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11 best rums

Who better to give us the low down on rum than Paul McFadyen, Brand Ambassador for Plantation rum and co-owner of Trailer Happiness, an award-wining rum & tiki bar in Notting Hill, London:

“For years people thought that rum was a really neutral, dark or pirate orientated spirit and only drinkable when mixed with the likes of cola. Gradually people have begun to discover the rich array of incredible rums out there from all over the world. From soft, sweet sippers to fruity, vegetal rums from the French Caribbean – the majority are great enjoyed straight up or in a wide range of simple cocktails.

The drink that really put rum on the map was the Daiquiri which pretty much introduced rum to the world. The simplest combination of rum, sugar and lime, it’s the godfather of cocktails. Try it at home in a slushy and mix it with fruit (strawberry and passionfruit are incredible) or go for the classic, sophisticated option and serve it simply shaken and served up.

The Mojito is a disciple of the Daiquiri with the addition of mint and a Mai Tai swaps the sugar for Orgeat (almond syrup) and orange liqueur. Let’s not forget the mighty Rum Punch, again this is a simple base mix of rum, sugar and lime with the addition of tropical fruit juices and bitters.”

With sales of rum hitting over £1bn in the past year alone, it seems Paul’s not the only one going gaga for all things rum.

So whether you’re looking for a sophisticated sipper, a premium cocktail base or the finishing touch for your retro rum baba dessert (which we hear is making a comeback), we’re confident we’ve got a rum for you.

From light to dark, spiced to fruity, we've rounded up our favourite bottles for celebrating National Rum Day and beyond.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.

Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva Rum, 70cl, 40%: £41.95, The Whisky Exchange

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Described by global rum ambassador, Ian Burrell, as "Tiramisu in a glass!" Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva is the ultimate sipping rum with its rich flavours of fruit cake, rum ‘n’ raisin ice cream, cinnamon and cocoa on the nose, and fudgy, syrupy gingerbread and orange on the finish.

Hailing from the Venezuelan Andes, the elegant spirit is distilled from the purest sugar cane honey in an ancient copper pot, aged in ex-bourbon and malt whisky white oak casks for depth of complexity.

This is delicious sipped slowly with a piece of dark chocolate, or try in a twist on an Old Fashioned with Pedro Ximenez sherry and chocolate bitters.

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Plantation Pineapple, 70cl, 40%: £33, Marks & Spencer

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This pineapple-flavoured rum was created by Plantation's Alexandre Gabriel as a tribute to Reverend Stiggins, a character in Charles Dickens' Pickwick Papers.

It has notes of banana, citrus peel, spice and a hint of smoke, along with the ripe pineapple, which are peeled by hand. The rind is infused in Plantation 3 Stars White Rum before distilling in pot stills.

The flesh is infused in Plantation Original Dark Rum for three months, at which point, the rind and fruit infusions are married together and rested in casks for a further three months.

This six-month process enables the rum to deliver its distinctive, delicate pineapple flavour. Divine sipped straight or in an ice-cold Daiquiri.

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Ableforth’s Rumbullion! 70cl 42.6%: £35.95, Master of Malt

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Winner of the coveted Best Spiced Rum, in the World Rum Awards 2017 – at the core of this fabulous spirit lies high proof Caribbean rum, which has been blended with creamy Madagascan vanilla and a generous helping of zesty orange peel.

The secret recipe is finished with a handful of cinnamon, cloves and just a hint of cardamom. This spiced rum is rich with a long intense finish and completely moreish.

Each bottle is hand wrapped in crinkled brown paper, wound with twine and sealed with black wax, making it a special gift, or a great addition to your drinks trolley.

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Cut Smoked Rum, 70cl, 40%: £25.80, Master of Malt

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The Cut Rum range combines premium blends of rum from Trinidad and Jamaica, crafted in copper pot stills with all natural ingredients such as aniseed, nutmeg, ginger, pepper, cinnamon, coriander seed, lemon and vanilla.

We’re particularly keen on this smoky version though, which uses an innovative oak chip smoking process, adding real complexity to grown up cocktails.

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Jamaica Cove Black Pineapple Rum, 70cl, 40%: £25.64, Drink Finder

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Drawing inspiration from tales of smugglers landing on Cornwall’s beaches, Jamaica Cove Black Pineapple Rum is a 100 per cent pure Jamaican rum, laced with juicy pineapple.

It’s the perfect base for your classic Pina Colada, adding a depth of flavour that gives cocktails a real kick. Equally delicious simply drunk neat over ice.

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La Hechicera Fine Aged Rum 70cl 40%: £43.33, Master of Malt

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Aged in American white oak barrels, Columbian brand La Hechicera (meaning enchantress) uses a clever blend of mature rums between 12 and 21 years old, which gives this rum its distinctive character.

You’ll detect sweet prunes, coffee and chocolate on the nose, with a touch of vanilla and spicy pepper on the finish.

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Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Blend, 70cl, 43%: £35.55, The Whisky Exchange

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This golden hued rum from Jamaica is best sipped neat (in the same vein as good quality whisky) but is versatile enough to be used in cocktails as well – it makes the best Mai Tai.

Distilled in traditional copper pot stills in the lush Nassau Valley in the heart of Jamaica, this aged rum displays notes of deep oak, dark chocolate and orange peel.

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Koko Kanu Jamaican Coconut Rum 70cl 37.5%: £20, Ocado

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Forget any connotations of drinking sickly sweet Malibu as a teenager, this coconut flavoured white rum is decidedly more premium.

The perfect serve is a Koko Kolada: Koko Kanu, pineapple juice and nutmeg. Think a simple, lower calorie drink with the same refreshing, island flavour.

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RumJava Signature Coffee Blended Rum, 70cl, 35%: £40, Harvey Nichols

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Harvey Nichols are the only retailer to stock all three flavours in the RumJava range, but we’re particularly taken with their signature blend which is infused with Java’Mon Signature Blend coffee beans for 30 days.

Super smooth with notes of coconut, creamy vanilla and sweet caramel toffee, it’s delicious drunk neat over ice or makes an excellent twist on an Espresso Martini.

The small batch spirit is distilled in copper pots in Florida and has already picked up two gold medals at Miami RumFest.

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Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum, 70cl, 63%: £26, Sainsburys

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The legendary Wray's dominates the Jamaican rum scene, accounting for over 90 per cent of all rum sold and is the top-selling overproof white rum in the world.

Synonymous with Notting Hill Carnival, try using this in a tropical, fruit forward punch. Although be warned, at 63 per cent ABV, this is not one for the fainthearted.

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Elements Eight Republica, 70cl, 40%: £30.45, The Whisky Exchange

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Originally created as “the bartenders rum” Elements Eight Republica is aged for a minimum of five years in Bourbon casks which gives it a naturally sweet character.

Awarded a “Rum Master” – the top award possible – at the Rum & Cachaça Masters, this British independent craft rum is made in small batches from a blend of two single rums, sourced from distilleries in Cuba and Panama. Complex yet highly drinkable.

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The Verdict: Best rums

Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva is a heavenly smooth treat if budget allows. However, if you’re more interested in whipping up some cocktails, you’ll have a lot of fun with Plantation Pineapple – a great value bottle for the quality of spirit.

Stacey Smith is the founder of food & drink website Crummbs