About the awards
World Rum Awards 2025
The World Rum Awards aims to showcase the best people, products, and places in the global rum industry.
Dates for your diary- Entry Deadline (Taste & Design) – 21 October 2024
- Shipping Deadline – 4 November 2024
- Final tastings & winner announcement: 16 April 2025
- Winners Announced: Global Announcement – 4 June 2025
Why awards are now more important than ever:
- In today's competitive market, advertising has become increasingly crucial for businesses to succeed. Winning the World Rum Awards 2025 can provide you with a unique opportunity to showcase your brand and products to a global audience. This prestigious competition not only recognises the quality of your rum but also opens doors to direct advertising opportunities. Don't miss out on the chance to elevate your brand and reach new customers through the World Rum Awards.
- Being recognised at the World Rum Awards not only sets you apart from your competitors but also establishes your brand as a top-quality product. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication that goes into crafting a superior rum . Winning an award can also increase your brand's visibility and credibility, leading to increased sales and customer loyalty.
- You will receive logos and certificates free of charge, which you can use to promote your win and product as you wish. These materials will help you showcase your achievement and enhance your brand image. We understand the importance of recognition and want to support your success in every way possible.
- Your victory will play a crucial role in influencing the decisions of both local and international distributors. This is a golden opportunity for you to establish your rum brand and gain recognition on a global scale.
- Each winner is featured on the World Rum Awards website with their own profile and direct links to their website, attracting thousands of monthly visitors. This provides an excellent opportunity for increased exposure and recognition within the industry.
Have a question?
If you have any questions regarding the World Rum Awards 2025, get in touch through any of our contacts below:
Contact: The Awards Team @ World Drinks Awards
Email: info@worldrumawards.com Telephone: 01603 633808
What is the World Rum Awards?
The World Rum Awards is a
prestigious global competition that recognises the finest rums from around the world. This annual event involves a rigorous tasting process that identifies, honours, and promotes the most exceptional rums to consumers and industry professionals worldwide. To be eligible for consideration, rums must be widely available for purchase.
Who should enter the World Rum Awards?
Are you a distiller, agent, importer, wholesaler, or retailer of rum or distilled rum products? If so, the World Rum Awards is the perfect opportunity for you to showcase your products to an expert panel of judges. By entering, you have the chance to compete for the title of the World's Best Rum.
Icons of Rum
Presented by the World Rum Awards, the
Icons of Rum celebrates all from distiller masters and ambassadors, to retailers and distilleries, honouring those who have worked tirelessly to produce and promote rum!
All entries are
assessed by our panel of experts, comprising of industry experts, writers and judges.
Taste categories
Rums/Rhums made from freshly pressed sugarcane juice or syrup produced from a sugarcane juice reduction. The competition recognises that Agricole Rhum is an EU-protected term applicable to Rhum/Rum from Martinique, Guadeloupe, Marie Galante, French Guyana, Reunion, and Madeira; and further recognises that Rums produced from fresh sugarcane juice & syrup are produced throughout the world.
Unaged
5 Years & under
6 to 10 Years old
11 Years & older
Solera
Solera / Average Age
No Age Statement
A continuous distillation set-up comprised of single-column, twin or multi-column systems.
Unaged
5 Years & under
6 to 10 Years old
11 Years & older
Solera
Solera / Average Age
No Age Statement
Flavoured rums following non-traditional (mainstream/commercial) and/or with more subtle flavour profiles.
Flavoured rums with a single predominant ingredient, such as pineapple, coconut, and coffee. This does not include rum arrangements.
Distillation set-up that comprises a pot still and a distinct column selection directly attached and configured such that spirit production can be completed in a single pass.
Unaged
5 Years & under
6 to 10 Years old
11 Years & older
Solera
Solera / Average Age
No Age Statement
Refers to a blend of batch and continuous distillation types, irrespective of the proportions or origin.
Unaged
5 Years & under
6 to 10 Years old
11 Years & older
Solera
Solera / Average Age
No Age Statement
Batch distilled spirits that are collected via cuts in the distillation run. The design of the still can include extra rectification plates within the pot or neck section can be included in this category.
Unaged
5 Years & under
6 to 10 Years old
11 Years & older
Solera
Solera / Average Age
No Age Statement
Traditional rhum arrangements of fruit in Agricole rhum.
Rum produced from unrefined evaporated sugarcane juice, also known as rapadura and panela (with regional variation in spelling acknowledged). A category for spirits that do not technically qualify as Rum.
Flavoured rum with ingredients that are predominantly flavoured using these key components: cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, ginger, clove and pimento/all-spice
Design categories
This design category includes only singular bottles without outer packaging. It does include any decorative items such as neck tags or collars. The overall design, including closure, of the glass or PET bottle: shape, colour, functionality and any embossing, decorative finishes, coatings, or direct printed elements as well as visual appeal will be assessed in this category.
This category is designed to cater for all on shelf gift packs. These can be either gift packs containing individual bottles with packaging and accessories (such as glassware) or multi-product sets, including miniatures.
This includes all aspects of on-bottle brand/product communication, including the application of any direct printing onto bottle, capsule or closure, as well as paper and film labels and sleeves. This will be judged on the overall design and quality of materials, print, decoration and application.
This category applies to designs where the number produced was limited, such as for a special production, occasion or season. This can include individual bottles as well as bottles with outer packaging. This does not include gift packs, travel retail exclusives or special edition designs, which should be entered separately.
Packaging for a new product launched after February 1, 2023. This must be a new product, not a re-design of an existing product. Redesigns, please see the redesign/relaunch category.
This is a packaging design that carries through and unites a range or ‘family’ of different products from one producer or brand. To enter this category a minimum of three expressions need to be provided in order to assess the range design.
This category refers to a new or refreshed packaging design created for an existing product and introduced to the market after February 1, 2023. A picture or sample of the previous packaging must be supplied along with a description of what changes have been made and why
This applies to the secondary, outer, presentation packaging, such as cartons, boxes, cases, plinths, chests etc. The presentation will be judged on the overall effect with the bottle in place. This does not include gift packs or speciality designs, which should be entered separately.
This category is for speciality designs or ‘one off’ productions which have been exclusively designed for a very special occasion, are very limited and mostly in a higher price range. Must contain outer packaging. Sale is extremely selected and not generally available.
Products created specifically and only for sale in the duty-free / travel retail market. This can either individual bottles or products with outer packaging.
The judging process
Whether you're a seasoned distiller or just starting out, participating in the
World Rum Awards is an exciting way to gain exposure for your brand and connect with other rum lovers from across the globe. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to get noticed in the ever-expanding world of rum!
Taste
Round One Each rum is tasted in its relevant style to identify and select the style winner in each country.
Round Two and Three All Country style winners are tasted against each other to identify the Best in each style worldwide. The winners in each style then compete for the title World’s Best in one of the 9 categories.
Design
All design judging is conducted by a panel of leading international design, with design results announced with the World's Best.
Shipping
When shipping your product, please keep in mind the following:
- Ensure all products are packaged securely.
- Print the packing slip from your online profile for each product and attach this to your package(s)
- Ensure all customs and duties fees are cleared when booking in the shipment yourself. Should the World Rum Awards be required to pay any charges, you will be invoiced for the amount plus an administration fee.
- The World Drinks Awards has collection depots in Italy and France. You will be provided with all details once your shipment is booked, but you will need to ensure you deliver your entries to the local depot yourself. The transport costs for which are not part of the shipping fee.
Quantities Required
For
Taste entries, we require for each entry:
- 3 x 500ml (minimum) Bottles
For
Design entries, we require for each entry:
- 1 x Bottle
If you have entered both Taste and Design, please provide the number of bottles specified under the 'Taste' entries quantities section.
How to Ship
We are delighted to introduce our shipping system, allowing you to ship your entries straight through our own booking system in conjunction with our shipping partner. For a set shipping fee, that covers customs and duties costs, we get your shipment booked in, picked up and on its way! Download the shipping guide here. Please note this service is available for shipments destined for the UK only. Please check your individual entry confirmation email for details of where to send your shipment.
When you are shipping your entries yourself, please ensure that all customs, clearance and any associated costs have been paid. If these are not paid, World Rum Awards can either not accept the entries or will have to invoice any costs occurred, including an administration fee. All duty invoices will come directly from our accounts team.
We do accept in-person deliveries. Please contact our awards team at info@worldrumawards.com to ensure someone is on site to receive your package(s).Rates
Entry fees
| Note: price is for each entry |
|---|
| | 1 entry | 2 entries | 3 entries | 4+ entries |
|---|
| Sterling |
| Taste & Design | £315 + VAT | £295 + VAT | £285 + VAT | £275 + VAT |
| Design only | £209 + VAT | £199 + VAT | £189 + VAT | £179 + VAT |
| Taste only | £209 + VAT | £199 + VAT | £189 + VAT | £179 + VAT |
| Euro |
| Taste & Design | €375 | €365 | €355 | €345 |
| Design only | €245 | €240 | €235 | €230 |
| Taste only | €245 | €240 | €235 | €230 |
| USD |
| Taste & Design | $449 | $429 | $419 | $409 |
| Design only | $299 | $289 | $279 | $269 |
| Taste only | $299 | $289 | $279 | $269 |
| Canadian Dollar |
| Taste & Design | $535 | $520 | $505 | $490 |
| Design only | $365 | $355 | $345 | $335 |
| Taste only | $365 | $355 | $345 | $335 |
Terms & conditions
- Products must be sent by prepaid post and be received by the Shipping Date listed.
- Entries are only accepted on a completed online entry form with the appropriate entry fee.
- If an entry is withdrawn by the Due Date (or disqualified), the entry fee will be returned subject to an administration charge of 50% of the entry fee. Products will be made available for collection at the entrant’s expense or retained by the Organiser if not collected within eight weeks of the due date. Due Date is the entry deadline.
- If an entry is withdrawn after the Due Date, no refunds will be given. This includes entries for which product has not been received.
- Payment in full is required before judging commences.
- Substitutions of entries is possible, but needs to be communicated to the World Rum Awards prior to the Due Date.
- If you are shipping your entries yourself, please ensure that all customs, clearance and any associated costs have been paid in advance. If these costs are not paid, the World Rum Awards will invoice any costs occurred, including an administration fee. If these costs remain unpaid, the World Rum Awards are unable to accept the entries.
- The judges’ decision on all matters is final.
- The Organisers may, at their discretion, refuse to accept an entry.
- The Organisers may alter the closing date for the awards, place an entry in the most appropriate style, rule that an entry may not compete or is ineligible to compete, or alter the date, time or place on or at which the awards are scheduled to take place.
- The Chair of Judges has the power to disqualify any entry not deemed as meeting the entry criteria.
- These rules are governed by the laws of the UK.
- Please note, bottles are unable to be returned. Our policy on unreturned bottles is as follows:
- Opened bottles may be poured at trade and consumer events to promote the individual brand, or included in a charity bottling, the proceeds of which are distributed to charity.
- Closed bottles may be distributed to individual charities on a case by basis, or presented for auction, all proceeds of which are distributed to charity.