7 Sipping Rums to Try

By Sophia DeVito

In recent years, rum has become widely popular in the United States.

And while a lot of that popularity is for flavored rums and tiki drinks, the new thing is premium sipping rums.

Younger consumers are looking to expand their palates. And while whiskey is often the drink to sip neat, rum also can be enjoyed this way. The best rums aren’t going to be too sweet either — more so having a grassy, earthy, savory, or smoky flavor. Unlike other types of spirits, rum is one that the U.S. doesn’t have many restrictions on. Meaning there can be things added to the product to mask its purity. When purchasing a rum, a sipping rum that is, look for transparent brands with their labeling.

There will always be new rums to try, but these seven sipping rums are delightful to keep on hand. You never know what you will like until you give each a try.

Santa Teresa 1796

This bold and elegant rum is created with a blend of up to 35 years. Its further aging process is through the artisanal Solera method, which leaves a dry, smooth, and balanced drum. The rich amber color has notes of wood with a fruity aroma. Santa Teresa 1796 has a taste of nuts, vanilla, cinnamon, dark chocolate with hints of honey and pepper.

Santa Teresa 1796

Santa Teresa 1796


Don Pancho 18 Years

Aged for 18 years in American Oak casks that are uncharred from Kentucky, this rum should definitely be in your home bar. The aromas of honey, tea, soft cardamom, and figs make for a delicious sip every time. It leaves behind a long finish that’s reluctant to leave the palate.

Don Pancho 18 Years

Don Pancho 18 Years


Rhum Barbancourt

Using the original method Dupre Barbancourt created over 150 years ago, Rhum Barbancourt uses only locally grown, pure cane sugar purchased from farmers in Haiti. What sets this rhum apart from others is the drive to make a rhum that is better than cognac. It’s double-distilled, just like cognac, and aged in limousin oak barrels.

Rhum Barbancourt

Rhum Barbancourt


Privateer New England Reserve Rum

Simple ingredients but all having a purpose, this quality rum is a blend of two- to eight-year-old rims. This rum, in particular, is made to have a deeper and richer flavor that can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail to be completely versatile. Keep this rum in mind next time you want one to sip on.

Privateer New England Reserve Rum

Privateer New England Reserve Rum


Appleton Estate Signature

It’s their signature rum for a reason. This Jamaican rum is fruit-forward for a sweeter taste and has aromas of fried apricots, fresh peach, and a subtle hint of sweet molasses. Located in the middle of Jamaica’s Nassau Valley, this rum has been in the making for over 265 years. Because of the region’s topography, it makes rum like no other.

Appleton Estate Signature

Appleton Estate Signature


Zaya Gran Reserva

This blend of aged rums leaves behind a deep bronzed amber color. Its aromas include pear, baked apple, and spiced vanilla. It’s a complex rum that tastes of caramel, toasted oak, and baking spice with a lingering note of smoke. Sourced from the islands of the Caribbean, this is a perfect rum to sip slow.

Zaya Gran Reserva

Zaya Gran Reserva


Kirk and Sweeney

Kirk and Sweeney offer rums in four expressions: 12 Reserva, 18 Reserva, 23 Reserva, and XO. All make great sipping rums that are worth pursuing.  The 12 Reserva has notes of vanillas and wood with a nectar-sweet quality. The 18 Reserva has notes of dried fruits, nutmeg, and cinnamon — it’s a smooth rum all the way through. The 23 Reserva is complex and rich with decadent notes of caramel, sherry, almond, and vanilla.

Kirk & Sweeny 12 Year

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