There are a variety of good rums available, with flavors to fit almost any taste or preference.
However, some of the best rum comes from Puerto Rico, a beautiful island where numerous families have been blending and distilling for decades.
This practice of passing down the business may be one of the reasons why so much rum is so popular – knowledge is passed down and recipes are preserved and improved within the family.
Light and oaky, with a dry finish, Puerto Rican rum is a classic beverage enjoyed for decades all around the world. The run is typically made using column stills, though this is not always the case.
When it comes to Puerto rum, there isn’t a set of hard and fast rules; rather, it’s a broad agreement on how it should be made.
The only requirement is that the rum must be ages for at least one year or three years if it is to be classified as a black rum.
The best rum from Puerto Rico is one that pays homage to the country’s history while also providing something distinctive, high-quality, and enjoyable.
Some are meant to be sipped, while others are meant to be mixed into a cocktail; in either case, good flavors and a smooth finish are essential.
Here are the best Puerto rums you can buy for any occasion.
Our Best Puerto Rican Rum Reviews
Don Q Gran Anejo
Don Q is a popular and accomplished rum maker whose product is well-known and well-liked throughout the world. It is especially popular in Puerto Rico, where it is a consistent best-seller.
Their top-of-the-line rum, the Gran Anejo, is a combination of six to twelve-year-old rums for a rich and subtle flavor profile.
Don Q, is roughly 80 years old. Juan Serrallés, a sugarcane industrialist in southern Puerto Rico, produced the first barrel of rum that would lead to his rum enterprise in 1865.
The rum Don Quixote was named after Miguel de Cervantes’ famous literary character Don Quixote. It was initially marketed in 1934 when the US prohibition – which included Puerto Rico – was lifted.
In addition to C, the Serrallés Distillery now produces several Don Q brands, including Don Q Cristal, Don Q Anejo, Don Q Gold, and Don Q Limon.
There’s a rum for every taste and budget, so newcomers, casual drinkers, and rum connoisseurs can all find something to love.
For those who wish to try something new, they also have a variety of flavored expressions.
The scent is dominated by leather, tobacco, oak, molasses, and barrel char, with touches of black fruit, vanilla, and allspice thrown in for good measure.
With flavors of vanilla, molasses, toasted nuts, dried fruits, and minerals, the palate starts pleasantly but gradually becomes oaky and peppery.
Lighter citrus scents emerge as you continue to sip. Regardless of how you drink, it’s well-balanced, complex, and tasty.
Bacardi Añejo
Bacardi, which was founded over 150 years ago in Cuba by Facundo Bacardi Masso, has experienced various challenges throughout its history, the most notable of which was arguably the Cuban government’s takeover of Bacardi facilities in the 1960s.
The corporation has had a substantial presence in Catao, Puerto Rico, since the 1930s.
With yearly sales of more than 200 million bottles in 200 countries, Bacardi is presently the world’s largest privately held, family-owned rum producer.
With about $3.3 billion in revenue in 2004, it is the world’s fourth-largest spirits corporation.
According to their website, the Catao distillery is “the world’s largest premium rum distillery.” The Bacardi Visitor Center, which has been located in the Catao distillery since 2003, is where visitors can learn more about the family-owned company and its products.
Other well-known brands in the Bacardi portfolio include Grey Goose vodka, Dewar’s whiskey, Bombay Sapphire gin, and Cazadores tequila.
To bring out the subtle flavors, the Bacardi Anejo rum is aged for six years.
The smells of pink peppercorns, caramel, and spice begin mild and sweet and conclude dry with a smokey, peppery aftertaste in Bacardi Aejo, which has brownish-amber color.
Overall, this is a fantastic medium-bodied rum that goes great in a variety of cocktails (like a rum margarita).
Ron del Barrilito 2 Star
In 1871, Pedro F. Fernández established Ron del Barrilito on his father’s sugarcane property. The name comes from the fact that the rum is aged in barrels.
The recipe that Fernández prepared for visitors to his plantation is followed by his family, four of whom work for the company.
The island’s rich rum heritage includes Ron del Barrilito, a popular native rum in Puerto Rico.
Ron del Barrilito 3 Star is a combination of rums aged for six to ten years in a series of vintage sherry and American white oak casks.
This is a high-end spirit meant to be sipped and enjoyed neat, perhaps with a splash of water or over ice. Only a few things are required for it to reach its full potential.
In addition, their formula includes a secret blend of ten ingredients that they rely on to give the expression its particular profile and robust, great flavor.
It’s complex and silky smooth in general, earning the brand a large and loyal following.
The nose begins with wood and fruit notes, with citrus scents from orange and lemon peel, ripe melon in the background, and a touch of vanilla, caramel, and toffee in the rear.
The palate is greeted by strong notes of black and red pepper, as well as the warmth of cinnamon and nutmeg.
Woodiness and citrus notes follow, along with a hint of caramel and vanilla. The aftertaste is dry and slightly bitter.
Bacardi Superior
Superior by Bacardi is a smooth, dry rum with a hint of spice. It’s a light rum with a dry flavor and finish and a modest aromatic content.
Above all, it’s an excellent mixer to use in cocktails and consistently ranked among the best rum in the world – great in a mojito.
Bacardi Facundo Exquisito
Bacardi Facundo Exquisito is exactly what it sounds like: a fantastic Bacardi expression.
Thanks to its range of cheaply priced, high-quality rum, the company have done rather well for itself. However, this isn’t their only accomplishment.
They’ve developed a host of brands and collections throughout the years, with their premium Facundo line topping the quality and character charts.
This collection’s four expressions are all meant to be drunk slowly and neatly. This modest but uncommon collection, which had never been shared with the public previously, was sourced from the Bacardi family’s reserves.
The seventh generation of the Bacardi family is constantly seeking to grow, innovate, and ultimately find the perfect bottle of rum.
The Facundo Exquisito might be one of the best rums created by the company, if not one of the best in the world.
The nose is greeted with brown sugar, black fruit, dried fruit, vanilla, and a hint of wood. The palate starts with sherry notes from the barrels that were used to age the wine.
Raisins, peppery spice, and caramel are also evident, with oaky sweetness, lingering fruit notes, and a trace of dark chocolate rounding off the character.
Captain Morgan Private Stock
Morgan was a privateer, a ship’s captain with permission from his government to attack and loot the maritime interests of an opposing nation.
A privateer is a ship’s captain who has been granted permission by his government to assault and pillage the shipping interests of an enemy nation.
Whether he was a sea scoundrel or not, the Seagram Company purchased a Jamaican distillery from the government in 1944 and began producing its famous rum under his name.
Captain Morgan is now the United States’ fourth-largest spirit brand and the world’s eleventh-largest.
If you want to get the most out of Captain Morgan, try Captain Morgan Private Stock. It’s full-bodied and rich, with a smooth, velvety texture and a nutty, sweet, candy-like flavor from delicate island spices.
Palo Viejo
The Serrallés Distillery produces Palo Viejo, as well as Don Q and Caliche rums. Palo Ready, a pouch-based drink produced with Palo Viejo rum and other liquids to make beverages including sangria, limoncello, (see also: The Best Limoncello Brands)and rum punch.
While Don Q is a globally recognized brand, Palo Viejo is a household name in Puerto Rico. It’s an excellent clear rum made from fermented molasses.
It’s a simple rum, better suited to mixing than anything else, and it performs the job well.
That isn’t to say that it can’t be a sipping rum though. It’s smooth enough to be enjoyable, which means it’s great in cocktails.
This rum has a great subtle sweetness and salinity to it on the scent. It’s there and obvious, yet it’s not overpowering. Similar flavors appear on the palate, with a citrus and spice undertone.
The finish, like the nose, is subtle. It’s a high-quality mixer that produces smooth, sweet, and enjoyable cocktails at an incredibly low price.
Don Q Gold
The Serralles family created Don Q rums in 1932, and by the 1960s, they were being marketed and sold all across Puerto Rico, as well as being exported to the US, Mexico, and other parts of the Caribbean.
Don Q Gold is the hallmark bottle of Don Q. It’s a smooth, full-bodied rum that’s been aged for three to five years.
Caliche Rum
Caliche Rum was created by Serralés Distillery’s Rande Gerber and Roberto Serralés and is named after a type of limestone that is widely found in the area.
The distillery has been in the Serrallés family for six generations, and it claims to produce two-thirds of Puerto Rico’s rum. It is the same distillery that produced Don Q rum.
This aged white rum has flavors of vanilla, oak, and caramel. The 150-year-old distillery prides itself on employing cutting-edge, ecologically friendly production methods.
The business is now handled by the family’s sixth generation, who brings a plethora of experience, expertise, and talents to the table.
At this stage, the recipes are classic, and after your first drink, you’ll understand why rum is so popular.
Caliche Rum is a very new addition to their rum lineup. It’s a medium-bodied rum prepared from a blend of rums aged for up to five years in a solera method.
The rum is carbon filtered before bottling to create an aged expression with a clear color. They wanted to create a true hybrid rum with characteristics from both young and old rums.
The scent is lovely and well-balanced, with notes of molasses, lemon, leather, wood, tea, and black figs.
On the palate, it’s smooth and slightly sweet at first, with a dry, tropical aftertaste. It’s the perfect rum for practically any white rum-based cocktail, adding depth without dominating the flavor.
Reserva Añeja Rum
This ultra-premium rum is a faultless blend of Puerto Rican rums that have been aged in oak barrels in a controlled environment for up to ten years.
On the palate, expect a rich, subtle, and buttery flavor that will please even the most sophisticated rum connoisseurs.
To round out its distinct flavor and scent, a small number of secret ingredients have been added to give the rum its characteristic scent and taste.
The bottle is inscribed with the name Ron Reserva Anja and is sealed with a special cork that gives it a fantastic appearance of high-class rum.
Ron Botran Anejo Oro
Ron Botran Oro is a full-bodied golden rum from Puerto Rico that has established itself as one of the top mixing rums in the world.
Because of its rich, mellow flavor, Ron Botran Oro has become a hallmark of seaside establishments in Puerto Rico, complementing rather than overpowering the cocktails it’s paired with.
Ron Castillo Gold
On the domestic market, Ron Castillo, a Bacardi rum, was created as a cheaper alternative to brands like Don Q. A bottle of Ron Castillo is around 25% less expensive than a bottle of Bacardi.
Don’t be deceived by the low price; Ron Castillo is a great deal. Its US sales have been steadily increasing, and it recently surpassed the million-case barrier.
Ron Castillo Gold, the label’s top bottle, has a smooth, silky taste with a reserved finish.
Ron Llave Blanco Supremo
The origins of Ron Llave Blanco Supremo may be traced back to the late 1800s, when two entrepreneurs, Miguel Roses Bisbal and Sebastian Garcia, bought a rum manufacturing plant in Arecibo.
In 1891, they started distilling the Ron Llave brand under the auspices of the Puerto Rico Distilling Company.
Over a century later, the Serralles family purchased the distillery, and its brands were forced out of the domestic market and into the international market.
Ron Llave Blanco Supremo is a rum from Puerto Rico known for its smooth smells and simplicity of mixing. It gives any mixed drink flavor and lightness.
Best Puerto Rican Rum – Buyer’s Guide
Cocktails To Try
Now that you have the definitive list of the best Puerto Rican rums, why not try making a few rum cocktails?
Here are some and very simple recipes for amazing cocktails that bring out the best flavors of the rum.
Chicharito
This is a traditional Puerto Rican shot with a distinct flavour that is neither overly sweet nor too thick. Simply blend Palo Viejo white rum with your favourite anise liqueur.
The anise masks any rum flavors, making it a straightforward drink to consume. The result is a rich licorice flavor with a hint of spiciness.
Nothing is stopping you from producing more and drinking it if you like the flavor! This drink can be made a little simpler and more mellow by adding honey and/or lemon.
The anise liqueur you use makes a difference here, as well. Even though the base flavors will be the same, different brands will offer subtle differences.
Spiced Cherry
The spiced cherry is a popular drink in Puerto Rico, and it only requires two basic ingredients: cherry cola and spiced rum. The greatest rum is a real spiced rum, but any rum with any level of spice will do for this very simple cocktail!
Simply combine the two ingredients in the proportions of your choice, add ice, stir, and enjoy! Garnish with a cherry for more flair.
Amaretto Colada
Puerto Rico is known for the pina colada cocktail. It’s their official drink after all, and they’re very happy about it. While it’s best enjoyed on the island, many people prepare excellent home versions.
If you like the basic colada but want to spice it up a little, try the amaretto colada for a little additional flavor.
This cocktail is a little more complicated than the previous ones and requires more ingredients to make it right.
Ingredients
- 1-ounce of a white rum of your choice
- 1-ounce amaretto
- Pineapple juice
- Coconut cream
- Whipping cream
- Ice
- Slice of pineapple for garnish
Method
Add all of your ingredients in a blender with broken or crushed ice and blend until smooth. You can easily make your own version by varying the amount of pineapple juice and creams used, depending on how sweet and large of a drink you prefer. It’s also a simple recipe to scale up if you’re having company over.
Takeaway
With so many different and unique rums, its not surprising that Peurto Rico is the rum capital of the world. Their wide selection means that there is something that everyone will enjoy, from the rum novice to the connoisseur.
If you want to get into Peurto Rician rum then any of the bottles on this list would make a great place to start!
