Old Monk Indian Rum is The World’s Most Sought-After Rum

When you think of rum, the sandy beaches and blue waters of the Caribbean likely come to mind. Or maybe you think of the United States — because while we’re known for bourbon these days, rum was actually the original American spirit. But rum can be made anywhere, and the most sought-after bottle in the world isn’t even from this side of the globe.

A new report from Wine-Searcher outlines the most wanted rums on their website, and a $21 bottle from India — Old Monk XXX Very Old Vatted 7 Year Old — is the number one most-searched-for bottle. And it isn’t even the only Indian rum on the list. MrDowell’s No. 1 Celebration Matured XXX (a real steal at $2) comes in second place, and Old Monk The Legend Very Old ($29) comes in third. Indian rums also take the fifth and seventh spots with Old Monk Supreme XXX Very Old ($26) and Old Monk Gold Reserve 12 Year Old ($25), respectively.

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India’s showing on this list shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. The country is becoming a bona fide destination for gin lovers, and whisky aficionados are also increasingly seeking out its single malts. But the fact that five out of the 10 most-searched-for rums come from India is pretty cool and unexpected.

Rounding out the top 10 is Bacardi 151 Rum (Puerto Rico, $55) at number four, Brugal Leyenda Rum (Dominican Republic, $60) at number six, Foursquare Rum Distillery Vintage (Barbados, $111) at number eight, Diplomatico Botucal Single Vintage (Venezuela, $125) at number nine and Khukri Coronation Rum (Nepal, $26) at number 10. While there are definitely some more expected rum locales named here, India still snagged eight of the top 25 most-searched-for rums, and nearly all the searches for Indian rum come from within India. The country charges very high tariffs on imported spirits, which is likely why so many in the country are searching for domestic drinks.

Luckily, you can try some of the Old Monk Indian rum bottlings for yourself, as they are available stateside. Given the brand’s popularity, we’re certainly curious to taste it.