15 August 2023 , 08:13
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Light, dark and golden rums all start off the same way. It's a liquor made by fermenting and distilling sugarcane but it's what happens after it's distilled that makes the difference to the rum.
Golden and dark rums are aged in barrels which is where they pick up a lot of their colour and flavour, with white rums they often go through the same process but are then filtered through charcoal to give the crystal clear finish.
They're known for making appearances in mojitos and daiquiris, and white rums are great for playing mixologist at home due to their versatility.
Here are what we consider to be seven of the best.
1. Chairman's Reserve
Chairman's ReserveChairman's Reserve is a rum brand hailing from Saint Lucia, they have a number of different rums in their range but the white really stands out. I've found that the triple distilled spirit has a really smooth nose and despite being 43% it has a really smooth finish. There are fruity notes in the flavour with pineapple really coming through and the marshmallow nose being undeniable.
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This rum is 2-3 years aged in ex-Bourbon barrels then charcoal filtered to remove colour which I think really gives a notable flavour. My favourite way to drink a white rum is in a cocktail, while you can have it with a mixer or straight I think it's much better in a mojito or daiquiri. These are some of the easiest to make cocktails at home in my opinion and there are even more ways to make drinks up on Chairman's Reserve's website.
ABV: 43%
Price: from £27.99
Where to buy it:Amazon, Master of Malt
2. The Duppy Share White Rum
The Duppy Share White RumDuppy Share White is proudly a 100% Jamaican rum with flavours of mango, pimento and fresh thyme and it is delicious. On smelling the rum you notice tropical fruits but there's a caramel sweetness on first sip. This is carried through with the flavour of tropical fruits, personally I didn't notice the pimento spice.
I think this one would work really well with pineapple juice and be a great base for a rum punch although the brand suggests it's best in a Daiquiri or Mojito.
ABV: 40%
Price: from £21
Where to buy it:Amazon, Tesco, Master of Malt
3. The Salford White Rum
The Salford White RumAs the name suggests, this rum is from a little closer to home. The Salford Rum Company is a Manchester-based company that makes rum inspired by imports they received on the docks in the 1900s. This white rum is really citrus heavy with notes of orange, lemon and lime really coming through for a sweet citrus hit.
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As is often suggested with white rums, this would work well in a Daiquiri or Mojito. I think it's a great idea to lean into the citrus notes though, making a lemonade based drink or pairing with raspberry.
ABV: 37.5%
Price: from £33
Where to buy it:Salford Rum
4. Lazydog Silver Rum
Lazydog Silver RumRums are sweet, they're sugar based drinks so that goes without saying. But Lazydog's Silver rum takes the sweetness to the next level. One nice touch with these bottles is you know exactly what batch you've got and which bottle it was from the batch.
Made simply with molasses, yeast and water this rum manages to capture flavours of caramel and nougat. You can try it in a cocktail but I'd recommend this with pineapple juice.
ABV: 40%
Price: from £28
Where to buy it: Master of Malt
5. DropWorks Clear Drop Rum
DropWorks Clear Drop RumClear Drop is an extremely smooth rum that doesn't leave your mouth feeling sticky after drinking it. Here at the Mirror we actually went straight to the distillery to understand just what goes into crafting the rum. The brands commitment to capturing the personality of a drink is clear on the bottle with it featuring a unique design but it's the flavour that stands out above all.
It's not overly sweet but it still manages to have notes of vanilla ice cream, blueberries and apples which I find to be quite unique in white rums. DropWorks suggest it's great neat, in cocktails or even on toast - but here we think it's best with cloudy apple juice and elderflower tonic.
ABV: 45%
Price: from £35
Where to buy it:DropWorks, Master of Malt
6. El Dorado 3 Year Old White Rum
El Dorado 3 Year Old White RumThis Guyanese rum has won multiple awards over the years and for good reason. The rum is aged in oak barrels for at least three years and then filtered through natural charcoal to remove any colour leaving behind a really smooth spirit. I think the vanilla flavour is the most strong note throughout although there is an almost chocolatey undertone and flavours of dried fruit.
This is a great choice for cocktails and quite a budget friendly price point.
ABV: 40%
Price: from £23.99
Where to buy it:Amazon, Master of Malt
7. Takamaka Rum Blanc
Takamaka Rum BlancTakamaka is a Seychellois rum that has a scent reminiscent of of baked goods. It reminds me of nice biscuits and freshly baked blueberry muffins which I find very appealing in a drink. I think it's quite fruity with there being a note of red grape which I haven't often seen in rums.
It's sweet without being overpowering which I think is important in a rum, if you're a fan of daiquiris then this is a great rum to grab.
ABV: 38%
Price: from £26.74
Where to buy it:Amazon, Master of Malt
Please remember to drink responsibly.