The template of a Daiquiri cocktail strikes with simplicity and a three-ingredient approach. A combination of rum, fresh lime juice, and just enough simple syrup to balance the tart flavors. Because of the simplicity of the Daiquiri cocktail recipe, there are many riffs on the drink. It's easy to add additional fruits like strawberries to make a Strawberry Daiquiri.
Traditionally, white Cuban rum is the base of every Daiquiri. However, there are many more types of rum you can use. Depending on your rum choice, the flavor balance of your drink will be different. And ultimately, the taste will change as well.
From white rum, light rum, and spiced rum to dark and aged rum. We help you find the best rum for Daiquiri drinks.
Best Rum for Daiquiri Summary
- Best overall: Probitas Rum (or Plantation 3 Stars)
- Best for strawberry Daiquiri: Plantation 3 Stars
- Best budget: Havana Club 3 years
- Best aged rum: Equiano Rum
- Best overproof rum: Wray & Nephew overproof rum
- Best for Hemingway Daiquiri: Ron Pepón Blanco
- Best for frozen: Diplomático Planas
Best White Rum for Daiquiris
White rums are typically unaged and known for their crisp and fresh taste. They're slightly sweet but without that rich and sweet taste, you know from dark and aged rum.
Exceptions are matured white rums. These spirits are aged in rum barrels and then filtered to remove the dark brown color. Due to their aging in wooden barrels, these bottles contain more mellow notes from wood, vanilla, and tannins.
However, these filtered rums are still less complex than regular dark and aged rums, making them an in-between spirit. That is mainly because the filtration not only removes the color but also some of the flavors.
Here are our choices for the best white rums for making a Daiquiri.
El Dorado 3 year
- Region: Guyana
- ABV: 40%
- Age: 3 years
- Tasting Notes: Lemon, cane sugar, baking spice, cacao
One of the best rums in Cuban cocktails is El Dorado 3 Years. This bottle from El Dorado is categorized as white rum, but it's filtered after barrel-aging for three years to obtain an almost clear color.
This rum adds just the right amount of complexity to otherwise simple cocktails. The rum from Guyana is light but full of flavors like baking spice, caramel, and various fruits.
In a Daiquiri, the softer tones in this rum tame the acidic kick of fresh lime juice perfectly. Due to this balance, you can pull back a bit on the simple syrup. Like this, you get a less sweet Daiquiri cocktail that is still perfectly rounded.
Clairin Sajous
- Region: Haiti
- ABV: 48%
- Age: unaged
- Tasting Notes: Grassy notes, herbs, ripe tropical fruits, and leather
Clairin Sajous is a French-style rhum made from sugarcane juice (Rhum agricole). It has this typical funky taste, clean smell, and higher proof (48% ABV) of Rhum.
The notes of tropical fruits and the typical grassy taste work excellently in a Daiquiri. As this rum is remarkably light, you can also tune down the sugar part in the recipe.
The result is a boozier Daiquiri cocktail with a unique taste. Clairin Sajous is one of the most fascinating recommendations for making the classic Cuban cocktail.
Bacardi Carta Blanca
- Region: Puerto Rico
- ABV: 40%
- Age: unaged
- Tasting Notes: Vanilla, citrus, and floral hints
Bacardi Carta Blanca has a light, dry, and crisp taste, making it a perfect choice for most rum cocktails. That applies to the Daiquiri, a Mojito, Cuba Libre, and more.
The Daiquiri is an original recipe from Cuba. So using quality Cuban rum is the standard way of making great Daiquiris. Before moving the distillery to Puerto Rico, Bacardi was one of the most significant rum producers from Cuba.
And still today, many people in Havana claim that a proper Daiquiri is made with Bacardi. And to be fair, Bacardi Superior might not be the base for the fanciest Daiquiri, but a solid and budget-friendly option.
Ron Pepón Blanco
- Region: Puerto Rico
- ABV: 43%
- Age: unaged
- Tasting Notes: Minerals, earth, lime, green apple
Ron Pepón Blanco is another French-style rhum agricole to use in a Daiquiri. This rum is Puerto Rico's first take on a Rhum Agricole by San Juan Artisan Distillers.
Fresh sugarcane juice is distilled with traditional French pot stills to create a Rhum with a unique character. If I had to describe its taste, I would say this spirit is a cross between Martinique and Jamaican rums.
This blanco rum is an elegant and funky bottle of rum that produces an excellent traditional Daiquiri. However, to me, it also makes for one of the best rum for a Hemingway Daiquiri. It pairs so well with the tart grapefruit notes and the sweet cherry flavors of Maraschino liqueur.
Plantation 3 years
- Region: Barbados, Trinidad, Jamaica
- ABV: 41.2%
- Age: 3 years
- Tasting Notes: Grassy, coconut, cocoa, and vanilla
Plantation 3 Stars is one of the most recommended rums for making cocktails. This rum blend is made from three of the most prestigious rum regions in the Caribbean: Barbados, Trinidad, and Jamaica.
The double aging process creates a deep and complex flavor profile. Sweet notes of vanilla mixed with coconut and tropical fruits like passion fruit.
This Plantation is a full-bodied rum with a slightly higher ABV than most other bottles. Plantation 3 stars is one of my common choices when making a Daiquiri or Mojito because of its high quality and relatively low price point. To me, the best rum for strawberry daiquiri but also one of the best in the classic cocktail.
Diplomático Planas
- Region: Venezuela
- ABV: 46%
- Age: 6 years
- Tasting Notes: Coconut, citrus, and espresso
Diplomatico Planas is a unique blended rum from Venezuela. The spirit is a blend of a batch kettle, pot still, and column still rum.
The resulting blend matures for up to years before being charcoal filtered to be crystal clear. The goal of Diplomatico Planas was to create a successor to Diplomático Blanco.
The flavor profile of Diplomático Planas is slightly sweet with hints of coconut and citrus. The higher ABV makes it an excellent base spirit for boozy cocktails like a Daiquiri.
Wray & Nephew Overproof Rum
- Region: Jamaica
- ABV: 63%
- Age: unaged
- Tasting Notes: Vanilla, banana, coconut, and grassy notes
Using an overproof rum in a Daiquiri is not for beginners. Sipping this spirit neat is quite a challenge. The rum tastes bold, dry, and grassy. But the more you sip, the more it opens up and shows its full range of flavors.
These flavors include sweet hints of vanilla, molasses, coconut, and banana. On the palate, these flavors combine with a fair alcohol taste. For rum aficionados, Wray & Nephew overproof rum is a perfect choice in a Daiquiri.
The rum creates a strong and rum-forward drink, superbly balanced by sugar and fresh lime. If you prefer a boozy drink, this overproof rum is probably the best rum for daiquiris.
Flor de Caña 4 Year Rum Extra Seco
- Region: Nicaragua
- ABV: 40%
- Age: 4 years
- Tasting Notes: White chocolate, banana, butterscotch, and orange
Flor de Caña 4 Year rum is a bright, crisp white rum from Nicaragua. This bottle offers exceptional value for money, works as a sipper, and is the base for many rum cocktails.
When looking for a quality and well-rounded white rum Flor de Caña's four-year-old expression is a great fit. This rum has a sweet and well-rounded flavor profile that works great with fresh, tangy lime juice.
In a Daiquiri this rum makes for a tropical and vivid drink. The combination of extra dry rum, tartness from lime juice, and a touch of sweetness is an excellent combo.
Havana Club 3 years
- Region: Cuba
- ABV: 40%
- Age: 3 years
- Tasting Notes: Caramel, spice, pineapple, and citrus
Havana Club 3-year-old is an excellent rum produced by Havana Club Cuba. The brand advertises the spirit as the perfect ingredient in a Mojito. And while I agree that it is an excellent fit in the Cuban mint cocktail, this rum also fits in a Daiquiri.
The rum ages for three years before it is charcoal filtered to get rid of the dark color. The flavor is sweet, fruity, and herbal with notes of pear, banana, licorice, and toffee.
Havana Club's entry-level bottle is a classic mixing rum that is not supposed to be sipped neat. However, it is a splendid base for mixing rum cocktails like Daiquiri.
Probitas Rum
- Region: Jamaica, Barbados
- ABV: 47%
- Age: A blend of unaged, unaged, and 2-year-old Rums
- Tasting Notes: Molasses, allspice, citrus fruits, and pineapple
Last but not least on our list of the best white rums for Daiquiris is Probitas. Probitas is a blended rum from two of the most iconic rum distilleries - namely Foursquare (Barbados) and Hampden Estate (Jamaica).
The result is a funky and light rum with hints of tropical fruits, citrus, and vanilla. The higher ABV of this bottle (47% ABV) makes for a full-bodied Daiquiri cocktail.
The combination of alcoholic heat known in Jamaican rum and a cheeky yet mature taste of Barbadian rum makes it an intriguing base in the classic Cuban rum cocktail and one of the best rums for Daiquiris on our list.
Best Dark & Aged Rum for Daiquiris
Aged rums are typically darker in color and have a rich and sweet taste. The maturation process in oak barrels infuses the spirit with oaky notes and lends it a richer mouthfeel. As a rule of thumb, the longer the rum spends in a barrel, the more complex the taste and the darker the color.
Aged rum is known for developing flavors like caramel, vanilla, spice, leather, and candied fruit. However, the flavor profile and quality vary significantly from brand to brand.
Equiano Rum
- Region: Barbados, Mauritius
- ABV: 43%
- Age: 10 years
- Tasting Notes: Butterscotch, vanilla, raisins, and brown sugar
Equiano Rum is a rich and complex rum that matures for ten years in former cognac and bourbon barrels. This aging process creates an intriguing flavor profile.
Sipping Equiano Rum neat, it has quite some similarities to cognac, especially that sweetness from the first sip. It also tastes pretty zesty with lemon and orange peel flavors and some citrus sweetness.
But the rum also has some distinct spicy notes as well as hints of caramel, toffee, and banana. In a Daiquiri, these flavors create a complex and more mellow drink.
Scarlet Ibis
- Region: Trinidad
- ABV: 49%
- Age: A blend of 3-5 years
- Tasting Notes: Vanilla, pineapple, and banana
This blended rum from Trinidad was created in cooperation with the famed NYC Bar Death & Co. Blending different rums into one single product is a common thing to increase the complexity of a spirit.
And with this bottle, the team from Death & Co. did an excellent job of balancing the taste. There is a light vanilla note on the nose. The taste is sweet but never overpowering, with hints of ripe fruits like pineapple and banana.
When making a Daiquiri with this rum, I like to combine it with Demerara syrup. This combination adds extra depth and complexity to the drink highlighting the rich taste of the rum.
Plantation’s Stiggins Fancy Pineapple Rum
- Region: Barbados, Trinidad, Jamaica
- ABV: 40%
- Age: 3 - 15 years
- Tasting Notes: Rich pineapple, tropical fruit, smoke, and citrus
This fancy pineapple-infused rum is based on a blend of Plantation 3 stars Rum and Dark Rum. For this, the white rum is infused with pineapple and then distilled. At the same time, their Dark Rum is infused with pineapple, too.
Both spirits are then blended and cask-aged for three more months. The flavors of the resulting rum are rich with smoky notes and a bold pineapple flavor.
Using this rum as the base spirit of a Daiquiri makes for an intriguing mix of pineapple and lime flavors; -A combination I can only recommend trying. If you're feeling fancy, try a split-base cocktail with one part of Stiggins Fancy Pineapple Rum and one part of Wray & Nephew Overproof Rum.
Ron Zacapa 23
- Region: Guatemala
- ABV: 40%
- Age: 6 - 23 years
- Tasting Notes: Dark fruits, caramel, vanilla, and molasses
Ron Zacapa 23 is a tasty sipping rum from Guatemala. It is a combination of various rums aged from 6 to 23 years. The result is a rich and warm rum with notes of spicy oak, vanilla, and dried fruit.
Using a fine and aged Rum like this in a Daiquiri adds a bit of elegance to the drink. It creates a richer, more mellow, and also more complex taste.
Plantation original dark Rum
- Region: Trinidad and Tobago
- ABV: 40%
- Age: 3 - 15 years
- Tasting Notes: Pepper, fruits, raisins, and pineapple
The complete process of producing a bottle of Plantation Original Dark Rum takes about 18 to 19 years. The reason for this is the unique approach of split-distilling, blending, and aging.
The story begins in Jamaica where the base rum is distilled and aged for 15 years. After that, the spirit moves to Barbados, where it ages for another few years (1 to 3 years).
The final step of aging takes place in southern France, where the rum ages for another six months. The result is a distinct and complex flavor that works great in mixed drinks.
The flavor profile includes hints of spice, cinnamon, vanilla, and molasses. Many bartenders also add a bar spoon or two of this rum to a white rum base to make the taste of the resulting cocktail more complex.
If you want the full array of flavors in your drink, you should try making a Daiquiri with this rum as the only base.
Santa Teresa 1796 Solera Rum
- Region: Venezuela
- ABV: 40%
- Age: 5 - 35 years
- Tasting Notes: Molasses, caramel, chocolate, and coffee
Santa Teresa 1796 Solera Rum is a balanced rum from Venezuela that clocks in at 40% ABV. The taste of it is smooth and rounded, making it an excellent base for drinks like a classic Daiquiri.
The rum is produced by applying the famed Solera method. The age of the rums used for blending ranges between 5 and 35 years. This process results in a very smooth and balanced rum.
In combination with tangy lime juice and just a bit of simple syrup, Santa Teresa Solera Rum is an excellent ingredient in a traditional Daiquiri recipe.
Mastering a Daiquiri cocktail
The original recipe for a Daiquiri used to be a combination of lemon juice, white Bacardi rum, sugar, mineral water, and crushed ice.
Today a perfect Daiquiri is made with fresh juice from limes instead of lemons. And also, the mineral water and sugar are replaced with regular simple syrup. For more complexity in the cocktail, add a few dashes of aromatic Angostura bitters.
The base of white rum stayed, so it doesn't come as a surprise that there are quite some white rum on our list. To get the perfect balance in your drink, use a ratio of 6 parts rum, 2 parts fresh lime juice, and 1 part of simple syrup.
Put everything in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake for 8 to 12 seconds, and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a fresh or dehydrated lime wheel.
Frequently Asked Questions about Daiquiri Rum
When discussing the best Daiquiri rums, I often get questions regarding specific brands or use cases. To help you dive deeper into the topic, here's a summary of answers to the most asked questions.
Which rum is best for strawberry Daiquiris?
The best rum for strawberry daiquiri is a premium white rum. My go-to rum for this drink is the Plantation 3 start rum as it pairs perfectly with the sweet and tangy flavor of fresh strawberries.
To make the drink, muddle a fresh strawberry together with a bit of simple syrup and use the classic proportions of a Daiquiri.
Should I use white rum or dark rum in a Daiquiri?
The traditional choice, and my recommendation, is to use white rum. The crisp and fresh flavor goes well with the bright and citrusy flavors of fresh lime juice. However, if you prefer a more mellow flavor you can use darker aged rum, too.
In this case, I recommend aging your lime juice for 6-10 hours and using a darker and richer sweetener like Demerara syrup. In combination, that turns a light, bright, and refreshing Daiquiri into a heavier, richer, and more complex cocktail.
Does Captain Morgan work in a Daiquiri?
Captain Morgan belongs to the category of spiced rums which have a very different flavor profile compared to classic aged or unnamed rums. Compared to white rum, the spicy notes don't work as well in a classic Daiquiri. However, bringing in a matching fruity ingredient like mango or pineapple can change this and make Captain Morgan an excellent base for a Daiquiri.
Is Bacardi or Havana Club better?
The answer is that both brands offer exceptional rums for making Daiquiris. The classic white Bacardi works well in all Cuban rum cocktails, including the Daiquiri.
If you ask for my personal preference though, I'd always choose Havana club 3 years. The short time of aging and maturing helps bring an ideal balance between aged and unaged rum, making it an excellent choice in classics like Daiquiri or Mojito.
Can you use coconut rum for strawberry Daiquiri?
You sure can use coconut rum as a base for a strawberry Daiquiri. The combination of coconut-flavored rum (real rum, not rum liqueur) and fruity Daiquiri riffs also works with other fruits like pineapple or mango. However, in my experience, the taste of coconut rum varies a lot making it hard to recommend the exact proportions and ingredients.