Best Rum for Mai Tai for 2026

Best Rum for Mai Tai for 2026

Mai Tai isn’t just your go-to beachside drink. It’s a cocktail that lets rum take center stage. With lime juice, orange liqueur, orgeat syrup, and, of course, rum, this Tiki classic brings all the tropical flavors we love. But here’s the thing: getting it just right is an art. The rum you pick can make or break the experience, so there's nothing more important than choosing the right one.

Rum itself is an incredibly versatile spirit. It’s distilled from sugarcane juice or molasses and aged in ex-bourbon casks or sherry barrels. Depending on the “where” and “how” of their creation, the flavor profile of rums can vary widely. You need to know your rums properly to mix them right. Luckily for you, we know all about rum. 

If you’re on the lookout for the best rum for Mai Tai cocktails, this article is all you need. We’ve listed 5 of the best bottles here, and all of them are available on Flaviar so you can easily buy whichever one you like from the comfort of your home.

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Our Top 5 Rums for Mai Tai in 2026 Best Rum for Mai Tai

Our team chose every rum on our list carefully, so that you can enjoy a fantastic drinking experience when mixing each bottle in a Mai Tai. Here’s what you need to know about our top options:

Plantation Barbados XO 20th Anniversary Rum
Plantation Barbados XO 20th Anniversary Rum

1.

Plantation Barbados XO 20th Anniversary Rum

Plantation Rum
· 750ml · 40% ABV
About Plantation Barbados XO 20th Anniversary Rum

Plantation Barbados XO 20th Anniversary Rum isn’t just any rum. It’s a Flaviar Community Awards winner, and for good reason. If you’ve tasted it, you already know. If you haven’t, you’re in for something special.

This beauty starts its journey in the Caribbean, aging for eight to fifteen years in ex-bourbon barrels, soaking up all those rich, tropical flavors. It then heads to France, where it spends another two to ten years in smaller French oak casks, adding depth and finesse in the cooler climate.

This entire process results in a sipping rum that is ridiculously rich, aged rum packed with rich aromas and flavors that pull you in from the first sniff. This is the kind of rum you take your time with, savoring every sip while appreciating the years of craftsmanship behind it.

View more about Plantation Barbados XO 20th Anniversary Rum >>
Regular
$60.99
Flaviar black
$57.94 (−5%)
Plantation Barbados XO 20th Anniversary Rum Tasting Notes

Appearance / Color

A deep cherry-wood color.

Nose / Aroma

A satisfying oak aroma with caramel, sweet vanilla, and toasted coconut notes.

Flavor / Taste / Palate

A balanced flavor profile that's bold, with waves of milk chocolate, caramelized honey, and a touch of orange zest.

Finish

A long, warm, and spiced finish with cinnamon orange sticks.

Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve
Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve

2.

Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve

Appleton Estate
About Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve

Having a 250th anniversary is certainly cause for celebration, and what better way to commemorate it than with the release of a special bottle? Joy Spence crafted Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve to mark this milestone, with a blend aged for at least eight years in the warm, tropical climate of Jamaica.

With two parts of Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve, you can concoct the perfect Mai Tai with an otherworldly taste. The spicy and fruity aroma of this spirit, combined with the taste of vanilla and orange peel, dances with your senses while drawing you in for another pour. 

You can enjoy it neat or on the rocks, but there's a reason it's the second-best rum for Mai Tai on this list. It's our favorite way to drink it!

View more about Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve >>
Regular
$47.99
Flaviar black
$38.39 (−20%)
Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve Tasting Notes

Appearance / Color

Honeyed bronze.

Nose / Aroma

Spicy and fruity with a bit of honey. 

Flavor / Taste / Palate

Easygoing with vanilla, spice, and orange peel. 

Finish

Sippable and easy. 

Appleton Estate Extra Old 12 Year Old Rum
Appleton Estate Extra Old 12 Year Old Rum

3.

Appleton Estate Extra Old 12 Year Old Rum

Appleton Estate
· 750ml · 43% ABV
About Appleton Estate Extra Old 12 Year Old Rum

Master Blender Joy Spence from Appleton Estate is back at it again with another legendary rum: the Extra Old 12 Year Old Rum. This drink is a mixture of rare, hand-selected pot and column still rums created with limestone-filtered water. All batches age for a minimum of 12 years in Jamaica under the tropical sun. 

This rum adds layers of complexity to every drink, including a Mai Tai, with notes of dark cocoa, baked banana, and roasted nuts. Isn’t that the perfect combination with the vibrant lime and sweet orgeat in a Mai Tai? Sure, it’s a bit pricey, but the dual nature of being a sipping rum and an excellent cocktail addition makes it worth the cost. 

View more about Appleton Estate Extra Old 12 Year Old Rum >>
$52.99
Appleton Estate Extra Old 12 Year Old Rum Tasting Notes

Appearance / Color

Deep bronze with a honey gold and mahogany tinge.

Nose / Aroma

Toasted oak, dried fruit, hazelnut, dark cocoa, molasses, orange peel, vanilla, and a bit of coffee.

Flavor / Taste / Palate

Rich and full-bodied with flavors of oak, molasses, citrus, vanilla, dark cocoa, and coffee.

Finish

Rich and lingering. 

Ten To One Caribbean Dark Rum
Ten To One Caribbean Dark Rum

4.

Ten To One Caribbean Dark Rum

Ten To One
· 750ml · 40% ABV
About Ten To One Caribbean Dark Rum

Forget about pirates. This Trinidadian maven has reimagined Rum, starting with a fantastic aged expression. Ten To One Caribbean Dark Rum is a masterful blend of Rums from across the Caribbean — eight-year-old Barbados, Dominican and Trinidadian column still Rums aged in ex-Bourbon casks combined with pot still Rum...

View more about Ten To One Caribbean Dark Rum >>
Regular
$44.99
Flaviar black
$40.49 (−10%)
Ten To One Caribbean Dark Rum Tasting Notes
Appearance / Color
Honey Amber with golden yellow hues.

Nose / Aroma / Smell
Driven by cooked fruit character, and baking spices. Esters are quite present, banana peel, and baked yellow apple. Nut loaf, oatmeal cookie, roasted nuts, and toffee.

Flavor / Taste / Palate
Much more savory in character versus driven by esters. Tobacco, cedar, mulch, and vanilla. Baked apples and banana bread. Worn leather flavors. Tangy and nutty.

Finish
Finishes dry and clean.
El Dorado 15 Year Old
El Dorado 15 Year Old

5.

El Dorado 15 Year Old

El Dorado
About El Dorado 15 Year Old

El Dorado 15 Year Old is another Flaviar Community Awards recipient and a true icon in the rum world. It’s no stranger to the spotlight, having been named "Best Rum in the World" at the International Wine & Spirits Competition four years in a row.

Aged for 15 years in oak barrels, this Guyanese demerara rum is often called "liquid gold" for a reason. It’s rich, mellow, and perfectly balanced, with deep aromas and a complex flavor profile that ends in a long, spicy finish. If you're after a finely aged sipping rum that rivals some of the top Cognacs and other premium spirits, El Dorado 15 Year Old is one you don’t want to miss.

View more about El Dorado 15 Year Old >>
$60.99
El Dorado 15 Year Old Tasting Notes

Appearance / Color

A deep, dark amber color.

Nose / Aroma

An unexpectedly sweet aroma with brown sugar, dried fruits, and honey notes.

Flavor / Taste / Palate

An overall sweet flavor profile with notes of mince pies, toffee, and brown sugar.

Finish

A long, lingering finish laced with dark spices.

What Is a Good Rum Mai Tai Recipe?

The classic Mai Tai is a delicate balance of sweet and citrusy flavors with the right spirit. Here’s our tried-and-true version of a good rum Mai Tai:

  • 1 oz aged Jamaican rum 
  • 1 oz aged Martinique or blended rum
  • ¾ oz fresh lime juice
  • ½ oz orange curaçao
  • ¼ oz orgeat syrup
  • ¼ oz simple syrup

Shake all these ingredients with crushed ice and strain into an old-fashioned glass. Top it off with a mint sprig or lime shell garnish. If you want to add some extra oomph, float Plantation O.F.T.D. as one of the rums at the top. This will bring the heat to every sip you take. 

How to Choose the Best Rum for Mai Tai?

Think of two things only: balance and character. You can go for aged rums if you want greater complexity, and bold rums if you want to turn the party up a notch. Look for rums with a mix of tropical fruit, molasses, and juice. 

These are the qualities that stand out even when you blend the rum into a Mai Tai. Don’t stress if you’re on a budget. These rums may cost a fair bit, but the value they provide is tenfold. 

How Much Does a Rum for a Mai Tai Cost?

You can get a great rum for Mai Tai starting at midrange prices, as you’ll see with Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve. From there, you can go up to $60 or higher for more premium and artisanal bottles. 

Here’s a tip: don’t always go for the expensive option. That might be a good idea for sipping rums, but if you want to buy rum for a Mai Tai, you want to be looking at the other factors we mentioned above. If you want to explore more options, our list of the best rum under $100 is worth checking out.

Can You Drink the Same Rum Straight You Used in a Mai Tai?

Absolutely. Most of the rums we’ve talked about aren’t just great in a Mai Tai—they’re just as good for slow sipping. El Dorado 15 Year Old and Plantation Barbados XO, for example, can go from cocktail shaker to snifter without missing a beat. 

What Other Cocktails Can You Make With Rum?

Mai Tai is just the beginning. Rums can easily work in other Tiki favorites, such as the Zombie or Painkiller. You can also use them in classics like the Daiquiri or Mojito for more complexity. Once you get started, there’s really no limit to the kinds of liquid gems you can create.

More Rums for Mai Tai