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The Rum & Cachaça Masters 2026 results

From white to gold and dark, every type of rum was sampled during our annual blind-tasting test, writes Melita Kiely.

Demand is growing across classic serves, long mixed drinks, flavour-led cocktails, and premium sipping rums,” Pedro Mendonça, global senior vice-president at Bacardí, told The Spirits Business towards the end of 2025. “The world of socialising is evolving rapidly, and rum needs to keep pace with new behaviours, new geographies, new cultural moments, to continue connecting with the next generation of drinkers. That means being present in the new occasions where these consumers are socialising, ensuring rum is not pigeonholed into one single type of experience or occasion.”

Rum is a spirit perfectly primed to cater to changing consumer demands and trends. Adding an extra layer of intrigue is Brazilian spirit cachaça, which, like rhum agricole, is crafted from sugarcane juice.

To see which products are paving the way for rum and cachaça to thrive, The Global Spirits Masters Competitions (GSMC) held the annual The Rum & Cachaça Masters at the Novotel London Bridge Hotel, in the UK capital.

Two teams of independent judges took on this year’s assessment, with Nicola Carruthers, deputy editor of The Spirits Business, chairing a panel that included Richard Legg, founder of Distilled Knowledge. A second group comprised Ruchira Neotia, drinks consultant and founder of Ruchira’s Table, Clinton Cawood, freelance drinks journalist, and Melita Kiely, editor-in-chief of The Spirits Business, and chair of The GSMC.

Supermarket Aldi secured a Silver medal for its “bright, clean” Old Hopking White Rum in the opening White Rum – Standard flight, which showed “great value for money” at under £15 (US$20).

In the White Rum – Premium heat (£16-£20), Nusa Caña Tropical Island Rum took home the top Master award. The judges enjoyed the rum’s “distinctive style”, which delivered “some funk, lots of ripe tropical fruits and great balance”. Three Gold medals and a trio of Silvers were also awarded in this heat. The Gold medallists were: “softly sweet, balanced” Kilo RM rum; “bright, fruity” Mahina Platinum; and “sweet, pleasant” Vietnamese Ve De Di Right Rum.

Moving to the super-premium arm of the category, four Golds and two Silvers were enjoyed. Among the Gold winners was Worthy Park Silver, described as “very estery and tropical in style, with banana, passion fruit and guava”.

The ultra-premium white rums really set the competition alight, however. Three Master medals were awarded in this flight. Clear Drop by English distiller DropWorks Rum collected a Master medal for its “complex, tropical nose”, which led to a palate with “plenty of depth, fruit, and balanced sweetness – and alcohol, too”. “It’s interesting, fun and could easily be sipped or mixed into cocktails – big yes,” enthused Kiely. Worthy Park Overproof also secured the top Master medal in this flight, impressing with “no harshness on the nose whatsoever” and “tropical, grassy notes”. “This is a lesson in alcohol integration for overproof spirits,” praised Neotia. New Forest White Rum rounded off the flight, nabbing a Master medal for flavours of “cantaloupe melon, sugarcane juice, and heaps of complexity”.

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In the White Rum – Aged up to 7 Years round, Havana Club 3 Year Old was awarded a Master. Kiely said it had: “Heaps of character and was well-balanced; elegant, rich and sweet – perfect for mixing into complex cocktails.”

The gold rums were put through their paces next, starting with a premium flight of gold rums under £25. A Gold medal went to Ron Añejo Premium Barrica, which tasted like “flambéed banana and fudge”. A Silver completed the flight.

In the Gold Rum – Super-Premium round (£26-£40), Smuggler’s Reserve Barbados 8 Years Old Tawny Port Cask Finish joined the Master ranks. “Deep, refined with dark chocolate and dark-roast coffee. Quite a rum. Great on its own but would shine through if mixed,” noted Cawood.

Four Golds and four Silvers were also celebrated in the flight, with Angostura 5 Years Old among the Gold winners, described by Legg as having “complex aromas of orchard fruits and a soft, balanced palate”.

The Gold Rum – Ultra-Premium (£41+) heat was a particularly strong segment, resulting in a quartet of Masters, eight Golds, and two Silvers. The top-tier medal winners that secured Masters included “vibrant, rich, and very impressive” Copalli Barrel Rested Organic Rum. Tasting notes included “green banana, pineapple and mango”. Worthy Park Single Estate Reserve also won a Master award, enjoyed for offering “lots of rich fruit flavours and a well-rounded overall profile”.

Outlaw Rum – Special Release – Rachael’s Cask also collected a Master medal. The rum was “big and bold; fruit-forward and sumptuous”. Completing the Master medal lineup was Distiller’s Drop #001 English Chestnut Cask. “Lovely nuttiness to it with dark red fruit notes,” said Carruthers. “There’s a nice level of sweetness and the ABV [52.3%] is very well balanced.”

“The quality of some of the ultra-premium rums was exceptional,” said Legg. “It shows you can have interesting flavour profiles with good distilling and good casks – the four Master winners were stunning.”

In the Gold Rum – Aged up to 7 Years heat, six Gold medals and two Silvers were celebrated. Gold winners included MacNair’s Exploration Rum Panama 7 Years Old Peated, which delivered “sweet smoke on the nose, maple and bonfire”, making it a “good trade-across rum for smoky whisky fans”.

In the following age group of gold rums aged between eight and 12 years, two Gold medals were given, to “bright, tropical” Ron Santiago de Cuba Añejo 8 Years Old, and Diablesse Caribbean Golden Rum, which had “a subtle sweet, floral nose with delicate honeyed sweetness on the palate”.

Three more Golds were uncovered in the Gold Rum – Aged over 13 Years round. The medallists included “silky” Appleton Estate 15 Years Old Black River Casks, which had notes of “caramel, brioche, and some nuttiness”.

Next to be assessed were dark rums in the premium price category (up to £25). One Silver and one Gold medal were awarded, with the Gold going to Takamaka Kreol Cask with “dark fruits, some caramel and a dark, lightly bitter note on the finish”, which added complexity.

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In the Dark Rum – Super-Premium (£26-£40) equal numbers of all medals presented themselves, with three Masters, three Golds and three Silvers. The top scoring Masters were: Angostura Founders Reserve 1824, with flavours of “oak spice, molasses, and a whisper of coffee”; “funky, big, estery, resinous and tropical” Planetary Rum Xaymaca; and House of Rum Single Cask Collection – Mauritius 2014, which had notes of “hazelnuts, vanilla, lots of dried spice and orchard fruits”.

The high standard continued as the judges explored the ultra-premium arm of the dark rum category. The two Master medals were handed to “sweet, pleasant, crowd-pleasing” Autentico Nativo XO, and “rich, round, spicy and chocolaty” Havana Club Tributo 2025. “This is a great example of dark rum; I’d gladly drink this,” noted Kiely. Three Golds and three Silvers completed the flight.

The judges then looked at dark rums by age statements, starting with those aged up to seven years old. Three Golds and two Silvers were enjoyed, with Havana Club 7 Years Old secured a Gold medal with its “vibrant, harmonious” character.

In the Dark Rum – Aged 8-12 Years heat, three more Golds and three Silvers were awarded. Campari Group collected two of the Gold medals, including one for Appleton Estate 12 Years Old Rare Casks. Tasting notes included “candied fruit flavours with a nice richness to the rum”.

The oldest rums, those in the Dark Rum – Aged over 13 Years segment, brought more Masters to the table. Master-winning Appleton Estate 21 Years Old Nassau Valley Casks had “some coffee notes, dark chocolate, cherries – there’s complexity throughout; a very enjoyable sip”. Also securing a Master medal was Angostura 15 Years Old. The judges found “eaux-de-vie/vermouth, prunes, and berries” on the nose, and “dates, spice and tannins” on the palate. Three Golds and two Silvers completed the round.

The competition cranked up the ABV next, as White Rum – Overproof was put to the taste test. Takamaka Overproof Rum took a Master medal. “It packs a punch at 69% ABV but there’s a creaminess on the palate,” the judges noted. “Dry spice, stone fruits, silky texture – bold, complex and well-made.” Kiely noted this should go down well with bartenders looking to experiment with rum. Two Gold medals were also awarded in the flight. Another duo of Golds were also enjoyed in the Dark Rum – Overproof flight: “decadent” House of Rum Single Cask Collection – El Salvador 2010; and “bright and fruity” Rusty Krab Overproof Dark Rum.

High scores

As the tasting moved to Agricole Aged Rhum, the scores were high, resulting in three Masters and one Gold. Camikara Cask Aged Rum 8 Years Old secured a Master medal for its “bright estery notes, creamy undertones and tropical fruit” flavours. Fellow Master medallist Dillon Rhum Vieux Agricole VO also received a Master after impressing with notes of “bright banana, pineapple, toffee, and cake – great weight and intensity”. And completing the Master medallists was Depaz Rhum Vieux Agricole Plantation, which offered a “hint of toasted coconut, pineapple upside-down cake, and vanilla custard – a real delight”.

Quimbaya Rum received a number of Gold and Silver medals in the Artisanal flights, specifically a Gold in the Artisanal White Rum – Premium (£16-£20) flight, a Silver in the Artisanal Gold Rum – Aged up to 7 Years, and another Gold and Silver in the Artisanal Gold Rum – Special Edition flight. Gold-winning Rum Quimbaya Artisanal Terroir Quilichao had a “luxurious texture”, and “funkiness and fruitiness on the palate – overripe tropical fruits, bananas, mango and gentle spice”.

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In the Bulk Rum – Gold Rum heat, Providencia Organic Bulk Rum – Aged 3 Years received a Gold medal for “caramel sweetness, bold spices, and some milk chocolate” notes.

Takamaka Zepis Kreol and Bacardí Caribbean Spiced Rum stood out in the Spiced Rum round, both picking up Gold medals. Takamaka Zepis Kreol had “lots of herbal notes on the nose, with lingering spice on the palate and sweetness”. Bacardí Caribbean Spiced Rum had “lots of sweetness, tropical fruit and ginger flavours”. Ten Silver medals gave the flight a boost.

Two Silvers were also awarded in the Rum Spirit Drink – Spiced flight: Old Nick Spiced Golden; and Bacardí Spiced Rum. And in the Spiced – Flavoured heat, “sharp and sweet” Remedy Pineapple won a Gold medal.

The Flavoured Rum round delivered a duo of Gold medals and the same number of Silvers. Nusa Caña Coconut Island Rum was one of the Gold recipients, praised for “dessicated coconut” aromas and “hints of sugarcane juice and lots of coconut milk” on the palate.

As the last few flights approached, the judges turned their attention to Rum Spirit Drink – Flavoured, where one Gold and two Silver medallists were found. The Gold award went to Mahuna Coconut, which had “overripe pineapple, lychee and hints of desiccated coconut”.

In the RTD (ready-to-drink) flight, one product stood out for doing “exactly what it says on the tin” and offering a “well-carbonated, unmistakable” rum and Coke mix: Bacardí & Coca-Cola Ready-To-Drink.

The final flight of the competition covered Cane Spirit/Cachaça. Three Gold medals and five Silver medals left a lasting impression on the experts.

The Gold winners comprised: “clean, vibrant, with hints of tropical fruits” Black Tears Aguardiente; “smooth, herbaceous and complex” Vinicus Cachaça Premium; and “fruity, enjoyable and sweet” Cachaça Cabaré Extra Premium 15 Años.

Like all editions of The GSMC, the Master medals were resampled at the end of the tasting to determine the favourite of the day, and the product most deserving of being crowned The Rum & Cachaça Taste Master 2026.

With much to choose from, it was a tough decision, but the scores were whittled down and Appleton Estate 21 Years Old Nassau Valley Casks took home the title. From the variety of styles and standard of medals awarded, it’s clear rum is diversifying and there is plenty for drinkers to discover and enjoy.

If the category can continue producing to the same high standard, it has every opportunity to tap into new occasions and connect with more consumers, just like Mendonça noted.

The judging panel: Clinton Cawood, Ruchira Neotia, Richard Legg, Melita Kiely and Nicola Carruthers

White Rum – Standard
Company Product Medal
Aldi UK Old Hopking White Rum Silver

 

White Rum – Premium
Company Product Medal
Island Beverages Nusa Caña Tropical Island Rum Master
Kilo Hooch Co Kilo RM Gold
LeVecke Corporation Mahina Platinum Gold
Ve De Di Ve De Di Right Rum Gold
Bacardí Rum Bacardí Superior Rum Silver
Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Santiago de Cuba Carta Blanca Silver
AnnaBay Club AnnaBay Club – White Silver

 

White Rum – Super-Premium
Company Product Medal
Angostura Angostura 3 Year Old Gold
Mälardalens Destilleri Mälardalens Destillery Rum (Organic) Gold
Worthy Park Estate Worthy Park Silver Gold
Pluto Spirits Pluto White Rum Gold
Maison Ferrand Planteray Rum 3 Stars Silver
Zubi Rum Zubi Rum Blanco Silver

 

White Rum – Ultra-Premium
Company Product Medal
DropWorks Rum Clear Drop Master
Worthy Park Estate Worthy Park Overproof Master
The New Forest Distillery, Home of 820 Spirits New Forest White Rum Master

 

White Rum – Aged up to 7 Years
Company Product Medal
Havana Club International Havana Club 3 Year Old Master

 

Gold Rum – Premium
Company Product Medal
Central de Licores Unidos de Venezuela Ron Añejo Premium Barrica Gold
Bacardí Rum Bacardí Gold Rum Silver

 

Gold Rum – Super-Premium
Company Product Medal
Infinity Spirits Smuggler’s Reserve Barbados 8 Year Old Tawny Port Cask Finish Master
Worthy Park Estate Worthy Park Select Gold
Angostura Angostura 5 Year Old Gold
Double R Distillery Golden Rum Gold
Ron Santa Teresa Santa Teresa 1796 Gold
Angostura Angostura Grand Reserve 1919 Silver
Copal Tree Distillery Copalli Organic Cacao Rum Silver
MBG International Premium Brands Haynes Rum Silver
Central de Licores Unidos de Venezuela Ron Añejo Reserva Barrica Silver

 

Gold Rum – Ultra-Premium
Company Product Medal
Copal Tree Distillery Copalli Barrel Rested Organic Rum Master
Worthy Park Estate Worthy Park Single Estate Reserve Master
The Outlaw Rum Company Outlaw Rum – Special Release – Rachael’s Cask Master
DropWorks Rum Distiller’s Drop #001 English Chestnut Cask Master
Ron Carúpano Ron Carúpano 21 Reserva Privada Gold
The Outlaw Rum Company Outlaw Rum – Directors Collection – 20 Year Old Gold
Infinity Spirits Royal Cane Long Pond 2001 Gold
Agitator Whisky Agitator Special Dry Rum Gold
Solar Reserve Rum Co Solar Reserve 55 Exceptional Caribbean Rum Blend Gold
The GlenAllachie Distillers Company MacNair’s Exploration Rum Jamaica Unpeated Gold
DropWorks Rum Distiller’s Drop #002 Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Gold
Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Santiago de Cuba 20 Years Old Extra Añejo Gran Reserva Gold
The GlenAllachie Distillers Company MacNair’s Exploration Rum Jamaica Peated Silver
The Outlaw Rum Company Outlaw Rum – Special Release – Islay Cask 3 Silver

 

Gold Rum – Aged up to 7 Years
Company Product Medal
AnnaBay Club AnnaBay Club – Amber Gold
Distillerie Bonne Mère DBM – XO Aged Rum Gold
The GlenAllachie Distillers Company MacNair’s Exploration Rum Panama 7 Year Old Gold
DropWorks Distillery Barrel Drop Gold
The GlenAllachie Distillers Company MacNair’s Exploration Rum Panama 7 Year Old Peated Gold
Islay Spirits (No2) Islay Rum Barrel Aged Gold
Bodegas Cemi Cemi Ron Dominicano-Reserva Especial Silver
Pluto Spirits Pluto Rum Silver

 

Gold Rum – Aged 8-12 Years
Company Product Medal
Ron Santiago de Cuba Ron Santiago de Cuba Añejo 8 Years Old Gold
Diablesse Rum Diablesse Caribbean Golden Rum Gold

 

Gold Rum – Aged over 13 Years
Company Product Medal
Campari Group Appleton Estate 15 Year Old Black River Casks Gold
Sierra Madre Traspers Rum Gold
The GlenAllachie Distillers Company MacNair’s Exploration Rum Panama 15 Year Old Gold

 

Dark Rum – Premium
Company Product Medal
Trois Freres Distillery Takamaka Kreol Cask Gold
Ron Carúpano Ron Carúpano 12 Reserva Exclusiva Silver

 

Dark Rum – Super-Premium
Company Product Medal
Angostura Angostura Founders Reserve 1824 Master
Maison Ferrand Planteray Rum Xaymaca Master
House of Rum House of Rum Single Cask Collection – Mauritius 2014 Master
Maison Ferrand Planteray Rum Isle Of Fiji Gold
Worthy Park Estate Worthy Park 109 Gold
Elixir Distillers Black Tot Finest Caribbean Gold
Bacardí Rum Bacardí Reserva Ocho Silver
Infinity Spirits Bolivar XO Silver
Aloha Assets Corp Autentico Nativo Salvaje Silver

 

Dark Rum – Ultra-Premium
Company Product Medal
Aloha Assets Corp Autentico Nativo Xo Master
Havana Club International Havana Club Tributo 2025 Master
Island Rum Brands La Progresiva Mezcla 13 Gold
House of Rum House of Rum Single Cask Collection – Nicaragua 2004 Gold
Maison Ferrand Planteray Rum Sealander Gold
Maison Ferrand Planteray Rum XO 20th Anniversary Silver
Original Bajan Rum Co Bajan 1966 Rum Grand Reserve Silver
Elixir Distillers Black Tot Historic Solera Silver

 

Dark Rum – Aged up to 7 Years
Company Product Medal
Havana Club International Havana Club 7 Year Old Gold
Angostura Angostura 7 Year Old Gold
Annabay Club Annabay Club – Aged 5 Years Gold
Campari Group Appleton Estate Signature Blend Silver
Maison Ferrand Planteray Rum Barbados 5 Year Old Signature Blend Silver

 

Dark Rum – Aged 8-12 Years
Company Product Medal
Savio The Demon’s Share 12 Year Old – Chianti Barrel Finish Gold
Campari Group Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Casks Gold
Campari Group Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve Gold
Ron Viejo de Caldas Ron Viejo de Caldas Carta de Oro Silver
The Illusionist The Sentinel Scented Rum Silver
Solar Reserve Rum Co Solar Reserve 8 Year Old Single Origin Dominican Republic Rum Silver

 

Dark Rum – Aged over 13 Years
Company Product Medal
Campari Group Appleton Estate 21 Year Old Nassau Valley Casks Taste Master and Master
Angostura Angostura 15 Year Old Master
House of Rum House of Rum Single Cask Collection – Guatemala 2012 Gold
Havana Club International Havana Club Gran Reserva Añejo 15 Años Gold
Savio Rum Malecon Rare Proof 13 Years Old Gold
Ron Viejo De Caldas Ron Viejo De Caldas Gran Reserva Especial Silver
Ron Viejo De Caldas Ron Viejo De Caldas Leon Dormido Finalizado Silver

 

White Rum – Overproof
Company Product Medal
Trois Freres Distillery Takamaka Overproof Rum Master
Infinity Spirits Kingston Queen Gold
Campari Group Wray & Nephew Overproof White Rum Gold

 

Dark Rum – Overproof
Company Product Medal
House of Rum House of Rum Single Cask Collection – El Salvador 2010 Gold
Rusty Krab Rusty Krab Overproof Dark Rum Gold

 

Agricole Aged Rhum
Company Product Medal
Piccadily Agro Industries Camikara Cask Aged Rum 8 Year Old Master
Bardinet Dillon Rhum Vieux Agricole vo Master
Bardinet Depaz Rhum Vieux Agricole Plantation Master
Piccadily Agro Industries Camikara Cask Aged Rum 3 Year Old Gold

 

Artisanal White Rum – Premium
Company Product Medal
Quimbaya Rum Rum Quimbaya Silver Gold

 

Artisanal Gold Rum – Aged up to 7 Years
Company Product Medal
Quimbaya Rum Rum Quimbaya Gold Silver

 

Artisanal Gold Rum – Special Edition
Company Product Medal
Quimbaya Rum Rum Quimbaya Artisanal Terroir Quilichao Gold
Quimbaya Rum Rum Quimbaya Artisanal Terroir San Francisco de Sales Silver

 

Bulk Rum – Gold Rum
Company Product Medal
Providencia Providencia Organic Bulk Rum – Aged 3 Years Gold

 

Spiced Rum
Company Product Medal
Trois Freres Distillery Takamaka Zepis Kreol Gold
Bacardí Rum Bacardí Caribbean Spiced Rum Gold
Elora Distilling Company Ontario Black Spiced Rum Silver
Maison Ferrand Canerock Silver
Angostura Angostura Tamboo Silver
Pluto Spirits Pluto Spiced Rum Silver
Aldi UK Specially Selected Black Spiced Rum Silver
Alkemy Distillery Alkemy Spiced Gold Silver
Island Beverages Nusa Caña Spiced Rum Silver
Diablesse Rum Diablesse Rum Spiced Rum Silver
Sierra Madre Remedy Spiced Rum Silver
Zubi Zubi Rum Spiced Silver

 

Rum Spirit Drink – Spiced
Company Product Medal
Bardinet Old Nick Spiced Golden Silver
Bacardí Rum Bacardí Spiced Rum Silver

 

Spiced Rum – Flavoured
Company Product Medal
Sierra Madre Remedy Pineapple Gold

 

Flavoured Rum
Company Product Medal
Copal Tree Distillery Copalli Organic Cacao Rum Gold
Island Beverages Nusa Caña Coconut Island Rum Gold
Maison Ferrand Planteray Rum Cut & Dry Coconut Silver
Maison Ferrand Planteray Rum Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Silver

 

Rum Spirit Drink – Flavoured
Company Product Medal
LeVecke Corporation Mahina Coconut Gold
Les Rhums de Ced Les Arrangés Divins – Ananas Citron vert Poivre de Timut Silver
Les Rhums de Ced Ti Ced Les Délicats Orange Citron Silver

 

RTD
Company Product Medal
Bacardí Rum Bacardi & Coca-Cola Ready-To-Drink Gold

 

Cane Spirit/Cachaça
Company Product Medal
Island Rum Brands Black Tears Aguardiente Gold
Central Hisúmer Vinicus Cachaça Premium Gold
Dom Tápparo Cachaça Cabaré Extra Premium 15 Años Gold
Dom Tápparo Cachaça Super Premium Ronaldinho Gaúcho By Dom Tápparo Silver
Dom Tápparo Cachaca Dom Tápparo Extra Premium Amburana 6 Anos Silver
Dom Tápparo Cachaca Dom Tápparo Extra Premium Jequitiba 6 Anos Silver
Dom Tápparo Cachaca Extra Premium Duas Madeiras Ademilson Tápparo Blend Silver
Dom Tápparo Cachaca Extra Premium Carvalho Americano 10 Anos Dom Tápparo Silver

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