Martinique Rum Crowned World’s Best at Caribbean Rum Awards 2025 in St Barth

By: - December 26th, 2025
le barthelemy wellness
The Le Barthelemy hotel.

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; head 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.

In a special category field, Papa’s Pilar Blonde Rum took home the double gold medal, followed by Island Company Rum with Gold, Dos Maderas 3+5 with Silver and Moneymusk Classic Gold with Bronze.

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

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