbados | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Caramel, Spice, Banana
Named after the Prohibition-era rumrunner Bill McCoy who inspired the phrase "The Real McCoy," this rum is the real deal.
Produced at Barbados' esteemed Foursquare Distillery, this rum is distilled in column and pot stills and aged for three years in ex-Bourbon casks before being charcoal-filtered just once to remove some color—so as not to alter the flavor. There is still a hint of color that remains. The result is an excellent sipper that can also be used in any cocktail, filled with bright notes of citrus, banana, caramel and coconut.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/don-q-rum-cristal-3a9c64ffa80a47189a3c4ca8ee342ad2.jpg)
Region: Puerto Rico | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Lemon, Pear, Banana
Don Q is one of the most popular rum brands in Puerto Rico. “What is special about this Puerto Rican rum is that it has been aged for a minimum of 18 months in American oak barrels, then goes through a process of carbon filtration for a more smooth and refined taste,” says Pablo Guerrero, the food and beverage manager of Azabu Miami Beach. He says Don Q makes a great sipping rum, and it makes for a great cocktail.
Related: The Best Bar Tools
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Webp.net-resizeimage7-dda0f26790ec4813a647a4cd214ed57f.jpg)
Region: Nicaragua | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Vanilla, White chocolate, Orange
Nicaraguan distillery Flor de Caña makes rum near the base of a volcano using sustainable methods. There are a variety of aged rums in the lineup, including this white rum—a blend aged for an average of four years that is filtered to remove color. No sugar is added, earning the rum the “seco,” or dry, designation.
There’s a bit of natural sweetness at play here, along with some notes of vanilla and citrus.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Webp.net-resizeimage8-34f9c7484e764b31be81275b128ff0a3.jpg)
Region: California | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Citrus, Vanilla, Pepper
San Diego’s Cutwater Spirits is a small distillery that makes an impressive array of craft spirits, along with ready-to-drink canned cocktails. One spirit that can be found in the cocktails and bottled on its own is Three Sheets Rum.
This white rum is made from cane sugar, not molasses, and is a stellar example of how the American craft scene has embraced the art of rum making.
Related: The Best Cocktail Smokers
Final Verdict
Ten to One Carribbean White Rum (view on Flaviar) is this year's best overall white rum to buy. The balance of light, crisp Dominican rum and funky Jamaican pot-still rum offers a complex spirit at a very reasonable price. Use this one for making any cocktail you can think of, or just sipping on a hot summer day.
What to Look for in a White Rum
Rum comes from many corners of the world, and each country has different rules (or lack thereof) about what can actually go into the bottle. In general, white rum is either unaged or has spent a few years inside a barrel and had the color removed using charcoal filtration. Do some research to see if a particular bottle has been aged (or use this guide), whether sugar has been added to the spirit, and what the proof is. Some of the best bottles are the cheapest ones, so no need to spend your hard-earned cash on a white rum—save it for the aged expressions.
FAQs
What is white rum made from?
Like all rum, white rum is made from molasses or sugarcane juice, depending on its country of origin. Sugar can be added to the spirit, again depending on the rules of the country in which it’s produced.
How is white rum different from other types?
White rum differs from aged rum mainly in color. This is because it can be an unaged spirit, or it can be a spirit that was aged for a few years and then charcoal-filtered to strip the color picked up from the time spent in barrels. An aged white rum will have some of the flavors associated with time spent in wood, like vanilla or tannin, while an unaged white rum will be a bit crisper, with vegetal or citrus notes.
Is white rum cheaper than dark or aged rum?
Generally speaking white rum is cheaper than aged rum, as the maturation process adds value to the spirit for most distilleries.
Why Trust Liquor.com?
Jonah Flicker is an experienced writer who has been covering spirits and traveling the world visiting distilleries for many years. His work has appeared in many national outlets, covering trends, new releases, and the stories and innovators behind the spirits. His first love remains whiskey, but he is partial to tequila, rum, gin, cognac and all things distilled.
Prairie Rose is the senior editor at Liquor.com. In addition to authoring numerous cocktail books, Rose is also a spirits educator, podcast host, and her favorite drink may just be a Daiquiri with a crisp white rum.
Read Next: The Best Rums
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/LIQUORS-16-best-rums-4847125-final-bc06fe8d7e7b42c0a866f6a78ccb96dc.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-542331918-8348c6da5290446e8c7da74100b7c0d8.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-656515558-c5e897ca32d5444eb01bb8e28c235916.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-802630306-dfd39fea40be4bb48aeb4bafe8e1c10b.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-938666678-38251dc63b6348a8bf2cbc5cc1dcafc4.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-682438040-27bee227423249708f635b9d3695a37b.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/LIQUORS-12-best-reposado-tequilas-5088494-recirc-9f25c4a47e8543a9bd5e62d974ddd6b5.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__liquor__2017__11__08143240__8-american-rums-worth-trying-720x720-article-v2-a91a8781a7574f418c77f7f0e7561744.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-545372152-a4884b5e37cf4305a5037047a350ede7.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1313999176-0f4dedd4342a40c7ac4ff52947092ecc.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/9-Great-Cheap-Bottles-That-Bartenders-Swear-By-720x720-article-rev-2bf034b3a10e4ec188b94da04e08ff76.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1270820401-02e5e1da68d441abb29d9501f6422d22.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/LQR_Edit-BestBananaCocktails_Recirc-4000x2700-edde295afc064f31a03f5cf47192b29a.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/LQR_Edit-BestSippingTequilas2023_Recirc-4000x2700-86366a70a759434fbabe8d97930cc9c4.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/LIQUORS-10-best-japanese-whiskies-5078590-25352916ceac42eaa87fbb6eb551999b.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Frozen-Pina-Colada-1500x1000-recirc-28ec8aa621cf40dd9f496ae2f16823e3.jpg)