Our Favorite Affordable Aged Rum Picks Under $35

Chairman's Reserve, born in 1999, is named for St. Lucia Distillers' then chairman Laurie Barnard, who created a blend made from both pot and continuous still rums. The rums are first matured for 9 months in new American oak, then aged separately in ex-bourbon casks hailing from Jim Beam and Buffalo Trace as well as ex-Tennessee whiskey casks from Jack Daniels. They are then blended together and given an additional 6 months to mingle in cask before bottling. There is no official age statement, though the youngest rums are at least 5 years old. Note: Formerly called Chairman's Reserve Finest Blended Rum.

Under the watch of sixth-generation Master Distiller Roberto Serralles, Don Q Añejo is distilled five times in a continuous still, then aged from three to ten years in used American white oak barrels. According to Don Q, up to 10% of the aged rum is lost to evaporation - the “Angel’s Share” - compared to an average of 2% in Scotland.

Botran Rum is a single estate rum which uses two varieties of sugarcane which are harvested on the Pacific south coast of Guatemala. The first press of sugarcane (aka virgin sugar cane honey) is used for distillation rather than traditional molasses. Botran uses “dynamic aging” which is a variation of the solera process. For the No. 8, rums aged 5-8 years are blended that have matured in American whiskey and sherry casks. Notably, Botran has a Protected Denomination of Origin (PDO) and is certified as a Ron de Guatemala. Botran was relaunched in the US in August 2022 with updated packaging. ($19.99/700ml).

Brugal XV is a blend of three to eight year old rums. It was launched in 2012 and replaces the Brugal Extra Viejo. It's made with a combination of rum aged in ex-bourbon casks, and rum aged in ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. The casks are the same which The Macallan uses, showcasing some synergy within The Edrington Group, after its 2008 acquisition of Brugal.

Ron Abuelo is produced by Panama's Varela Hermanos, an enterprise that grows its own cane and controls the entire process from hand-harvesting to distillation and ageing. The 7 Años rum is produced from a blend of pressed cane juice in season and cane juice plus molasses during off- season--both aged in used bourbon barrels before assembly. The resulting color is a light amber/gold.

Rapidly growing Dominican Republic brand Ron Barceló produces rums they distill from 100% Dominican sugar cane juice. The Imperial rum gets finished for two years in French oak barrels, stacked horizontally like in rickhouses, as compared to Barceló's traditional aging process which uses bourbon barrels left vertically standing. The rum used for Imperial is aged for between four and 10 years overall. This is sold elsewhere at 38% abv (and is what is reviewed here), but is sold at 40% abv in the US.

This Gran Reserva Rum is made at El Salvador's first ever rum distillery, Licorera Cihuatán, which sprouted from the nearby Ingenio La Cabaña sugar mill. This is also where its molasses is sourced, showcasing the local sugarcane. Rums are aged up to 8 years in ex-bourbon casks solera-style and selected by Master Blender Luis R. Alvarez.

Appleton Estate, founded in 1749 is perhaps Jamaica's most venerable rum and comes from the oldest distillery in continuous operation in Jamaica. Appleton's Master Blender, Joy Spence, is the first woman to be appointed Master Blender in the world. Appleton Estate Reserve Blend is created from 20 select rums aged on average for 6 years.

Zaya Gran Reserva was previously made in Guatemala but is now produced in Trinidad & Tobago. This product formerly had an age statement of 12 years, but now the bottle simply has the number "12" displayed on its bottles. That number is to indicate that Zaya Gran Reserva is made from a blend of 12 rums which aged in medium-charred used whiskey barrels.

Plantation Barbados 5 Year Rum is a blend of pot still and column still Bajan rums that are aged in bourbon casks for 3-4 years in the Caribbean. The blend is then finished in French oak casks at Maison Ferrand’s Château de Bonbonnet in the heart of the Grande Champagne district for 1-2 years more. Note: Formerly called Plantation Grande Reserve 5 Year.