Gold medal winning rums setting the standard

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.

1. A strong showing from sugar cane juice/Agricole rums, with entries from Martinique, Guadeloupe and as far as Japan. These rums tend to be grassy and aromatic when compared to their molasses counterparts and these results may suggest a shift in the rum world.
2. There was no dominant distillation method across the Gold Medal winners with Pot Still, Column Still and blends of the two all represented.
3. Many of the Gold Medal winning rums did not carry an age statement which is part of a trend that sees producers maximising blending skills and cask management, rather than relying on age alone to sign post quality.
4. There were several Gold Medal winning flavoured and spiced rums. This style of rum is sometimes dismissed but those that did well in this year’s competition used real ingredients to enhance the base spirit, not to cover it. This is a growing a category, which appeals to those new to rum.
5. We saw a hugely diverse geographical origins which points to global acceptance and a dynamism in the category. There were many Gold Medal winner from the Caribbean heartlands, but also to producers in Japan, Scotland, Denmark, and Cyprus to name a few.

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.