In fact, Mount Gay has been making rum in Barbados for over 300 years.
We were booked for the 11:30am tour yesterday. We took the minibus from Hastings to Bridgetown, and then walked north from there to the Mount Gay visitors center.
Now, was it a wise idea to book a rum tour before lunch? In hindsight, it would probably have made more sense to be doing this on a full stomach, rather than an empty one! But, neither one of us were driving, so let's enjoy...
Ready to check in!
We were given a couple of tickets and told that we could wander the store, or go wait in the bar and have a cocktail. Your ticket is actually valid for a discounted cocktail at the bar... several on the menu have a little red star that you can order for $10 BBD ($5 USD, $6.60 CAD).
Bartenders hard at work!
Our tour got started, and we were led into a display room where we were each handed a small glass of rum punch. As the tour progressed, I noticed that Ruth wasn't drinking hers very fast.
I mentioned to her. "You're just coasting today, I see".
She looked at me with a little grin. "It's my second one...".
Too funny.
Our tour guide Niasha, with assistant Lindsey.
Mount Gay Tricentennial.
Notice that bottle above? That was a special blend of up to 30 year old rum that was bottled in 2003 to recognize the 300th anniversary of Mount Gay. They only produced 3,000 numbered bottles, and this is the last one of the line... bottle number 3,000! They have been offered up to $30,000 for this bottle... but it's not for sale.
You can still buy numbered bottles online if you search for it. Better have a spare $1,000 or so though!
Lindsey, giving people a taste of pure molasses.
It was back in the late 1600's when Barbados sugar production was in full swing. A byproduct of the sugar production was molasses. This was considered waste at the time, until someone figured out that if you added water and distilled it, it made for a pretty tasty spirit!
We sat through the obligatory ten minute tour movie, while Niasha went and got the bar ready.
Niasha, explaining about the four different rums under production at Mount Gay.
This was my favorite!
We've been to lots of winery tours, and quite a few whiskey, rye, and bourbon tours over the years. But we've never done a rum tour. Interesting stuff, because I always figured rum was the type of spirit to be mixed with something. But when you buy a quality rum, it's pretty darn good just to drink it straight up!
Niasha and Lindsey.
We were given tasting glasses, and having seconds was encouraged. They are not shy about giving you as much of a tasting as you can handle!
Mauby, Eclipse, Black Barrell, and XO.
It's a shame that you don't actually get to see the production, but it's all done at the north end of the island and it's not open to the public.
After the tour, we started talking to a young guy from the Toronto area. He was on his own, so we sat and had a drink with him in the bar. Here's a short video I took of our bartender making our drinks... a Coconut Slipper for Ruth, and a Blood, Sweat, and Tears for me!
Thanks again for the drink Josh!
It was a fun and informative tour and for $40 BBD ($20 USD, $26.40 CAD), you almost get your money's worth in rum! They are not shy in either the tasting room, or the bar. A worthwhile way to spend an hour or two in Bridgetown area. Just make sure you don't have to drive afterwards!
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The rum tour is very interesting , we did one in Jamaica many years ago,, and there as well plentiful samples were handed out.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting but would have been even more interesting if we could have seen the actual production plant. We certainly enjoyed the sampling though. :-)
DeleteWe brought home a bottle of Cuban Sipping Rum and yes, no mixing, just sip like a fine scotch.
ReplyDeleteRegret not bringing home a bottle of Havana Club. It's one of the best selling rums in the world.
DeleteNever knew you could have a sipping rum until doing that tour. You learn something new every day.
DeleteYes Dee, Havana Club is one of the best. I think it is placed 4th world wide and Bacardi is #1 according to sales. It's funny that Americans can now bring Havana Club back into the US but only for private consumption but you still can't buy it in the stores.
Wow! That's a generous pour for a tasting! Breakfast of champions.
ReplyDeleteThe video where our"mixologist" pouring a drink isn't a sample that is at the rum bar and it is a cocktail that was purchased after the tastings. The picture of Kevin holding the glass up to the bottle is the average tasting size, still fairly generous. :-)
DeleteI love rum mixers...rum and coke, hot buttered rum, lots of others....
ReplyDeleteYep, there are some good rum drinks out there that are delicious! I enjoyed the Coconut Slipper that I had.
DeleteI'm not sure that the lining of my stomach could handle straight rum before lunch! But thanks for the great tour description and pictures. I have been enjoying your trip vicariously.
ReplyDelete[email protected]
Well, it seems like our stomachs made it through the tastings just fine but it would have been better doing it after lunch. I can't imagine doing that tour at 9 in the morning! ;-)
DeleteWe toured Mount Gay and Four Square when in Barbados. Four Square's tour was longer because we were able to tour the very modern and clean distillery (but not as many tastings as Mount Gay). My impressions were that so many more of Mount Gay's rums were marketed as high end/exclusive brands. We couldn't leave Mount Gay without at least one bottle from the tastings, and it was good to the last drop. As Croft said, some are great sipping rum.
ReplyDeleteWe have to agree with you, that Mount Gay is marketed for being a premier rum! It definitely is a lovely tasting rum. Didn't know about Foursquare rum. It would have been nice to have seen the actual production process.
DeleteSure sounds like a wonderful lunch buffet and gluten free a bonus too.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great buffet!
DeleteRum yum! Must do this tour one day as well! You guys must be sad leaving already this wonderful island vacation.
ReplyDeleteIt was a fun tour and the rum drinks are to die for! :-)
DeleteYes, we are sad especially knowing that it is so cold back in Canada but we are also so excited to get back in Sherman and on the road to many new adventures.