Taste Rum With a Side of History on Curated Tours

Travel to the Caribbean for immersive experiences in rum-making

a group of people toasting drinks while on vacation

A rum cocktail such as a mai tai, mojito, daiquiri or piña colada is often the beverage of choice during a trip to the Caribbean. Consider a curated tour to learn the spirit’s history.

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Kristin Braswell,

AARP

En español

Published August 06, 2024

I’ve been drawn to the Caribbean for decades, for all of the obvious reasons: balmy afternoons spent underneath swaying palm trees, a postcard-perfect shoreline that welcomes frothy turquoise waves, the cultural celebrations such as carnival, and music histories that have fueled the world. Another passion for the region over the years has come in glasses of all sizes, served neat or over ice, livened up by fresh fruit juices or aromatic bitters. That passion is rum. The connection between the spirit and the Caribbean is undeniable, as travelers often enjoy tropical beach days with rum-fueled cocktails such as mai tais, mojitos and daiquiris.

In 1954, the first piña colada was shaken up at Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico. According to a recent study from Hilton Hotels & Resorts, 87 percent of respondents describe a relaxing vacation as lounging by water with a tropical drink in hand.

David Vázquez, who has been a bartender at Caribe Hilton for 20 years, says rum is part of his DNA. “The beauty of rum is that it can be enjoyed many ways: on the rocks, mixed with juice or Coke, as a cocktail like the piña colada, and it will always pop in your drink with its unique taste and aroma, no matter the ingredients. You can even use rum for added flavor to sweets and with baking,” he says.

According to an AARP study of travelers 50-plus, the Caribbean is one of the most sought-after international destinations for travelers, and many visitors will be drawn to enjoy a rum cocktail or two in paradise. As large mainstays such as Mount Gay and Appleton Estate continue to thrive, new rum companies forge their way, too. Trinidadian Marc Farrell launched Ten To One rum in 2019 to showcase how rum’s versatility can be paired with foods and move beyond its beachside image.

Rum’s history is a complicated one. The drink is a byproduct of sugar production in the 17th century, and enslaved West Africans endured relentless forced labor in sugarcane fields to produce nearly every kind of rum still enjoyed across the world.

Learning the history of the spirit and enjoying it responsibly go hand-in-hand. Many distilleries and hotels across the Caribbean offer visitors curated experiences to do just that. As with any trip, check the U.S. State Department’s travel advisories for your destination for important safety information beforehand. Here are four experiences to consider.

a bottle of Mount Gay on a catamaran boat

Mount Gay has been making rum in Barbados since the 17th century.

Courtesy KWT Global

Mount Gay, Barbados

To better understand rum in the Caribbean, start in its birthplace: Barbados. The first evidence of molasses distillation, which produces rum, was recorded at Mount Gay in the 17th century. “We take pride in preserving and enhancing the local skill set in cane agriculture and rum-making, drawing on over 320 years of expertise in this artisanal craft,” says Trudiann Branker, master blender at Mount Gay. People can choose from about 1,500 bars serving the spirit on the island, colored by the energy of everyday life. Neighbors play dominoes over paper cups splashed with brown liquor, attend a Friday night fish fry in the town of Oistins or congregate at beachside stalls.

For a more streamlined experience, Mount Gay offers visitors tours six days a week at its distillery in St. Lucy. Every Friday, guests can try their hand at making rum cocktails during an immersive master class with a mixologist, as well as visit the grounds to better understand the terroir and history of the brand. A 4.5-hour tour is $145 per person.

people enjoying a rum tasting at Habitation Clément in Martinique

Tours and workshops at Habitation Clément in Martinique allow travelers a chance to sample rhum agricole made from fresh cane juice.

Courtesy Rhum Clément

Habitation Clément, Martinique

Martinique is the only island that produces rhum agricole, a French-designated A.O.C. rum (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) made from fresh cane juice instead of molasses, that undergoes strict regulation to maintain a high-quality spirit. There are many places around the island to experience the rum, from large distilleries with bottles that are sold worldwide, to family-owned operations that can only be experienced with an in-person visit. Habitation Clément is an island mainstay that draws thousands of visitors to its sprawling agricultural estate. “L’habitation Clément ... is the only place in Martinique offering the possibility of a historical tour through the history of the brand, its aging expertise, its gardens and also its art foundation,” says Célia Sainville, manager of Habitation Clément.

Among the tours and workshops at Habitation Clément is a cocktail master class with a brand ambassador one Saturday a month for 40 euros (about $44). If you’re looking to experience the estate beyond its rum offerings, consider a guided botanical tour with historian and landscaper Nicolas Pierrel for 22 euros (about $24). General admission for self-guided tours of the premises is 11 euros (about $12) for adults.

Appleton Estate is the oldest rum distillery in continuous operation in Jamaica.

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Appleton Estate, Jamaica

On a lush slice of Jamaica’s south coast in Nassau Valley, Appleton Estate is the oldest rum distillery in continuous operation in Jamaica. One of my favorite bottles from the brand, the hazelnut-tinged 15 Year Old Black River Casks, pays homage to the valley and its limestone-filtered waters used to create the rum. It was crafted by 73-year-old chemist and master blender Joy Spence, the first woman to hold this title. The estate honors her impact with the Joy Spence Appleton Estate Rum Experience, a 1.25- to 1.5-hour tour that includes a welcome cocktail, a short film on the history of rum in Jamaica, a tour of the grounds and distillery, and a guided tasting of three rums. Tickets for the experience are available for $39 per person.

St. Lucia Distillers produces more than 25 rums and liqueurs.

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St. Lucia

The island was once home to 75 rum-producing estates, but after St. Lucia’s sugarcane crash in the late 1800s, only two estates remained, merging to create St. Lucia Distillers in 1972. The distillery produces more than 25 rums and liqueurs. Visitors can experience these spirits firsthand with the Rhythm of Rum Tour. Offered to individuals Monday through Friday, the experience includes a video overview of rum production on the island and a trip to the distillery to better understand how fermentation takes place. Guests can visit cane fields in April through November. The distillery’s carnival room is enlivened by the sound of steel pan percussion and costumes that make the cultural celebration such an important part of the island’s history. The tour ends with a tasting of the rums produced by St. Lucia Distillers. The price of the tour is $12 per person.

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Kristin Braswell is a travel journalist and founder of CrushGlobal Travel. She has written for Vogue, CNN, USA Today, Essence, NPR, Architectural Digest, Ebony and the Los Angeles Times, among others.