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Forbes
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
12 Ultra-Aged Gold Medal Rums Under $100 You Have To Buy
Glass of rum on the rocks with cigar in front of a cask getty If you think rum is just for tropical cocktails, think again. Ultra-aged rums are some of the most complex, flavorful, and underrated spirits in the world. Whether sipped neat, used in premium cocktails, or paired with food, these rums bring depth, elegance, and exceptional value. We've rounded up 12 ultra-aged rums—each matured from five to twenty-one years, retailing under $100 in the U.S., all proven medal winners on the global stage. These aren't just fabulous rums—they're must-haves for any serious spirits enthusiast. This rum is made at Barbados' famous Foursquare Distillery using a blend of copper pot and twin-column distilled spirits. The Real McCoy rum features aromas of vanilla, toasted coconut, and fresh sugarcane. It's smooth on the palate, highlighting notes of honey, sweet cooked cereal, almond, and subtle oak spices. The finish is medium-length with gentle spice notes. Pair it with a coconut-based cocktail, coconut curry, tropical fruit salad, or vanilla custard. The rum was created by Alexandre Gabriel at Maison Ferrand and aged in ex-bourbon and French oak barrels. It has won more than 30 awards at spirit competitions around the world. The rum is rich and aromatic on the nose, with notes of molasses, cooked tropical fruits, banana fritters, and leather. The palate is flavorful and full-bodied, highlighting rich fruitcake, caramel, tobacco, and a subtle Jamaican funk. The finish is long and smoky, with lingering hints of wood spices and seasoned oak. Pair the rum with dark chocolate, grilled meat, or aged cheddar. A perfect complement to a rich, sweet barbecue sauce. It's ideal for a Dark & Stormy cocktail. El Dorado 5-Year-Old (Guyana), 40% ABV, 750 ml. $33 Another exceptional rum from Guyana's top-tier distillery. It's a blend of rums from multiple Demerara stills. An entry-level rum offered at a great price. The rum features aromas of tropical fruits, especially banana, along with hints of vanilla and brown sugar. It's creamy on the palate, revealing tropical fruit, caramel, and oak spices. The finish is medium-length, with lingering notes of sweet, flavored pipe tobacco and roasted nuts. Pair the rum with grilled pineapple, banana fritters, coconut shrimp, or caramel flan. Planteray Barbados 5-Year-Old, 40% ABV, 750 ml. $30 This Barbados rum is aged 5 years in ex-bourbon casks and bottled by Maison Ferrand. This rum has won over 45 Gold Medals and Best-in-Class awards. The rum features grilled tropical fruits, banana fritters, vanilla, baked apple, and oak wood spices. It's smooth on the palate, showcasing flavors of fruit cocktail, wood spices, and seasoned oak. The finish is long, with lingering notes of caramel and seasoned oak. An excellent after-dinner dram: pair the rum with Banana foster, jerk chicken, or rum cake. A glass of rum surrounded by a selection of cheese and cured meats. Ultra-aged rums are ideal for pairing with a large Phot, J Micallef, all rights reserved Eight-Fifteen-Year-Old Rums El Dorado 12-Year-Old (Guyana), 40% ABV, 750 ml. $41 Demerara Distillers produces El Dorado in Guyana. It's a blend of rums from Enmore, Diamond, and Port Mourant stills. It has been a consistent gold medalist at the International Wine & Spirit Competition and the Caribbean Rum Awards. The rum offers rich aromas of molasses, brown sugar, golden raisins, and caramelized banana. It's full-bodied on the palate, revealing toffee, roasted nuts, dark spices, and tropical fruit. The finish is long and warm, with lingering notes of cocoa, tropical fruits, molasses, and seasoned oak. The rum is perfect for a Daiquiri or a Pina Colada. Pair it with blue cheese, grilled pineapple, and roasted nuts for an ideal complement. Flor de Caña 12-Year-Old (Nicaragua), 40% ABV, 750 ml. $40 The rum has been produced by Compañía Licorera de Nicaragua since 1890. Flor de Caña has consistently won Gold Medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and was named Rum Distiller of the Year at the 2019 International Rum Conference (IRC). The rum has aromas of nougat, almond butter, and brown sugar. It's smooth on the palate, with flavors of nougat, honey, toasted oak, and subtle wood spices. The finish is long, with lingering notes of dark caramel, cinnamon, and pepper. Pair it with aged Gouda, caramel flan, or roasted walnuts. R.L. Seale's 12-Year-Old (Barbados), 46% ABV, 750 ml. $49 An authentic pot still rum from Foursquare, one of Barbados's top producers. The rum is rich and aromatic, with notes of molasses, baking spices, caramel, and seasoned oak. It offers a flavorful palate, highlighting caramel, nutmeg, toffee, and dark fruit flavors. The finish is long, sweet, and spicy, with lingering notes of oak. Pair the rum with apple pie, grilled figs, or smoked meats for a delightful combination. Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva 12-Year-Old (Venezuela), 40% ABV, 750 ml. $40 This rum is a blend of column and pot still spirits aged using a solera process. The rum features aromas of toffee, tropical fruit, vanilla, and licorice. It's rich and flavorful on the palate, with notes of chocolate, caramel, dried fruit, and spice. The finish is long and smooth, with lingering notes of tropical fruit and seasoned oak. Pair the rum with chocolate truffles, espresso, and crème brûlée. Homemade Mai Tai Cocktail with Pineapple Cherry and Rum getty Fifteen-Twenty-Five-Year-Old Rums El Dorado 15-Year-Old (Guyana), 40% ABV, 750 ml. $60 This rum is produced at Guyana's renowned distillery. Like all Demerara rums, it ages in tropical conditions. It's the only rum to win IWSC 'Best Rum in the World' eight times. The rum offers aromas of molasses, dried figs, banana bread, and seasoned oak. It's rich and smooth on the palate, revealing flavors of fruitcake, exotic tropical woods, spices, and creamy toffee. The finish is long and spicy, with lingering notes of seasoned oak. A quintessential sipping rum, pair it with Christmas pudding, glazed ham, or spiced fruitcake. Flor de Caña 18-Year-Old (Nicaragua), 40% ABV, 750 ml. $50 The rum is made from estate-grown sugarcane. It has consistently won medals in spirit competitions. The rum is rich and aromatic, with notes of toffee, fig, and wood spices. The palate offers caramel, nuts, ripe orchard fruits, and a subtle smoke. The finish is long and refined, with lingering hints of wood spices and toasted oak. Pair the rum with roasted almonds, blue cheese, or poached apple or pear. It makes a perfect match for warm apple pie (with vanilla ice cream, of course). Zafra Master Reserve 21-Year-Old (Panama), 40% ABV, 750 ml. $72 Don Poncho Fernandez crafts this rum. It's an authentic, 21-year-old, barrel-aged, column-distilled rum. This rum earned 95 points at a Beverage Testing Institute judging. The rum features caramel, vanilla, toasted oak, and citrus peel. It's rich and robust on the palate, highlighting caramel, dried cherry, tobacco, cinnamon, and seasoned oak. The finish is long, with layered complexity and lingering notes of oak spice and citrus zest. Pair the rum with an aged cheese, especially sheep's milk pecorino, grilled steak, or dark chocolate truffles. El Dorado 21-Year-Old (Guyana), 43% ABV, 750 ml. $99 Another award-winning rum from El Dorado. The rum features molasses, dates, wood spices, and seasoned oak. It's rich and full-bodied on the palate, revealing flavors of dark chocolate, spiced fruitcake, and leather. The finish is remarkably long, with lingering notes of seasoned oak and baking spices. Pair this rum with chocolate cake, aged cheddar, and fine cigars for a truly indulgent experience. From the smooth elegance of Flor de Caña to the bold complexity of El Dorado and Zafra, these ultra-aged rums showcase the depth, heritage, and craftsmanship behind some of the world's best distilleries. With layered aromas, richly textured palates, and long, satisfying finishes, each bottle offers an incredible experience at a price that won't break the bank. Whether you're new to aged rums or a seasoned collector, this curated selection delivers quality, character, and versatility in every pour. It's time to give rum the respect—and shelf space—it deserves. More From Forbes Forbes The World's Best Rum, According To America's Top Bartenders By Joseph V Micallef Forbes Top Rums Crowned At The 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition By Joseph V Micallef Forbes The World's Top Rum, According To The Beverage Testing Institute By Joseph V Micallef Forbes The Top Rum From The 2025 ADI International Spirits Competition By Joseph V Micallef
The Guardian
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Takeaway review – enormously fun family drama is full of heart
This play by Nathan Powell, appointed creative director at Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse last year after Suba Das's departure, is not a tightly structured, slick affair. But, directed by Amanda Huxtable, it is enormous fun, full of heart and undeniably entertaining. If this first play is a measure of his ambition, Powell intends to be a crowd-pleaser. Takeaway wouldn't be out of place in the unabashedly popular Royal Court across town. The title refers to Hyltons, a community-loved, family-run Caribbean cafe headed up by matriarch Carol (Phina Oruche) and her two 'British pickney' adult daughters, Browning (Adi Alfa) and Shelly (Bene Sebuyange). At the heart of Toxteth, 'Toccy' to the locals, the takeaway is set to become a victim of gentrification, a change against which local young people are either rioting or leading an uprising, depending on which character's point of view you agree with. Either way, the local football pitches are being set ablaze and the offices of the would-be property developers are under attack. This is the background to a family drama of intergenerational tensions, as anglicised youngest daughter Shelly attempts to step out of her mother's shadow and do things differently to her parent who came to Britain from Jamaica when she was nine years old. The friction will be keenly felt by those who have a similar background. Audiences who grew up with sitcoms such as Desmond's, The Real McCoy and Goodness Gracious Me will recognise the milieu. They will also appreciate the condensed and very funny retelling of Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing by the takeaway's chef, a joyfully scene-stealing performance from Wayne Rollins. Like a lighter, funnier mirror version of Elmina's Kitchen by Kwame Kwei-Armah, it's on the nose and loses its way as it races towards its denouement in a second act lasting a little over half an hour. But Powell has set out his stall with a piece that is guaranteed to raise a smile. At Liverpool Everyman until 17 May
