As leaves change colour and the air turns crisp, it’s time to take the rums off the shelves and into your glasses. Dark rums with their golden hues go perfectly with the breezy days of autumn. Whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur or just looking to explore the world of dark rums, here’s a tantalizing introduction to five exceptional rums that have the potential to wow your palate and warm your heart.
Camikara 12 YO
Camikara is India’s first pure cane juice rum. It is also the first Indian rum ever to win a gold medal at the prestigious IWSC Awards 2023. With its name derived from the Sanskrit term for ‘liquid gold,’ Camikara rediscovers an age-old Indian rum tradition and is a celebration of the land, time, culture, and people of India. Unlike most rums that are prepared with molasses or by-products of sugarcane, Camikara is a sipping rum naturally aged in ex-bourbon barrels for 12 years. The limited edition is bottled at a strength of 50% ABV and contains no added sugar, flavour, or colour.
Price- Haryana: INR 6,000/-
El Dorado 12-Year-old
El Dorado 12-Year-Old Rum is a lush tropical spirit. It is distilled in South America’s Guyana, where it is patiently aged in oak barrels for more than a decade, resulting in a rich and complex flavor profile. With notes of toffee, vanilla, and dried fruit, it offers a velvety smoothness that lingers on the palate. El Dorado 12-Year-Old Rum delivers a luxurious and unforgettable drinking experience that appeals to rum connoisseurs and novices alike.
Price- Approximately INR 4,000/-
Plantation Original Dark Rum
A blend of traditionalist rums from Barbados and Jamaica, Plantation Original Dark Rum offers a taste of the Caribbean in every sip. It carries a rich flavour profile of ripe banana, vanilla, and subtle toasted coconut notes. With a brilliant deep amber colour, the rum entices with aromas of spice cake, pecan roll, vanilla buttercream, blackstrap molasses, and caramelized fruits. The finish is rich, silky, and zesty.
Price: INR 3,000/-
Ron Zacapa No. 23
Aged at 2,300 meters above sea level in the Guatemalan highlands, Ron Zacapa is a fine example of premium rum excellence. Ron Zacapa No. 23 is made using a blend of rums aged 6 to 23 years old, following the brand’s signature ‘Sistema Solera’ aging method. It is celebrated for its smooth yet complex flavour. Think caramel-like sweetness, flavours of dark chocolate, dried fruits, and a hint of oak. Whether sipped on the rocks or as part of a classic dark rum cocktail, Ron Zacapa is symbolic of luxury and craftsmanship.
Price- Approximately INR 7,000/-
Appleton Estate’s 12-Year-Old Rare Casks
A premium blend of rare hand-selected pot and column still rums aged for a minimum of 12 years in Jamaica, Appleton Estate’s 12-Year-Old Rare Casks is one for keeps. Passionately produced by Master Blender Joy Spence, it is rich with notes of toasted oak, dried fruit, hazelnut, orange peel, vanilla and hints of coffee. It is an extraordinary rum that celebrates Jamaican heritage and charms rum enthusiasts worldwide. Perfect for the season, it is best savoured neat but also makes for fantastic cocktails.
Price: INR 4,500/-
