Appleton Estate 8 Year Rum blends together 20 different rums to create a dark sugar concoction which is intensely enjoyable. The sugary nature of this Appleton offering is tempered by warm honey and despite the seeming sweetness it is sharp on the tongue with a satisfying hit of citrus peel and caramelised apple. Caramel and hazelnut flavours come through on tasting and this one rum that should be enjoyed neat.

 A truly exceptional Guatamalan rum, Zacapa Centenario XO is a premium offering which doesn’t disappoint when it comes to flavour. Beautifully delicate, the flavour of Zacapa Centenario XO is matured in a mix of bourbon and sherry casks which together deliver a flavour which is exceptionally sweet and sugary, without being sickly. The softness on the palate of this mature rum is surprising and very welcome, with only a hint of smoke coming through in the finish.

One of the top navy rums around, Lamb’s is a well-known brand with a recognisable flavour. 18 rums are brought together and are distilled in pot stills to deliver maximum flavour. Maturation takes place in oak casks and this delivers a treacle-deep flavour, pungent in molasses, toffee and nutmeg. The flavour is fruity with Christmas cake notes and espresso coffee intensity. Mild clove spice ensures a traditional rum complexity to Lamb’s, making it one of the most popular dark rums around.

Blended to perfection, Captain Morgan’s is a golden rum which has been enhanced by sweet and mellow spices. A drink that just cries out to be mixed with cola, Captain Morgan’s uses only premium Caribbean rums to create its distinct flavour. The natural hues of the rum blend with specially selected spices to create the amber hues the drink is known for and a hint of oak smokiness can be tasted due to the rum’s maturation process.

Bacardi is best known for their world famous white rum but here Bacardi 8 Year Old is an intense, red-gold offering which is exceptional when added to spiced cocktails or enjoyed neat. The aroma is awash with buttery caramel, orange marmalade and banana leaf notes which lead to a medium bodied flavour which allows sweet Demerara sugar, apricots and gingerbread to take centre stage. Butterscotch and vanilla notes linger throughout with just a touch of nutmeg spice finishing it off.

Another classic from the famous Appleton Rum Distillery, a blend of Jamaican rums come together to deliver the flavour of Appleton 21 Year. Matured for that full 21 year period, this Appleton rum is a rarity and is only released once a year, making it highly sought after. Burnt fruit cake and leathery notes are the most prominent in this rum closely followed by bitter spiced oak, that classic Demerara sugar flavour and vanilla and ginger spices. The tannic oak flavour remains long after drinking and is indicative of the premium quality of this rum and its maturity.

Another exceptional rum from one of Mauritius’ finest producers Green Island, Green Island Light is a highly drinkable and wonderfully subtle offering. Grassy and herbaceous on the nose, hints of pepper and sweet honey also come through tempting you to taste it. The flavour is surprisingly creamy for a white rum and has distinct notes of exotic coconut, bitter cocoa and golden syrup, as well as sharp lime and black pepper. It’s this final note than lingers once the drink is done.

With a couple of awards under its belt El Dorado 3 Year rum is a fine example of a mixing rum which a crispness that lends itself to sharp citrus cocktails and even exotic punches. Coconut is ever-present from first opening and hints of sugary sweet icing sugar are also apparent in the nose. On drinking El Dorado is surprisingly dry with notes of intense brown sugar, a nutty edge and of course that coconut coming through strongly. The end note blends vanilla with the coconut for a fresh finish.

Setting the standard in white rum, Bacardi is known worldwide. In 1862 it became the world’s first premium aged white rum and using charcoal filtration was key to its original development. Bacardi is a necessity for many world famous cocktails and without we’d not have the classic Daiquiri, the Mojito or the Cuba Libre. Smooth and gentle on the palate it’s wonderful however you choose to mix it and offers a taste of Cuba which can’t be compared.

One of Brazil’s favourite Cachaça, Velho Barreiro is delicate on the nose but powerful earthy tones come through when you sip. Ripe marrow and fresh orchard fruit aromas are all present in the nose but when enjoyed neatthe flavour is crisp and clean, with a rounded flavour profile which once again allows the sweet vegetal notes to shine. This also applies when you add it to your favourite exotic cocktail, unsurprisingly a perfect partner for the other essential ingredients in a Caipirinha.

ABA Pisco is a prized Chilean creation which is produced using a double distillation method in copper pot stills. Perfect for Chile’s favourite Pisco Sour cocktail, ABA utilises the fresh, juicy grapes of the Muscat variety, grown in the Chilean Andes. Crystal clear and exceptionally flavoured, ABA Pisco offers the taste of jasmine flowers, sweet honey and tangerine creating a flavour which is soft on the palate and syrupy sweet.

Pernod was created to sate the appetite of the French for aniseed. Without the inclusion of notorious wormwood Pernod could be enjoyed once absinthe was banned and its strong and distinct flavour ensures it’s still enjoyed today. Turning cloudy when water is added to improve the taste, Pernod is rich with aniseed, rooty liquorice and fennel working in perfectly harmony. The herbal complexity of each drink makes it even more enjoyable and helps temper the intensity of the liquorice.

Nutty Sri Lankan arrack is a distinctively flavoured drink which utilises the flavours of some of the country’s most naturally occurring plants. The sap of the coconut flower stem forms the key ingredient of the drink and is combined with a range of hand-picked botanicals and distilled in a traditional column still. The result is a flavour which is reminiscent of diluted whisky with recognisable nutty and malted notes and the added fruitiness of dried strawberry. A truly unique flavour.

Sweet Agwa, a liqueur which marries together an array of tempting herbal flavours, offering a distinct and enjoyable flavour. Agwa’s key ingredients are Bolivian coca leaves, Brazilian guarana and Chinese ginseng which work together to offer a herbal, minty scent followed by a thick, syrupy mouthfeel awash with spicy notes, sweet menthol and the depth of the herbaceous ingredients. It ends on a long herbal note which encapsulates the overall flavour of this traditional liqueur.