This Small Island Nation Makes the World's Newly Crowned Best Rum

With its roots in the Caribbean, rum for many people has become synonymous with tropical locales and delicious dark liquor cocktails. Unsurprisingly, at this year's International Wine & Spirits Competition, the region boasted most of the highest-rated rums among the several hundred tasted by experts. One country in particular holds the crown. 

Barbados is the undisputed champion when it comes to rum at this year's IWSC. Of the 20 best-rated rums tasted by experts, the country produces more than half of the choices, with eight of them being from R.L. Seale's Foursquare distillery on the island. 

The competition's No. 1 rum in the world with 99 points is R.L. Seale's Foursquare 14-Year-Old Equipoise Rum. At 61 percent ABV, it isn't your typical rum and can likely be sipped in small amounts rather than combined with mixers. It also has a unique flavor profile, according to the more than 100 distillers, blenders, and other industry professionals gathered for the competition. 

"Enticing aromas of leather and olive oil greet the senses, leading to a tantalizing 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. Luxurious and long-lasting," they gushed. 

Coincidentally, the first-ever record of rum in history was on the island of Barbados. Other countries in the top 20 responsible for great rum include fellow Caribbean nation Martinique and the Southeast Asian countries of Thailand and Cambodia.

Related: The World's Best Gin Has an Interesting Flavor Profile

Read up on the 20 best-rated rums from this year's IWSC and find something you like.

1. R. L. Seale Foursquare 14-Year-Old Equipoise Rum (Barbados, 99 points)
2. Taiwan Tabacco & Liquor Corp. Nantou Winery Craft Cask-Strength Single Batch Rum (Taiwan, 98 points)
3. Mt. Uncle Distillery FNQ Iridium x Agave Cask 10-Year-Old Rum (Australia, 98 points)
4. R. L. Seale Foursquare 2011 Rum (Barbados, 98 points)
5. R. L. Seale Foursquare Covenant Rum (Barbados, 98 points)
6. Equiano Ominira 11-Year-Old Rum (Barbados, 98 points)
7. Sangsom Distillery Phraya Deep-Matured Gold Rum (Thailand, 98 points)
8. St. Nicholas Abbey 12-Year-Old Cask-Strength Rum (Barbados 98 points)
9. St. Nicholas Abbey 8-Year-Old Cask-Strength Rum (Barbados, 98 points)
10. R. L. Seale Doorly's 14-Year-Old Rum (Barbados, 98 points)
11. R. L .Seale Foursquare 14-Year-Old Mystique Rum (Barbados, 98 points)
12. R. L. Seale Foursquare Absolutio Rum (Barbados, 98 points)
13. Desert Diamond Distillery Gold Miner 12-Year-Old Barrel Reserve (Platinum Wax) (Arizona, USA, 98 points)
14. Rones del Caribe Roble Viejo 12-Year-Old Ultra Añejo Rum (Venezuela, 98 points)
15. R. L. Seale Foursquare 15-Year-Old Nicholls & Perks Rum (Barbados, 97 points)
16. Samai Distillery Kampot Pepper Rum (Cambodia, 97 points)
17. Distillerie Neisson Le Rhum Argicole Blanc (Martinique, 97 points)
18. Héritiers Madkaud Renaissance Rum (Martinique, 97 points)
19. Destilerias Aldea Ron Aldea Familia 2006 Rum (Canary Islands, Spain, 97 points)
20. R. L. Seale Foursquare Triple Entente Rum (Barbados, 96 points)