Seven rums scored Double Gold medals, and 45 won Gold Medals at the 2024 International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) judging of rums. Here are highlights and tasting notes on the top-ranked rums.
Rum was the first truly international spirit. Today, more than 120 countries produce rums across hundreds of different brands and thousands of different expressions.
Each region has its distinctive approach to rum production. Heavy, ester-rich molasses-based rums come from Guyana and Jamaica. In contrast, lighter, cane juice-based Agricole rums like those of Martinique and Reunion come from the former French tropical colonies. Central and South America has its own distinctive style, while lighter, more sophisticated expressions come from as far afield as Barbados, Australia, Thailand, and the Philippines.
This broad diversity in brands and producing countries showcases rum’s global appeal and variety, making it a favorite among spirit enthusiasts worldwide.
The top-ranked rum, winning 99/100 points, was R.L. Seale (Barbados), Four Square 14 YO Equipoise Rum, 61% ABV. Seale won three of the seven Double Gold medals at the 2024 IWSC judging. If there was any doubt that Foursquare is one of the best rum producers on the planet, its impressive results at the IWSC judging should settle the matter.
Richard Seale, a Master Distiller and leading authority on the history of rum, especially in Barbados, also took Double Gold medals for Foursquare Covenant Rum, 18 YO, 58% ABV, 98/100 points, and Foursquare 2011 Rum, 12 YO, 60% ABV, 98/100 points.
The Foursquare Distillery was established in 1996 by the Seale family, whose rum-making heritage dates back to 1820. It is located on a former sugar plantation in St. Philip, Barbados.
Richard Seale, a fourth-generation distiller, is the driving force behind Foursquare Distillery. Known for his commitment to traditional rum-making techniques and his innovative approach to creating high-quality rums, Seale has positioned Foursquare as a leading producer in the industry.
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Foursquare distillery uses both pot and column pot and column distillation and avoids additives like caramel or sweeteners. Both molasses and sugarcane juice are used in the production process. The rum ages in various casks, including ex-bourbon, sherry, and wine, to create complex and layered flavor profiles.
Foursquare rums feature nuanced complexity, balance, and high quality. Below is a general description of the aroma and taste profile commonly found in Foursquare rums.
Foursquare rums typically exhibit a rich and complex nose, with multiple layers of aromas. These aromas include vanilla and caramel, dried fruits such as raisins, figs, and apricots, baking spice notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, and a noticeable presence of well-seasoned oak. The rums typically show subtle floral and herbal notes, although their intensity can vary dramatically depending on the specific expression.
On the palate, these rums are smooth and full-bodied. The dominant notes are caramel and toffee, which provide sweetness and texture. There are additional dried fruit notes of raisins, figs, and dried apricots, as well as slightly bitter dark chocolate, coffee, and spice notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, well-seasoned oak, and vanilla. These flavors add a nuanced complexity that nicely balances the sweetness, spice notes, and slight bitterness of the chocolate and coffee flavors.
The finish on Foursquare rums is typically long, with a subtle sweetness and lingering notes of seasoned oak, spices, and caramel.
The IWSC Judging Panel described the Foursquare 14 YO rum as featuring:
Enticing aromas of leather and olive oil greet the senses, leading to a compelling blend of citrus peel, cinnamon, oak, dark chocolate, and nutmeg. Plummy, spiced fruit dances on the palate upon a soft, sweet mouthfeel. A dry, tangy finish lingers, revealing layers of caramel, banana bread, and tobacco. It is luxurious and long-lasting.
The IWSC Judging panel described the Foursquare Covenant rum as:
The aroma captivates with toffee sweetness and tropical fruit notes. On the palate, oily vanilla richness is balanced with toffee and caramel. The finish blends sawdust, butter, coffee, and caramel notes, creating a flavourful experience.
The Foursquare 2011 rum, on the other hand, was described by the Judging Panel as featuring:
On the nose, discover a beautiful blend of apricots, toffee, and coconut, introducing a bold palate with a delicious tropical fruit core. Dark chocolate, rich prune, and vanilla ice cream flavors intermingle with crunchy red berries and layers of furniture polish, leather, and walnut wood. This wonderful complexity culminates in a generous, Oloroso-like finish, dancing with treacle, tobacco, and mahogany tones.
Also winning Double Gold medals for their molasses-based rums are Phraya Rum (Thailand), Deep Matured Gold Rum, 40% ABV, 98/100 points and Equiano (Barbados), Ominira 11 YO Rum, 52% ABV.
The IWSC Judging Panel described the Phraya Rum as featuring:
The nose is characterized by luxurious aromas of milk chocolate, gentle toffee, and dried stone fruit. The palate reveals enveloping caramel, butterscotch, chocolate, and leather, while the dry finish leaves us with attractive tones of baking spices and abundant dried coconut. This is a textural journey of exquisite balance. Outstanding!
The Judging Panel described the Ominira rum as exhibiting:
Rich tones of vanilla, raisins, nutmeg, and Sherry-soaked fruits create an enticing aromatic display. Flavors of crème brulé, toasty oak, dark chocolate, and ripe cherry combine with sweet toffee and a faint whiff of bitter caramel. It is complex, textural, and amazingly layered with an elegantly dry finish.
Two Agricole rums won Double Gold medals: Mount Uncle Distillery (Australia), FNQ Iridium X Agave Cask 10 YO Rum, 47% ABV and Taiwan, Tobacco & Liquor, Crat Cask Strength Single Rhum, 57.2% ABV. Both rums scored 98/100 points.
Agricole Rum/Rhum Agricole is a distinctive style of rum that originated in the French Caribbean, particularly on the islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. Today, however, it is produced worldwide. Unlike most other rums, typically made from molasses, a byproduct of sugar production, Agricole rum is produced from fresh sugarcane juice. The juice gives the rum a unique flavor profile that is often more vegetal, grassy, and complex than traditional molasses-based rums. Agricole rum can be aged in oak barrels, which imparts additional flavors and complexity. Unaged versions are called “blanc” (white), while aged versions can be labeled as “élevé sous bois” (aged under wood), “vieux” (old), or other terms indicating longer aging periods.
On the nose, Agricole rhums feature prominent notes of fresh-cut grass, green vegetables, sugar cane, and floral aromas of honeysuckle and jasmine. These rhums show subtle hints of tropical fruits such as banana, pineapple, and citrus and earthy undertones, sometimes with a hint of minerality.
On the palate, Agricole rums often taste fresh and clean, reflecting the pure sugarcane juice. These rhums feature intense vegetal flavors of green grass, bell pepper, and cane stalk with additional layers of tropical fruits and floral notes. Unaged varieties tend to have more prominent pepper notes, while aged varieties feature more spice than pepper.
The finish can vary from short to long, with lingering grassy and vegetal notes. Aged expressions have a longer finish, with additional layers of vanilla, oak, and spice from the barrel aging.
Agricole rum offers a unique and complex tasting experience that differentiates it from traditional molasses-based rums. Its distinctive vegetal, grassy, and fruity notes provide a refreshing and sophisticated profile showcasing fresh sugarcane juice’s pure essence.
The IWSC Judging Panel described the Mount Uncle Distillery rum as showing:
The aroma is a delightful blend of honeyed sweetness and Sauterne complexity. The palate sings with symphonic notes of balanced rich oak, creamy stewed apple, plump raisins and a full, satisfying, citrus-driven finish.
The Craft Cask Strength Single Rum, on the other hand, was described by the Judging Panel as featuring:
Pronounced nose with deep, rich cacao aromas that are perfectly complemented with tropical fruit. The well-balanced palate unfolds with a bounty bar sweetness and a touch of oak, culminating in a long, complex finish.
The 2024 IWSC rum judging produced an excellent set of winners. Particularly impressive was the dominance shown by R.L. Seale. Foursquare has always been recognized as one of the world’s great rums, but at least in 2024, it can lay claim to being the world’s best rum producer. Most of the Foursquare expressions can be readily found in North America. If you are a rum fan and are not familiar with the brand, you need to make it a priority to acquaint yourself with it.
What is also particularly interesting is the dominance of craft distillers among the top-quality producers and how global the top ranks of rum distillers have become. Today, as the IWSC results show, the best rums come from all over the world. This year’s gold medal winners hail from unlikely places like Uganda, Cambodia, Fiji, and Japan.
The IWSC website has a complete listing of all the Gold medal winners and other medalists in the rum category.
