10 Best Rums For A Rum Punch

Rum punch has been around for a long time. This tasty and refreshing cocktail first came about in the 1600s, says NPR, thanks to the British sailors who started to make punch once their beer began to spoil after they hit the tropics. Well Plated adds the sailors used all local ingredients to make the punch, which consists of the key ingredients we use today: rum, fruit juices, and various spices.

We're all about a good rum punch and thankful for the sailors that brought it to us. Whether it's a festive Christmas punch or a tropical scorpion bowl, we're suckers for the fruity sweetness these delicious concoctions bring. And while the fruit juices are key ingredients to making a stand-out punch, there's also the rum to consider. According to Sugar & Cloth, spiced rum or dark rum are the best options to try when making a punch, but white or light rums could be used, too. We did the dirty work for you and found the best rums for your rum punch.

We all have those memories of enjoying Bacardí in a mixed drink. And there's a good reason why — Bacardí has been around for a long time. The Bacardí Superior is no different either, as it's an old-timer when it comes to rums. According to Bacardí, it came about in 1862 and has been holding its own since. It's light but also creamy and has floral and fruity notes with flavors of almonds and vanilla that make for a great rum to use in cocktails.

Chilled Magazine says Bacardí Superior rum is ideal when paired with chilled ginger ale, orange juice, and cranberry juice for a simple and delicious rum punch that can be sipped during any time of the year. But a major perk to making your own punch is that it can be customized with so many different ingredients. So skip the cranberry if you're not feeling it and add in some lime juice instead. Bacardí has been mixed with far worse over the years, after all. 

A bottle with a name from the 1910 total solar eclipse over Barbados has to be kind of special, don't you think? The flavors in Mount Gay Eclipse are as special as its name with its aromas of banana and caramel and taste of oak, says Mount Gay. The scents and flavors all take shape during its creation process, which includes distilling in pot stills and then aging in charred ex-bourbon barrels.

Reserve Bar says the combination of oak mixed with sugar and lime really makes for a unique tasting profile you'll want to try. Wine Enthusiast states grated nutmeg sprinkled over the top of a punch made with Mount Gay Eclipse is a great finishing touch along with a cherry for the garnish. We say, do you. Whatever you decide to mix your Mount Gay Eclipse rum with to master the punch of your dreams will surely make for a satisfying and flavorful sip.

We like our champagne dry, but our rum? Yup, we like our rum dry, too. Flor de Caña Extra Dry 4-Year-Old is dry but light-bodied, according to Flor de Caña, and ideal for a wide range of mixed drinks. The notes of almond, white chocolate, and orange make it one of the best rums for a rum punch. What's interesting here (besides it being dry) is how Flor de Caña ages its rums: at the base of the San Cristóbal Volcano in Nicaragua. Did we mention it is the most active volcano in the area? The combination of the soil being fertilized by volcano ashes and the high temperatures in this climate helps produce a flavorful and smooth rum. Notes picked up on the palate include chocolate and tobacco.

Thefatrumpirate says, while this dry rum can be sipped on its own, it is best when mixed. And with hints of apple and banana, we think it's best mixed in a punch (rum punch, to be specific).

Malibu says its original rum is "sunshine in a bottle," and we can't help but agree. That refreshing coconut flavor is hard not to make you want to sit outside on a warm summer day and bask in the sun. But if you look closely at the bottle, you'll notice this is not your typical rum. It's actually a combination of Caribbean rum with coconut-flavored liqueur. So, maybe it should be called a rum liqueur? Regardless of what you want to call this tasty beverage, it doesn't really matter. Rum and coconut go hand-in-hand when it comes to making a rum punch, and adding in a little liqueur gives you one heck of a power punch.

The nice thing about Malibu Original is that it makes mastering a punch even easier. All you need is some fruit juice, such as pineapple juice or orange juice, says Cocktails With Class, and you won't even be able to taste the alcohol. That can be a good and bad thing, depending on the day. But when summer is here, and you're floating around your unicorn raft, who cares?

If you're looking to master a true Jamaican rum punch, you have to go straight to the source. Wray Nephew Limited is that source. This company is the oldest in Jamaica, according to Campari Group, as it's been around since 1825 and is known to be a big local player in the spirits industry. Its White Overproof Rum definitely helps maintain that status. According to JamaicanFoodsandRecipes.com, the Wray Nephew White Overproof Rum is the absolute best when you're looking to make a Jamaican rum punch combined with lime, strawberry syrup, and pineapple juice. Just beware, this rum can be on the stronger side. 

Don't let that last bit scare you off, though. This rum packs some nice flavor that isn't all alcohol burn. Liquor.com says this rum is distilled in a pot and column, and it's not aged, which gives it a banana and brown sugar scent with a taste that starts as grassy but morphs into something along the lines of molasses and vanilla. Expect a long-lasting finish on this one, too.

We can't deny that Brugal knows a lot when it comes to making quality rum. After all, the company has been at it since 1888, states Brugal. The company brought us the Brugal Añejo in 1952, and we're mighty happy that it did. It's a solid amber-colored rum with a rich buttery flavor that we can't get enough of. 

According to Food & Wine, using an aged Dominican rum like Brugal Añejo is key when you want to give your punch some real depth and make it a little more sophisticated. No wonder we consider this refined bottle one of the best rums for a rum punch. Scene Boston says Brugal Añejo is aged for 2 to 5 years which helps give off a woody aroma (but there are also some delicious hints of chocolate in there, too). The rich flavors of chocolate paired with the tang of tropical fruits sounds like a winning combination to us.  

If you've ever had a rum and coke, there's a good chance you might have been sipping on Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum with your Coca-Cola. This rum is a staple on most bar carts and one you'll likely find at the local watering hole. It was dubbed as the second most popular spirit in the country in 2014, says The Drinks Basket, and not just because it was named after a real pirate.

Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum's popularity also comes from it being pretty darn tasty. It's a blend of various rums from the Caribbean, Captain Morgan notes, and offers hints of caramel and vanilla. We believe that makes for the perfect flavor combination for one delicious punch. Host the Toast agrees, saying the spices found in this rum complement any flavors, ranging from fruity to nutty, perfectly. Aye mate, this is one rum that knows what it's doing.

Unlike most of the other rums on our list that come from the Dominican Republic or Jamaica, Cardinal Spirits Tiki Rum comes from an unexpected place called Indiana, says Thrillist. That's right, the state of Indiana right here in the U.S. The company has a special way of making this rum unique, and it's definitely worth a try. We aren't including it as one of our best rums for a rum punch for no reason.

It's distilled in small batches from both cane juice and molasses, states Cardinal Spirits, but it's the yeast that makes this bottle so special. Instead of sticking with dry yeast, the company opts for a living yeast that helps with the fermentation process and also adds lots of flavors. Okay Indiana, we see you. And with its name, you may think it was designed specifically for tiki-style cocktails. You'd be right. The company created Cardinal Spirits Tiki Rum with its flavors of pineapple and citrus to mix effortlessly with tiki drinks in mind. We say mission accomplished.

The team behind Cruzan in St. Croix has been perfecting rum for years. The tropical island water helps create its impeccable taste, says Cruzan, and so does the distillation process that uses five columns to help rid the rum of impurities. With a creation process like that, the Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum is pretty darn smooth, if we do say so ourselves. According to Drink Hacker, the flavors are a mix of clove, cinnamon, pepper, and vanilla. It's a spiced rum surprisingly worthy of sipping by itself and definitely one that adds a whole lot of flavor to a tropical punch.

Speaking of punch, the best part of this spiced rum is how easy it is to whip up a punch for a summer party with it. The Cocktail Project says making a punch with this spiced rum is super easy because all you need is the rum, orange juice, cranberry juice, and a lime wedge to make your drink come together in a snap.

Kenny Chesney has a way with music, sure. But he also doesn't disappoint when it comes to rum. According to Got Rum?, the country singer paired up with master blender Mike Booth to create this Caribbean rum collection that's made to be enjoyed on, you guessed it, the beach. But if all else fails, your apartment will do. We're big fans of the Blue Chair Bay Premium White, which is why it's so high on our list of best rums for a rum punch. It's aged right near the ocean, which helps boost its sugar and tropical fruit flavors. The best part is the end of your sip — this rum is so smooth with a finish that as comforting but also refreshing as the tropical ocean waters.

The Blue Chair Bay Premium White is perfect for making mixed drinks, says Wine Enthusiast, thanks to its mild sweetness combined with aromas of vanilla and white pepper. It is the perfect addition to any good punch.