Sugar cane plantations in the Caribbean began distilling rum during the 17th century from molasses, an inexpensive byproduct of the sugar refining process. The spirit came to the U.S. in 1664 with the opening of the first rum distillery on Staten Island and continued to grow in popularity through the Revolutionary War.
Rum has come a long way since those early days, and distilleries across the nation are experimenting with how to craft the finest variations. To find the best, we asked our readers to vote for their favorite craft rum distilleries, and the results are in.
No. 10: Smoky Quartz Distillery – Seabrook, New Hampshire
Smoky Quartz Distillery, a grain-to-glass operation on the coast of New Hampshire, makes their Granite Coast Rum from American molasses, fermented at a high temperature with champagne yeast. The mash is then distilled in an 8-plate still and rested for two weeks, allowing it to breathe. It’s then cut to 80 proof with Monadnock spring water.
No. 9: Regalo de Vida – Elgin, Arizona
Considered the benchmark of “American Rum Style,” Regalo de Vida rum has won the Best of Class for Dark/Gold Rum and Best of Class and Best in Show for their Extra Aged Rum. Regalo de Vida rum is made from locally sourced sugar cane and is distilled, aged and bottled on-site in Elgin, Arizona. Their Master Rum Distiller strives to express the characteristics of the region and is dedicated to making the finest spirits.
No. 8: Echo Spirits Distilling Co. – Columbus, Ohio
The founders of Echo Spirits in Columbus, Ohio created their distillery to be an “echo in time,” when consumers knew the crafters and shopkeepers who produced and sold their local products. They pride themselves in slowing down a bit, taking the time to be friendly, shake a hand or give a tour.
Even more so, they pride themselves on making award-winning rum, like their limited-edition Queen’s Share Rum – a Double Gold winner at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition – aged 18 months in used bourbon barrels, or their White Rum, a year-round favorite and 2022 Double Gold winner at the NY Spirits Competition.
No. 7: Cardinal Spirits – Bloomington, Indiana
Rum lovers have two spirits to choose from at Indiana’s Cardinal Spirits. The light Tiki Rum, perfect for mixing, is fermented and distilled from cane juice and light molasses using hefeweizen and wild sugar cane yeasts. Lake House Spiced Rum is infused with whole botanical ingredients, such as vanilla, cardamom and orange peel.
No. 6: KoHana Distillers – Kunia Camp, Hawaii
Native sugar cane was growing on the Hawaiian Islands long before the first plantations existed. At KoHana Distillers, sugar cane is harvested by hand, pressed into juice and distilled into a pure cane rum in small batches. The white agricole rum rests in oak to produce the barrel-aged liquor. There’s also a cask-strength rum and a cacao and honey rum.
No. 5: Wicked Dolphin – Cape Coral, Florida
Wicked Dolphin Distillery uses 100% Florida-grown sugar cane to create small-batch rums in a traditional copper pot still. The spirit then gets aged in used American white oak Kentucky bourbon barrels for a minimum of three years (and up to 14 years). Wicked Dolphin also produces a crystal rum, coconut rum (made from real coconut water), spiced rum and several fruit rums.
No. 4: Koloa Rum Company – Lihue, Hawaii
All the rums from Koloa Rum Company are made with pure cane sugar and Mount Waialeale rainwater, and they’re twice distilled in a vintage copper pot still. Options include white and aged rums, as well as rums flavored with coconut, coffee and spices.
No. 3: Muddy River Distillery – Belmont, North Carolina
Muddy River Distillery specializes in rum made from top-quality ingredients in custom-built stills. Each rum is made with sugar cane molasses and sugar. Queen Charlotte’s Reserve spends a year in new American white oak, while Spiced Carolina Rum is blended with spices for hints of cinnamon and vanilla. The distillery also makes a coconut rum and basil rum.
No. 2: Plank Road Distillery – Plymouth, Wisconsin
A rum distilled from Sugar in the Raw and blackstrap molasses is just one of the delicacies at Plank Road Distillery in Plymouth, Wisconsin. They don’t do distillery tours; instead, they will provide a friendly experience with their hand-crafted spirits and cocktails that you’ll want to share with friends and family.
No. 1: LYON RUM – St. Michaels, Maryland
LYON RUM is the flagship spirit of Windon Distilling Company, a microdistillery on the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland’s oldest operating distillery. LYON uses 100% American sugar cane and proudly produces every drop of its rum in small batches on-site, from fermentation to bottling.
Rum lovers have numerous options to choose from: White Rum, Dark Rum and barrel-rested Sailors Reserve Rum, plus Curaçao, Coffee Rum, Rock & Rum and seasonal specialties like toasted Coconut Rum, Overproof Pineapple Rum and Blackberry Harvest Rum.
