The Seven Best Rums for Under $50 from the 2025 SFWSC.
Sophie Lindenberger
Rum has long been the workhorse of the bar, powering everything from tiki classics to backyard mojitos. Yet, for all its history and versatility, it often gets overshadowed by whiskey, gin, and tequila in the “serious spirits” conversation. That’s a mistake. A great rum delivers a complex and layered experience with each sip, and it can elevate your cocktail experience quickly and easily. Best of all, you can lay your hands on a fantastic premium rum for a price that won’t break your bank.
Need proof? This year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), the largest and most influential spirits judging event in the U.S., just offered a perfect reminder. They handed out Double Gold Medals, their highest individual award, to seven rums that cost less than $50. That means that each rum wowed the judging panel in a blind tasting format and distinguished itself in a crowded field by scoring 98 points out of 100.
Each of the rums has been named a finalist in their individual categories and for the SFWSC Best Rum Under $50 Trophy that will be handed out in the fall. These rums hail from Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, the American South, and even Washington, D.C. Each delivers a different expression of the category, yet they all share two things: meticulous craftsmanship and staggering value. Here’s the lineup with each bottle’s cost at the time of judging and why they deserve a place in your glass.
Oak House Distillery Silver Rum — $30
Located in Athens, Georgia, Oak House Distillery has the distinction of being the first legal distillery in a city that is home to the University of Georgia. Housed in a historic building with a speakeasy vibe, it has been turning out award-winning spirits since its founding in 2020. Their Silver Rum takes inspiration from a late-17th-century Jamaican molasses recipe that is distilled in small batches in a copper pot still to produce an ester-forward Jamaican-style rum.
It offers layers of flavors that are not often found in typical silver rums. The judges were impressed by its funk-filled nose that led to bright sugarcane and tropical fruit notes when sipped, followed by a rounded sweetness on the palate.
Planteray 3 Stars — $20
Formerly known as Plantation Rum, Planteray Rum is produced by French cognac maker Maison Ferrand. To make their rums, they source product from distillers across the globe to create an array of rums that showcase the complexities that rum can offer drinkers. Their 3 Stars blends both aged and unaged rums from Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad into a balanced and highly versatile smooth drinking rum.
At $20, it might be the best bargain in the entire spirits landscape. The judges called out its sweet aromas, followed by hints of nutmeg, toffee, and sweet citrus on the palate with a long, warm finish. It’s perfect on the rocks or as an anchor for any cocktail.
Cotton & Reed White Rum — $30
Distilled in Washington, D.C., Cotton & Reed uses a blend of Blackstrap molasses and Cane Syrup to craft its White Rum. It undergoes two separate fermentations to create a rum that tastes like a multi-island blend, not one that is crafted in the heart of America’s capital. It has been a mainstay at the SFWSC for the last few years. It was named Best in Class in 2022 and took home Double Gold in 2022, 2023, and this year. The fact that it is only $30 is shocking.
It is a layered rum that has hints of funk with a long, elegant finish. The judges called out its vanilla and honey aromas that paired well with a smooth and mellow taste with hints of dried fruits, spices, and hints of oak.
Ten to One White Rum — $33
Founded in 2019 by Trinidad-born entrepreneur Marc Ferrell and co-owned by R&B singer Ciara, Ten to One aims to elevate the conversation around rum by introducing drinkers to high-quality rums at affordable prices. It accomplishes that by sourcing quality rums from around the Caribbean basin and masterfully blending them to create memorable final products.
Their White Rum is made from an unaged blend of column pot still rum from the Dominican Republic with a high ester pot still rum from Jamaica. The result is a higher proof rum that is brimming with tropical flavors. The judges called out its clean and crisp flavors that meld pineapple, orange, and blueberry flavors with pepper and grassy hints. At $33, it’s a modern classic for drinkers who want authentic flavor without the syrupy shortcuts.
Worthy Park Overproof Rum — $28
Few names in Jamaican rum carry as much weight as Worthy Park. Established in 1670 and distilling since 1741, this estate does everything on-site: growing cane, making molasses, fermenting, and distilling on 100% copper pot stills. Their Overproof shows that they are still at the top of their game. Overproof rums can be brash, but Worthy Park’s version at 63% ABV is remarkably clean, with structure behind the power.
It’s not for sipping neat (unless you’re brave), but unbeatable in tiki drinks. That’s due to its bold tropical flavors that are balanced with molasses sweetness and salty, crisp acidity that wowed the judges.
Cap & Cane Spirit Overproof Rum — $32
Hailing from North Carolina’s Liberty & Plenty, a women-owned craft distillery that was launched in 2020, this rum is a perfect example of the changes fresh blood can bring to an established category. Founder Tina Williford is focused on continually experimenting with recipes and distillation processes to create spirits that inspire and up the cocktail game.
Their Cap & Cane Spirits Overproof Rum clocks in at 63% ABV and is created from a mix of Guatemalan molasses, turbinado sugar, and evaporated cane juice that delivers a mouthful of flavor. The judges loved its layers of coconut, guava, pear, and green apple flavors, which harmonized with the taste of vanilla cream. They were especially impressed with its long, lingering flavor.
Planteray O.F.T.D. — $28
If the 3 Stars is Planteray’s precision tool, O.F.T.D. (Old Fashioned Traditional Dark) is its sledgehammer. This 69% ABV take on a classic Navy Style Rum that was explicitly designed by Planteray’s Master Blended Alexandre Gabriel for use in classic Tiki recipes, which often call for high-proof rums. Created with the help of a panel of six Tiki experts who sampled over 1000 iterations before settling on the final recipe, it is beloved by bartenders due to its tidal wave of flavors.
Rums from Guyana, Jamaica, and Barbados are blended to create a liquid that has an intense aroma of dark chocolate, caramel, banana, and cloves that captured the judge’s attention. They were also impressed by its brown sugar, molasses, citrus, and black pepper flavors that lingered long after they sipped the rum. If you are looking to make some memorable cocktails at home, this is an essential bottle, especially at $28.
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Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hudsonlindenberger/2025/08/11/7-award-winning-rums-under-50-that-taste-like-they-cost-hundreds/