If you’re a whiskey drinker, but you haven’t branched out into aged rum, you’re really missing out on some amazing expressions. There are a variety of reasons why dark rums are well suited for the palates of bourbon drinkers.
I’ve been writing about alcohol for nearly two decades. In those years, I’ve tried every type of aged spirit from the various whisk(e)ys, rums, tequilas, mezcals, and more. I’ve found that there’s no better aged spirit for bourbon fans than rum. The underlying sugarcane sweetness when barrel aged has some of the same aromas and flavors bourbon drinkers love.
Why is dark rum great for bourbon drinkers?
For one thing, both spirits are matured in oak barrels (some dark rums are even aged in ex-bourbon barrels). This results in the sugarcane-based spirit having added flavors like toasted vanilla beans, charred oak, toffee, dried fruits, and wintry spices. Sure, unaged rum is a lot different from white whiskey and moonshine. It’s the aging process where the two spirits become so similar.
While you might use un-aged (or less mature) rums for cocktails exclusively, aged rum (like its bourbon counterpart) is most often enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or used as the base for a variety of cocktails. It’s also a great choice for a change of pace in cocktails that primarily use whiskey like the Old Fashioned, Hot Toddy, and more.
The best dark rums for bourbon fans
Now that you’ve learned a little about why dark rums are a great choice for bourbon drinkers, it’s time to find some to add to your liquor cabinet or bar cart. Below, you’ll find some of our favorites. These dark rums are loaded with flavors like caramelized sugar, oak, vanilla, and more. Keep scrolling to see them all.
Santa Teresa 1796
If you’ve never tried Santa Teresa 1796, what are you waiting for? Made with simple ingredients like sugarcane molasses, water, and fermented yeast, it’s distilled and then triple solera aged. It contains a blend of rums aged for as long as 35 years. The result is a multi-layered, complex sipping rum filled with bourbon-like flavors including dried fruits, chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla, and rich oaky wood. It’s best enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or mixed into your favorite cocktail.
Appleton Estate 12-Year Rare Casks
Appleton Estate is a big name in the rum world. This Jamaica brand makes myriad rums suitable for bourbon drinkers, but one of the best is Appleton Estate 12-Year Rare Casks. This blend of hand-picked column and pot still distilled rums were matured for a minimum of twelve years.This creates a noteworthy expression loaded with hints of candied nuts, orange peels, chocolate, vanilla, oak, and island spices.This is the kind of sippable dark rum that you’ll want to imbibe on an unseasonably cool evening.
Flor de Cana 18
This popular brand is not only known for its well-made rums, but for its earth-conscious sustainability practices. Fans of bourbon will love Flor de Cana 18. Matured for at least eighteen years in small hand-made ex-bourbon barrels, it’s known for its balanced flavor profile including notes of candied nuts, toasted vanilla beans, caramelized sugar, gentle wintry spices, and bold charred oak. After spending a minimum of eighteen years maturing, this epic rum deserves to be sipped neat or on the rocks like you would your favorite whiskey.
Brugal 1888
Dominican Republic’s Brugal is a brand that should be on your radar if you enjoy bourbon whiskey. Many of its expressions are aged in a variety of barrels, making it a great choice for whiskey drinkers. This includes Brugal 1888. This molasses-based rum is double barrel-aged. First in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels and then in Spanish sherry casks. This creates a unique, memorable aged rum centered on flavors like raisins, vanilla beans, cinnamon candy, toffee, chocolate, all with a warming, mellow, lingering finish. This is definitely a dark rum you’ll want to sip neat by the fireplace this holiday season (and every other season).
The Real McCoy 12 Year Old
Named for Prohibition-era rum runner Bill McCoy, The Real McCoy is a great rum line for whiskey drinkers. Especially its 12-year-old expression. This award-winning expression was matured for a minimum of twelve years. This created a nuanced, sublime rum loaded with flavors like chocolate, candied orange peels, pipe tobacco, toasted vanilla beans, stick toffee pudding, oak, and cracked black pepper. Pay tribute to the ‘real” McCoy by sipping this rum neat, on the rocks, mixed into a drink you’d usually use whiskey for. You’ll be glad you did.
Bottom line
By now, we hope we’ve done a good job explaining why dark rum is a great choice for bourbon drinkers. We implore you to go out and grab a bottle of the above rums and give them a try. Sip them neat, on the rocks, or as a change of pace in your favorite whiskey cocktails.
