100 S. Park Ave Unit C102, Breckenridge, CO 80424
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Castaways Cove
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Top-Rated Rums of 2025 (By Judges & Competitions)
Here are some of the best rums in the world right now (2025), based on the most recent expert competitions and tasting panels:
Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest) 2025
- Barceló Imperial 40 Aniversario Premium Blend (Dominican Republic): Scored 96/100, earning a Platinum Medal. Aged 12 years in American & French oak, then finished in ex-Sauternes wine casks, with notes of dried fruit, chocolate, marzipan, spice, and a smoky finish. (The Rum Lab, Forbes)
- Planteray Cut & Dry Coconut Rum: Also a Platinum Medalist (96/100), notable in flavored rum categories. (The Rum Lab)
- Rhum Barbancourt Haitian Proof Rum: 95/100. A bold, overproof sugarcane-juice rum with vegetal, spicy notes and dry finish. (The Rum Lab)
- Ron Zacapa Solera Gran Reserva No. 23: 94/100. A solera-aged Guatemalan rum with rich caramel, honey, and tropical fruit profile. (The Rum Lab)
International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) Highlights (2025)
- Worthy Park Estate 109 (Jamaica): A high-proof, flavor-packed pot-still rum with intense molasses, dried fruit, caramel, and long peppery finish. (Forbes)
- Clément Rhum 15 YO Private Cask (Martinique): An aged agricole with ginger cake, molasses, dried fruit, dark chocolate, and spicy, warming finish. (Forbes)
- Foursquare Equidem 14 YO (Barbados): Blended from rums aged in ex-bourbon & ex-cognac casks; tropical fruit, caramel, dried fruit, warm spices with a long, sweet, peppery finish. (Forbes)
- Mt. Uncle Distillery FNQ Palladium Rum (Australia): Not yet released, but praised for its creamy vanilla, oak, jalapeño, caramel, banana, coconut, and raisin notes. (Forbes)
- Monymusk Special Reserve 10 YO (Jamaica): Gingerbread, cinnamon, tropical fruit, nutmeg, and a long, banana-inflected finish. (Forbes)
New York International Spirits Competition (NYISC) 2025
Among the top picks from over 200 global submissions:
- Brugal 1888
- Dos Maderas Rum 5+5
- Bacardí Ocho
- Santa Teresa 1796
- Cartavio XO, to name a few notable awardees. (nyispiritscompetition.com)
New York World Spirits Competition (NYWSC) 2024 (announced early 2025)
- Star & Key Rum (Mauritius): Named Best Rum in the World 2024. Made from estate-grown sugarcane, aged in French oak cognac barrels, with toffee, butterscotch, vanilla, plum, herbal agricole notes. (The Rum Lab)
- Pampero Aniversario (Venezuela): Best Dark/Gold Rum—rich with toffee, vanilla, dried fruit, chocolate, caramel, and spice. (The Rum Lab)
WSWA Tasting Competition (2025)
- Botran 8 Reserva Clásica (Guatemala): Best in Show Overall Rum. Aged via solera with flavors of caramel, spice, fruit, dark chocolate, and molasses. (Forbes)
- Funk Harbor No. 1 (Jamaica): Top-rated Dark/Gold rum—caramel, toffee, vanilla, oak, molasses, balanced sweetness and spice. (Forbes)
San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) 2025
- Worthy Park Select Rum (Jamaica): 4–6 years aged; banana, molasses, baking spice, subtle funk, tropical fruit, caramel—long finish. (Forbes)
- Worthy Park 109: Also featured here, high-proof and bold (as above). (Forbes)
- Diplomático Planas (Venezuela): Elegant aged rum; coconut cream, citrus peel, white chocolate, toasted coconut, refined finish. (Forbes)
- Kaniché (Fiji/Maison Ferrand): Double-aged in Fiji and French cognac casks; notes of banana, honeycomb, spices, toasted coconut, vanilla, dark cocoa. (Forbes)
Summary Table: Exceptional Rums to Explore
| Category / Trophy | Rum | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| BevTest (2025) | Barceló Imperial 40 Aniversario | Rich, aged, complex |
| BevTest (2025) | Planteray Cut & Dry Coconut | Leading flavored rum |
| BevTest (2025) | Rhum Barbancourt Haitian Proof | Bold overproof agricole |
| BevTest (2025) | Ron Zacapa 23 | Smooth Guatemalan solera |
| IWSC (2025) | Worthy Park 109 | Intense Jamaican funk |
| IWSC (2025) | Foursquare Equidem 14 YO | Balanced, aged, nuanced |
| IWSC (2025) | Clément 15 YO | Refined agricole |
| NYISC (2025) | Brugal 1888, Bacardí Ocho, Santa Teresa 1796, etc. | Broad excellence |
| NYWSC (2024) | Star & Key Rum | Best overall—Mauritius |
| NYWSC (2024) | Pampero Aniversario | Classic dark/gold |
| WSWA (2025) | Botran 8 | Solera aged—best overall |
| SFWSC (2025) | Worthy Park Select, Planas, Kaniché | High-quality aged expressions |
What Should You Try?
- For bold sipping: Worthy Park 109, Foursquare Equidem 14 YO, Barceló Imperial 40 Aniversario
- For refined aging: Clément 15 YO, Kaniché, Botran 8 Reserva Clásica
- For something unique/sweet: Planteray Cut & Dry Coconut, Star & Key Rum
- For value-focused flavor: Brugal 1888, Santa Teresa 1796, Bacardí Ocho
Bonus Takeaways
- Rum investment is on the rise, especially rare bottlings like old Caroni stock, now fetching €2,000–3,000 per bottle. (Financial Times)
- Coffee-barrel finished rums are trending, such as Santa Teresa Arabica, offering new taste dimensions. (Food & Wine)
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