Brian Nagele
No other drink screams vacation quite as much as a spiced rum cocktail. Spiced rum is the perfect drink to enjoy while you lay on a sun lounger, soaking up that tropical heat. So, when you drink it back home, it will instantly transport you to better and brighter days.
It is rich, delicious, and packed full of flavor. It is dark and mysterious, and the perfect way to escape after a long hard day at the office. But, it is often difficult to find a spiced rum that tastes just like the one that you have drunk on holiday.
In this quick and handy guide, we’ve compiled a list of 9 of the best spiced rums that will take you straight back to the Tropics. So, with no further ado, let’s drive straight in.
Kraken Black Spiced Rum
ABV: 40% | Origin: Trinidad and Tobago
First introduced to the market in 2010, first up we have Kraken Black Spiced Rum. This drink is produced in Trinidad using molasses, and it is this which gives this rum its dark color and strong flavor.
But, the best thing about Kraken Black Spiced Rum is the spices that are added to it. Over the 2-year aging process, over 11 different spices are added to this drink, ensuring that it has a strong and diverse flavor.
Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold
ABV: 37.5% | Origin: Jamaica
Captain Morgan is definitely a well-known name in the rum industry, and their ‘Original Spiced Gold’ rum really is top tier. It is the only spiced rum that the company produces, but it is so good that they don’t need to make any other options.
This rum is packed with spices to give a real kick to its flavor, but this is balanced out by the inclusion of vanilla in the recipe. This also means that it tastes great with almost any mixer. Whether you like ginger ale, grapefruit juice, or simply cola, it tastes great with everything.
Bacardi Spiced
ABV: 35% | Origin: Cuba
One of the biggest names in the spirit industry is Barcadi, so we had to include them in this list. This family-owned Cuban drinks giant specializes in lots of things, but their spiced rum is something else.
Compared to the other drinks that Barcadi offers, this specific product is actually fairly new, and it was first released to market in 2019. It was an instant success and has been ever since.
Brugal Dry Spiced Rum
ABV: 38% | Origin: Dominican Republic
Another family-run drinks company that produces outstanding spiced rum is Brugal, and their Dry Spiced Rum is a great choice. It is the perfect choice to add to a cocktail because the versatile spices will transform the flavor entirely.
Some spiced rums still have sweet undertones, but that isn’t the case for this drink. This drink is dry, and balanced, but it is by no means sweet. This rum really tells sweetness to step aside, instead it is all about the spice. So this is something to bear in mind before you try.
Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced Rum
ABV: 45% | Origin: Puerto Rico
For a truly unique spiced rum experience, you need to check out Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced Rum. This unique flavor primarily comes from the fact that this rum is aged in a white oak barrel for up to 3 years before it is sold on the market. Sometimes, the aging process can take up to 6 years.
This rum is rich in every single way, and because of that it has a decadent flavor. With sweet tones from the caramel and vanilla in its flavor, and an oak-infused flavor from the cinnamon spice, this drink is full of flavor. It really is something special, and it is guaranteed to take you back to the beach.
Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum
ABV: 40% | Origin: The US Virgin Islands
Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum was designed to pay homage to Jerry Collins, a.k.a. Sailor Jerry. Sailor Jerry was a navy veteran in World War 2 who created a name for himself by tattooing soldiers and sailors. He is a legend in the tattooing world, and the spiced rum created in his name is a legend in the spirits world.
Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum puts spice at the forefront. Unlike some other rums which favor sweet undertones, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum makes spice the dominant flavor, and this makes for a truly delicious drink. With an entire mix of natural spices, it is very easy to see why this drink is so popular. So it would be criminal not to give it a try.
Hawksbill Caribbean Spiced Rum
ABV: 38.8% | Origin: The Caribbean Islands
If you want to drink spiced rum, and save the turtles at the same time, then you need to get yourself a bottle of Hawksbill Caribbean Spiced Rum. This rum brings together some of the best rums in the Caribbean, and combines them with a distinct mix of spices to create a spiced rum with a real kick.
But the aim of this rum wasn’t to be enjoyed. It is a delicious rum, and it is definitely enjoyable. However, it was designed to help save the turtles, and with every bottle bought, you are helping this cause.
Chairman’s Reserve Spiced Rum
ABV: 40% | Origin: St Lucia
Chairman’s Reserve Spiced Rum is the best rum that St Lucia has to offer, so you have to give it a try. It is packed with flavor because it is aged in ex-bourbon barrels. So, this rum is about as multidimensional as a spiced rum can get.
While it is packed with dark and spicy flavors, it also contains lots of sweeter ingredients to ensure that you get lots of balance in every sip. In particular, you will notice the orange undertones in this drink, and that is a major part of what makes it so delicious.
Cruzan 9 Spiced
ABV: 40% | Origin: US Virgin Islands
Finally, let’s wrap this up with Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum. This rum has a rich amber flavor, and this complements its rich and versatile flavor perfectly. With a base of vanilla and caramel, infused with spices such as ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, there is a bit of everything in this drink.
Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum is a lot newer than some of the others that we have looked at, but it has taken the market by storm. It is full of flavor, and definitely one that will take you back to the Tropics.
