So, you’re looking for a strong spirit to accompany a bonding session with your buddies? Well, you’ve landed up in the right place! One of the most popular and strong spirits in India is rum. Why sip on the same beer you’ve been having for ages when you can try some delicious rum instead? Check out these top 7 rums that you can try when out with friends. Who knows, you and your mates will end up having a hidden rum stash of your own, just like Captain Jack Sparrow!
Top 7 Rums To Try
- Old Monk
- Maka Zai Bartender’s Edition – White Rum
- BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho
- McDowell’s No. 1 Celebration Rum
- Amrut Old Port Rum
- Segredo Aldeia Café Rum
- Wild Tiger Spiced Rum
1. Old Monk
All rum lovers in India have been ardent fans of Old Monk for years now! It’s a dark rum that was launched in 1954. Without any publicizing, this rum has earned a dedicated fanbase, a large number of which are friend groups.
Old Monk is aged for a good 7 years; although the process is time-consuming, it’s worth it! That’s because the rum tastes more delicious with time. Old Monk has strong flavors of caramel, chocolate, and vanilla, and is stored in charred oak barrels which give it its peppery undertones. The rum’s authenticity and unique flavors come from its traditional way of using original rum blends, which are known to be at least 50 years old!
The popularity of Old Monk has been mostly due to word of mouth by its loyal customers. It is one of those spirits that has always been a part of bonding sessions and night-out parties in India. If this is your first ever introduction to rum, you can’t go wrong with Old Monk and your pals for company.
Distillery: Mohan Meakin Pvt. Ltd
ABV: 40%
Also Read: 8 Of The Best Rums For Mojitos
2. Maka Zai Bartender’s Edition – White Rum
Maka zai is Konkani for ‘I want’, making it the perfect rum to try when you and your friends get those alcohol cravings. Stilldistillling Spirits have come up with a delicious and quality rum that every rum lover would want – Maka Zai Bartender’s Edition. This rum is made with sugar that’s collected in and around the Panchganga river of Maharashtra.
Maka Zai Bartender’s Edition has herbaceous, floral, sweet, and spicy notes. These flavors come from the fermentation and distillation process of the rum that takes place near the sugarcane plantation. As a result, the rum’s flavors are influenced by the red soil.
This is a medium-bodied white rum that’ll give you funky tropical characteristics with every sip that you take. This rum is crystal clear with an opulent aroma. If you’re planning a cocktail party with your friends, try mixing the rum with ginger ale and enjoy its taste!
Distillery: Stilldistilling Spirits
ABV: 42.8%
Also Read: 7 Best Brandies In India
3. BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho
Superior in taste and quality, and remarkable aromas – that’s BACARDÍ, one of the best rum brands in India. One of the most popular variations of BACARDÍ rums is BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho. It’s also called ‘The Family Reserve’ as it’s an inspiration from an 1862 family recipe. The aging of this gold rum takes place for 8 years.
BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho is a complex golden rum with notes of dried fruits, spices, and vanilla. Just a whiff of this rum and you’ll get the aromas of dried apricot and banana leaf.
In terms of the taste of the rum, you’ll experience oaky and spicy flavors on the palate. For slightly fancier drinking sessions with friends, you can enjoy a glass of BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho on the rocks. Otherwise, you can make a delicious Old Fashioned cocktail with this rum.
Distillery: Bacardi Limited
ABV: 40%
Also Read: Top 8 Gin Brands In India
4. McDowell’s No. 1 Celebration Rum
McDowell’s No. 1 has earned quite the reputation for their spirits like whiskey, brandy, and rum. One of the best-selling rums in India and across the world is McDowell’s No. 1 Celebration Rum. The aging process of this rum takes place in wood barrels, so you get to experience a full-bodied drink. It’s distilled for 3 years and has a dark red color.
McDowell’s No. 1 Celebration has flavors of vanilla and caramelized sugar along with subtle notes of tea leaves, citrus zest, and tobacco. If you and your friends are adventurous drinkers, mix the rum with some ginger beer and enjoy it. You can also make a refreshing cocktail like the Rum Punch by throwing some rum, fruit juices, brown sugar, and mint leaves together.
Distillery: United Spirits Limited
ABV: 42.8%
Also Read: 5 Of The Most Expensive Single Malt Whiskeys In India
5. Amrut Old Port Rum
Amrut Distilleries is an established and best-selling whiskey brand. But along with whiskey, Amrut also produces delicious rum. Old Port Rum is the first rum produced by Amrut, and today, it’s considered one of the best rums in India. It’s made from 100% molasses sourced from our country’s sugar cane. The distillation process of Old Port Rum takes place in a combination of ex whiskey barrels and new oak ones.
It has aromas of pistachio brittle and spumoni ice cream. As you take a sip of this rum, you’ll experience the taste of butterscotch, egg custard, eggnog, and nutmeg, and a prolonged finish of crystallized ginger, nutmeg, and bubblegum spice. The distinct and diverse flavors of this rum make it a great base for cocktails like Rum Punch, Daiquiri, Hurricane, etc.
Along with exceptional flavors and characteristics, Old Port Rum is easy on the pocket. So, you should definitely give it a try, especially if you’re looking for a spirit to savor on a chilly night with your friends.
Distillery: Amrut Distilleries
ABV: 42.8%
Also Read: 7 Expensive Wines In India
6. Segredo Aldeia Café Rum
In recent years, India’s homegrown craft rum scene has seen positive signs of growth. One of India’s newest craft rums is Segredo Aldeia Café Rum. All coffee lovers will enjoy this café rum that’s made with a combination of cane and jaggery, and infused with dark roasted whole coffee beans. The beans used to make this rum are roasted in Goa and are sourced from South India.
The second you open this bottle, you’ll get the aromas of coffee along with hints of vanilla and toffee. It has overtones of tobacco and leather. Segredo Aldeia Café Rum can be considered a dessert rum. It tastes slightly sweet on the palate with flavors of coffee and dark chocolate. You can enjoy this café rum by pouring it into a glass with a few blocks of ice. If you’re planning on splurging on some rum for your home bar collection, this can be one of your best bets out there!
Distillery: Fullarton Distilleries
ABV: 42.8%
Also Read: 8 Of The Best And Affordable Port Wines In India
7. Wild Tiger Spiced Rum
Wild Tiger Spiced Rum is produced in the state of Kerala. This rum is made using sugar cane juice, molasses, and distillates. The distillation process of this rum takes place in American oak casks.
An interesting thing about Wild Tiger Spiced Rum is that before bottling it, many spices are infused into this rum. These ingredients include cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, licorice, black pepper, ginger, cassia bark, orange peel, and tea extracts.
On the nose, Wild Tiger Spiced Rum has hints of toffee, vanilla, almond, and honey. When you take a sip of this rum, you’ll get the gratifying taste of earthy nutmeg and black pepper along with lingering notes of molasses and creamy vanilla flavors. The finish is absolutely delightful and intense with a spicy taste that comes from the ground spices used to make the rum.
This rum is aged, blended, and bottled along the banks of Bharathapuzha river in Kerala. The brand offers 10% of its profits to the Wild Tiger Foundation, so if you want your catch-up session to come to some good, make sure you try this rum out!
Distillery: Wild Tiger Beverages
ABV: 40%
Summing Up
These were the top 7 rums to try when out with friends for drinking sessions. Each rum mentioned above has a distinct flavor of its own to suit different kinds of palates. Right from fruity fragrances to spicy aromas, these rums will entice you with their range of flavors. Whether you’re calling your friends at home or planning a trip together, a glass of rum can definitely add to your bonding sessions.
FAQs
What Is The Most Popular Rum In India?
Old Monk has always been a favorite in our subcontinent, and it goes without saying that it’s one of the most popular rums in India. Here’s a list of some of the others that join it:
- Maka Zai
- BACARDÍ
- McDowell’s
- Malibu
- Amrut Old Port Rum
Which Rum Is Best In Taste?
Some of the best rum brands in India that are best in taste are:
- Segredo Aldeia Café Rum
- Wild Tiger Spiced Rum
- Old Monk 7 Years
- Malibu
- Captain Morgan Rum
- Havana Club Rum
- Hercules XXX Rum
Which Rum Taste Is Sweet In India?
One of the top rums to try in India that has a sweet taste is BACARDÍ Carta Blanca. It has flavors of orange blossom, lavender, and rose, along with apricot, lime, light coconut, and ripe banana. On the palate, this rum has a smooth and creamy texture. The finish of BACARDÍ Carta Blanca is clean, dry, and fresh.
Can Rum Get You Drunk?
It depends on the type of rum you’re consuming, the amount of rum you’re drinking, and its ABV. If you’re consuming more than 3 shots of a rum that has a 40% ABV or more, you’re likely to get drunk. So, it’s important that you drink responsibly by having some food with your alcohol and drinking enough water to slow down the effect of the alcohol.
What Are The 3 Types Of Rum?
The 3 types of rum are:
- White rum – Made from sugar cane.
- Dark rum – Matured in charred oak or wooden barrels for a long period of time.
- Spiced rum – The base of this rum is flavored with botanicals like cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger, etc.
Which Is The Cheapest Rum?
Some of the cheapest rum brands in India are as follows:
- Old Monk
- McDowell’s No. 1
- BACARDÍ
- Old Port Rum
- Captain Morgan Rum
Which Is The Oldest Rum In India?
One of the oldest and most popular rum brands in India is Old Monk. It was launched in 1954 and is quite affordable. Old Monk has strong flavors and a high alcohol content.
Which Is The Best Dark Rum In India?
Here’s a list of the best dark rum brands in India:
- Old Monk
- McDowell’s No. 1 Celebration Rum
- Old Port Rum
- Contessa XXX Rum
- Havana Club Rum
