R(h)um Reviews
Rum Round-Up: Bartenders Share Their Go-To Pours, Sips, and Cocktails
Rum is one of the most versatile spirits behind the bar, carrying a spectrum of flavours that can swing from grassy and bright to funky, rich, and bold. To explore what makes this category so dynamic, we asked bartenders and rum enthusiasts across Canada to share their well rums, favourite sipping choices, and go-to cocktails. From carefully crafted house blends to tried-and-true classics, their answers reveal not just what bottles they reach for, but why these rums matter to their craft. Whether you’re a casual drinker or a die-hard rum fan, this round-up highlights the bottles and serves that keep shaping how rum is enjoyed today.
Saint James Royal Ambre
A grassy, spicy, aged agricole that proves rum can be both elegant and a little wild.
Barceló Imperial
Smooth yet structured, Barceló Imperial bridges rum elegance with bourbon boldness.
Mermaid Spiced Rum
Inspired by shipwrecks, infused with island soul, Mermaid is spiced storytelling in a glass.
Black Tot Finest Caribbean
Black Tot proves a Navy blend can be elegant, layered, and downright moreish.
Barcelo Gran Anejo
Straightforward, sweet, and mixable, consider this Dominican rum your fast track to Piña Colada bliss.
Flor de Cana 12 Year
Balanced between dessert and dry — think orange peel, spice, and honeyed charm.
Goslings Black Seal Rum
Sweet, savory, and just a little stormy… the rum that built Bermuda’s legend.
Diplomatico Reserva
An older bottling from Diplomatico, a somewhat similar expression would be the Mantuano. Faint on the nose, where this rum shines is on the palate.
Drunken Hive Rum
This “rum” is actually made on Vancouver Island completely from honey! Needless to say, there’s an abundance of nectarous honeyed notes as well as overripe tropical fruits, crème brûlée, marzipan, nutmeg, and ginger notes.
Flor de Caña 4 Year Extra Seco
If you like mojitos, daiquiris, or are a vodka drinker looking to transition to rum, this is the rum for you.
Appleton 8 Year Reserve
From ‘cane to cocktail’ Appleton Estates has an innate ability to control their production processes from beginning to end which is perhaps why the brand has carved out a distinctive house style that has withstood the test of time. Appleton 8 Year Reserve, one of their flagship expressions offers excellent value for price point & provides new rum drinkers a soft entry way into the world of Jamaican funk.