The World’s Top Rum, According To The Beverage Testing Institute

A Dominican rum and a French flavored rum were judged the world’s best rums, each winning Platinum medals, at the 2025 Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest) rum judging. Twenty-three rums won Gold Medals across various rum categories. Below are the official tasting notes on BevTest’s Top Rums.

Barceló Imperial 40 Aniversario Premium Blend, 43% ABV, 750 ml. $160

Ron Barceló was one of two Platinum medalists, scoring 96/100 points. The distillery, founded in 1930 in the Dominican Republic, is one of the most prominent rum producers in the Caribbean. The distillery is known for its sustainability practices and uses 100% Dominican sugarcane juice fermented and distilled in its San Pedro de Macorís distillery.

The Imperial 40 Aniversario Premium Blend was released to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Barceló Imperial. It is a limited-edition rum aged 12 years in American oak and French oak barrels, then finished in ex-Sauterne wine casks.

The rum is rich and aromatic, featuring dried figs, dates, cherries, vanilla bean, roasted nuts, and sweet oak. The palate is full-bodied, with dark chocolate, molasses, plum, toasted coconut, and a touch of acidity from the wine barrels. The finish is long and smooth, with lingering spice, leather, and cigar box hints.

The BevTest Judging Panel described the rum as expressing:

“Aromas of butterscotch, cola nut, and brown butter maple baked apple. The palate features similar flavors with roasted apricot, marzipan, and banana notes. A world-class rum that is a symphony of maple, spice, sun-ripened fruit, and pastry shop flavors, all with a wisp of smoke.”

Planteray Cut & Dry Coconut Rum, 40% ABV, 750 ml.

Cut and Dry was the second Platinum medalist at the 2025 BevTest rum judging, scoring 96/100 points. The rum is part of the Planteray (formerly Plantation) Rum range, produced by Maison Ferrand, a French company known for sourcing rums from various Caribbean nations and aging or finishing them in Cognac casks in France.

This coconut-flavored Barbadian rum is made with locally sourced coconut, macerated and blended with rum. It’s marketed as a tropical, all-natural alternative to synthetic coconut rums and has no added sugars.

The nose features fresh coconut, toasted coconut shavings, vanilla, light, floral, and fruity rum esters. It’s smooth and creamy on the palate, with pronounced coconut flavor, hints of caramel, and a distinct rum backbone. The sweetness is balanced without being cloying. The finish is long and flavorful, evoking tropical themes of coconut water and warm beaches.

The BevTest Judging Panel described the rum as showing:

“Aromas of toasted coconut flakes and chocolate coconut macaroons. The palate features similar flavors with accents of coconut creme brûlée, bananas foster, and roasted nuts. A superb coconut rum bursting with natural tropical flavors, drizzled in chocolate — yum!”

Planteray also won a Gold Medal for its Planteray Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Rum.

Rhum Barbancourt Haitian Proof Rum, 55% ABV, 750 ml. 95/100 points

Rhum Barbancourt was the top-ranked overproof rum, scoring 95/100 points and winning a Gold Medal. Established in 1862, it’s Haiti’s most renowned rum distillery. It produces rum from pure sugarcane juice, Rhum Agricole style, double distilled and aged in French Limousin oak barrels. The brand is a pillar of Haitian national identity and craftsmanship.

The Haitian Proof expression is a high-strength version preserving traditional flavor and character, often bottled around 55% ABV. It maintains Barbancourt’s hallmark Agricole complexity but with amplified intensity.

On the nose, the rum features earthy cane juice, crushed stone, ripe banana, burnt sugar, clove, and a touch of leather. The palate is bold and spicy with pronounced vegetal notes, black pepper, licorice, and tannic oak. The overproof heat is balanced by subtle sweetness and minerality. The finish is long, dry, and robust, with lingering molasses, dried herbs, and warm spice notes.

The BevTest Judging Panel described the rum as exhibiting:

“Aromas of lemongrass, coconut husks, and licorice. Flavors: The palate features similar flavors, and grapefruit candy, green papaya, and warm cinnamon roll. Bright and amazingly balanced, this ovenproof rum delivers the essence of summer and will be the star of any hand-shaken Daiquiris and Mojitos.”

The other Gold Medalist in the Overproof Rum category, scoring 94/100 points, was Meticulous Spirits Limited Edition Barrel Aged Rum.

Ron Zacapa Solera Gran Reserva No. 23 Rum, 40% ABV, 750 ml.

Ron Zacapa was the top-ranked Aged Fresh Cane Juice Rum. It scored 94/100 points for a gold Medal. Produced in Guatemala by Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala, Ron Zacapa is renowned for its high-altitude aging process in the “House Above the Clouds” at over 7,000 feet above sea level. The rum is crafted from “virgin sugarcane honey” and utilizes a solera system blending rums aged between 6 and 23 years.

The nose features caramel, orange peel, vanilla, and refined sugar aromas. The palate is full-bodied and flavorful, exhibiting brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, dried banana, guava, and pineapple flavors. The finish is long with lingering old leather, caramel, and red apple notes.

The BevTest Judging Panel described the rum as showcasing:

“Aromas of maple syrup, violets, and devil food cake. The palate exhibits maple syrup, black tea tannins, and bitter chocolate. A superb rum for sipping or pairing with cigars—great for newbies and experts alike.”

Other Gold medal rums in the aged fresh cane juice category are Barcelo Imperial Rare Blends Mizunara Cask, Ron Zacapa Solera Gran Reserva XO Especial Rum, and Ron Zacapa Solera Gran Reserva Edicion Negra Rum.

Zhumir High Altitude Sugarcane Spirit, 38% ABV, 750 ml.

Zhumir, an Ecuadorian brand established in 1966, was the highest-rated aguardiente, scoring 94/100 points and a Gold Medal. The distillery sources sugarcane from the high-altitude valleys of Paute in the Azuay province. Zhumir produces a range of spirits, with their aguardiente being a traditional sugarcane-based spirit.

The nose is sweet with subtle vegetal undertones. The palate features a pronounced sweetness, featuring notes of vanilla cream, caramelized plantain, butterscotch, and Ceylon tea.

The BevTest Judging Panel described the spirit as expressing:

“Aromas of egg whites, meringue, and plantain. The palate features similar flavors with coconut milk, custard, and sugar cane note. It will be great in classic rum cocktails, a delicious, savory, and round aguardiente reminiscent of Agricole Rhum.”

Kuleana Rum Works Hōkūlei Aged Rum Batch No. 14, 46% ABV, 750 ml

Based in Hawaii, Kuleana Rum Works produces rums from local and imported ingredients. It won a Gold Medal, scoring 94/100 points, in the Rum: Aged More Than 3 Years category. Hōkūlei is a blend of seven rums aged between 18 months and 18 years. It includes their aged Hawaiian Agricole rum and rums from Panama, Nicaragua, Barbados, Venezuela, and Trinidad.

On the nose, the rum features tropical fruit notes of pineapple, passion fruit, mango, melon, and banana bread. The palate is creamy and fruity, expressing apple butter, toasted walnuts, cedar, and pumpkin pie flavors. The finish is long and flavorful, showcasing a masterful blend of tropical fruits, spices, and caramel.

The BevTest Judging Panel described the wine as expressing:

“Aromas of grilled pineapple, passion fruit butter, and mango. The palate features apple butter, toasted walnuts, and cedar flavors. This is a masterful fugue of grilled tropical fruits, spices, and caramel.”

Also winning Gold Medals in the 3 Year+ Agreed Rum category were Ron Millonario 10 Aniversario Reserva Rum, Kuleana Rum Works Nanea Aged Rum Batch No. 103, Bacoo 11 Year Old Wish Series Ex-Bourbon & Tequila Cask Finish Rum, Botran No. 18 Rum, Botran Infinito Rum, Planteray XO 20th Anniversary Rum, Botran Roaju Rum, Planteray Barbados 5 Year Aged Rum, and Santa Teresa 1796 Triple-Aged Solera Rum.

Kuleana Rum Works also won Gold Medals for its Kuleana Rum Works Hawaiian Rum Agricole Batch No. 120, unaged fresh cane juice rum, and Kuleana Rum Works Huihui White Rum Batch No. 178, white rum.

Planteray also won a Gold Medal for its Sealander Gold Rum.

The Platinum and Gold medal rums from around the world are among the best rums available today. They offer a broad range of aroma and taste profiles and are crafted from raw materials ranging from raw sugar cane juice to molasses. They are flavorful, with a layered, nuanced complexity that will work equally well as a cocktail base or straight up. If you are a rum fan, you have much to explore here.