The question, “Which is the best rum in India?” is one of the toughest ones because a lot of brands with different attractive features are in the market, making it difficult to choose the best one. Indians and rum brands have had a glorified relationship that has been expanded upon for centuries. Sugarcane or its byproducts are commonly distilled to produce high–quality rum. These are usually aged in old American oak barrels to achieve the special dark color and taste of rum.
Indian rum is one of the earliest alcoholic beverages in the world. During the Mughal emperor Akbar‘s time, Portuguese merchants started rum distilleries in India, which are the earliest recorded rum brands. It is almost impossible to mention a single dark rum brand as the best rum in India, which is why we have selected the top 10 best rum brands for all of you. These best rum brands have high–quality rum, affordable prices, awesome taste, good for health, a high market presence, and splendid histories.
Indian rum brands have had a huge impact on the Indian rum market throughout the world, and this market has high competition due to the presence of exported rum brands in India. According to the Indian government, 319 million cases of rum were sold in India in 2022, making it the world‘s largest consumer of rum.
The estimated market value of dark rum brands in India is 12,000 crores. Indian rum brands have set a goal to reach 20,000 crores in business by 2025. Rum has become one of the hot favorites of Indians nowadays. That is why a huge number of local and international rum brands with different flavor profiles, prices, and strengths often come to the market.
For consumers, it is almost impossible to choose the best rum in India from the different types of rum in India, such as white rum, dark rum, spiced rum, flavored rum, and premium aged rum. The objective of this research article is to provide a critical overview of the best rum in India, with prices, histories, flavor profiles, alcohol content, variants, and how to drink them.
Best Rum in India in 2024
Here is the list of top 10 the best rum in India in year 2024. These brands dominate the Indian rum market.
Old Monk Rum
Position in the Best Rum Ranking in India:1
Market share of Old Monk Rum:22.8%
Price of Old Monk Rum:500INR/750ml
Alcohol content of Old Monk Rum:42.8%
The Best variant of old monk rum: Old Monk Supreme XXX Rum
Type: Indian Dark Rum
Specialty: sweetness
The most popular alcohol brand in India with the highest market share of 22.8% is Old Monk. It is loved by every rum lover in the world due to its quality sweet taste. It is India‘s No. 1 rum that meets all the criteria of being the best rum in India. It was founded by Mohan Meakin in Ghaziabad, India in 1954. This popular rum brand is distilled from local sugar cane juice or molasses. It is the best dark rum with a sweet taste and a smooth finish.
Variants: Old Monk Gold Reserve, Old Monk Supreme, and Old Monk XXX Rum.
Contessa rum
Position in the Best Rum Ranking in India:2
Market share of Contessa rum: 14.3%
Price of Contessa rum: 770INR/750ml
Alcohol content of Contessa rum:42.8%
The Best variant of Contessa rum: Contessa Deluxe Rum
Type: Dark Rum
Specialty: premium rum with complex flavor
Mr. Fernando Rodriguez founded the most popular dark rum in 2018. It has never seen such a kind of rum that has taken the world market by storm in just three years. It is 100% pure rum without any additives, and its true flavor can be experienced by taking a neat shot of it. It is distilled from high-quality molasses derived from sugarcane, which is specially cultivated in the distillery’s fields. This best rum in India is a smooth and mellow drink with hints of vanilla, caramel, oak, and a mild hint of black pepper.
Variants: Contessa Rum Añejo, Contessa Rum Blanco, Contessa Gold Rum, Contessa Premium White Rum, Contessa Coconut Rum, Contessa Spiced Rum, and Contessa Aged Rum.
Jolly Roger
Position in the Best Rum Ranking in India:3
Market share of Jolly Roger rum: 4%
Price of Jolly Roger rum: 960INR/750ml
Alcohol content of Jolly Roger rum:42.8%
The Best variant of Jolly Roger rum: Roger Spiced Rum, Jolly Roger Black Spiced Rum, and Jolly Roger Premium Dark Rum
Type: Both white & dark
Specialty: spiced rum
Jolly Roger is an unbelievable rum brand in the world, especially Americans are crazy about this rum. After COVID–19, this brand gained fame in just a single year. This drink has always been a favorite of mine as it surprises me on the first sip. It is the best rum for all times of the year. In 2024, this rum is the top–selling rum brand in India, with a market share of 4%, even without advertisement or awareness, as it is a new brand started in 2004. Jolly rum is the best-spiced rum in India that is available for under 1000INR in India.
Variants: Roger Spiced Rum, Jolly Roger Black Spiced Rum, and Jolly Roger Premium Dark Rum
Captain Morgan Rum
Position in the Best Rum Ranking in India:4
Market share of Captain Morgan Rum: 7.4%
Price of Captain Morgan Rum: 700 INR/750ml
Alcohol content Captain Morgan Rum:35%
The Best variant of Captain Morgan Rum: Captain Morgan Spiced Rum (depends on taste)
Type: black and white
Specialty: less sweet and spicy
The perfect taste for the masters (rum drinkers) not for everyone, as most of you have a deep awareness of this historic brand. The most unique thing about this brand that makes it the best Indian rum is its less sweet taste and spicy nature compared to Old Monk rum. It is a popular dark rum brand that can be enjoyed neat or with Coke in any season. You will definitely enjoy every little sip of this honorable drink. It was founded by Seagram‘s in 1944.
Variants: Captain Morgan White Rum, Captain Morgan Black Rum, Captain Morgan Dark Rum, Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, and Captain Morgan 100 Proof Spiced Rum.
McDowell’s No.1 Rum
Position in the Best Rum Ranking in India:5
Market share of McDowell’s No.1 Rum: 11%
Price of McDowell’s No.1 Rum: 450INR/750ml
Alcohol content of McDowell’s No.1 Rum: 42.8%
The Best variant of McDowell’s No.1 Rum: McDowell’s No.1 Celebration Rum
Type: Dark Rum
Specialty: less sweet with rich taste
McDowell‘s No.1 Rum is a popular dark, strong, and hard rum brand in India. Vittal Malya inaugurated the brand in 1963 in Bangalore. This brand has plenty to offer for those who appreciate strong dark rum, but it is not for everyone. Its taste is rich and smooth. I consider it to be the best rum in India for 2024 due to its affordable price, rich flavor, variety, and taste. McDowell‘s is less sweet than other brands, with a strong smell of vanilla and citrus fruit. When you have it for the first time, the only words that come to mind are “cough syrup“.
Variants: McDowell’s No.1 Caribbean Rum, McDowell’s No.1 Celebration Rum, and McDowell’s No.1 Platinum Reserve Rum
Hercules rum
Position in the Best Rum Ranking in India:6
Market share of Hercules rum: 7.7
Price of Hercules rum: 450INR/750ml
Alcohol content of Hercules rum:42.8%
The Best variant of Hercules rum: Hercules XXX Rum
Type: Dark Rum & white
Specialty: Smooth taste with warm feeling
Goa–based is one of the finest rum brands in the world, with a huge fan following. Founded by D. Souza in 1853, it has strong market shares in Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka. It is a light–bodied, smooth rum that is the first preference of most rum lovers in any function. Drinking this rum with hot water at home gives you a fantastic experience. Defense forces have recorded almost 90% consumption of this rum in their daily lives.
Variants: 1. Hercules XX Rum 2. Hercules Deluxe Rum 3. Hercules Gold Rum 4. Hercules White Rum 5. Hercules Special Reserve Rum 6. Hercules Old Reserve Rum 7. Hercules Platinum Reserve Rum 8. Hercules Grand Reserve Rum 9. Hercules XO Premium Rum 10. Hercules Special Dark Rum
Bacardi Rum
Position in the Best Rum Ranking in India:7
Market share of Bacardi Rum: 9%
Price of Bacardi Rum: 1200INR/750ml
Alcohol content of Bacardi Rum:42.8%
The Best variant of Bacardi Rum: Bacardi White Rum
Type: White Rum
Specialty: Creamy and strong
Bacardi rum is made from a blend of molasses and sugar cane juice. It is aged in oak barrels for up to two years and then filtered through charcoal to give it a smooth, mellow flavor. The rum is then blended with natural flavors such as vanilla, orange, and lime to create a unique flavor profile. Bacardi is a light–bodied best rum in India that is perfect for mixing in cocktails or sipping neat. It is also a popular choice for making mojitos and other tropical drinks.
Variants: Bacardi White, Bacardi Gold, Bacardi Black, Bacardi Oakheart, Bacardi Reserva Ocho, Bacardi Carta Blanca, Bacardi Reserva Limitada, Bacardi Reserva Superior, Bacardi Superior, Bacardi Maestro Doble, Bacardi 8 Años, Bacardi 8 Años Reserva Limitada, Bacardi Gran Reserva, Bacardi Gran Reserva Diez, Bacardi 1873.
Malibu Rum
Position in the Best Rum Ranking in India:8
Market share of Malibu Rum: 3%
Price of Malibu Rum: INR/750ml
Alcohol content of Malibu Rum:21%
The Best variant of Malibu Rum: Malibu original rum
Type: White Rum
Specialty: Sweetness with strong flavor
Most of the time, people want to enjoy a drink with a sugary taste than usual, which should not be harsh. In this case, Malibu rum is one of the finest low-alcohol rums that can be enjoyed in any season at a reasonable price. A person will feel like he is on the Caribbean Islands when he uses it. Tom Jago and Peter Fleck founded this sweatiest rum brand in 1982 in Barbados. It is the best rum in India for those who love sweetness.
Variants: original, pineapple, mango, and passion fruit.
Havana Club
Position in the Best Rum Ranking in India:9
Market share of Havana Club rum: 4%
Price of Havana Club Rum: 990INR/750ml
Alcohol content of Havana Club rum:40%
The Best variant of Havana Club Rum: Havana Club Rum
Type: Dark Rum
Specialty: Rich flavored versatile rum
Jose Arechabala founded this brand in 1934 in Cuba. Havana Club will have a very bright future as it moves into the market after COVID-19. Fermenatated molasses and a special, unknown yeast have been used by the company to achieve a rich flavor profile. This rum with some drinks would lead to a fantastic experience.
Variants: Havana Club 3 Años, Havana Club Añejo Especial, Havana Club 7 Años, and Havana Club Tributo.
Old Port Rum
Position in the Best Rum Ranking in India:10
Market share of Old Port Rum: 2.5%
Price of Old Port Rum: 700INR/750ml
Alcohol content of Old Port Rum: 40%
The Best variant of Old Port Rum: Old Port Deluxe Rum
Type: Dark Rum
Specialty: High profile
It is one of the earliest dark rum brands produced by the first Indian distillery, Amrut Distilleries. This is on the list of the best rums in India in 2024, as it has all the characteristics that a high-quality dark rum contains. It has won several best-performance awards and the trust of its fans. Without any kind of advertisement, it captures the world market with a share of 2.5%. A 60-ml rum shot with an equal amount of Cola and a lemon slice will make your day.
Variants: Old Port Deluxe
