The Best Rum in Canada
Don't know which rum brand to buy? Use our guide to buy from the best rum brands available in Canada.
About Rum
Rum is a versatile spirit made all over the world with many different methods of production.
Some rums are made from molasses while others are made from a fermented sugar cane honey, creating vastly different styles. If you’ve only ever tried Bacardi or spiced rum, take a chance with some of these.
Rum has a minimum ageing requirement of one year, but any decent rum is aged a minimum of three.
Appleton Estate Signature
- Owned by the Campari Spirits
- 750ml at $25.99 CAD
- Country of Origin: Jamaica
What makes Appleton special?
Appleton is aged is a blend of 4-6 year old rums. Not only is it a smooth, yet flavourful rum, but it’s also cheaper than many one-year rums on the market. Although Jamaican rum isn’t spiced, it yields similar flavours to those that spiced-rum drinkers enjoy.
Jamaican Rum
Jamaican rum uses a pot still as opposed to the column still used with spanish rums, producing a much bolder and robust rum with loads of funky spice notes. Because of this, a simple cocktail like a daiquiri will tastes very different when made with Jamaican rum in place of Cuban.
It’s entirely common for a daiquiri to be made with a blend of anywhere between three to five rums. Try mixing around for yourself and find out what you like.
Notes:
- Aromas of sweet fruit, citrus, dried apricots and fresh peaches
- Hints of molasses and oak
Havana Club Original
- Owned by Pernod Ricard Drink Industry
- 750ml at $26.99 CAD
- Country of origin: Cuba
What makes Havana Club special?
Rum off the still is a harsh spirit that requires a significant amount of time ageing to achieve smoothless. One year is the minimum required ageing time, which many popular rum brands use. Havana Club ages for three years, producing a much softer rum.
Havana Club vs Bacardi Rum
There’s a long history between Havana Club and Bacardi that goes back to Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution. We won’t get into all that now, but ultimately, Havana Club spent years working on perfecting their recipe so that once the trade embargo between Cuba and the United States lifted, they would have a rum that would dominate their competitors. They successfully accomplished that mission.
Notes:
“The essential ingredient for your classic Cuban cocktails. 100% made and aged in Cuba from local sugarcane molasses, this light aged white rum combines the fresh, green notes of sugarcane with the fruity notes of Caribbean rum.
Havana Club 3 is the go-to rum for cocktail lovers in search of authentic Cuban Mojitos and Daiquiris!”
- Havana Club.
Flor de Cana
- Owned by the Pellas Family
- 750ml at $30.99 CAD
- Country of origin: Nicaragua
What makes Flor De Cana special?
Flor De Cana 4-Year is clean, easy sipping rum that makes incredibly smooth daiquiris and mojitos. The distillery also produces older rums ageing up to thirty years that are perfect for sipping.
Family Owned & Economically Responsible
The Pellas family has owned and operated the Flor De Cana distillery since 1890. Located in Nicaragua, at the base of the San Cristobal Volcano, the distillery has survived many eruptions, civil wars, earthquakes, and even a plane crash. Throughout all that, they’ve managed to become one of the most eco-friendly distilleries on the planet.
Notes:
- Distilled with volcanic water.
- The Pellas family became the richest in Central America.
- Flor de Cana 5-Year is their best selling rum.
Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum
- Owned by the Campari Group
- 750ml at $36.99 CAD
- Country of Origin: Jamaica
What makes Wray & Nephew special?
Wray established in 1860 and began producing the first globally renowned Jamaican rum, popularizing the spirit internationally before selling the company to Campari in 2012. Despite being clear, this rum has strong fruit aromas with brown sugar and spice notes.
Jamaican Rum - Bold & Clear
Unlike many other Jamaican rums, Wray & Nephew is clear, lightly aged, and distilled to 63% ABV. The strength of this rum is deceptive as it blends significantly well into cocktails. Be mindful that each cocktail you make with Wray & Nephew is almost as strong as two cocktails made with a standard rum.
Notes:
- Clear and colourless
- Aromas of pineapple, citrus & molasses with honey and buttery notes
- 63% ABV (126 proof)
Smith & Cross
- Owned by Hamden Estate
- 750ml at $48.99 CAD
- Country of Origin: Jamaica
What makes Smith & Cross special?
Smith & Cross is produced at one of the most respected rum distilleries in Jamaica and has been in a staple in many rum cocktails featured around the world. It’s a blend of 3-6 year old rums with strong exotic fruit notes and heavy spice. This is the rum of choice to make a proper Jamaican Daiquiri or a Junglebird.
Jamaican Rum - Dark & Spicy.
Despite being produced on the same island, Smith & Cross tastes quite different than Appleton Estate. Coming in at 57% ABV, it’s a much bolder rum that yields significantly more spice notes.
Notes:
- Toasted brown
- Renowned 100% Jamaican pot still rum
- Pronounced aromas and flavours of woodsmoke, caramel, citrus, tropical fruit and spice
Mount Gay Rum
- Owned by Remi-Cointreau
- 750ml at $32.99 CAD
- Country of Origin: Barbados
Aromas of molasses, white raisin and cloves.
Flavours of sugar, candied ginger, caramel and vanilla that linger on a long finish.
Notes:
- Not coloured with artificial additives
- A blend of 2-7 year old rums
Havana Club 7 Year
- Owned by Pernod Ricard drink industry
- 750ml at $34.99 CAD
- Country of Origin: Cuba
“The very essence of Cuban rum” as described by its creator, the late great Don José Navarro.
Havana Club 7 Años perfectly demonstrates the versatility of high- quality Cuban rum, as well as the deep commitment and expertise of our Rum Masters to a complex ageing process.”
-Havana Club