The International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) 2021 has revealed its picks for the best rums in the world. A total of eight rums were awarded Outstanding Gold medals, the competition’s highest rating.
Over the years, Barbados and Martinique have turned into the world’s top rum producers. At this year’s competition, Foursquare Distillery and, in turn Barbados, dominated, picking up five Outstanding Gold medals. With this year’s results, the Barbados-born distillery only adds to its reputation as the world’s finest rum distillery.
Martinique, however, didn’t let Barbados hog all the glory, as its Depaz Distillery’s VSOP Rum snagged the competition’s top rum rating, a 99, and won the Rum Trophy 2021. Also from Martinique, Campari Group’s Trois Rivieeres Rhum Blanc Agricole took home an Outstanding Gold.
Thirty more rums were awarded Gold medals during the competition, making for a total 38 truly outstanding offerings tasted over the course of IWSC 2021. As for which of the world’s best rums is best for you? That’s a question only you can answer.
Founded in 1969 by Anton Massel, the IWSC is an annual wine and spirits competition that has grown to become the largest such competition in the world. Spirits are evaluated on a 100-point scale and awards are given out for Gold Outstanding (98-100 points), Gold (95-97 points), Silver (90-94 points). and Bronze (85-89 points). Over the course of the event, more than 250 judges, drawn from all over the world, evaluate thousands of wines and spirits across 1,500 different categories.
Here are the eight best rums in the world according to the International Wine & Spirits Competition 2021:
Elixir Distillers – Black Tot 50th Anniversary Rum – Guyana (98 Points)
“A playful composition of flavour characters opens with candied fruit, candy floss, lemon and pear drop hints. This gives way to classic rum elements of pineapple, melon and chilli spice. A deliciously fun rum with a serious side.”
R L Seale & Company Limited – Foursquare Detente – Barbados (98 Points)
“Very well executed with a decent layering of burnt sugar, caramelised banana and a little toasted almond-all weighted expertly with some serious fruit at the finish. This is quite an exceptional rum. Absolutely delicious.”
R L Seale & Company Limited – Foursquare Redoutable – Barbados (98 Points)
“Dried lemon and grapefruit hints combine with heady wood aromas on the nose. The palate is explosive, with opulent notes of vanilla, raisin and woodsmoke. Ridiculously sumptuous, this is an absolute powerhouse of a rum that is quite simply, outstanding.”
R L Seale & Company Limited – Foursquare Sassafras – Barbados (98 Points)
“Kola nut, ginger, cinnamon and clove aromas emerge alongside wood polish and prune. The palate is smooth with a fabulous leathery, spicy character. A rich, powerful and very beautiful rum.”
R L Seale & Company Limited – Foursquare Shibboleth Barbados (98 Points)
“An approachable style which showcases plenty of roasted coffee and delicious chocolate, sprinkled with a touch of nuttiness. Very easy to sip, this is a good, solid drinking rum.”
R L Seale & Company Limited – Real Mccoy 12 Limited Edition – Barbados (98 Points)
“The nose opens with dried fruit and herbs before vanilla, woodsmoke and a touch of nuttiness evolve. The palate is bold, spicy and rich in dried tropical fruit notes and florals. A powerhouse rum with a fantastic mouthfeel; utterly divine.”
Campari Group – Trois Rivieeres Rhum Blanc Agricole – Martinique (98 Points)
“Exquisite green aromas fill the nose with grass and white pepper notes overlaying a herbal, vegetal character in the classic Agricole style. Unbelievably smooth, with little hints of peach, pineapple and agave ending in a citrus and pepper finish. Outstanding.”
Depaz Distillery – VSOP Rum – Martinique (99 Points)
“Walnut skin and nuts, myriad spice, dried tropical fruit, aromatic wood and complex candy sweetness too. Well balanced and persistent with a full, deep and flavoursome palate. Funky and fabulous.”
Complete list of Gold and Gold Outstanding winners:
| Name | Producer | Category | Score | Medal | Country |
| VSOP Rum | Depaz Distillery | Spirit -> Rum -> Agricole/Cane Sugar -> Column Still -> 6-10 YO (Declared) | 99 | Spirit Gold Outstanding 2021 | France (Martinique) |
| Black Tot 50th Anniversary Rum | Elixir Distillers | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Mix of Column & Pot Still -> No Age Statement | 98 | Spirit Gold Outstanding 2021 | Guyana |
| Foursquare Detente | R L Seale & Company Limited | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Mix of Column & Pot Still -> 6-10 YO (Declared) | 98 | Spirit Gold Outstanding 2021 | Barbados |
| Foursquare Redoutable | R L Seale & Company Limited | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Mix of Column & Pot Still -> 11-15 YO (Declared) | 98 | Spirit Gold Outstanding 2021 | Barbados |
| Foursquare Sassafras | R L Seale & Company Limited | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Mix of Column & Pot Still -> 11-15 YO (Declared) | 98 | Spirit Gold Outstanding 2021 | Barbados |
| Foursquare Shibboleth | R L Seale & Company Limited | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Mix of Column & Pot Still -> 11-15 YO (Declared) | 98 | Spirit Gold Outstanding 2021 | Barbados |
| Real Mccoy 12 Limited Edition | R L Seale & Company Limited | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Mix of Column & Pot Still -> 11-15 YO (Declared) | 98 | Spirit Gold Outstanding 2021 | Barbados |
| Trois Rivieeres Rhum Blanc Agricole | Campari Group | Spirit -> Rum -> Agricole/Cane Sugar -> Column Still -> No Age Statement | 98 | Spirit Gold Outstanding 2021 | Martinique |
| Gold Miner Barrel Reserve 10 YO Rum | Desert Diamond Distillery | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Column Still -> 6-10 YO (Declared) | 97 | Spirit Gold 2021 | USA |
| Trois Rivières – Triple Millesime 1999-2000-2010 Rum | BBS | Spirit -> Rum -> Agricole/Cane Sugar -> Column Still -> 6-10 YO (Declared) | 97 | Spirit Gold 2021 | France |
| 10 Year Old | R L Seale & Company Limited | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Mix of Column & Pot Still -> 6-10 YO (Declared) | 96 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Barbados |
| Admiral Rodney HMS Royal Oak Rum | St Lucia Distillers | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Column Still -> No Age Statement | 96 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Saint Lucia |
| Clairin Sajous Rum | Spirit of Haiti | Spirit -> Rum -> Agricole/Cane Sugar -> Pot Still -> Unaged | 96 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Haiti |
| Flood Rum | Beenleigh Artisan Distillery | Spirit -> Rum -> Agricole/Cane Sugar -> Mix of Column & Pot Still -> No Age Statement | 96 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Australia |
| Maison La Mauny VSOP Rum | BBS | Spirit -> Rum -> Agricole/Cane Sugar -> Column Still -> Up to 5 YO (Declared) | 96 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Martinique |
| Master Blender Collection: The Port Cask Expression | Mount Gay | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Mix of Column & Pot Still -> No Age Statement | 96 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Barbados |
| Mount Gay XO | Mount Gay | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Mix of Column & Pot Still -> No Age Statement | 96 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Barbados |
| Mutiny Spiced Rum | Rooshine | Spirit -> Rum -> Agricole/Cane Sugar -> Flavoured/Spiced/Infused/Botanical -> No Age Statement | 96 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Dominican Republic |
| Rosemullion Chocolate Rum | Rosemullion Distillery | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Flavoured/Spiced/Infused/Botanical -> Up to 5 YO (Declared) | 96 | Spirit Gold 2021 | England |
| 9 Triple 3 Rum | Four Monkey Distillery | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Mix of Column & Pot Still -> No Age Statement | 95 | Spirit Gold 2021 | USA |
| Caribbean White Rum | Ten To One | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Mix of Column & Pot Still -> Unaged | 95 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Jamaica |
| Clément Rare Cask Tokaje Finish 3 YO Rhum | Héritiers H. Clément | Spirit -> Rum -> Agricole/Cane Sugar -> Column Still -> Up to 5 YO (Declared) | 95 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Martinique |
| Cuban Spiced Rum | Havana Club International | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Flavoured/Spiced/Infused/Botanical -> No Age Statement | 95 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Cuba |
| Cuvée Castelmore Blanc | Héritiers Madkaud | Spirit -> Rum -> Agricole/Cane Sugar -> Column Still -> Unaged | 95 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Martinique |
| Doorly’s 12 Year Old Rum | R L Seale & Company Limited | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Mix of Column & Pot Still -> 11-15 YO (Declared) | 95 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Barbados |
| Eminence – Blended Aged White Rum | Hattiers Rum | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Mix of Column & Pot Still -> Up to 5 YO (Declared) | 95 | Spirit Gold 2021 | England |
| Foursquare 2009 | R L Seale & Company Limited | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Mix of Column & Pot Still -> 11-15 YO (Declared) | 95 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Barbados |
| Gold Miner Barrel Reserve Rum | Desert Diamond Distillery | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Column Still -> 6-10 YO (Declared) | 95 | Spirit Gold 2021 | USA |
| Kiss Detroit Rock Rum | Brands For Fans Sweden | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Mix of Column & Pot Still -> 11-15 YO (Declared) | 95 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Dominican Republic |
| Mount Gay Black Barrel | Mount Gay | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Mix of Column & Pot Still -> No Age Statement | 95 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Barbados |
| Old J Spiced Rum | Signature Brands | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Flavoured/Spiced/Infused/Botanical -> Unaged | 95 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Dominican Republic |
| Real Mccoy 12 Year Old | R L Seale & Company Limited | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Mix of Column & Pot Still -> 11-15 YO (Declared) | 95 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Barbados |
| Rhum Agricole Blanc L’esprit | Distillerie Neisson | Spirit -> Rum -> Agricole/Cane Sugar -> Column Still -> No Age Statement | 95 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Martinique |
| Rhum Ambre St Dominique | SVS La Martiniquaise | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Column Still -> No Age Statement | 95 | Spirit Gold 2021 | France |
| Rum Fire White Overproof Rum | Hampden Estate | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Pot Still -> Unaged | 95 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Jamaica |
| Vieux Plantation Rum | Depaz Distillery | Spirit -> Rum -> Agricole/Cane Sugar -> Column Still -> No Age Statement | 95 | Spirit Gold 2021 | France |
| XO: The Peat Smoke Expression | Mount Gay | Spirit -> Rum -> Molasses -> Mix of Column & Pot Still -> No Age Statement | 95 | Spirit Gold 2021 | Barbados |
For a complete list of all medalists, head over to the IWSC’s official website.