Best Rum in Kent

Best Rum in Kent: Our Biggest Seller This Christmas

This Christmas, one bottle stood out above the rest — and we’re so excited to say it became our biggest-selling spirit of the season.

If you’ve been searching for the best rum in Kent, you might just have found it.

Our Smuggler Sam’s Spiced Rum was the surprise festive favourite at the Canterbury Christmas Market, with customers returning again and again for “just one more bottle”… and telling us it was quite simply the best rum they’d tasted in years.

So what made it so popular?

Let’s dive into why this Kent-made rum became the spirit everyone loved.

Why Smuggler Sam’s is the Best Rum in Kent

There’s no shortage of spiced rums on the shelf — but very few are made quite like ours.

At The Foundry in Canterbury, we craft Smuggler Sam’s Spiced Rum from the highest quality molasses, distilling everything in-house before slowly ageing and infusing with real ingredients:

• Spanish oak





• Madagascan vanilla





• Spanish orange peel





• Allspice, cloves, star anise, cinnamon & nutmeg

No artificial flavourings. No shortcuts. Just careful distilling, real spices, and time.

The result is a warm, smooth, well-balanced spiced rum — rich enough to sip neat, yet versatile in cocktails.

Handcrafted Spirits, Not Mass-Produced

One reason so many people connected with the best rum this Christmas is authenticity.

Every stage of our rum-making happens here in Canterbury — fermentation, distillation, ageing and blending. It’s real craft distilling, done on a small scale, by people who care deeply about flavour and quality.

When you buy one of our bottles, you’re supporting independent British rum, not factory-produced spirits.

Award-Winning Canterbury Rum

Behind Smuggler Sam’s Spiced Rum sits a family of world-class, award-winning spirits:

• Smuggler Sam’s White Rum — crowned World’s Best at the World Rum Awards





• Smuggler Sam’s Spiced Rum — awarded IWSC Bronze for balance and depth





• Gamecock Dark Rum — Gold – Best in Style and World’s Best at the World Rum Awards

For a small distillery in Canterbury, this recognition means everything — and it’s made possible by the growing community of people choosing local craft spirits.

The Other Crowd Favourite: Mango & Pineapple Fruit Rum

While Smuggler Sam’s Spiced Rum led the way, many of you also discovered something a little more tropical at our stall.

Our Mango & Pineapple Fruit Rum became another Christmas Market favourite — built on our handcrafted rum and infused with real mango and pineapple.

It’s smooth, fruity, and dangerously easy to drink — perfect over ice, topped with ginger beer, or mixed into a sunshine-bright rum punch.

If spiced rum is for cosy winter evenings, our fruit rum is a taste of summer waiting in your cupboard.

Why Customers Loved It

Over the market season we heard wonderful feedback:

“Wow, that is the best rum I've ever tasted!”
“So smooth I drink it neat.”
“A brilliant local gift.”
“Warm, balanced, not overly sweet.”

That combination of real spice, real fruit, and handcrafted distilling is exactly what we aim for in every bottle.

Spiced Rum Serve Ideas to Try at Home

Now that your bottle is open, here are a few easy serves:

Classic Spiced & Cola
50ml Smuggler Sam’s Spiced Rum
Cola and a squeeze of lime

Kentish Winter Mule
Spiced Rum, ginger beer, lime, cinnamon stick

Tropical Rum Punch
Mango & Pineapple Rum, pineapple juice, lime

Simple, delicious, and perfect for sharing.

What’s Next at The Foundry

Christmas may be over, but we’re just getting started. Over the coming months we’ll be sharing:

• New cocktail ideas





• Behind-the-scenes distilling stories





• Seasonal specials





• And a little something for rum lovers coming soon ?

Keep an eye on our socials and newsletter so you don’t miss out.

Discover Our Canterbury Rum Range

If you missed us at the market — or need a refill — you can explore the full range below:

? Browse Our Rum Collection
You can purchase our Rums from The Goods Shed in Canterbury and in Wildbox Cocktail boxes and bar in Fenwicks Canterbury

Thank You for Supporting Local Craft Spirits

From everyone at Canterbury Brewers & Distillers, thank you for making this Christmas season unforgettable. Whether you bought a bottle as a gift or a well-deserved treat for yourself — we’re honoured to be part of your celebrations.

Here’s to great rum, good company, and many more shared glasses ahead.

Cheers ?