5 Countries that Produce the Best Rum in the World

3. Barbados

Insider Monkey Score: 6

Often considered the birthplace of rum, Barbados has a rum-making history that dates back to the 17th century. Barbadian rum, known for its smooth and well-balanced flavor profile, is typically aged in oak barrels, which impart a rich, complex character. Mount Gay, the oldest continuously operating rum distillery in the world, produces some of the finest examples of Barbadian rum. The Caribbean nation exported $1.7 million worth of spirit in 2021. 

Rums from Barbados are known for being a perfectly balanced blend of pot and column distilled spirits that are aged to highlight both the flavors from the barrel and those from the sugarcane itself.