Celebrated spirits writer Ian Buxton recommends seven stand-out rums.

Rum is having a moment. No longer the poor relation of the spirits world, after years in the doldrums it's once again a 'thing'.

But which one should you try next? White, gold or spiced, flavoured or dark, unusual or blow the budget?

To shed some light on the tastiest drops, we caught up with rum expert Ian Buxton, author of 101 Rums To Try Before You Die, who suggests seven of the best rums to invest in...

1. White: Aldi's Old Hopking White (£9.99, 70cl, Aldi)

There are some days when all you want from your rum is a pleasant hit of alcohol, a bit of complexity and depth and a sensible price. This may just hit the spot. It may come in at a modest 37.5% ABV but, tasted neat, it drinks fuller than that, and in practical terms, all it means is that your chosen mixer goes further because you won't be using as much.

2. Gold: Penny Blue VSOP (£17.85, 70cl, Berry Bros & Rudd)

The Indian Ocean Rum Company is a joint venture between the Medine Distillery of Mauritius and London wine merchants Berry Bros & Rudd who have been trading since 1698. Initially, this VSOP expression may well strike you as rather dry, especially if you are more accustomed to a sweeter Caribbean style (there is no added sugar here). But give it time; fruitier notes will come to the fore and the vanilla, cedar wood and spice of the casks becomes apparent.

3. Spiced: Bristol Black Spiced (£47.95,70cl, Master of Malt)

If you like spiced rum, fill your boots with Bristol Black Spiced and all shall be well in your world. And if you don't like spiced rum, buy some anyway and change your mind. This is a blend of aged rums with generous helpings of fruit and spice. Thankfully, it is far from sweet, compared to the spiced rum you may be thinking of, more resembling a liquid Christmas cake with marzipan and dark, brooding, spicy depths.

4. Flavoured: Stiggins' Fancy Plantation Pineapple (£34.95, 70cl, Master of Malt)

A passing reference in Charles Dickens' The Pickwick Papers inspired this rum. Pineapples are peeled by hand and the rinds infused with Plantation 3 Stars rum. Separately, the flesh of the peeled fruits is infused for three months in Plantation Original Dark rum and the two liquids married together and then rested in oak.

This is absurdly tasty. What's more, it's ridiculously cheap, which, when you consider it, can hardly cover the work involved. Drink it neat, drink it over ice, drink it as a toddy with lemon, but drink it you must.

5. Dark: Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva (£37.95, 70cl, The Whisky Exchange)

This is a spirit of truly exceptional quality. The distillery was founded in 1959, remains in local ownership and is one of the largest groups in Venezuela. Right from my first sip, I really was entranced by its power, majesty and balance; this is a rich, fruity and complex spirit. I should add the caveat that it is quite sweet - not cloyingly so and not out of balance. Diplomatico is one of those rums that add sugar to the final blend, a practice that deeply offends some purists. Approach it with an open mind and be prepared for a treat.

6. Unusual: Ryoma 7 Years (£64.45, 70cl, The Whisky Exchange)

I was excited to discover this, and the minimalist packaging and dark glass further piqued my interest. Japan is much better known for its whiskies, so while the distilling skills and tradition are there, rum comes as a surprise.

Ryoma is made in the style of a rhum agricole, typical of the French-speaking Caribbean, made from freshly pressed sugar cane rather than the more common molasses base. The liquid is accordingly pale, despite its age, and the rum itself is lighter, more fragrant and drier in style than you may expect. If you are looking for something intriguing and very different, you may just have found it.

7. Blow the budget: Appleton Estate Joy Anniversary Blend 25 Year Old (£220, 70cl, The Whisky Exchange)

How good can rum be? Really good - great, in fact. This astonishingly fine 25-year-old blend from Jamaica's Appleton Estate is bottled to commemorate Joy Spence's two decades as Master Blender.

Do not mix this. Joy is for sipping thoughtfully with good friends. Joy is immensely rich; smack full of dark orange, hints of a good Italian espresso coffee, Christmas cake and dark brown sugar and, to be quite honest with you here, lots of other good, tasty things that I can't quite manage to decode, so skilfully have they been woven together.

Extracted from 101 Rums to Try Before You Die by Ian Buxton is published by Birlinn, priced £12.99. Available now.