Best rums for sipping and cocktails

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Bounty

The island of St Lucia is a tiny gem in the Caribbean Sea, so it follows that its Bounty Rum would be an equally rare and stunning treasure. Having been aged for two years in bourbon casks, this golden-hued rum exudes tropical warmth. On the nose, there is a sweet scent with a fruity layer, followed by nuances of spices. And once tasted, this rum goes down smoothly. Perhaps the most notable feature are the rich flavours of butterscotch, candied fruit and a hint of vanilla which are reminiscent of a traditional Caribbean fruit cake. This is a rum that feels ideal for sipping, but it could also combine well into a cocktail. How about a St Lucian rum punch? £25; amazon.co.uk

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Don Papa

Rum might be "more closely associated with the Caribbean, cocktails and Jack Sparrow", said Hannah Twiggs in The Independent, but it has a "long and murky" history in the Philippines, too. The island of Negros, sometimes known as "Sugarlandia", is home to Don Papa, a Filipino rum that's "one to watch". This smooth small batch rum can be drunk straight – enjoy the rich aroma of vanilla and molasses, sharpened by a hint of grapefruit – or used in classic rum cocktails. A Don Papa negroni (40ml rum, 20ml sweet vermouth, 25ml Aperol) is dangerously drinkable. £35; sainsburys.co.uk  

Vapoura Gold Rum

English rum brand Vapoura recently unveiled its new Gold Rum, a "fresh addition" to its product line, said TheRumLab. "Meticulously" distilled in limited quantities employing the age-old copper pot still technique, Vapoura Gold Rum is characterised by "delightful" flavours of vanilla, complemented with "subtle undertones" of tobacco and chocolate. The brand's collection also includes its initial offering, Vapoura Spiced. £65; vapourarum.com 

Cabby's White Rum by the Taxi Spirit Co

"In the daytime, I drive a black cab. At night time, I distil." These are the words of London cab driver Moses Odong, who opened the capital's first ever rum distillery, aptly named Taxi Spirit Co. The first product to be launched was the award-winning Cabby's White Rum, which is "rich and full-bodied", said BoozeHut, throwing "voluminous hints of sweet cane, delicious black treacle, woody oak, refreshing coconut, and citrus". Taxi Spirit Co also offers Cabby's Spiced Rum and Cabby's Gin. £29.50; taxispirit.com 

Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve Rum

This rum from Appleton Estate is aged entirely in Jamaica and each drop is a minimum eight years old, giving it a richer, fuller flavour. It's "surprisingly spicy on the tongue", said The Fat Rum Pirate, and "strong notes" of black pepper and oaked heat "break through following the initial burst of rich fruit flavours". £31.40; masterofmalt.com  

RedLeg Spiced Rum

RedLeg's original spiced rum is made by blending the best rums from the Caribbean and leaving them to rest in oak barrels before infusing with Jamaican vanilla and ginger. This is an "amazing" spiced rum, said Steve the Barman, and it's a "little bit different" to the "traditionals". It's sweet but at "the drier end of that sweet scale". Drinking it neat, it is "super smooth" and "doesn't give you any alcohol burn at all". £22.50; tesco.com  

Discarded Banana Peel Infused Rum

An undiscovered treasure, "finishing" rum used to prepare empty whisky casks for the final phase of maturation has been repurposed to form the base of Discarded Banana Peel Infused Rum. Discarded sources the banana peel and it is recovered to dry out and ferment, to enable maximum concentration of flavour. When the peel is ready, it's then steeped in alcohol for two weeks to extract optimum flavour. The rum and banana peel extract are then married together for another two days to complete the blending process. The final product creates a banoffee pie character throughout the palate. £25; amazon.co.uk 

Equiano Rum

Equiano, the world's first premium aged African and Caribbean blended rum, is 100% natural and made with no spices, no additives and no added sugar. Inspired by Olaudah Equiano, the Nigerian-born writer, entrepreneur, abolitionist and freedom fighter, the rum offers a blend of two distilleries on two different continents. It's a "smooth and thick" rum, said Brendan Hodrien on BBC Good Food, with "butterscotch and toffee paired against dry oak and milky chocolate". £54.95; equianorum.com 

Cane Toad: Ruby Eyes Ruby Chocolate Rum

This is a "rather intriguing" rum from Manchester-based craft distillery Zymurgorium, said Master of Malt, which is the first distillery to use ruby chocolate to make a spirit. Premium rum has been blended with this newly discovered spice to create an exciting new tipple, boasting the flavour and texture of silk, deep chocolate and ripe berries. It can be served as a frappe style alcoholic beverage with cream, raspberry syrup, ice and white chocolate pieces to create the ultimate sipping drink. £25; zymurgorium.com