Tastings · RUM TASTINGS
Caribbean distilleries, Madeira, and the odd tasting room a long way from any cane. The 15 below compare what is poured, how much of the estate you see and what it costs to sit down.
Spend eight hours touring eastern Madeira in a small group of up to 14, with hotel pickup, a guide-driver, Pico do Arieiro, Santana, Ribeiro Frio, Porto da Cruz rum tasting, and Ponta do Rosto. Guides such as Tony, Daniel, Carlos, and Lucy are praised for local facts, careful driving, and flexible timing.
“Well organised. Friendly guide. Included 7 stops. So much to see. Worth every penny.”
Meet your Casa BACARDÍ host in Cataño for a welcome cocktail, a short site tour, and four premium rum samples paired with chocolate. Guides such as Alexandra, Itzy, Gabriella, and Will explain Bacardí’s history, distilling, and aging. Expect an engaging tasting, but not a walk through the working production buildings.
“Great host! She was very lively and made the experience very welcoming. I would recommend all of my friends to come!”
Spend about three hours walking downtown Nassau with a local guide such as Cody, Shad, Jason, or Fox. Taste five rums, three cocktails, conch fritters, local appetizers, and rum cake, then make a drink at a private speakeasy-style stop. The tour begins at John Watling’s Distillery and ends near Parliament Street.
“Great Knoweladge. Great tour guide… Cody. Great route. Great ending. Downtown was fantastic. Would do it again.”
Spend 7 to 8 hours crossing Grenada by air-conditioned van with guides such as Michael and Rolley. Swim at Concord Falls, taste chocolate, eat lunch above Sauteurs Bay, tour River Antoine’s old rum works, and visit Grand Etang Lake. Pickup, entry fees, transport, and lunch are included.
“Michael is a great and informative tour guide! This tour isn’t just about the destinations but the drive there as well!”
At Topper’s Rhum Distillery in Cole Bay, you’ll follow the process from fermentation to bottling, learn to nose and taste rhum, and sample more than 20 flavors. Guides such as Cristina, Tasha, and Julia keep the 90-minute visit lively, with rum cake, gelato, and a scenic lagoon-side setting adding to the experience.
“Our tour guide Christina was very knowledgeable and engaging, we had a great time tasting so many different flavors of rhum.”
Explore Bundaberg Rum’s interactive museum, then follow guides such as Shazza, Amber, Gina, or Taylor through the working distillery. See the Molasses Well and Barrel House, learn how rum is made, and finish with two tastings at the bar. Allow about two hours, and expect stairs, lockers for battery-powered items, and no photography inside the tour.
“Was surprised of how many different quality product range the company marketed and how the company has grown over the years on a simple strategy”
Meet your Mount Gay Brand Host at Exmouth Gap in Bridgetown for a one-hour tasting built around Barbados rum culture. You’ll enjoy a welcome Rum Punch, visit the Legacy Museum, watch a short production film, and taste four Mount Gay rums. Guides such as Akeil, Tina, Larissa, and Lorrisa are praised for lively storytelling.
“We had a welcome planter punch when we arrived, then once our tour began we was given the history about Mount gay and some facts too which was shown to us in many different rooms and a video. We tasted 4 different rums and it was an overall, really good experience. You must try this tour! Book it, you won't be disappointed!”
Join Octopus Aruba for a private two-hour snorkeling trip aboard a 26-foot Bayliner. Your captain, possibly Lex, Boi, Boyd, Shaka, or Lux, can adjust the route for your group. Snorkel near Catalina Bay and Malmok, where shallow water may reveal turtles, coral, fish, urchins, and crabs.
“2 hrs goes by quick, we had a great time. Felt safe, hydrated, and informed about the area we snorkled.”
Walk Old San Juan with a bilingual guide and a group of 10 or fewer, stopping at three bars for rum cocktails and local stories. Guides such as Pablo, Alberto, Pedro, Claudia, and Danny bring different strengths, from rum lore to Puerto Rican history. The tour begins at 5 p.m. and ends at the starting point.
“The Rum Tour in Viejo San Juan was AMAZING! Fun and informative, each location was incredible. Our tour guide, Claudia was kind, energetic and made every guest feel welcome. She showed respect and gratitude to each location we visited. I would definitely do the rum tour again, especially if Claudia is my guide!”
Spend a full day touring northern Gran Canaria with a multilingual guide such as Tom, Julia, or Yeray. Visit a banana farm, Arehucas Rum Distillery, and an Agaete finca for wine, coffee, and a hands-on mojo workshop. Tastings are generous, transport is included, and lunch is optional.
“It was a very good itinerary. There was a lunch and it would have been good to know prior to the lunch whether it is possible to lunch on your own at a different place. But other than that absolutely fantastic with Yeray being an amazing guide.”
Visit St. Nicholas Abbey in Barbados at your own pace, with access to the 1658 Jacobean Great House, plantation film, working steam mill, rum distillery, tasting, and complimentary drink. Guides such as Simon and Meghan add detail to the house and rum portions. Allow extra time for the café, gardens, and possible train ride.
“This tour was truly inspirational and educational. The drive and the entrance to St. Nicholas Abbey was worth it. The beauty and historical significance to the island of Barbados is an unforgettable one. If you're inspired by knowledge and Read more”
Spend about 75 minutes with an Oliver and Oliver Romelier tasting premium rums, including Cubaney Centenario, Unhiq XO, Opthimus, and Punta Cana XOX. You’ll learn about molasses, sugar cane, and the Solera method, then browse the Taíno Concept Store. Guides such as Rudy, Santiago, and Felix are known for warm, lively presentations.
“We really didn’t know what to expect when we got picked up at our hotel but the experience at the store was lovely.. be prepared, the store looks like a tourist trap but in the very back is where the rum tasting happens and it was absolutely lovely. Felix was our guide this day and he was friendly and warm. He also had a great deal of knowledge about the rooms that we tasted and shared all of the history for the brand and rums. He found ways to get everybody involved and I think that was outstanding. The transportation was very quiet but we got to and from our…”
This 4 to 6 hour private food and rum tour travels from Cap Estate through Morne Fortune, Marigot Bay, Canaries, and Soufrière. Guides such as Delvin, Chris, Andy, and Richard serve local breakfasts, home-cooked lunch, cocoa tea, fresh fruit, roasted cashews, and rum tastings, including a memorable visit to Tony’s farm.
“This was by far the best tour. Chris did an amazing job. His knowledge and insight was excellent. The Rum factory was good, but the farm visit with Tony just blew me away. Highly recommend this tour.”
Walk central Nassau with a local guide, stopping at John Watling’s Distillery, historic sites, pubs, and a private speakeasy. You’ll taste five rums, three cocktails, conch fritters, rum cake, and local appetizers, then mix your own drink. Guides such as Shad, Fox, Jason, Cody, and Net are known for lively storytelling.
“Enjoyed the tour. The non-traditional tour of the rum distillery through the tastings were a good time. Good recommendations to eat first as there was a lot of rum at the end.”
At Hacienda Santa Ana in Bayamón, you’ll begin with a welcome cocktail, tour the historic estate and rum-making areas, then taste four Ron del Barrilito expressions: Dos, Tres, Cuatro, and Cinco Estrellas. Guides such as Tim, Coco, Marjorie, and Pedro are known for clear storytelling and easy humor. The tour lasts about an hour.
“This is a pretty good value as you get a welcome drink, and then during the tour you get a tasting of their 4 rums. I would recommend.”
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