5 best bottles of rum to buy (and 10 ideas to try with it)

Thea Everett

Deputy editor (audiences) Thea loves to be in the kitchen and has a particular interest in cooking on a budget and deep frying. She thinks Sri Lankan and Indian food is the food of the gods. She looks after the brand’s social channels and newsletter – and contributes features and recipes.

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With its sweet intensity derived from sugar cane and wood, a bottle of rum is as good an ingredient as it is a tipple. But with so many brands to choose from, which is the best rum to buy right now?

We’ve been on the search for the greatest bottles you can buy (so good they can be drunk neat), so check out our top 5 recommendations below.

And, once you’re in possession of a bottle, these 10 excellent cocktails and desserts should expand your cooking-with-booze horizons.

5 best bottles of rum to buy (and 10 ideas to try with it)

We think rum is underrated. It’s the base of many a marvellous tipple, and the secret ingredient to some of our favourite desserts. Drink it or use it as an ingredient, either way, we think with a little help from these recipes you’ll be singing its praises very soon yourself.

If you want to find out a little more about the spirit itself, check out our all about rum guide.

Top FIVE rums to get excited about…

Goslings Black Seal

Gosling’s Black Seal Rum is made in Bermuda from a family recipe dating back over two centuries. The smooth, full flavour is perfect in desserts and cocktails such as a Dark & Stormy (Bermuda’s national cocktail). It’s also brilliant in our pineapple dessert, below. £24, available at Waitrose.

Cut Spiced

Infused with real aniseed, nutmeg, ginger, pepper, cinnamon, coriander seed, lemon and vanilla, Cut Spiced rum is delicious in food and drinks. Try it in our lime punch (below), alongside a barbecue. £23.82, available at Master of Malt.

Rumbullion!

Rumbullion! is a rich, intense rum with hints of Madagascan vanilla, orange peel, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom. It’s delicious in all manner of cocktails (try it in place of whisky in an Old Fashioned), or neat with a squeeze of orange.

This one is also brilliant for our BREAKFAST pancakes below. £34.90, available at Master of Malt.

BORA botanical rum

If you love gin, you’ll love BORA which has complex subtle flavours. It’s distilled using natural botanicals locally sourced in Cornwall, including nettles and quinces, to create a light, dry, aromatic spirit. Try it on the rocks, with tonic, or in a Mojito. Joyous. £30, available at penrynspirits.com.

Wray and Nephew

Wray & Nephew rum is a steadfast part of Jamaican culture. With notes of pineapple and citrus, and a long and spicy finish, it is delicious in a Mojito, Caipirinha, or simply neat. £25.50, available at Tesco.

Now try these recipes with rum…

Lime and lemongrass rum punch

This lime and lemongrass rum punch recipe is simple to make, and easy to scale up for when you are having people over. Zingy, refreshing, and ideal for a hot summer’s day.

Caramelised pineapple and coconut trifle with rum syllabub

Give trifle a boozy, tropical twist. If you’ve never tried coconut custard, what are you waiting for? This show-stopping dessert is definitely one to try.

Pineapple with rum syrup

For a more low-maintenance pud, grab your bottle of dark rum and try this sophisticated roasted pineapple. It’s sweet, citrus, and drowned in rum syrup – it’s a winning combination.

Orange and ginger rum babas

It would be very wrong of us to neglect to mention the king of rum desserts: rum babas.

Mojito

Fresh with mint and lime, this zesty treat is made with white rum, and is a classic cocktail for a reason.

Breakfast pancakes with rum-roasted pineapple

Well, hello rum for breakfast. Start your day with Caribbean flavours. Dan Doherty’s recipe combines pineapple and coconut to make brunch pancakes that extra bit treaty.

Ricotta filo tart with figs, rum and coconut

A creamy rum and ricotta filling, encased in crispy filo pastry, topped with fresh figs. Some call it a tart, we call it a masterpiece.

Pina Colada

It’s certainly better than getting caught in the rain. This pina colada cocktail, a tropical blend of pineapple, coconut cream and white rum, is classic perfection.

Caipirinha

A light and refreshing Brazilian cocktail made with rum and fresh lime. Makes a great welcome drink, aperitif, or all-night-long drink.

Caipirinha sorbet

Take that cocktail you made and turn it into a refreshing sorbet! Finish off your summer dinner party with this refreshing good-time dessert.