Drink Your Way Around the Caribbean: 18 Rum Experiences You Won’t (or will) Forget
When you think of the Caribbean, you think of sandy beaches, sunny days, the welcoming people, and of course, the rum!
Originating in the West Indies, the first mention of rum is recorded back in 1650 when it was known as ‘kill-devil’ or ‘rumbullion’, but by 1667 it was simply called rum.
The distilled liquor is made from sugarcane products such as molasses and can be either light-bodied or heavy, dark, and full-bodied, typically depending on where in the Caribbean it’s produced. With its diverse range of uses, this popular substance is consumed in many different countries either on its own or in a cocktail, in desserts, sauces, and other dishes as well as for flavoring tobacco.
Though there are other places in the world that distill rum, churches, sugar plantations, and rum distilleries are interwoven into the history of the Caribbean. If you’re headed to this beautiful region and want to learn more about the best rum distilleries to visit or rum tours to go on, here are 18 rum experiences to put on your bucket list:
1. Mount Gay Visitors Centre, Barbados:
The distillery allows you to experience the site where Mount Gay has distilled rum for over 300 years. The distillery tours take you through their fully operational rum-making headquarters where you will experience tales of history and heritage. It is a rum lover’s paradise.
2. Cayman Spirits Company Distillery, Grand Cayman:
The handcrafted spirits from this distillery began as small-batch spirits in 2008. Doing everything by hand, they used local ingredients and traditional West Indies distilling techniques to create their spirits. This is still done the same way today and with a tireless eye for detail, Cayman’s Spirits Co goes beyond tradition to bring together their award-winning spirits.
3. River Antoine Rum Distillery, Grenada:
This distillery is a Caribbean rum history wonderland. With a two-century-old water wheel powering the cane mill, it really is a sight to see and results in cane juice being processed the same as it was in the 1600s. The rum tours take you back to pre-industrial revolution rum making and with very little Caribbean rum exported from this distillery, it’s easy to understand why it’s highly sought after.
4. Hampden Estate, Jamaica:
Distilling Caribbean rum for the past 265 years, this estate is wrapped in history. Renowned throughout the world for its full, intensely flavorful pot still rums, Hampden Estate continues today to be the heavy pot still rum of choice. Their secret production methods are no doubt the reason behind this, using spring water and tropical aging techniques that have been used since the 18th century.
5. Appleton Estate, Jamaica:
This distillery is a multi-sensory journey through the essence of Jamaica's spirit. The estate’s passion for Caribbean rum crafting began with the first distillation in 1749 in the mystical location known as the Nassau Valley. Its uniqueness can be defined by the ‘karst’, a rare landscape made of cone-like limestone hill formations, caves, and underground water sources. This peculiar natural terrain filters the rain, creating streams of clear water that give extraordinary flavor to the local sugar cane.
6. Habitation Clement, Martinique:
This vast agricultural estate of 160 hectares is nestled in the southeast of Martinique. A major heritage site, it brings together a contemporary art center and a renowned rum house. It has managed to preserve it agricultural and industrial function while introducing the botanical world of Caribbean rum and the creole world. Known as the ‘House of Illustrious’, Habitation Clement receives around 100,000 visitors a year come for the rum tour and to discover and explore this exceptional place.
7. Casa Bacardi, Puerto Rico:
The Bacardi Rum Company was officially founded in 1862. A tropical experience from industrial innovations, Bacardi has been awarded for its achievements in quality and production since the very beginning. To date, Bacardi has received over 990 awards and is known as the world’s most awarded rum.
8. St Lucia Distillers, St Lucia:
St Lucia Distillers have been recognized in the world’s most challenging competitions, winning numerous accolades and awards. Priding themselves on their product development, and committed to innovation and quality, their vision is to be the leading boutique rum distillery that produces world-class Caribbean rums. It is worth going for the distillery tour.
9. House of Angostura, Trinidad:
Angostura is one of the Caribbean’s leading rum producers, has created a formula for bitters back in 1824. The family business moved to Trinidad in 1875, where they began making bitters in a small factory and selling it internationally. In 1912, the company was appointed purveyors of the bitters to his majesty King George V. The distillery itself was established in 1949.
10. Antigua Distillery, Antigua:
In 1929 a group of eight local businessmen came together to buy molasses in bulk and control the distillation process for their rums. They established their own rum distillery in 1933, which became known as the Antigua Distillery. From the first rum production sold unaged and in casks, to today’s more efficient processes, Antigua Distillery has an interesting history worth hearing about.
11. Havana Club, Cuda:
The Havana Club offers a journey into Cuban roots. The museum displays the island’s culture through history and the sugar cane to factory rum-making process. Enjoy a Cuban cocktail at the bar while you learn about their complete range of rums.
12. Rhum Damoiseau, Guadeloupe:
Initially, a sugar-producing, sweets, and jam-making company, Caribbean rum was a later addition to the Rhum Damoiseau. The only distillery in Grande-Terre, the distillery’s strengths lie in the sunny microclimate and naturally lime-rich soil that produces fully mature sugar cane crops. With three generations of rum producers, this distillery is worth the trip.
13. Neisson Distillery, Martinique:
This small distillery sits at the entrance to a fishing village on Martinique island where distillation is still carried out the same way it was in 1938. The meticulous process of 72 hours is the longest in all the French Antilles and it produces a Caribbean rum of great structure that is highly sought after by collectors.
14. Captain Morgan Visitor Center, St Croix:
An intriguing experience awaits you at the visitor center, with an interactive exhibit that celebrates the adventurous spirit of Captain Morgan. The distillery tour is full of history and stories that are worth a listen, with Captain Morgan changing the landscape of the Caribbean.
15. St Vincent Distillers, St Vincent:
This distillery started out as the Mt Bentinck Distillery and was sold and renamed in 1963. The estate, located on the windward coast in the foothills of La Soufriere Volcano, was situated there to make use of the available molasses from the nearby sugar factory. Add a rum tour to your visit to get a taste of their award-winning rums, which range from white to aged and are popular throughout the Caribbean.
16. Distillerie Depaz, Martinique:
Depaz rum carries in its aromas the history of Martinique. The stunning plantation is anchored on the slopes of Mount Pelee, and the fertile lands were very quickly used for cultivating sugar cane. Saint Pierre became the first rum port in the world where barrels of rum were shipped to Europe. It became known as the ‘Little Paris of the West Indies.’
17. Clarke’s Court Rum Distillery, Grenada:
Also known as the Grenada Distillers, Clarke’s Court Caribbean rum has been in operation since 1937. Situated in the Woodlands Valley, the distillery is a must-see for all visitors. It is the island’s best known and largest distillery, and one of the most interesting historical sites.
18. In the Backyard Rum Shack, Antigua:
Fun, laughter and cheerful service are just a few of the key ingredients that this rum shack is known for. The Caribbean culture and tropical plants complement the lively bar and scrumptious food. The laid-back atmosphere makes it a great place to refresh and refuel.
Although you’ve barely scratched the surface of what the Caribbean has to offer, these Caribbean rum experiences will surely leave you with a newfound love and understanding of the process that goes into traditional rum-making, as well as a thirst for more.
From old-aged rum-making methods to the modern-day distilleries, there is no other place on earth as perfectly suited for a rum tour as the Caribbean.
