This week we are taking a deeper dive into this year's IWSC rum medal winners. So far we've explored both bronze and silver medal-winners and today is the turn of those rums that achieved a gold medal. Tomorrow we will be publishing a final blog talking about the top-scoring rums: the Gold Outstanding winners.
What Did the Top Scorers Have in Common?
Among the Gold Medal-winning rums from this year’s IWSC, the top scorers shared a few consistent characteristics that helped set them apart from the rest of the pack. While styles varied, from unaged Agricole to rich, matured blends, each displayed craftsmanship, complexity, and a clear sense of identity.
The two standout Golds at this year’s competition are: Black Tot Master Blender’s Reserve 2024 from Elixir Distillers in Scotland via Barbados, and Rhum de la Péninnsule de BOSO Rhum Agricole Soleil Blanc, from Japan, which both received 97 points. These rums were very different in style, but both exemplified the IWSC standard for a Spirits Gold which is defined as “an excellent spirit with great personality, character and complexity. An example that stands out as a benchmark in its category.”
The judges responded to the bold flavour, but thoughtful blending and unique character of the Black Tot Rum, which delivered on quality, balance, and impact rather than relying on a high age statement or unusual cask finish. The BOSO rum, this time an unaged sugar cane juice rum, impressed the judges proving that authenticity and complexity can be as important as tradition, all entries to the IWSC are assessed with an open mind.
Across all the Gold Medal winners’ judges found the rums had been made with confidence, by distillers who had embraced their own style and were not trying to be all things to all people. It was this, coupled with precision and depth of flavour, that impressed judges.
What trends did we see emerge this year?
This year’s list of Gold Medal winners offers a snapshot through which to view current production trends in rum, especially the premium and super-premium segments.
Do our results point to opportunities for brands?
The diverse selection of rums rated Gold at this year’s IWSC is indicative of the growing acceptance of rum as a premium spirit. A large number of the expressions tasted sit in a specialist retail or premium hospitality setting, and will be enjoyed neat and sipped, stepping into the space already occupied by whisky and cognac.
However, rum has a broad appeal, and this trend does not signal a move away from cocktails. Many of the Gold Medal winners would be at home in a quality Daiquiri or Mai Tai.
The increased quality and respect given to spiced and flavoured rums, has opened a door for new rum consumers to enter the market and provided an opportunity for curious drinkers to expand their palates.
A list of all this year’s Gold Medal winning rums follows. To view all this year’s results visit our website.
Score | Producer | Entry Name | Country of Origin |
97 | Elixir Distillers | Black Tot Master Blender's Reserve 2024 | Barbados |
97 | Rhum de la Péninnsule de BOSO | Rhum Agricole Blanc Soleil Blanc | Japan |
96 | Infinity Spirits B.V. | Cane Island Single Estate 8 YO Trinidad Rum | Trinidad & Tobago |
96 | Destilerias Arehucas | Capitán Kidd 30 YO Rum | Spain |
96 | Aristides Distilling | Kourouna Aged Cyprus Rum | Cyprus |
96 | National Rums of Jamaica Limited | Monymusk White Overproof Rum | Jamaica |
96 | Distillerie Neisson | Rhum (55%) | Martinique |
96 | Abbey Holdings Inc | St. Nicholas Abbey 12 YO Cask Strength Rum | Barbados |
96 | The Islay Rum Company | The Original Islay Rum Barrel Aged | Scotland |
95 | Worthy Park Estate | 12 YO Single Estate Rum | Jamaica |
95 | Bacardi Rum | Carribean Spiced | Puerto Rico |
95 | White Peak Distillery | Cask Aged Rum | England |
95 | Ninefold Distillery | Celestial Spiced Rum | Scotland |
95 | Foursquare Rum Distillery | Convocation 14 YO Rum | Barbados |
95 | Distillerie Bonne Mère (Societe Industrielle de Sucrerie) | DBM Cuvee Speciale VSOP Rum | Guadeloupe |
95 | Distillerie Bonne Mère (Societe Industrielle de Sucrerie) | DBM Très Vieux VO Rum | Guadeloupe |
95 | Havana Club International | Don Navarro Rum | Cuba |
95 | Gefjun Aps | Espresso Rum | Denmark |
95 | Desert Diamond Distillery | Gold Miner Barrel Reserve Platinum 10 YO Rum | USA |
95 | Barbancourt | Haitian Proof Blanc Rhum | Haiti |
95 | Samai Distillery | Kampot Pepper Rum | Cambodia |
95 | Sazerac Company | Myers's Reserve Dark Rum | Jamaica |
95 | Island Beverages UK | Nusa Caña Spiced Island Rum | Netherlands |
95 | Bunnyville Distillery | 10 YO Agriculture Rum | Taiwan |
95 | Gefjun Aps | Orlog Rum | Denmark |
95 | Worthy Park Estate | Overproof Rum | Jamaica |
95 | NB Distillery / Company of Dark Spirits | Overproof Rum | Scotland |
95 | Distillerie Neisson | Profil 105 Rhum | Martinique |
95 | Bouvil Global | Pure Cane Haitian Rhum | Haiti |
95 | El Amparo | Pure Single Rum | Ecuador |
95 | Daito Seito Tanegashima Co. | Arcabuz Bourbon Cask Strength Gold Rum | Japan |
95 | Paradise Beverages | Ratu 5 YO Spiced Rum | Fiji |
95 | Daito Seito Tanegashima Co. | Arcabuz Rum | Japan |
95 | Indochina Distillery Trading & Production Company | Sampan Cellar Series 2018 | Vietnam |
95 | Gruppo Campari | Trois Rivières VSOP Rhum | Martinique |
95 | Gruppo Campari | Trois Rivières XO Rhum | Martinique |
95 | Saint James | VSOP Rhum | Martinique |
95 | Ishigaki Distillery | Nagura Rum | Japan |
95 | Nirvana Works International | Wise Monkey Cafe Rum | Mauritius |
95 | William Grant & Sons Brands | Woods Old Navy Rum | Guyana |
95 | Mount Gay | XO Rum | Barbados |
95 | Shinozaki Co. | The Wild & South Cask No.3764 13 YO Rum | Japan |
95 | Shinozaki Co. | The Wild & South Cask No.8153 11 YO Rum | Japan |