Rum
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Rum is one of the most exciting spirits categories at the moment and is undergoing a real revolution.
Our 2024 Spirits Awards showed that rum is no longer seen as a value spirit, consumers are increasingly willing to pay more for high-quality rums. The IWSC has seen increasing numbers of premium and super-premium rum enter its awards. The range of styles of rums we are seeing is developing too, with distilleries experimenting with new flavours, production methods, and ageing techniques.
IWSC: championing the Rum category
With 165 entries and 19 golds including 4 gold oustandings, 2024 was a strong year for Rum at the IWSC awards. Our judges, led by Ian Burrell, an internationally recognised Rum Ambassador and Head Judge for the category, also awarded 73 silver and 63 bronze medals.
Mixer Awards
Rum & cola awards
The Rum and Cola is a classic cocktail that has been enjoyed for generations. Its simplicity and balanced flavour profile have contributed to its enduring popularity.
A specialist judging panel assesses how well each rum pairs with Franklin & Sons Cola.
The Rum & Cola will comprise one part rum to three parts cola; no ice or garnish is used, and the drink will be tasted blind.
Entry into the Mixer add-on Awards is £139 per rum.
Ian Burrell is one of the most travelled figures in the drinks industry, conducting masterclasses and seminars, as well as judging spirits competitions on seven continents. In 2007, he created the world’s first international rum festival, the UK Rum Fest, inspiring the birth of rum festivals around the world. Seven years later, he broke the Guinness World Record for the largest organised rum tasting. In 2019, he was named the 23rd most influential person in the bar world by Drinks International.
Ian Burrell, IWSC Spirits Judging Committee
