The French Caribbean island of Martinique is once again the home of the World’s Best Rum. The island’s legendary Rhum Depaz took home the World Championship at this year’s Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth, the region’s premier rum competition and festival, in the annual international blind tasting at the Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth resort.
The prestigious title marks a milestone moment for Rhum Depaz, underscoring Martinique’s continued leadership in artisanal, terroir-driven rum production and bested the field with its legendary Cuvee Prestige.
It comes after another Martinique rum, Trois Riveres’ Triple Millesime, won the World Championship last year — and followed it up with a second-place finish this year.
It was the eighth annual edition of the Caribbean Rum Awards, the region’s most prestigious rum competition and it’s most exclusive rum festival.
Leading the Molasses category was the Dos Maderas Luxus, a blend of 10-year-old rums from Barbados and Guyana finished in 20-year-old Pedro Ximenez sherry casks for five years.
“This was the most competitive field we’ve ever had,” said Alexander Britell, editor of Caribbean Journal and founder of the Caribbean Rum Awards. “It’s a testament to the growing diversity and quality of the universe of rum — there’s simply nothing else like this spirit.”
This year’s Caribbean Rum Awards brought together an international panel of judges, including leading rum experts from the Caribbean, France, the United Kingdom and the United States.
At the landmark blind tasting, the panel evaluated an extensive field of more than 50 rums representing both Rhum Agricole and Molasses rum expressions.
Rhum Depaz Cuvée Prestige XO rose to the top for its refined structure, layered aromatics, and long, balanced finish. Judges praised the winning expression as a benchmark in aged agricole rum, reflecting both the volcanic soils of Martinique and the meticulous aging program at the historic Depaz distillery on the slopes of Mount Pelée.
This year’s annual event saw a host of events across the island of St Barth, including the Tradewind Aviation opening party at Le Barthelemy, the Twilight Party at Les Ilets de la Plage; the Wimco St Barth Properties Rum on the Beach event at Saline; the Rum Pairing dinner at the Rosewood and tastings around the island.
This year’s panel was led by Alexander Britell, editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal founder of the Caribbean Rum Awards; senior judge Jose Antonio Hernandez-Solaun, president of the Miami branch of the International Wine and Food Association, senior judge Peter Berntsen, COO of Empire Social Lounge in Miami; and senior judges Chef Guy Ferdinand, the renowned chef from Martinique and Simons Chase, editor of Cuba Journal.
They were joined by Myssi Davis and Joe Horstkamp of Rum Travelers; Miami-based rum expert Dennis Rodriguez; Mike Wilson, President of OBMI; and Antoine Fournier, head bartender at the Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth.
The complete results of the 2025 Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth are included below, featuring category winners from Martinique, Guadeloupe, Barbados, Puerto Rico, Guyana, Jamaica, and the broader world of rum.
Rhum Blanc Martinique
Rhum A1710 La Perle – Double Gold
Trois Rivières 55 – Gold
Rhum Nelson Dekolaj – Silver
Rhum Saint James La Salle – Bronze
Rhum Blanc Guadeloupe
Rhum Bielle 50 – Double Gold
Rhum Karukera 50 – Gold
Reimonenq Millesime 2015 Blanc – Silver
Reimonenq Coeur de Chauffe – Bronze
VSOP
Fusion Caraïbes VSOP – Double Gold
Trois Rivières VSOP – Gold
Rhum Bielle 2019 – Silver
Rhum Depaz VSOP – Bronze
XO
Trois Rivières 1999 – Double Gold
Reimonenq 7 Ans – Gold
Rhum Bielle 2018 – Silver
La Mauny XO – Bronze
Ultra-Premium Rhum Agricole
Rhum Depaz Cuvee Prestige XO – Double Gold
Trois Rivières Triple Millésime – Gold
Rhum Neisson L’Empyreumatique – Silver
Rhum Bielle Canne Grise – Bronze
Premium Molasses Rum
Ron del Barrilito Three Star – Double Gold
Mount Gay XO – Gold
Papa’s Pilar Dark Rum – Silver
Moneymusk Special Reserve – Bronze
Ultra-Premium Molasses Rum
Dos Maderas Luxus – Double Gold
Moneymusk MSR 2007 – Gold
Mount Gay Single Estate Series 02 – Silver
E. Leon Jimenes Rum – Bronze
World Championship
Rhum Depaz Cuvee Prestige – Double Gold (World’s Best Rum 2025)
Trois Rivières Triple Millésime – Gold
Rhum Neisson L’Empyreumatique – Silver
Dos Maderas Luxus – Bronze
Caribbean Journal Staff
2025-12-26 20:07:00