THESE ARE rums you may not have heard of. While the Caribbean is full of top-notch, large-scale rum distilleries like Bacardi, Appleton and Barbancourt, it’s also home to some wonderful smaller ones with far smaller production. And the following are some of our favourites to visit in the region this summer, when the temperature rises and the need for rum only increases.
Shillingford Estate — Dominica
You have almost certainly never heard of it. But this tiny distillery in Dominica is one of the coolest in the Caribbean — a small-batch, hand-made gem. A must-visit for any Caribbean rum aficionado. It produces, among others, the Macoucherie-branded rum.
St Nicholas Abbey — Barbados
It’s actually set on the grounds of one of the three extant Jacobean homes in the Western Hemisphere. And this low-production, high-quality distillery is worth the trip to the St Peter parish.
Distillerie JM Crassous de Médeuil — Martinique
Rhum JM is one of Martinique’s boutique rhum treasures, famous for its beautiful, sketched labels (and spectacular rhum). And the trip to the lush area of Macouba is, in a word, wonderful.
Distillerie Poisson — Guadeloupe
As we recently wrote about, the Distillerie Poisson is home to the boutique Pere Labat rhum, one of the signature rums of the island of Marie-Galante in the Guadeloupe archipelago.
River Antoine — Grenada
The historic River Antoine distillery is the oldest in Grenada, still using methods that are hundreds of years old. And it’s a visit you won’t soon forget (no matter how much rum you taste).
John Watling’s — Bahamas
One of the Caribbean’s newest distilleries, the boutique John Watling’s is increasingly a popular stop for travelers to New Providence, thanks to some seriously good rum (make sure you go for the Buena Vista rum.
Seven Fathoms — Cayman Islands
This small-batch rum distillery on Grand Cayman is famous for its purported “underwater aging” techniques. But it’s also a charming stop in George Town.