I started down this rabbit hole looking for a good list of spiced rum brands.

You know how this goes.

One minute you’re wondering which bottle of spiced rum is actually worth buying, and the next minute you’re reading about sailors, rum runners, barrels soaked in Atlantic seawater and a Key West basement once used to hide contraband.

At least that’s how research works around here.

And really, I shouldn’t have been surprised.

Rum and Key West have always belonged together.

So we’re going to do both.

First, let’s explore some of the best spiced rum brands, what makes spiced rum different from white rum, light rum, dark rum and aged rums, and what all those vanilla, cinnamon and caramel flavors actually mean.

Then we’re taking our rum research to Key West.

Because that’s where the story gets really good.

What Is Spiced Rum?

Rum begins with sugarcane, generally molasses or sugarcane juice, but the finished product can take on a lot of different flavors depending on how it is distilled, aged and blended.

That’s why walking through the rum aisle can get confusing very quickly.

You’ll see:

• White rum
• Light rum
• Gold rum
• Dark rum
• Aged rums
• Flavored rum
• Spiced rum
• Rum liqueur
• Overproof rum

And they definitely aren’t interchangeable.

White rum and light rum tend to have a cleaner, lighter flavor and are frequently used in classic cocktails like the Daiquiri and Mojito.

Dark rum typically has a deeper color and richer flavors, which may include molasses, oak, caramel and baking spices.

Aged rums spend time in barrels, often American oak barrels, where they can naturally develop flavors like vanilla, toasted wood, caramel and spice.

Then we have spiced rum.

Spiced rum begins with a rum base and adds an infusion of spices, flavorings or botanicals.

Depending on the producer, that might mean a blend of spices including vanilla, warm cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger, allspice or orange peel.

Some distillers use natural spices and fruits. Others rely on a proprietary spice blend that they keep secret.

That’s part of what makes the category so much fun for rum enthusiasts.

There isn’t one single spiced-rum flavor.

Where Did Spiced Rum Come From?

People have been adding spices and other ingredients to rum for centuries.

Rum itself became closely associated with the Caribbean during the 17th century, when sugar production expanded throughout the region.

Early rum wasn’t always the smooth, polished spirit we know today.

Sailors and drinkers sometimes added fruits, spices and other ingredients to change the flavor or cover some of the harsher characteristics.

Not exactly today’s artisanal cocktail program.

But it worked.

Over time, those combinations evolved into the modern category of spiced rum.

Today, producers from the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the United States and beyond all have their own unique take on it.

And that brings us to the important part.

Which ones should you try?

List of Spiced Rum Brands Worth Trying

1. Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum

We have to start with Captain Morgan.

For a lot of people, Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum was their introduction to the category.

It is made using Caribbean rum and features familiar flavors of vanilla, brown sugar and warm baking spice.

You’ll usually notice a hint of vanilla immediately, followed by caramel and spice.

This isn’t necessarily the bottle serious rum enthusiasts are going to debate over for hours.

But it is approachable, easy to find and easy to mix.

And sometimes that’s exactly what you want.

Try it with: Cola and fresh lime.

2. Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum

Sailor Jerry Spiced Navy Rum is bolder than Captain Morgan and tends to lean harder into vanilla and warm cinnamon.

You’ll also get notes of caramel and some darker spice.

It works particularly well with ginger beer, where the spice in the rum plays nicely with the bite of the ginger.

Add fresh lime and you’re done.

No tiny umbrella required.

Although I’m certainly not opposed to one.

3. Kraken Black Spiced Rum

The Kraken might win for most recognizable bottle.

It looks like something that should have been recovered from a shipwreck.

The rum itself is a premium black spiced rum with a dark color and big flavors.

Expect molasses, vanilla, toffee and spice.

You’ll sometimes hear Kraken described as the king of black spiced rums, and whether or not you want to hand it the crown, it definitely has one of the boldest profiles in the category.

This isn’t a shy rum.

Try it with: Ginger beer, cola or tropical fruit juice.

4. Siesta Key Spiced Rum

Now we’re bringing the list a little closer to home.

Siesta Key Spiced Rum is made in Sarasota, Florida.

What makes this bottle particularly interesting is the use of real spices and honey.

Rather than simply going after a big artificial vanilla flavor, the rum develops a more layered profile with cinnamon, vanilla, allspice and other natural spices.

This is one I would recommend to someone ready to venture beyond the biggest mass-market brands.

And because it comes from Florida, it gets a little extra attention from me.

5. Brinley Gold Shipwreck Spiced Rum

First of all, Brinley Gold Shipwreck Spiced Rum has a fantastic name.

Made in St. Kitts, this smooth Caribbean rum has a sweeter profile with vanilla, orange and island spices.

There’s a little tropical fruit character in there too.

This is the bottle I’d grab for a rum punch or another drink involving fruit juice.

Pineapple?

Absolutely.

6. Chairman’s Reserve Spiced Original

Chairman’s Reserve comes from St. Lucia and gives us a much fuller profile of spices.

Its spice blend includes cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, vanilla and allspice, along with orange and lemon peel.

That citrus makes a difference.

Instead of tasting simply sweet and vanilla-forward, you get more complexity and a little bright citrus orange character.

This is a good example of why spiced rum deserves more credit than it sometimes gets.

7. Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced Rum

Don Q is produced in Puerto Rico, a place with a very long rum-making tradition.

Its Oak Barrel Spiced Rum bridges the gap between spiced rum and aged rums.

The barrel character gives it oak, caramel and vanilla flavors along with spice.

If your usual drink is bourbon or whiskey, you may particularly enjoy this one because the wood actually plays a noticeable role.

There’s sweetness, but there’s also structure.

8. Bumbu Original

Bumbu has become popular with people who prefer a softer, sweeter style of rum.

It offers smooth vanilla, banana, caramel and cinnamon flavors.

This is one I’d pour over ice before automatically reaching for a mixer.

If you like sweeter rums and a strong hint of vanilla, Bumbu may be right in your wheelhouse.

9. Bacardi Spiced Rum

When we’re talking rum, Bacardi has to make an appearance.

The company has roots in Cuba and now produces its rum primarily in Puerto Rico.

Bacardi Spiced combines aged rum character with vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg.

It’s easy to use in classic mixed drinks and particularly good with cola.

And because Bacardi rums are widely available, this is another easy entry point into the spiced-rum category.

10. Old J Spiced Rum

Old J is a little different from many vanilla-heavy spiced rums.

You’ll still find vanilla and warm spices, but there’s also lime.

That citrus note brightens everything up and makes it particularly good in tropical drinks.

If you like spiced rum but don’t want every sip to taste like liquid dessert, this is worth trying.

11. Dead Man’s Fingers Spiced Rum

Here’s another bottle you aren’t likely to overlook.

Dead Man’s Fingers originated in Cornwall, England, and has built a bold collection of flavored and spiced rums.

The original spiced expression includes vanilla, caramel and spice with some fruit character underneath.

It’s a slightly more modern take on the category and another good bottle for people looking for something outside the usual Captain Morgan and Kraken lineup.

12. Mutiny Original Spiced Rum

Mutiny Original Spiced Rum is another bottle that pops up when you start exploring beyond the familiar brands.

Mutiny leans into the adventurous, nautical personality of spiced rum with a bold spice profile and richer caramel notes.

You’ll also find Mutiny Dark Spiced Rum, a full-bodied expression for anyone looking for something deeper and darker.

This is exactly why I love making lists like this.

There is always another bottle I haven’t tried yet.

13. Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum

Cruzan comes from St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Its spiced rum uses a combination of vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and other spices.

The result is approachable and easy to mix with cola, ginger ale or pineapple juice.

This is a good choice if you want something familiar without choosing one of the two or three biggest names on the shelf.

14. Kōloa Kauaʻi Spice Rum

Not all great rum comes from the Caribbean.

Kōloa produces rum on Kauaʻi in Hawaii.

Its spiced expression gives you caramelized sugar, baking spice and vanilla flavors with a rich, slightly tropical character.

It’s another reminder that the modern world of rum is much bigger than one region.

15. Rumbullion!

Yes, the exclamation point is actually part of the name.

Which seems appropriate for spiced rum.

Rumbullion! takes inspiration from traditional Caribbean rum and adds vanilla, orange peel, cinnamon and other spices.

You’ll find rich toffee and caramel notes along with citrus and warming spice.

This is one of the more premium options on our list and one I’d be more inclined to sip neat or over ice.

What Is the Best Spiced Rum?

There really isn’t one best spiced rum for everyone.

It depends on what you enjoy.

If you like sweeter rum with smooth vanilla and caramel, try Bumbu.

If you want bold flavors, Kraken or Sailor Jerry might be your choice.

If you’re curious about natural spices and a smaller-batch approach, Siesta Key is particularly interesting.

If you’re looking for barrel character, Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced Rum is worth trying.

And if you’re a rum enthusiast who wants something a little different, explore Chairman’s Reserve, Old J, Dead Man’s Fingers, Mutiny or Rumbullion!

The best thing you can do is taste several.

Which brings us very conveniently to Key West.

Because You Knew We Were Going to End Up in Key West

I can’t talk about rum for this long without bringing this story home.

Rum isn’t simply a cocktail ingredient in Key West.

It is part of the island’s history.

Rum runners traveled between Key West, Cuba and the Caribbean. During Prohibition, alcohol was smuggled through these waters and hidden around town.

Today you can experience that history much more legally.

And much more comfortably.

Key West Legal Rum: The Rum Story Gets Local

One of the most interesting places to begin is Key West Legal Rum on Simonton Street.

Owner and chef Paul Menta takes a culinary approach to distilling, using all-natural ingredients and producing small batches of rum right in Key West.

And then there’s the barrel story.

This is the part I love.

Key West Legal Rum takes new American oak barrels to the Atlantic and fills them with seawater.

The barrels swell overnight. After they dry, a salt residue remains in the wood.

The distillery says this salt-curing process helps open the pores of the wood so different flavors can interact with the rum during aging.

It is wonderfully strange.

And wonderfully Key West.

You can visit the distillery for free tours and samples and see the process for yourself.

Papa’s Pilar: Rum Meets Hemingway

Then we have Papa’s Pilar.

Because apparently we cannot have a Key West story without Ernest Hemingway eventually walking through the door.

Papa’s Pilar is named for Hemingway’s beloved fishing boat, Pilar.

Hemingway used the boat throughout his adventures around Key West, Cuba and the Caribbean, and Papa’s Pilar uses that spirit of adventure as the inspiration behind the brand.

Papa’s Pilar isn’t technically a spiced rum, and that’s actually worth pointing out.

A well-made aged rum can naturally develop notes of vanilla, caramel, toasted oak and spice from its barrels without becoming a spiced rum.

That’s an important distinction when you’re learning about the different types of rum.

And in Key West, you can taste that difference for yourself.

The Rum Bar at the Speakeasy Inn

Now we get to one of my favorite rum stories.

The Speakeasy Inn on Duval Street was once the home of Raul Vasquez, who worked as a cigar selector at the Gato Cigar Factory.

But his other passion?

Rum running between Key West and Cuba.

Today, the building is home to the Rum Bar.

So we’re drinking rum in the former home of an actual Key West rum runner.

Tell me that’s not fun.

The Rum Bar sits right on Duval Street and is open daily, making it an easy stop when you’re wandering around Old Town.

This is exactly the kind of place where I’d ask the bartender to put together a tasting.

Tell them whether you like dark rum, aged rum, vanilla, spice or something less sweet and see where they take you.

More Places to Explore Rum in Key West

Once you start paying attention, you’ll realize rum is everywhere.

You’ll find aged rum, white rum, dark rum, overproof rum and spiced rum behind bars all over the island.

Tiki bars are particularly good places to explore how different rums behave in classic cocktails.

A light rum may disappear beautifully into a Daiquiri.

Dark rum can add deep fruitiness and caramel notes to a tropical drink.

Spiced rum brings cinnamon, vanilla and spice.

And aged rum may be perfectly good all by itself.

That’s when ordering a cocktail becomes a little more interesting than simply asking for “rum.”

Want to learn more about rum and places to find rum in Key West? Click here for our full Rum 101 Guide.

The Easiest Way to Drink Spiced Rum

If you’re taking a bottle home, don’t overthink it.

Spiced rum is incredibly easy to mix.

Try it with:

• Ginger beer
• Cola
• Ginger ale
• Pineapple juice
• Orange juice
• Coconut water
• Apple cider
• Fresh lime

My easy choice?

Spiced rum + ginger beer + fresh lime.

You get the sweetness of the rum, the bite of the ginger and enough acidity from the lime to keep the whole thing balanced.

You can also use spiced rum in rum punch, tropical drinks and twists on classic cocktails.

And, of course, you can always pour a good one over ice.

So What’s Your Favorite Rum?

This started as a simple list of spiced rum brands.

And somehow we ended up with Captain Morgan, Kraken, Caribbean spices, Hemingway, barrels filled with Atlantic seawater and a Key West rum runner.

That sounds about right for this site.

Now I want to know what you’re drinking.

Do you have a favourite rum or spiced rum?

Are you loyal to Captain Morgan?

Do you reach for Kraken?

Have you discovered a small-batch bottle the rest of us need to know about?

And if you’re in Key West, where is your favorite place to sit down and enjoy one?

Because I’m fairly certain this is one research project we’re going to have to continue.