Posted on 10/12/2014
¡RUM!
Every great story begins with a time & place – rums history is tied firmly to the mast of sailing. We can thank the intrepid ship captains of the 18th century for the staple Nectar of the Caribbean – Rum!
Mention the Caribbean to people and many will think of sun, sand, sea and… Rum. Rum Cake, Rum Punch, Rum and Coke, Bacardi… Live in the Caribbean and it’s just there – cheap and abundant. In the Caribbean, the rum shop is often the centre of community life and today, it’s become one of the more popular tourism types – definitely an incentive to travel.
The pride of Caribbean rum tells the story of the region from the bad times to the good. There’s no better way to engage with the history and Noble Spirit than visiting the plethora of rum distilleries across the Caribbean. Here are some of the best ones to check out, if not for a tour then a taste test will have to do the trick.
Mount Gay Rum – Barbados
Mount Gay visitor centre welcomes guests from around the world to experience a product of 310 years of knowledge, experience & refinement. Here you can discover the historic origins of the brand – witness the distillation, ageing and blending techniques that have been perfected over 3 centuries of crafting MGR.
Angostura – Trinidad
Angostura is one of the Caribbean’s leading rum producers with a superb collection of rum brands and is the world’s market leader for bitters. These include: rum brands like Angostura 1824, Angostura 1919, White Oak, Black Label, Royal Oak, and the Angostura aromatic bitters and a signature beverage Angostura Lemon Lime and Bitters. Many of the brands have been around for generations in Trinidad and Tobago, its core rum market. Tours of the property are conducted on request with advance notice.
Appleton Estate – Jamaica
Located in the picturesque Nassau Valley in St. Elizabeth, the Appleton Estate Rum Tour will take you on a journey through time to learn about the history of rum and to give you an inside look at how the finest rum in the world is made.
You can also enjoy a guided tour of the artefacts that illustrate its history then visit the ageing house where the rums rest in oak barrels. After the tour, sample the full range of Appleton Estate Jamaica Rums and enjoy a cocktail in the well-stocked bar.
El Dorado Rum – Guyana
Voted among the best Rum in the World and a winner of several medals, the El Dorado Rum is a line of production by the Demerara Distillery. Visitors will see how this unique blend of Eldorado 5, 10 or 15 years old rum is being produced. The very ancient techniques of rum making is alive in Guyana from Continuous Stills, Wooden Coffey and Wooden Pot Stills are all used to produce this rich blend of El Dorado rum.
Brugal – Dominican Republic
Brugal is the name and brand of a variety of rums from the Dominican Republic produced by Brugal & Co. – the largest rum company in a country that is in love with rum. Brugal’s modern facility is a fascinating place.
If you go to Puerto Plata, you have to go here and learn about this process and examine the rums progress throughout. These tours are offered several times per day. Towards the end of the tours, visitors view the bottle production line and are treated to a free sampling of the rum and have the opportunity to purchase it at the best prices.