From Panama, Jamaica, Fiji and beyond, these bottles are made for more than Coke.

Rum doesn’t play by the rules, but that’s because it has no rules. Unlike other spirits it can be brewed in many different ways and has no concrete production methods or mandates by which it must be made. It means rum can come in a multitude of guises – which is partially the reason for its chequered reputation – but also that there’s a rum for every taste and persuasion.

For a while now, we’ve been told rum was on the verge of a breakout moment. That whiskey drinkers would fall head over heels for the alternative brown spirit and tequila drinkers would cross over to the dark side. Rum’s leading role is yet to be released, but when it is, we’ve got a hunch on casting. To celebrate World Rum Day (July 9), we’re spotlighting seven bottles that will broaden your rum horizons.

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1. The Daiquiri darling

Rockstar Spirits Banana Bomb Navy Strength Spiced Rum is spiced rum at it’s yummiest with notes of baking spices, salted caramel and subtle banana. Sweet to drink neat, interesting in a pour-over cocktail and delicious in a Banana Daiquiri (obvs), this bottle is great to have on hand when entertaining. Just note it’s 57% ABV. Yep, it’s aged old Bourbon Casks and distilled to Navy Strength. Also cool to know, Rockstar’s Bomb range is made with fair trade rum from Panama that is carbon neutral in a distillery run entirely by renewable biomass energy.

2. The bottle handmade in paradise

Charred in oak barrels, filtered through coconut shell carbon and made with hand-cut sugar cane grown in ancient volcanic soil and the world’s purest water, this rum is made for the gods! RUM Co. of Fiji 5 Year Old Spiced Premium Rum is smooth and distinctly clean tasting. The Fijian climate and craftsmanship truly shines in this spiced rum. The flavours are delicate and there’s a hint of citrus that makes it perfect for mixing with a soda. However, true fans argue the only way to really let the palette shine is by drinking it neat. Fijian rum has a serious cult following. Time to join them.

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The tropical holiday transporter captain morgan

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3. The tropical holiday transporter

Captain Morgan Tropical is fruity spiced gold in a bottle. Juicy, vibrant and a good amount of kick, it’s inspired by pirate adventures in the South Pacific. Boy, would the crew be happy to find this where ‘X’ marks the spot. It's made by adding the quintessential tropical juices (pineapple and mango) with the classic Captain Morgan Rum. We recommend serving it in a cool blended-fruit cocktail or over ice, the way you’d want it if life was all palm trees and thirty-eight degrees.

4. The refined ruffian

This Aussie distillery describes crafting their signature rum in a way that recalls the Genovian glam squad wrangling Anne Hathaway into something resembling a princess. 23rd Street Distillery Signature Rum 700mL has taken the wild card of spirits, given it an elocution lesson, polished its shoes and made it presentable to party with whiskey. There’s a sticky, toasty, marmalade and ginger sweetness to this rum, thanks to the raw and robustness of Australian sugar cane. It’s double-distilled and stored in newly ex-bourbon barrels. All of which makes it a tipple to write home about, gift, or pour and impress your dinner guests.

The refined ruffian 23rd distillery signature rum

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Appleton Estate Signature Blend Jamaica Rum

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5. The Caribbean enigma

Crafted in the heart of Jamaica, Appleton Estate Signature Blend Jamaica Rum is hard to put your finger on. It’s Jamaican rum — known for its strong flavour and certain funk — but it’s also a blended rum made with a combination of several types, styles and ages of rum, hocus-pocus-ed together to a perfect balance. This method means the bottle doesn’t have an age statement, but the colour is golden, the drinkability soft and smooth, the flavour rich and full-bodied. Great in a cocktail, but even better in a dessert. Jamaican rum is famed for being the magic ingredient in candies, ice cream and, of course, Jamaican rum cake.

6. The globetrotter

By the time Plantation Original Dark Double Aged Rum is in your glass, it's already been to three continents. Comprising rich rums from Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad (think plums, vanilla, banana), it’s aged in the tropical climate in American oak barrels before being shipped to France for further maturing and blending with much older Jamaican rums (as much as 20 years). At the end of the journey, what’s left is a wise, smoky, sweet, spiced rum begging to be expertly mixed into a cocktail. Like a Mai Tai. Maraschino cherries essential.

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7. The crowd pleaser

Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum has been the go-to dark rum of hipsters since hipsters happened. Its attraction starts with the iconic hula girl tattoo on the label, a tribute to the brand’s namesake Norman 'Sailor Jerry' Collins, the father of old school tattooing. But the seduction is really about the taste. Made in the U.S. Virgin Islands with local natural spices, vanilla, lime and toffee, it’s sweet but far from sickly. Suffice to say, this favourite isn’t being knocked from its podium anytime soon.