26 February 2026
By Publisher Ray Carmen
From sugarcane fields to oak barrels, from colonial trade routes to modern luxury cocktail bars — rum is the Caribbean’s original global export. It is history in a bottle, rebellion in a glass, celebration in every pour.
Across the region, each island has crafted its own distinct expression of rum — shaped by soil, climate, colonial influence, and character.
Let’s travel island by island.
Barbados – The Birthplace of Rum
Often called the birthplace of rum, Barbados has been distilling since 1703.
Signature Houses:
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Mount Gay
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Foursquare Rum Distillery
Barbadian rum is refined, balanced and elegant — often aged in ex-bourbon barrels for smooth vanilla and caramel notes. It’s the tuxedo of Caribbean rums.
Jamaica – Bold, Funky, Unapologetic
Jamaica doesn’t whisper — it roars.
Signature Houses:
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Appleton Estate
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Hampden Estate
Known for its high-ester “funk,” Jamaican rum is powerful, aromatic and beloved by connoisseurs. Pot still distillation gives it its unmistakable punch.
Trinidad & Tobago – Precision and Power
Trinidad leans toward lighter, column-still rums with sophistication.d les toward lighter, column-still rums with sophistication.
Signature House:
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Angostura Limited
Famous globally for its bitters, Angostura also produces award-winning aged rums — clean, structured, globally respected.
Guyana – The Heavyweight
Guyana’s Demerara rums are deep, dark and historic.
Signature House:
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Demerara Distillers Limited (makers of El Dorado)
With rare wooden stills dating back centuries, Guyanese rum is rich with molasses, spice and smoky depth.
Cuba – Smooth Revolutionary Spirit
Cuba gave the world the Mojito and Daiquiri.
Signature House:
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Havana Club
Cuban rum is light, crisp and refined — designed for cocktails but aged expressions are increasingly prized.
Puerto Rico – The Global Powerhouse
Puerto Rico industrialised rum production.
Signature House:
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Bacardi
Light-bodied and versatile, Puerto Rican rum became the international standard for mixing.
Saint Lucia – The Artisan Edge
Small but mighty.
Signature House:
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St Lucia Distillers
Chairman’s Reserve has built a cult following among premium rum lovers seeking complexity and craft.
Haiti – Rhum Agricole Heritage
Haiti produces rhum agricole — distilled directly from fresh sugarcane juice.
Signature House:
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Rhum Barbancourt
Earthy, grassy and complex — closer in style to French Caribbean rhum.
The Spirit of Identity
Rum is more than alcohol in the Caribbean. It financed empires, fuelled revolutions, and today anchors tourism, exports and national pride.
Each island tells its story differently:
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Barbados – heritage and balance
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Jamaica – power and personality
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Guyana – depth and history
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Cuba & Puerto Rico – global refinement
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Saint Lucia & Haiti – craft and tradition
From luxury yacht decks in the Grenadines to beach bars in Montego Bay, rum remains the Caribbean’s most authentic signature.
And in a world chasing craft authenticity, the Caribbean doesn’t need to reinvent itself.
It already owns the barrel.
