As the legendary Captain Jack Sparrow once said, “Why is the rum gone?” It's a sentiment we've shared on more than one occasion. Sometimes a night calls for feeling like James Bond; sometimes a night calls for feeling like a pirate. For the former we sip martinis. For the latter, we down dark, devilishly delicious rum. Sparrow probably wasn't drinking any of these 5 international rum brands, but we'd like to think he'd approve.
Stolen Rum
Drive drink it like you stole it. Stolen Rum is an innovative, independent rum company founded in New Zealand a few years ago by Jamie Duff and Roger Holmes. Its young, passionate team is focused on producing world-class rums, and they've certainly got the “world” part down. Stolen now has offices in Auckland, Sydney, New York, Los Angeles and Miami. Try the Coffee & Cigarettes Spiced Rum for an exceptionally unique drinking experience.
Depaz Rhum
Hailing from the lush tropical isle of Martinique, Depaz is made exclusively from fresh blue cane produced and harvested at the Depaz Estate. Rum agricole - one of the only rums in the world to be governed by an Appellation d'Origine Controlle (the French official label of origin) - is the most expensive method of production and results in rum that's treasured by connoisseurs around the globe. All Depaz rum is produced in limited quantities and designated by the AOC.
Kraken
The Kraken Rum takes its name from a mythical sea monster which is said to have wreaked havoc on rum-running vessels throughout history. Spend a night with The Kraken and you may be feeling similarly wrecked (but ready for round two). Distilled in Trinidad and Tobago, the rum's rich black colour is reminiscent of the mysterious ink which the Kraken allegedly used to cover its prey. This Kraken, on the other hand is a little friendlier - it's gluten, wheat, nut and lactose free, as well as vegan.
Pyrat Rum XO
In addition to having one of the most fun websites we've seen in a while, Pyrat Rum also has - you guessed it - damn delicious rum. Pyrat XO Reserve is a blend of select Caribbean rums, aged up to 15 years in French Limousin and American sweet oak barrels. The handcrafted bottles are relics of those once favoured by pirates and other seafarers of the 1800s. Each bottle is decorated with the image of Hoti, patron saint of fortune-tellers and bartenders.
Appleton Estate
Of course, we can't talk rum without mentioning Jamaica. Appleton Estate has called Jamaica home since 1749, so they've had more than a little time to perfect the art of making rum. The brand's small batch copper pot distillation method has been handed down since the inception of rum production in Jamaica, and now is placed in the capable hands of Master Blenders who preside over every step of the process. The result is that all Appleton Jamaica Rums demonstrate the unique qualities of the Estate rather than those of a generic blend.