For this year’s World Cocktail Championship’s® Rum edition, we saw some real contenders showcase that you don’t have to be a literal giant to climb your way to the top of the sugar cane stalk. We shook up some Rum Daiquiris with 2 oz of Rum, ½ oz simple syrup, and ¾ oz of fresh squeezed lime juice, and let our expert judges loose! Staking their claim in the coveted number one spot was Holmes Cay Heritage Blend Ron Rhum Rum Esotico Edition, and it wowed the panel by managing to have a little bit of every major Rum and sugar cane flavor going on, which spoke to its high quality as well as having something to please everyone. The classic flavor profile with a tangy twist left pleasant floral notes on the finish lending to a best in show Daiquiri with some welcomed aged characteristics. The panel’s number two pick was Plantation Isle of Fiji Double Barrel Rum, which allowed the tropical fruits and brown sugar notes to create a well-rounded Daiquiri that showcased how the aged and woody notes of the Rum complimented the spiciness of the lime juice. Third place went to Kuleana Rum Works Hawaiian Rum Agricole Batch No. 105; the Agricole style of this Rum added some great grassy notes that elevated the Daiquiri and lent itself as a lighter, more herbaceous expression. The fourth slot in the competition was filled by Tanduay Silver Asian Rum, and the judges noted its benchmark taste and amazing aromas, which allowed each ingredient to shine through yet harmonized with the Rum and its style. Time flies when you’re having Rum, so drink up!