I tried supermarket rums… winner was budget buy copy of trendy spiced brand that cost three times less
STAY warm and keep your spirits up this winter by sipping on a tot of rum.
If you’ve already ditched plans for Dry January, you might find yourself fancying a tasty tipple.
And a spicy Jamaican rum could be just the answer. Drinks expert Helena Nicklin, tried a selection to find out which pack a real punch – and which are a bit of a rum deal.
Here, she gives her verdict with marks out of five.
Ten To One Caribbean Dark Rum, 70cl, 40% ABV, £44.50, Amazon
THIS delicious, small batch, artisanal rum shows you get what you pay for, with layers of flavour and silky-smooth mouthfeel.
Distilled with a blend of Barbados, Dominican, Jamaican and Trinidadian rum, then aged in white oak ex-bourbon casks, it is lovely neat or mixed into your favourite cocktail.
But it’s not cheap!
4/5
Fine Dark Navy Rum, 70cl, 37.5% ABV, £13, Asda
IT’S not necessarily one for sipping slowly on its own, but this bargain bottle is really rather good in a cocktail.
Fans of the famous Lambs Navy rum will appreciate the not dissimilar mellow dark spice and molasses notes.
Add cola and a slice of lime and you’re good to go. A very decent drinks cabinet staple that won’t break the bank.
4/5
Caribbean Spiced Spirit Drink, 70cl, 35% ABV, £11.85, Asda
INFUSED with lemon and caramel, it is very sweet and vanilla-scented, giving more cream soda than Caribbean beach vibes.
It’s an acquired taste that’s quite like the “butterbeer” at Harry Potter World!
The spice is subtle, so it’s not a classic distilled sugarcane. This might be a bit of a guilty pleasure for the sweet-toothed.
Just don’t expect rum “proper”.
2/5
Old Hopking Premium Caribbean Spirit Dark Rum Deluxe, 70cl, 37.5% ABV, £10.99, Aldi
COMPETITIVELY priced, but the taste doesn’t match the name as dark rum normally has a molasses and marzipan note.
But when you sip, you’ll find some vanilla sweetness.
Not the softest or smoothest, but loses its alcoholic burn when mixed.
I’d drink it with cola and lots of ice, or ginger beer. Good value for money.
3/5
Caribbean Pearl Dark Rum, 70cl, 37.5% ABV, £13, Sainsbury’s
THE flavour profile of this own brand dark rum is pleasantly nostalgic.
As the finish burns a tad, I’d say it’s not for solo sipping, but there’s lots of flavour, from brown sugar to spice and dried fruit.
It would be great for mixing into a Cuba Libre or fruit punch bowl – or splashing on ice cream.
3/5
James Cook White Rum 70cl, 37.5.% ABV, £11.49, Lidl (in store only)
WHEN it was 40% ABV, this white rum from Lidl gave Bacardi a run for its money.
But now the ABV has been lowered, sadly it’s not quite the same and has lost a bit of its punch – even though it’s still fine for mixing into one.
It remains good value and is pretty quaffable.
Use it for making mojitos or enjoying with a large splash of cola. Not one for drinking neat.
3/5
BEST BUDGET BUY Cassario Black Spiced Flavour With Rum, 70cl, 40% ABV, £15.99, Aldi
DUPE experts Aldi have done it again with this bottle of black spiced spirit.
It’s essentially a copy of the trendy spiced rum brand Kraken, but a little sweeter – and far cheaper.
They’ve boosted the ABV to 40%, so it’s brilliant bang for the buck.
Great for mixing into daiquiris or pina colada.
5/5
BEST FOR COCKTAILS: White Rum, 1L, 37.5.% ABV, Tesco, £17
A LONG-TIME favourite with Tesco shoppers, this top allrounder is an excellent supermarket own brand alternative to big-name Bacardi, though it is a little lighter in booze and flavour.
There’s a litre in the bottle, making it super value (70cl would be £11.90), and you can barely tell the difference once mixed.
Drink in cocktails, with cola or neat.
5/5