5 Rums to 'panic' buy this Christmas!

We've all been there, around this very time. A week out from Christmas thinking:

"Shit, just what on earth am I going to get them this time!?"

Well, here you are fellow last minute enthusiast - I've got you covered.

To save you going "ohh, I'll just get them that, I got them that last year and they liked it..." Here are some fantastic rums - tried and tested - that will make you a hero and get you the approving nod after they've had a wee sip.

"You're so thoughtful..."

1. Owneys

In the unlikely event they don’t like the taste of this, how can they not be impressed by such a good looking bottle?

Made in the Big Apple, Owneys is a tremendous rum, made with three simple ingredients. It’s quite personal too – each bottle has been hand written with the bottle number and batch number. As someone who works in marketing, this extra touch gets my cheers.

Reeking of NYC smoke and tasting what I imagine nectar of gods is like, so good you’ll be pouring yourself another as you finish. Buy this. Own it. Owney it. (Sorry…). Worth every dime of the ￡40 odd that the Whisky Exchange or your Prime will charge you. As I type, Prime have two left...!

2. Carnoustie Distillery

Want to support local business? Great. There’s one just up the road from where I stay. Billy and Jory from Carnoustie make all their products from their shed (but not just any old shed, one with all the kit you’d need to make lots and lots of rum). And they produced me my very own batch for our recent wedding (I called it ‘Honey, I made the rum!’) but more about that another time.

They have a few rums worth having a dabble but I’d plumb for the Carnasty – high voltage at 67% ABV and tastes like mango. You won’t need much of it though, just some over ice or with ginger.

3. Mount Gay (Eclipse)

If you’re looking for something for something at a lower price point, I’ve got you covered. Mount Gay Eclipse is a nice introductory rum for those wanting to explore outside the “Sailor Jerry’s makes me soooooo alternative’ bracket. Luckily for you, this is stocked in some UK supermarkets too. Usually floating in around the ￡20 mark (￡16 on a deal just now in Prime) it’s a tasty treat by one of the worlds most recognised distillers.

4. Jamaican Cove (ps, cool website)

If you’re like me and freezing your ass off and longing to wonder what it would be like having a taps-aff holiday in the sun, you can almost go there with this smooth pineapple number. Just get some ginger beer, a goblet glass and some ice and you’re there.

Well, almost.

Up to you if you want to slam the heating on for hours and make a paddling pool in your front room with your swim gear and goggles on to be more authentic, but who am I to judge? Fill your boots. And your glass. Lots of times.

5. The King of Islington

Okay, so it's not technically a rum. But they are officially the best rum bar in the country 3 years in a row and know they're way around the sweet spirt. Make it part of your next visit to Dundee - and I see they're doing rum classes at ￡32.50 a head. Nice Christmas gift and a night out sorted for 2022. Boom!

(And what a tremendous spotify. Just like being in Cuba. Well, I've not been to Cuba but I imagine this is what it would be like.)

Anything that you'd say should go on? Get in touch - because I'll happily dabble.

?And there you have it - panic over!