Rum is a highly versatile alcoholic beverage distilled from sugar obtained from sources like molasses, sugar cane syrup, and pure sugar cane sugar. The clear spirit is usually left to age in bourbon or oak barrels to enhance its flavor. Rum is often associated with tropical locations, island life, and exotic cocktails. While most people regard rum as strictly a party alcoholic drink, it serves as a critical ingredient in tropical cocktails. It can also be taken “neat” on its own.
Since rum is made in different countries in different styles with unique taste profiles, its price can differ significantly. So, how much does rum cost? And what informs its price?
When it comes to the price of rum, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The cost of rum can range from a few dollars for a small bottle of low-quality rum to hundreds or even thousands of dollars for a rare and aged bottle of premium rum. The cost of rum can also vary depending on where you live, as taxes and import fees can impact the price. In this article, we will explore the different factors that can influence the cost of rum and provide some insights into how much you can expect to pay for a bottle of this beloved spirit.
Table of Contents
How Much Does Rum Cost?
Rum is a popular alcoholic beverage that is enjoyed by many people around the world. The cost of rum can vary greatly depending on a number of factors, including the quality of the rum, the brand, and the region where it is produced. In this section, we will take a closer look at the average price of rum, as well as some affordable and more expensive options.
Average Price
The average price of rum can range from around $15 to $50 per bottle, depending on the brand and quality. Some of the more popular brands of rum, such as Bacardi, Captain Morgan, and Malibu, can be found for around $20 to $30 per bottle. However, more premium brands of rum, such as Mount Gay, can cost upwards of $50 per bottle.
Affordable Rum
For those who are looking for a more affordable price, there are many great rum values available on the market. Some of the best affordable rums include:
- Cruzan Aged Light Rum
- Flor de Cana Extra Dry White Rum
- Don Q Cristal Rum
These rums can be found for around $15 to $20 per bottle and are a great option for those who are on a budget.
Cheaper Bottles
If you are looking for an even cheaper option and the best value, there are many rums available for under $15 per bottle. While these rums may not be as high quality as some of the more expensive options, they can still be a great choice for mixing cocktails or enjoying on their own. Some of the best cheaper rums include:
- Ron Castillo White Rum
- Admiral Nelson’s Spiced Rum
- Calico Jack Coconut Rum
Most Expensive Rums
For those who are looking for the best of the best, there are many premium rums available that can cost upwards of $100 per bottle. These rums are often aged for many years and are considered to be some of the finest spirits in the world. Some of the most expensive rums include:
- Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Jamaica Rum
- Ron Zacapa XO Solera Gran Reserva Especial Rum
- Pyrat Cask 23 Rum
While these rums are certainly not cheap, they are a great option for those who are looking for a truly special and unique drinking experience.
Overproof Rum
Ever heard of overproof rum? As the name suggests, this type of spirit is even boozier than its standard rum cousin. It has more than 50% alcohol content per unit. So beware and drink responsibly!
Rum Cocktails
Piña Coladas
Piña Coladas are a popular rum-based cocktail that originated in Puerto Rico. They are made with rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice. The drink is typically served blended with ice and garnished with a pineapple wedge and a cherry. The cost of a Piña Colada can vary depending on the quality of the rum used, but typically ranges from $8 to $15.
British Royal Navy
The British Royal Navy is a classic rum cocktail that dates back to the 18th century. It is made with rum, lime juice, and a sweetener such as honey or sugar. The drink is typically served over ice and garnished with a lime wedge. The cost of a British Royal Navy cocktail can vary depending on the quality of the rum used, but typically ranges from $10 to $20.
Orange Peel
The Orange Peel is a refreshing rum-based cocktail that is perfect for summer. It is made with rum, orange liqueur, orange juice, and lime juice. The drink is typically served over ice and garnished with an orange twist. The cost of an Orange Peel cocktail can vary depending on the quality of the rum used, but typically ranges from $8 to $15.
Rum cocktails are a great way to enjoy the tropical fruit flavors and perfect rum blends. Whether you are sipping on a Piña Colada or a British Royal Navy, the taste of rum is sure to please.
Where is Rum Made?
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage that is made from sugar cane byproducts such as molasses or sugarcane juice. It is produced in many countries around the world, including Puerto Rico and the United States.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is known for producing some of the best rums in the world. The island’s rum industry dates back to the 16th century when the Spanish first introduced sugarcane to the island. Today, Puerto Rico is home to several rum distilleries, including Bacardi, Don Q, and Captain Morgan. These distilleries produce a variety of rums, ranging from light to dark, and from sweet to dry.
United States
In the United States, rum is produced primarily in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The U.S. Virgin Islands are home to the Cruzan Rum Distillery, which produces a range of rums, including light, dark, and spiced varieties. Puerto Rico, on the other hand, is home to several large rum distilleries, including Bacardi, Don Q, and Captain Morgan.
Rum is also produced in other countries, including Cuba, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. Each country has its own unique style of rum, which is influenced by factors such as climate, soil, and the type of sugarcane used.
Overall, rum is a popular alcoholic beverage that is enjoyed by people all over the world. Whether you prefer a light, sweet rum or a dark, dry rum, there is a rum out there for everyone.
Factors Affecting The Price Of Rum
These are the factors that are the main determinants in rum pricing.
Ingredients
All rum is based on a byproduct of sugarcane, but not all rum ingredients have the same quality across different brands. If the sugarcane is produced for a specific rum distillery rather than en masse, the cost of the rum is higher.
The cost of rum also increases if the ingredients are hard to find in a given country.
Brands of Rum
Bacardi
Bacardi is one of the most popular rum brands in the world. It was founded in 1862 in Cuba and has since then expanded to become a global brand. Bacardi offers a wide range of rums, including Bacardi Superior and Bacardi Gold. Bacardi Superior is a white rum that is aged for at least one year, while Bacardi Gold is a darker rum that is aged for at least two years. Both of these rums are widely available and can be used in a variety of cocktails.
Captain Morgan Rum
Captain Morgan is another popular rum brand that was founded in Jamaica in 1944. It is known for its spiced rum, which is a blend of Caribbean rums and spices. Captain Morgan also offers other varieties of rum, including white rum, dark rum, and flavored rum. The brand is popular among both casual drinkers and bartenders, and its rums are often used in cocktails.
Havana Club
Havana Club is a Cuban rum brand that was founded in 1934. It is known for its smooth and complex flavor, which is achieved through a unique aging process. Havana Club offers a range of rums, including white rum, dark rum, and aged rum. Its rums are often used in classic cocktails such as the Mojito and the Daiquiri.
Overall, these three brands offer a wide range of rums that cater to different tastes and preferences. They are widely available and can be found in most liquor stores. The prices of these rums vary depending on the type and the region, but they are generally affordable and offer good value for money.
Rum brands are usually grouped into budget, standard, and premium categories.
Premium Rum Brands
Most premium rum brands make rum that is traditionally enjoyed neat, such as Bumbu. You can also enjoy the rum on the rocks.
Being a premium brand gives the company an edge over the others—it possibly has accolades from international spirits competitions, which it can tout in its marketing.
Premium rum brands are also able to use premium ingredients. For example, Bumbu takes pride in using hand-picked ingredients and high-quality, naturally filtered water. Lesser brands do not have this advantage.
Premium brands like Facundo and Zacapa make some of the most expensive rums in the world, which retail at $42-$80 for a 750ml bottle.
Standard Rum Brands
Standard rum brands are the middle ground between premium and budget brands. They use higher-quality ingredients, and their pricing is higher than budget brands.
RumChata and Mount Gay are pretty popular in this category. Mount Gay has over 300 years of experience making original rums in Barbados.
RumChata rum features a Caribbean rum base, cream, and spices. You can use it on its own, mix it with other spirits, or use it in creamy cocktails.
Budget Rum Brands
You can expect to find the products of budget rum brands in different flavors in many bars globally.
The two primary flavors are pineapple and vanilla. Bacardi has a range of ten fruit flavors for rum, including citrus and coconut rum. Captain Morgan has interesting flavors like apple and watermelon.
Even though budget brands sell their rum at great prices that most people gladly pay, it doesn’t mean that it is poor quality or has been made with inferior ingredients. The same pricing goes for premium brands; they may be premium, but they are reasonably priced.
Budget rums usually feature in rum-based cocktails, with Captain Morgan and Bacardi being the two most popular budget brands.
Rum Aging
The age of the rum influences the cost of the rum. Firstly, the rum has to be stored in a wooden oak or bourbon barrel, which is expensive for distilleries because they are usually in short supply.
Secondly, aging is a lot about time. Rum ages faster in the tropics but suffers evaporation, driving the cost up further.
Also, aged rum prices vary depending on the aging duration. Rum that has aged for a decade or more will cost much more than rum that has aged for only a few months or years.
Rum Evaporation
The aging process for rum in wooden barrels involves the unavoidable natural process of evaporation. For example, manufacturers lose up to 10% of rum aging in wooden barrels to evaporation in warm climates like the Caribbean.
The amount of rum lost to evaporation during aging is called the angels’ share, which influences the cost of the rum.
Types Of Rum
Rum is mainly classified into seven categories. Different categories or types command different prices on the market, depending on the production process and aging method.
Dark Rum
Dark rum is made from molasses or caramelized sugar and can be red, black, or brown because of the molasses and the time spent aging in charred oak barrels. Dark rum is aged longer than light rum, which gives it a darker color and a stronger flavor. It is also known as black rum or navy rum. Dark rum is often used in cocktails that require a stronger flavor, such as a Dark and Stormy or a Mai Tai.
The flavor of dark rum improves as it stays longer in the wooden barrels. The spiced taste increases.
Light Rum
Light rum is characteristically tasteless but features sugar in small amounts. The manufacturer filters the rum to remove the coloring from the aging barrels. Light rum is a popular choice for cocktails, due to its subtle flavor and versatility. It is also commonly used in cooking, particularly in desserts.
Light rum is also called white rum or silver rum. Bacardi produces excellent white rum in Puerto Rico, and its rum is one of the best in the world.
Gold Rum
Gold rum owes its unique color to the time it stays in aging barrels, usually bourbon barrels.
Gold rum is a type of rum that is aged for a shorter period than dark rum, which gives it a lighter color and a milder flavor. It is also known as amber rum or aged rum. Gold rum is a popular choice for cocktails, as it provides a balance between the subtle flavor of light rum and the stronger flavor of dark rum.
Aged Rum
Aged rum is a type of rum that is aged for a longer period than both light and gold rum, which gives it a more complex flavor. Aged rum is also known as premium rum or sipping rum, as it is often enjoyed neat or on the rocks. Aged rum can be categorized into different subtypes based on the length of aging, such as 5-year-old, 10-year-old, and 15-year-old.
Coconut Rum
When it comes to coconut rum, it is typically made with light or gold rum as a base, and then infused with coconut flavor. Coconut rum is a popular choice for tropical cocktails, such as a Pina Colada or a Coconut Mojito.
Premium Rum
Premium rums are expensive to produce. They command higher prices on the market. Flor de Caña and Facundo are well-known premium rums for their quality blend and premium taste.
Flavored Rum
Tropical flavors like vanilla, passion fruit, and pineapple are infused in rum to make it more appealing. The manufacturer adds some chemicals after the rum is distilled to stimulate the tropical fruit flavors.
Overproof Rum
Overproof rum is a favorite of many bartenders—they use it in cocktails and strong blended drinks.
Do you want rum with a higher alcohol-by-volume rating? Overproof rum is the best bet for you. It goes beyond the usual 40% ABV to 80% ABV with a proof range of 150-160.
Spiced Rum
For extra flavor, spiced rum is made with additional spices like cloves and cinnamon. It is basically spice-flavored gold rum and it has a dark color.
Comparing Rum Prices
The tables below compare the prices of different rum types from various manufacturers, brand categories, countries of origin, and alcohol by volume content.
Budget Category
| Brand | Country | Type | Alcohol by Volume (ABV) | Price Range |
| Admiral Nelson | United States | Spiced | 35% | $8 – $11 |
| Bacardi | Puerto Rico | White | 40% | $15 – $20 |
| Blue Chair Bay | Barbados | Spiced | 26.5% | $17 – $19 |
| Captain Morgan | Virgin Islands (US) | Spiced | 35% | $18 – $25 |
| Cruzan | Virgin Islands (US) | Spiced | 27.5% | $11 – $19 |
| Don Q | Puerto Rico | White | 75.5% | $13 – $22 |
| Foursquare | Barbados | Dark | 56% | $13 – $15 |
| Santa Teresa | Venezuela | Dark | 40% | $20 – $38 |
Standard Category
| Brand | Country | Type | Alcohol by Volume (ABV) | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayou | United States | Dark | 40% | $20 – $30 |
| Brinley Gold Shipwreck | Caribbean | Flavored | 36% | $19 – $24 |
| Brugal | Dominican Republic | White | 40% | $27 – $33 |
| Goslings | Bermuda | Dark | 75.5% | $18 – $21 |
| Havana Club | Cuba | White | 40% | $17 – $20 |
| Kraken | Trinidad and Tobago | Dark | 35% | $19 – $21 |
| Malibu | United States | Flavored | 21% | $15 – $17 |
| Mount Gay | Barbados | Dark | 40% | $21 – $39 |
| Myers | Jamaica | Dark | 40% | $18 – $23 |
| Privateer | United States | White | 8% | $26 – $39 |
| Pyrat | Anguilla | Dark | 40% | $25 – $30 |
| Richland | Georgia | Flavored | 43% | $23 – $49 |
| Rumchata | United States | Flavored | 13.75% | $20 – $24 |
| Sailor Jerry | United States | Spiced | 40% | $20 – $28 |
Premium Category
| Brand | Country | Type | Alcohol by Volume (ABV) | Price Range |
| Appleton | Jamaica | Spiced | 40% | $30 – $40 |
| Banks | Netherlands | White | 43% | $29 – $36 |
| Bumbu | Barbados | Spiced | 35% | $35 – $55 |
| Diplomatico | Venezuela | Dark | 40% | $30 – $32 |
| Facundo | Cuba | Flavored | 40% | $52 – $80 |
| Zacapa | Guatemala | Dark | 40% | $42 – $69 |
| Zaya | Trinidad and Tobago | Dark | 40% | $24 – $30 |
Now that you have a list of several rum brands and their price ranges for different types of rum, you can find liquor stores near you and buy your favorite rum for your home bar or upcoming party.
