2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Unveils Rum ‘Best in Class’ Finalists

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition has convened for its 24th year to sort out the best of the best within the liquor industry. Every April, a who's who of alcohol insiders, critics, educators and bar owners convene in California for the world's largest spirits judging competition. Tasting blind, judges create an even playing field that unites the world's many disparate spirits types; household names like Bacardi and Jack Daniel's duke it out against niche liqueurs, mezcals, ready-to-drink cocktails and more. Old favorites and recent releases compete side by side, jostling for the top spot.

What Are the Criteria?

SFSWC judges award spirits Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals. The description of what constitutes a Gold medal is: “Exceptional spirits that are near the pinnacle of achievement; these products set the standard for their categories.” Over the course of four days, judges work in teams to sift through the over 5,000 submitted entries. Spirits unanimously awarded Gold by all judges are graduated to the status of Double Gold. Though Double Gold carries a high mark of distinction within the competition, it should be noted that hundreds of spirits are given the award every year (find this year's Double Gold whiskey and tequila winners here). The picks become far more selective when it comes to Best In Class. Judges whittle down five exemplary bottles in each category, one of which will be crowned Best in Show at the Las Vegas Top Shelf Gala in October. Ahead of the grand ceremony, we thought we'd take a look at this year's rum finalists. Divided into three categories, judges selected 15 rums for the annual Best in Class honor. Find the full list below:

Best White Rum

[caption id="attachment_67256" align="aligncenter" width="600"] (Photo: Katelyn Tucker Photography/2024 SF Spirits Competition)[/caption] Revival Rum Pure Cane Spirit Rhum Barbancourt Haitian Proof White 110 Bayou White Rum Club Kokomo Artisanal Rum White Oxbow Rum Distillery Small Batch White Rum

Best Dark/Gold Rum

[caption id="attachment_67257" align="aligncenter" width="600"] (Photo: Katelyn Tucker Photography/2024 SF Spirits Competition)[/caption] Ron Añejo Calazan Phraya Deep Matured Gold Rum Holmes Cay Fiji Single Blended Rum Black Tot Finest Caribbean Black Tot Master Blender's Reserve 2023

Best Extra-Aged Rum

[caption id="attachment_67258" align="aligncenter" width="600"] (Photo: Katelyn Tucker Photography/2024 SF Spirits Competition)[/caption] Saltwater's CREW ONLY 8Y Zacapa XO Flor de Caña 18 Mount Gay Single Estate Series The ImpEx Collection 2007 15 YO Long Pond Rum Cask 12 ITP 50 [botmc-promo]