Camikara, India’s first pure cane juice aged rum by Piccadilly Agro, has won top honours at two of the world’s most respected rum competitions, marking a breakthrough for Indian spirits on the international stage.
The brand’s 8-Year-Old variant was awarded the highest Master Medal at the Global Rum & Cachaça Masters Awards in the UK, while its 3-Year-Old secured a Gold Medal for the second year in a row. Camikara is the only Indian rum to have won both distinctions at the same competition, making it one of the rums that should definitely find place on your bar carts.
In the United States, the Camikara 8YO also earned a Double Gold at The Fifty Best, an honour given only to spirits that receive unanimous top scores.
Unlike most rums made from molasses, Camikara is crafted from fresh sugarcane juice, processed within 36 hours of harvest to retain the crop’s natural character. This is exactly what gives the rum its luxuriously smooth texture and taste, making it stand out among the best.
And for rum, it doesn’t stop at Camikara. As Indian-produced liquors step into the global spotlight, a new set of local, homegrown labels are redefining what rum can look and taste like.
Here are five Indian rums worth adding to your cart right now, for every kind of rum-lover.
Lost & Found Tropical Spiced Rum
Created by the Third Eye Distillery, which is the one behind Short Story and Stranger & Sons, this one’s a rather tropical spin on your good old rum, exactly how the name suggests. With roots in Goa, this rum by Lost & Found is perfect for the taste of India in a glass. Using Indian sugarcane spirit and local botanicals, the makers of Lost & Found have deliberately crafted the rum around Indian monsoons, spice-forward food, harvest festivals, and coastal regions.
Its most attractive feature is the edge of spice, going after the many distinct spices we use in our everyday cup of tea. It’s sharp, tangy, citrusy and deep, especially perfect for the upcoming summer.
Price: INR 1,600
Amrut Bella
Bella by Amrut Distilleries is perhaps their most unique rum, thanks to what it constitutes. Made using 100% jaggery, ‘Bella’ quite literally translates to jaggery in Kannada. For what goes into the rum, folks at Amrut have crafted it using harvests from the sugarcane belt of Chikodi in Belagavi, situated in Northern Karnataka.
With rather nutty notes, the liquor is aged 6 years in barrels previously used for bourbon, which adds a smoky sweetness to the flavour. While most rums are fashioned out of molasses, this one’s quite sought-after for its jaggery base, which is exactly what allows it to stand out.
On the nose, Bella offers notes of coconut and vanilla, while it is distinctly citrusy and fruity on the palate. And since jaggery is so distinctly Indian, it’s all the more reason to love it!
Price: INR 3,500
Idaaya
A Himalayan variant of Indian rum, this one’s backed with a unique production and crafting process. First, the people behind Idaaya have used rum made in Panama in Central America, which is then aged for a whopping 12 years in an Indian molasses spirit, right in the heart of Jammu. As one would expect, Idaaya is quite the opposite of a sharp rum. It’s smooth, luxurious, and warm, slipping down the throat almost like water, with notes of jaggery, toasted oak, and most importantly, caramel, dark chocolate, and vanilla.
The name itself is a combination of the ancient Sanskrit word ‘ida,’ which means mystic energy, and ‘aya’, the last three letters of Himalaya—a homage to the region that births this rather flavourful rum.
Price: INR 8,190
Maka Zai’s MESMA
This is Stilldistilling Spirits’ limited-edition, small-batch, premium rum, with only 600 bottles available initially. What makes it special is the maturation process. After spending about 5 years in bourbon casks, MESMA is developed into a dark cherry colour. This gives it a smoky, complex flavour profile, adding significant value to the experience of consuming it.
On the nose, MESMA boasts of orange peel, banana, tobacco, molasses, and sweet berries. Meanwhile, its velvety smooth, with prominent notes of citrus, vanilla, apricot, oak, and cocoa.
Price: INR 3,600
Short Story Rum
Unlike others on this list, this one’s a white variant of rum, and an excellent one at that.
Again, from the makers of Third Eye Distillery, Short Story is best described as tropical and grassy, and is produced as a pleasant blend of Indian, Jamaican, Trinidadian and Dominican flavours. The most prominent notes are vanilla and clove, making for a rather warm and sharp drink.
On the nose, Short Story offers notes of sugarcane, coconut, and pineapple, with a grassy hint, thanks to the Jamaican flavours. Meanwhile, the palate is all about ripe mango, coconut cream, vanilla, and tropical fruit. The texture is luscious and smooth, making it a must-try.
Price: INR 900
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