Which Bacardi rum is best? No matter what the situation calls, it seems Bacardi has rum for every occasion. The best Bacardi rums range from the classic journeyman rum of Bacardi Carta Blanca to the incredible depth of Bacardi Gran Reserva Limitada.
I never realised how extensive their range was. There is a Bacardi rum for everyone, from cocktails for those hot sultry nights to tasty and aromatic sippers for the rum connoisseur.
Best Bacardi Rums
From clean Bacardi Carta Blanca to the tremendous depth of Bacardi Gran Reserva Limitada, here are 8 of the best Bacardi rums to consider.
1. BACARDÍ CARTA BLANCA
Overview
- Distiller: Bacardi
- ABV: 37.5% (75 Proof)
- Country: Puerto Rico
- Colour: Clear
Review
Bacardi Carta Blanca was the original light white rum first made in 1862 by Don Facundo Bacardi Masso. This blend of independently aged full-bodied and drier light-bodied rums revolutionised the cocktail world as the first mixable rum.
Originally called Ron Superior de Bacardi, the blend of rums is aged in American white oak barrels. It is then passed through charcoal for a distinctively smooth taste.
On The Nose
A fresh bouquet of citrus, complemented with spice and pepper.
On The Palate
Notes of muscovado sugar and tropical fruit with a hint of sweetness but finishes off with a lingering taste of cracked pepper and smooth vanilla and zesty citrus essence.
Best Severed
Bacardi Carta Blanca doesn’t dominate or disappear but adds an uplifting flavour to any fruity cocktail and is an excellent base for a mojito.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
2. BACARDÍ SPICED
Overview
- Distiller: Bacardi
- ABV: 35% (70 Proof)
- Country: Puerto Rico
- Colour: Clear/Amber
Review
Originally launched in 2011 under Bacardi Oakheart, Bacardi Spiced is a spiced rum that has made an excitingly new debut in 2019 and rejoins the Bacardi rum portfolio.
Made with aged and un-aged rums blended with a sneaky blend of warm vanilla, adding a pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon spices. A delightful hint of smokiness from charred American oak barrels also infuses this spirit.
Bacardi Spiced is a gluten-free blend busting with essences of spice and natural flavours. A bold yet satisfyingly smooth taste with a mix of both light and deep notes.
On The Nose
Notes of sweet vanilla and spicy cinnamon.
On The Palate
It tantalises the palate with its spicy black pepper and cinnamon flavours yet finishes with a lingering smooth sweet essence of vanilla fudge.
Best Severed
The perfect party mixer for a good old rum and cola, or try it with a tangy, refreshing ginger beer for added spiciness. Although it is classed as a light spirit at a 35% alcohol content, it holds its own, compared to its fully-fledged rum compatriots.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
3. BACARDÍ CARTA ORO
Overview
- Distiller: Bacardi
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: Puerto Rico
- Colour: Gold
Review
Named Bacardi Carta Oro for its golden complexion, this rum was first produced in 1862 and called Bacardi Gold before being re-launched in 2014 with an increase in alcohol content from 37.5% to 40%
Beautifully blended from 14 different rums aged 1 to 2 years, this distinctly characterised rum does remind me of a mild spiced rum.
Its rich honey complexion comes from lying in toasted oak barrels and is filtered through a secret blend of charcoal to give it its unique mellow character.
On The Nose
The aroma of light oak infused with vanilla and toffee perfumes intrigues the taste buds.
On The Palate
Rich vanilla, buttery caramel, and toasted almond flavours topped by ripe banana and zesty orange peel. Leaving behind a dry yet, slightly sweet smoked finish.
Best Severed
Best served in a highball glass filled with ice, topped with cola and lime juice, and finished off with a wedge of lime and a toast to freedom.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
4. BACARDÍ CARTA NEGRA
Overview
- Distiller: Bacardi
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: Puerto Rico
- Colour: Brown
Review
Passionately crafted by the Maestros de Ron Bacardi, it was known as Bacardi Black. It reverted to Bacardi Carta Negro and highlights the brand’s Latin history dating back 150 years ago.
It is distilled from fermented molasses and elegantly blended from 4-year-old rums. It rests patiently in deeply charred oak barrels before going through a secret charcoal blend.
On The Nose
Sweet molasses and warm notes of chicory and nuts with a hint of cacao and an ever slight presence of tropical passion fruit.
On The Palate
This full-bodied rum rushes the senses with roasted banana and coffee flavours, with a hint of dark chocolate. It finishes off nicely with a slightly bittersweet vanilla mocha coffee essence with the piquancy of black pepper spices.
Best Severed
Dark rum perfectly blended for a perfect feisty Tormenta Negra, bringing together the spiciness of the ginger beer. Also an ideal accompaniment for warm drinks. Known by those that love this rum as ‘black magic’.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
5. BACARDÍ AÑEJO CUATRO
Overview
- Distiller: Bacardi
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: Puerto Rico
- Colour: Golden
Review
Bacardi Añejo Cuatro launched 2018 as a new addition to the Bacardi family range of rums. Broadening the brand’s aged rum collection, Bacardi Añejo Cuatro is an intermediate rum flanked by the Carta Oro and the 8-year-old blends.
Inspired by Don Facundo’s original recipe, this rum is delicately aged for four years in ex-bourbon casks. This provides it with a beautiful shimmering gold hue.
On The Nose
Smells of sweet, delicate vanilla toffee arouse the senses with a hint of spicy clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon to intrigue the palate.
On The Palate
The taste of slight vanilla infused with dark sweet honey leads to a hint of oaky notes – lingering off with a sweet and tantalising spicy finish.
Best Severed
Revel in as a Cuatro Highball, a refreshing sundowner with Caribbean flavours of the Añejo Cuatro rum and the refreshing sparkle of ginger ale.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
6. BACARDÍ RESERVA OCHO
Overview
- Distiller: Bacardi
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: Puerto Rico
- Colour: Gold
Review
Created in 1862, Bacardi Ocho remained the family preserve for seven generations before making a debut as a collector’s limited edition to Aficionado magazine subscribers in 1995. In 2015 it was re-launched as Bacardi Reserva Ocho.
This rum was bottled in Baccarat crystal decanters and infused with a sherry oak finish. After its huge success, it was released to the public without its pricey attachments of the sherry oak finish and Baccarat crystal decanter in 1996.
A premium rum created using a column still distillation and aged to perfection for eight years in hand-selected American white oak barrels. After which, it is filtered through Bacardi’s secret mix of charcoal filters.
On The Nose
Dried apricot and zesty orange marmalade, plus the warming aroma of chocolate espresso coffee.
On The Palate
Layers of mellow fruit flavours of apricot, orange and ripe banana flow delicately with the richness of butterscotch vanilla and a mocha coffee.
Finishes with bursting zesty chocolate orange and sweet apricot jam flavours, lingering into a warm mocha coffee and nutmeg spice that leaves you burning for another sip.
Best Severed
I love Bacardi Reserva Ocho as a sipping spirit in an Old Fashioned. A few large ice cubes with some simple syrup, a dash of Angostura bitters, and a twist of lemon zest. Heaven!
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
7. BACARDÍ GRAN RESERVA DIEZ
Overview
- Distiller: Bacardi
- ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Country: Puerto Rico
- Colour: Golden brown
Review
This rare decadent rum won the award for Best Rum in 2020. Not to mention the Grand Gold Quality Award from the Monde selection in Bruxelles for three years running as of 2019. This award-winning reserve adds to the brand’s trailblazing legacy.
Bacardi Gran Reserva Diez is column distilled, then aged undisturbed in American white oak barrels for a minimum of 10 years. It is filtered through a charcoal blend to give it an extra smooth finish.
On The Nose
The rum’s deep copper-amber hues trick the nose with its rich aromas of pineapple and apricot with ripe banana and nutty almond scents.
On The Palate
The vanilla taste is complimented with the flavours of nougat and honey, infused with a slight fruit punch of peach, apricot, and cinnamon spice. Leaving you with a zesty taste of green pineapple and cinnamon. Similar to Stiggins’ Fancy Plantation Pineapple.
Best Severed
Best served straight up and enjoyed as a sipping spirit for its complexity for the more mature palate. I even enjoy this in a dark ‘n stormy.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
8. BACARDÍ GRAN RESERVA LIMITADA
Overview
- Distiller: Bacardi
- ABV: 40% (7580Proof)
- Country: Puerto Rico
- Colour: Golden
Review
Bacardi Gran Reserva Limitada is Bacardi’s most luxurious blend and a connoisseur’s choice. Bottles are labelled with their blend batch, date of bottling, and bottle number to capture that moment of when it was blended to perfection.
This rare preserve was first released in 2003 in the distillery’s gift shop to celebrate the incorporation of the visitor centre at Bacardi Cathedral of Rum. It was released to consumers in 2009.
The signature of Maximo Maestro de Ron Bacardi is added as the final touch of excellence.
Exquisitely crafted from a blend of Bacardi’s rare rum reserves aged up to 17 years, it is carefully blended, offering a delightfully balanced yet pleasantly rich flavour. This is serious stuff.
On The Nose
Aromas of tropical fruits and stewed fruits combined with soft brown sugar playfully lure your taste buds to experience the rich sensations.
On The Palate
Elegantly mellow, with a tangy zest of orange and the taste of grilled almonds. Leaving you with a long, slightly spicy finish and a lingering reminder of walnut and overripe banana.
Best Severed
Best enjoyed as a neat, sipping spirit to appreciate the various essences fully.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
Andrew’s Top Pick
Bacardi Reserva Ocho
Bacardi Reserva Ocho is my top pick Bacardi rum. Its fruity flavours, coffee, and spice work incredibly well as a sipping rum and make an ideal base for an old-fashioned.
Bacardi Rum Q&A
What Is Bacardi Rum Made From?
Bacardi rums use only three main ingredients; molasses, yeast, and water. Quality molasses from the finest sugar cane plantations are fermented in water with patented Bacardi yeast (discovered by Don Facundo Bacardi Masso), then distilled and aged.
What Does Bacardi Rum Taste Like?
The taste of Bacardi rum is as diverse as its collections of rums. Ranging from your sweet mild-bodied rums to the full-bodied aromatic rums aged to perfection in charred ex-bourbon casks imparting fruity flavours of tropical fruits and warm notes of nutty vanilla spices.
How Strong Is Bacardi Rum?
Bacardi rum is generally bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof), which is the minimum percentage to classify as rum. The exception of the range is Bacardi Carta Blanca at 37.5% ABV (75 Proof) and Bacardi Spiced at 35% ABV (70 Proof), although both still pack a punch.
Conclusion
Which Bacardi rum is best? If you’re looking for something to uplift that cocktail, you can use a light-bodied Bacardi rum such as Bacardi Carta Blanca or even Bacardi Spiced.
Related Read: Bacardi Carta Blanca vs Havana Club Rum
For some golden oldies drinks, there are the medium-bodied expertly blended Bacardi rums such as Bacardi Añejo Cuatro that leave you with tantalising flavours.
And finally, let’s not forget the full-bodied aromatic sipping Bacardi rums such as Bacardi Gran Reserva Diez and Bacardi Gran Reserva Limitada for mature palates and connoisseurs alike.
Further Reading
Below are some additional articles from The Drinks Geek blog. We write articles on several fascinating areas of drinks, including different brands, drink types, cocktail recipes and more.
