Astonishingly Best Rum to Drink Straight

Today, we’re tackling the best rum to drink straight. Okay, y’all, it’s Liquor 101.  Of course, we love this spirit in daiquiris, mojitos, Mai Tais, Piña Coladas, Long Island Iced Teas, and many other cocktails and punches. But what if we want to enjoy it straight? Where do we turn? Is that even a thing?  Look no further.

We’ve decided to talk about four rums we think you should try pronto. We think you’ll enjoy them, and we definitely recommend having these selections in your rum lineup at your home bar. If you’re looking for even more home bar stocking tips, check out our article on that very topic right here.

Straight ahead to the best rum to drink straight!

What’s Out There?

The rum game is nothing to shrug at. It’s made all over the place, and it comes in many wonderful forms. When you’re looking for the best rum to drink straight, you might go beyond the categories of light and dark. You will, of course, meet with white, aged, and spiced. But you’ll also bump into options like blackstrap and rhum agricole, among others.

What’s So Great About Drinking Rum Straight?

Before we discover the best rum to drink straight, let’s acknowledge what makes rum amazing and tasty. What will you experience when you do, in fact, drink it straight? Most people are a bit fooled when it comes to this matter. They think that because rum comes from sugar cane, it’s sweet. The fact that it often shows up in sugary, tropical drinks just reinforces that idea.

Drinking rum straight will clear this misconception up. First of all, whereas most of your whiskeys are bottled around 80 proof (some higher), you can just about bet that rum will come at you with at least a 45% ABV.

What will you taste? In some cases, it’s subtle. Odorless, colorless–some people compare white rum to vodka. But you will actually encounter something wonderfully clean and delicious. It’s often used as a mixer, but we think you’ll dig the mineral, fruity, and vegetal flavors. Beyond that, we’ll advocate for some darker, aged varieties and more. You’ll truly experience these!

How Should I Drink Rum Straight?

If you’re hovering around 45% ABV or below, then we say neat. If it’s above 90 proof, dilute it. Add a splash of water or serve it on the rocks.

Beginners Note: You could have a simple cocktail that lets the rum shine, as you’re easing into the “straight game.” Try a Rum Old Fashioned or a Rum Manhattan. Just use a dark rum instead of your usual whiskey. Naturally, the daiquiri is a crowd-pleaser, and it’s super easy to boot: rum, sugar, and lime. Let’s go.

Best Rum to Drink Straight: 4 Options

And the moment you’ve been waiting for, ladies and gents. It’s time for our recommendations on the best rum to drink straight. All of these happen to fall under 75 bucks, so we’re hoping you can pick up at least one fairly soon. Give them a whirl!

1) Rhum J.M. X.O. | $64.99 – $69.99

You could have guessed that we’d pick this one: it’s aged in re-charred bourbon barrels. It’s fruity on the palate, and we say it’s something akin to a sweet, spiced cupcake as well. It’s agricole, so it’s based on cane juice instead of molasses. Aged a minimum of six years, it’s aromatic, complex, and top-notch. It’s sitting in our number one spot for a reason, peeps.

2) Brugal 1888 Ron Gran Reserva | $44.99 – $49.99

It’s been called the smoothest rum out there, and they ain’t lying, kids. Basically, it’s a dry rum, making us think that there’s no sugar added, which is quite rare in the rum game. It’s aged for up to fourteen years in both bourbon and sherry casks: do dried fruit, chocolate, and vanilla sound all right to you? Just about every one of your senses will be elated with this bottle. So, drinking it straight is the way to go.

3) Flor De Caña 18-Year-Old | $34.99 – $39.99

We dig this full-bodied rum. It’s warm with banana and caramel. This 18-year-old gem is rich and lush, and we love that something so quality is also so very affordable. If you haven’t got this one on your shelves, do yourself a favor and make it happen. You and your guests are going to keep coming back for more.

4) Diplomatico Planas | $24.99 – $29.99

We had to get a white rum in here for you. It’s surprisingly smooth, and it may be what you’re craving in a rum. Say hello to the tropics and all things coconut cream with this one. It’s fantastic in a cocktail, but we say sip it, boys and girls. Sip it, and be amazed.

Tell Us Your Favorite

Leave us your suggestions for the best rum to drink straight below in the comments. We’re all about growth here at Prestige, and we like to give our community ideas. So, your opinion is valuable to us. We’d love to see your contribution and try it ourselves if we haven’t already.

Don’t leave without popping into our online store. When you’re drinking your rum straight, you’ll certainly like doing so with our handcrafted decanters and glasses by your side.

Cheers, rum lovers!