Wish to strive a number of the planet’s highest-rated rum manufacturers if you journey? You’ll have it fairly simple in some elements of Central America. Many of the highest-rated rum manufacturers on the earth are from in and across the Caribbean and you will discover a number of the finest in international locations like Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama.
You possibly can draw a circle on one a part of the globe and match the origins of almost all the world’s finest rums in that space. A couple of Caribbean islands shall be in that circle, a little bit of South America too. For those who journey by Central America although, you may pattern a number of the ones that compete with Barbados, Puerto Rico, and different better-marketed areas for gold tasting medals. Additionally, regardless of all of the accolades and write-ups, they’re surprisingly reasonably priced as properly, even in the event you go straight to the highest of the standard pyramid.
We’ve carried out a number of tastings from Mexico down by Colombia for the sake of, um, analysis, and have tried a couple of rum manufacturers from almost each Latin American nation that produces the spirit. Central America rum stands other than the others although for its ease of availability and a persistently prime quality total — offered you skip a budget stuff with components and no getting old.
Guatemala Superb Rums
Ron Zacapa
We have now to start out with Guatemala as a result of, if there’s one rum that usually comes out on high with rum aficionados, it’s Ron Zacapa 23. For many people who’ve sipped dozens of various rums, that is the gold customary by which all others are measured. It has received a slew of awards almost yearly and was the primary inducted into the Worldwide Rum Pageant’s Corridor of Fame.
Some are postpone by the quantity, considering 23 years is a very long time to sit down in a barrel in tropical temperatures. These barrels are saved at 2,300 meters although, not sea degree, and the rum is definitely a mix of barrels aged 6 years to 23 years. This implies placing a number of belief within the individual doing the mixing, however this one has an incredible repute for a purpose.
We’re unsure what the proportions are, however within the glass it is a completely proportioned rum. It’s a steal at lower than $50 and you may typically discover it for lower than $40 on sale or at responsibility free retailers. When you have a flight overseas, arrive early and do a rum tasting on the Guatemala Metropolis Airport, the place you may strive sister model Botron as properly. Extra on that under.
In order for you an after-dinner cordial that’s totally different, strive the Ron Zacapa XO. That’s Zacapa rum, however with further time spent in French oak barrels that beforehand held cognac. This fascinating mixture brings an entire different vary of flavors to the mouth and smells to the nostril, particularly in the event you drink it from a brandy snifter. In a heavy, fancy bottle, this one shall be an appreciated reward for any rum or spirits lover in your checklist.
There’s a Zacapa Edición Negra that’s more durable to search out in shops. It’s rum aged 6 to 24 years, with the final half being in former “American whiskies and Pedro Ximénez wine” barrels as a substitute of cognac. It sounds unusual, but it surely was higher than I anticipated once I lastly bought to style it.
If you wish to step down a notch from Ron Zacapa’s costs however nonetheless get that prime Guatemalan high quality, learn on…
Ron Botran
For those who’re questioning what occurred to the Ron Zacapa variations with an getting old 12 months quantity within the teenagers that you simply tried in your youthful days, they simply have a special identify. Botron is the sister model of Zacapa, underneath the identical firm possession. The bottles aren’t as fancy and the identify isn’t as prestigious, but it surely has a really comparable style profile. Every little thing produced from this firm is derived from first urgent sugar cane, not molasses.
After I did a tasting in Guatemala the host stated the primary distinction within the manufacturers is that they use sugar cane harvested in several seasons. Apparently that’s sufficient to affect the style, however they share the identical grasp distiller and storage services. (Enjoyable reality: Guatemalan barrels are saved upright relatively than on their facet because of earthquake dangers.)
The corporate is slightly cagey on how lengthy this model is aged. The highest one is Solera 1893, a blended solera rum that’s aged “as much as 18 years.” The Reserva one is aged “as much as 15 years” and will have spent a while in barrels beforehand used for port or sherry. There’s additionally a Reserva Blanca model that’s top-of-the-line white cocktail rums round.
The variations of Ron Botron you’ll see probably the most in U.S. and Mexican liquor shops are the 8-year, which is an efficient bar staple, the 12-year model, and a 15-year model. For those who see that or the 18 one which used to have a Zacapa label, these will usually be the most effective sipping rum values on the shelf. All however the 18 are in tall bottles that aren’t very fancy, however however meaning you aren’t paying a premium for the adornment I suppose. See my tasting notes on Ron Botron rum right here.
Costa Rica Rum
Ron Centenario
For those who like the texture and style of heat liquid caramel taking place the again of your throat, you may drink half a bottle of Centenario rum and end up sprawled out on a daybed by the pool. This is likely one of the smoothest and most nice elixirs you could possibly hope for on this world you probably have a candy tooth and we have now to only blame timid advertising and marketing for the very fact it’s not higher identified exterior Costa Rica.
It doesn’t assist that their packaging has gotten increasingly bland through the years. They used to bundle their rum in fascinating large bottles with embossed glass in photographs of royal shields. Now their rum is simply in run-of-the-mill customary bottles that mix in with every part else on the shelf. You need to rise up to the excessive finish of their vary to really feel such as you’ve purchased one thing even barely premium: the 30-year model (solera methodology although) is beautiful sufficient for a present.
Centenario rum is available in a spread of years of getting old and in Costa Rica you may even discover a selection pack in responsibility free shops if you wish to pattern to see which one you want finest. They’re all easy, however they get extra complicated with extra oak on the increased numbers.
For those who like rum on the sweeter and smoother facet relatively than one that may put hair in your chest, that is the one to start out with. Any of them are nice in fruity cocktails that use the abundance of fruit you discover in Costa Rica. See the present variations right here on the official web site.
Nicaragua Rum
One model in Central America goes again to 1890 and has held sturdy by all of the civil battle troubles in Nicaragua within the Nineteen Eighties and the present dictatorship run by the previous insurgent: Flor de Caña rum. Now that is the centerpiece firm within the massive Pella household empire, which incorporates companies from department shops to Mukul and Nekupe luxurious resorts.
Whereas these resorts are principally empty now and appear to have pale into historical past due to the political oppression in Nicaragua that has scared away most vacationers, the Flor de Cana rum is doing higher than ever.
Some have referred to as this the “Harley Davidson of rums” or “the most effective rum to have with a cigar” as a result of it’s hefty, critical, and assertive. Perhaps to not the extent of Jamaican rums, however nonetheless fairly hearty.
There’s a lot occurring within the complexity division, particularly at 7 years of getting old or above, however giving it neat to somebody who doesn’t drink darkish spirits usually is like giving an 8% stout or a double IPA to somebody who usually drinks Bud Mild. Work your method as much as this one and also you’ll be rewarded until you’re simply making cocktails with the lower-priced variations.
Not like with Centenario or Botron, this rum is packaged in hefty, spectacular bottles that may depart an impression in your recipient in the event you purchase one thing aged 12 years or extra. See that photograph above for what I imply and get extra data on the official web site.
The Thrilling Rum Scene in Panama
Ron Abuelo means merely “grandfather rum” in Spanish and it’s a type of reliable manufacturers that works for any social gathering. The common model is completely wonderful for cocktails and the variations which might be aged extra can maintain their very own with a number of identify manufacturers from the Caribbean. It doesn’t belong on the highest shelf, however not within the properly both. It’s definitely a giant enchancment over Bacardi.
If you wish to go up a notch or two, try the Ron Abuelo 12-year model, which is simple to search out in liquor shops in North America and is normally competitively priced for that lengthy within the barrels. However there are higher choices within the nation, particularly in the event you go to a wonderful rum bar like this one whereas staying in Panama Metropolis:
I attempted a rum merely referred to as “Panama” once I was on an Uncruise ship off the coast of the nation and…I want I hadn’t. A number of of us have been tasting the entire choice of what was on the boat when it comes to sipping rum and this one was a unanimous final place. The bottle is sweet, however what’s inside will make you need to refill it with one thing higher.
Since then I’ve carried out an entire rundown on how Panama rum retains getting higher in high quality and in contrast to within the international locations profiled above, you’re not coping with a monopoly or near it. Now you’ve bought an entire vary of nice selections, like Zafra Rum made in Panama. They should have began fairly a very long time in the past as a result of they produce a 21-year model that’s out there on-line for greater than $100. I’m unsure I need to spend three figures simply to strive it although, so I’m going to be searching for it at my subsequent rum bar tasting.
On my final journey to the nation I bought to strive much more Panama rum manufacturers like Carta Vieja, Pedro Mandinga, and Panama Pacific. Then I spent a number of time with Grander rum and I actually preferred their Toro model.
For now it’s that and something from Carta Vieja that I’d suggest. For those who’re simply searching for probably the most high-end choices, go for Don Poncho Origenes.
I feel it’s protected to say that Panama now has probably the most dynamic rum scene in Central America, with out one or two manufacturers having a lock on the alternatives.
Belize Rum
The individuals of Belize devour a number of rum, as do the vacationers flooding into Ambergris Caye every week. Most of that goes into fruity cocktails or Cuba Libres although, so value issues greater than high quality. And the costs are fairly low: rum simply is likely to be the most effective cut price in a rustic the place issues all the time appear to value greater than you anticipated.
The bottle you’ll see probably the most has a black buzzard on the entrance and is just referred to as Caribbean Rum, from Cuello’s Distillery. Superb for cocktails the place the fruit and sugar will cowl up the defects, however in the event you’ll be sipping, transfer on.
One Barrel
This can be a massive step up, produced in Belmopan with high-grade molasses and a triple-column nonetheless. One Barrel has a regular gold version (ok for sipping), and a coconut rum that goes down simple, however search for Don Omario to get extra getting old.
Tiburón Rum
Tiburon rum has been slightly more durable to search out, however final time I used to be in Placencia I used to be completely happy to search out that that they had opened up a tasting room there. This shark is on the high of the meals chain for wonderful rum in Belize. They produce it in Belmopan at an expat-owned firm using a Belizean grasp distiller with a protracted household historical past of rum making.
It’s round $40 to $50 within the USA or Belize and has received a slew of awards. Produced in small batches however out there on the Belize Metropolis airport in your method out. Undoubtedly definitely worth the expenditure in the event you’ll be spending a while having fun with the golden hour on this chilled-out nation.
See our article about Tiburon rum right here.
OK, we form of cheated on the 7 quantity as a result of you may take your decide of a number of in Panama, however this could get you lined in your travels. Search for any of the above if you’re touring in Central America and the vast majority of them you will discover in good U.S. liquor shops as properly. For those who discover a premium aged one which’s not on right here from a rustic aside from Panama, put it within the feedback for us to research!
This text on the most effective rums from Central America was up to date in late 2026, with all images by the editor besides the Flor de Cana one, courtesy of the corporate. We haven’t tried every part you could possibly probably discover from the area but although and as all the time, all opinions are my very own.
