Rum tourism. It’s a growing area and one of our favourite kinds of tourism. It is, in short, travel based on a desire to experience rum and rummaking. Just as some travelers choose destinations for art, so, too do rum tourists look for destinations for rum. So what makes a place a destination for rum? A number of factors — from the quantity and quality of distilleries, to the diversity of rums available to try, to the culture of rum in a given place. But just as art travelers look for places with a multitude of museums, rum tourists look for the same — meaning that a place with more distilleries to visit will undoubtedly be of greater interest (and higher on this list). Ultimately, it comes down to a single question: could you travel to this country simply for the rum experience? Indeed, it’s high time that many destinations in the Caribbean put more of an emphasis on highlighting the wonder of their rum product and making it accessible to tourists — one can learn so much about a place from trying the local spirit. This is our ranking of the best rum destinations in the Caribbean — the places to experience the joy of all that is rum.
Martinique
For a true rum enthusiast, Martinique occupies the top spot with ease. The French Caribbean department has a total of 12 distilleries (one of which includes a Museum of Rum), and, more than any other destination in the Caribbean, truly caters to rum enthusiasts, with a well-developed and well-managed “Route des Rhums,” that allows travelers to visit each of the distilleries and experience the rum-making process from cane to glass. And with far too many rum companies in the region importing their sugarcane from abroad, Martinique is the place to enjoy a 100 percent locally made experience.
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe’s second-place position may come as a surprise to some; it shouldn’t. The island is the Caribbean’s hidden rum-making powerhouse, with nine distilleries spread across three different islands, although few are ever tasted outside of Guadeloupe and mainland France. Indeed, the island of Marie-Galante, a sugar-growing hub, has three distilleries of its own, with each extremely easy to visit. Guadeloupe’s rhum is among the best in the Caribbean, too, meaning a trip to the island is truly a new adventure for the rum tourist.
Barbados
Barbados, the self-styled home of rum, might make this list solely for the trip to the famous Mount Gay Distillery, but the island has several other great distilleries to visit, including the tiny St Nicholas Abbey and the Foursquare distillery. And of course, with more rum shops than anywhere else in the Caribbean, the country’s culture of rum is hard to ignore.
Jamaica
Of course, Jamaica is known for its famous Appleton rum, which offers a great experience at its namesake estate, and the recently-revived Hampden Estate is also a good experience. And the island has a multitude of great rums to try, from Myers and J Wray and Nephew to the lesser known like Edwin Charley and Blackwell.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a rum-producing giant, led by the famous Brugal, and has a number of distilleries and factories that are easy to visit, including the Brugal rum factory, the Ron Barcelo factory and the Bermudez distillery. And as you soon see, rum is integral to the country’s way of life.
Puerto Rico
A trip to Puerto Rico is highlighted, naturally, by a visit to the Bacardi factory in Cataño, although visiting the island’s other distilleries is not quite as easy. But the island remains a haven for rum lovers, from the opportunity to visit the two purported birthplaces of the piña colada cocktail to a diversity of Rums of Puerto Rico to try.
Grenada
Grenada may be tiny, but it packs a punch, with three distilleries you can visit, including the River Antoine Rum Distillery, which has been around since the end of the 18th century, the Clarke’s Court distillery and the Westerhall Distillery. Grenada loves its rum, and you’ll quickly see why.
Guyana
You may not realize it (although most rum tourists will), but Guyana is one of the Meccas of Caribbean rum and has played an integral role in the history of the Noble Spirit. The home of the exquisite Demerara sugar, Guyana is best known for producing the exceptional El Dorado rum. That makes a trip to the Demerara Distillery alone worth the flight. And with centuries of rummaking history, Guyana has a wonderful rum culture.
Cuba
Cuba occupies an important place in rum history as well. And if you love rum, you’ve almost certainly tried Cuba’s Havana Club, among the world’s most popular rums. And a visit to Havana includes a stop at Havana Club’s El Museo de Ron, a tribute to the history of rummaking in Cuba. The country is crazy about rum, with a host of selections to try including Ron Santiago de Cuba and Ron Varadero, among others, That’s without mentioning the need to stop at the Floridita, where the daiquiri cocktail was perfected (although it is said to have been invented closer to Santiago).
Panama
Yes, Panama is another relatively unheralded rum producer, although that should change in the years to come. From the spectacular Ron Abuelo to rums like Zafra and Bohemio, Panama is a rising player in the rum world. And a visit to the country features several accessible tours, including the Carta Vieja factory and the Hacienda San Isidro, home to Abuelo.
Haiti
Haiti’s famous Rhum Barbancourt is one of the best produced anywhere in the Caribbean, and its distillery offers a fantastic experience and a great way to experience the rich history and culture of Haiti. The circa 1862 Barbancourt distillery my be the only one to visit in Haiti, but it is an important pilgrimage for any rum tourist. Of course, Barbancourt isn’t the only great Haitian rum — there is also the excellent Vieux Labbe, among others.
Trinidad
Yes, this is the home of the world-famous House of Angostura, a distillery with an elevated station in the history of rum. While this is the only major distillery to visit in the country, it is a truly great one, producing what is one of the region’s top rums. And as you quickly discover, Trinidadians have an almost unmatched passion for rum — something that needs to be experienced.
— CJ