Supermarket Aldi’s own-label rum range has been praised by industry experts at one of the world’s most highly regarded blind tasting competitions, the Spirits Business Rum Masters

Judges awarded Aldi’s Sea Dog Premium Spiced Rum (£16.99) a coveted Gold medal alongside Ableforth’s Rumbullion! Navy-Strength (£45)[1], which retails at nearly THREE times the price of the Sea Dog Premium Spiced Rum.

Noting its excellence in taste and great-value price point, the panel commended the rum’s unique notes of sweet vanilla, warming spices, coffee and a citrus lime kick – finished with a deep and flavoursome aftertaste. Aldi’s bestselling Old Hopking Spiced Rum (£10.49) was also awarded a Silver medal.

Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, said: “We are delighted that our own-label rums have excelled once again at an international competition. Our UK based buying team are constantly challenging themselves with new and exciting innovation to add to our range, so seeing new products win awards is a real testament to their hard work.

“Rum continues to be a popular product with Aldi shoppers, and in 2018 alone we sold over 2million bottles of the spirit. As more shoppers tap into the trend for creating cocktails at home, we’re expecting another great year of sales.”

Amy Hopkins, Deputy Editor at The Spirits Business, also commented: “Aldi UK once again secured some impressive accolades in The Spirits Business’s Rum & Cachaça Masters.

“In the competitive Spiced round, the retailer’s Sea Dog Premium Spiced Rum was praised for its buttery sweetness, whilst Old Hopking Spiced Rum impressed the judging panel with its balanced sweet and herbaceous flavour. In such a rigorous blind-tasting, the team at Aldi should be very pleased with their performance.”

Peter Morrell, Food Editor added “This is great news and is proof that Aldi deliver a combination of high quality and good value spirits. I’ve recently sampled one of the other rums in the Aldi range, the Old Hopking Dark Rum (£9.99 for 70cl bottle). This is a super-smooth rum imported from the Caribbean. The bouquet reveals a strong aromatic character and on the palate there are rich flavours of raisins, vanilla, toffee and dark cane sugar. The long persistent finish offers tones of tobacco and coffee. You can drink this rum neat or as a cocktail. Try it in a Daiquiri, mix it with lime and ginger beer or spirit up a New Orleans Hurricane with passion fruit syrup and lime.”

Aldi’s drinks range has gone from strength to strength in recent times, having been awarded an impressive 50 accolades for its spirits range over the past year. For more information about Aldi’s award-winning range, visit https://www.aldi.co.uk/c/spirits/all-spirits