The 2026 World Rum Awards have concluded with a record number of entries and a medal table that reflects the extraordinary breadth and quality of modern rum production. A total of 1,840 rums from 42 countries were submitted to this year's competition — up 15% on 2025 — with Jamaica, Guyana, and Martinique leading the field in total gold medals, though entries from Barbados, Guatemala, and the Philippines produced several notable upsets.
Having attended the awards ceremony at London's Dorchester Hotel, I can report that the quality bar has risen significantly. The judging panel, which included Master Blenders Joy Spence (Appleton Estate), Trudiann Branker (Mount Gay), and Luca Gargano (Velier), described the field as the strongest in the competition's history.
Key Winners
Best Aged Rum: Appleton Estate 15 Year Old Black River Casks — Joy Spence's latest expression drew praise for its extraordinary balance of fruit, oak, and the distinctive Appleton terroir.
Best White Rum: Probitas — the Foursquare-Hampden collaboration continued its winning streak, taking the top white rum honour for the second consecutive year.
Best Agricole: Rhum J.M XO — the Martinique producer's extended-aged expression was singled out for its volcanic terroir expression and remarkable complexity.
Best Dark Rum: El Dorado 21 Year Old — Demerara Distillers' heritage-still masterpiece was described by judges as "one of the most complex spirits we've ever encountered."
Best Overproof: Hampden Estate Great House — Hampden's premium overproof expression took the award for its extraordinary intensity and finesse.
Best Value Rum (under £30): Doorly's 12 Year Old — the Foursquare-produced bargain was recognised for offering quality that "defies its price point by a considerable margin."
Industry Context
The geographic diversity of entries continues to expand. While Caribbean and Latin American producers dominated the medal table, notable golds were awarded to rum from the Philippines (Don Papa), India (Paul John), Mauritius (Chamarel), and Australia (Husk Distillers). The judges specifically praised the emergence of Southeast Asian rum as a category to watch.
"Rum is now a genuinely global spirit," said the competition's director, Allen Gibbons. "The days when rum meant 'Caribbean' are behind us. We're seeing world-class rum from every continent except Antarctica, and the quality floor is rising everywhere."
What's Next
The awards ceremony also saw the announcement of a new category for 2027: Best Sustainable Rum, recognising producers who demonstrate excellence in environmental and social responsibility alongside liquid quality. Given the industry's growing focus on sustainability, the new category is likely to attract significant interest.
For consumers, the World Rum Awards medal list is one of the most reliable guides to quality in the category. The full list of winners is available at worldrumawards.com.
