5 Fantastic Rums to Pair with a Thanksgiving Feast

(Photo: Unsplash)

It’s that time of year when families gather and share precious moments, gifts and most importantly….meals. Although, the holiday feast is not complete without a complimentary beverage to elevate the annual celebratory foods. Rum can bring new dimensions to your favorite dishes by adding rich and diverse flavors. There are a plethora of options for rums that can add a delightful twist to the traditional flavors on Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season.

Here is our list of rums that will perfectly complement a holiday feast.

Pampero Aniversario Reserva Exclusiva

(Photo: Rum Raiders)

Pampero is an excellent choice for those looking for an easy-drinking sipping rum. The rum is on the sweeter side but don’t let that deter you, it has a decadent palate that pairs well with many side dishes that a popular around this time of year. 

The Venezuelan rum has rich aromas of raisins, leather and maple butter that lead into flavors of chocolate, dates and a hint of tobacco. Pampero Aniversario would pair well with savory stuffing and sweet potatoes. If you prefer to end the meal with rum then try it alongside a slice of pumpkin pie or an apple crumble for a sinfully delicious combo. 

Barbancourt 5 Star Réserve Spéciale 8 yr

(Photo: Rhum Barbancourt)

Babancourt is a Haitian rhum brand that focuses on making rum from cane juice which gives it a different complexity than those made from molasses. A fragrance of ripe tropical fruits, including banana and pineapple, blends seamlessly with warm oak that leads into subtle notes of vanilla. The cane adds a grassy note in the background that gives depth to the sweeter notes of the rhum. 

It can complement the sweet and savory elements of Thanksgiving alike, especially if you pair it with dishes like candied sweet potatoes or glazed ham. The agricole like funk also brings vibrancy to green bean casserole or stewed collard greens. 

Bayou Rum Mardi Gras XO

(Photo: Rum Raiders)

This Louisiana-born rum will truly be a great addition to the table this Thanksgiving. The Bayou XO Mardi Gras rum is double matured. First in bourbon barrels for up to 5 years and then finished for 1 extra year in Spanish Pedro Ximenez sherry barrels. The double aging gives the rum a combination of flavors that pair well with just about anything. 

“Pleasant, full of cola, baking spice, honey, clove, nutmeg, ginger, caramel and espresso. Dark profile, plenty of richness on the back palate. Natural and complex as time progresses” said our Spirits Critic Jay West.  

Those flavors are a holiday meal in itself. The spiced notes would bring a touch of warmth to turkey while cranberry sauce would give the rum a lift of acidity. 

Ron Centenario 30 Aniversario Edición Limitada

(Photo: Ron Centenario)

For those willing to splurge a bit, Ron Centenario 30 is an excellent accompaniment to any festive meal. This solera style rum is the essence of Costa Rican rum-making tradition. The 30 Aniversario Edición uses a blend of rums aged whisky barrels from different areas of Scotland. 

This rum offers a balance of sweetness and spice, with flavors of dried fruit, chocolate, and a touch of charred oak. It can complement the richness of dishes like roast turkey and stuffing.

Kuleana Rum Works Nanea

(Photo: Kuleana Rum Works)

Give yourself a tropical vacation while enjoying your holiday dinner with a Hawaiian Agricole Rum. Kuleana Rum Work’s Nanea blends the distillery’s own aged Hawaiian cane juice rum with molasses based rums from Gutemala, El Salvador, Trinidad and Venezuela. There is a fragrant hit of orange peel the leads into a light taste of dried mango, caramel, clover honey and touches of cinnamon and nutmeg. 

Nanea has bright citrusy notes that highlight autumnal and winter dishes. The honey and baking spices are perfect alongside an apple and pecan salad or warm baked brie with walnuts. This rum would be the toast of the meal. 

Remember, personal preference is most important when pairing, so feel free to explore and discover the combination that suits your taste buds best.

Read Next:

Boozy Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes Made With Rum

What Is Coquito? Everything You Need to Know About the Popular Caribbean Holiday Drink

The 5 Best Spiced Rums Better Than Captain Morgan

Thanksgiving Cocktails: Gin Cranberry Smash, Pumpkin Spice Spritz and More

Here at The Daily Pour, we do more than write about current events in spirit. We are the only media property reviewing spirits and aggregating the scores and reviews of other significant voices in the spirit world in one place. If you’re interested in getting a shot of spirit in your morning email, sign up for our Whiskey Deal of the Day Newsletter