3 Exciting Rum Tours in Jamaica You Can’t Miss in 2023
3 EXCITING RUM TOURS IN JAMAICA YOU CAN’T MISS in 2023
For most Caribbean countries, Rum is an intimate part of our history and culture. From our long stretch of colonial rule working on sugar cane plantations to being our favourite spirit at most parties or events; rum has made an indelible mark on our region’s tongue and its make up. Our love for rum has transcended all others, resulting in rum being a cherished part of the Caribbean experience.
For Jamaica especially, rum is a way of life really. Baby can’t sleep or teething? Put a little rum in the milk. Have a little cold on the chest? Drink some rum with honey +/- lime (Fun fact there is even a cough syrup in Jamaica made with these exact ingredients!!!!). Feeling a little feverish? Rub down the body with some rum. Making Christmas cake or mixing some drinks like rum punch or sorrel maybe? Add a toops (small amount) or more of rum to make it just right. Or, maybe you’ve had a bad day and want to blow off some steam, then you find a bar and have some rum & coke, rum on the rocks (if you’re a big drinker) or rum in some other mixture or concoction. Whew! We really do use rum a lot. I mean I’m not saying the country is full of drunkards but we do have the most bars per square mile in the world so you can draw your own conclusions. Anyways, like I was saying rum is almost always a part of the answer in Jamaica. So is it a surprise that we also offer amazing rum tours as a part of the Jamaican travel experience?
Related : Jamaica Rum Festival 2020 Review
A Brief History of Rum in the Caribbean
For those of you who are new to the world of spirits, Rum is a liquor made by fermenting and then distilling sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels. There are different types of rum which emerge based on the fermentation and distillation process, appearing from white to gold to dark rum. In Jamaica, our rum tends to be aged in American white oak barrels that helps to deliver the smooth and satisfying flavour that is Jamaican rum.
Rum was first introduced to the world during the 17th century on the island of Barbados; where it was discovered by slaves on sugarcane plantations that molasses, a by-product of the sugar refining process, could be fermented into alcohol, and then distilled. Since then, the Caribbean entered the spirits business and has maintained its status as leading rum producers, with the majority of world’s rum being produced in the Caribbean and American countries.
The Jamaican Rum Tour Experience
When it comes to rum, Jamaica undoubtedly produces some of, if not, the best in the world. Rich flavours, seductive scents and smooth textures have cemented Jamaica as the epicenter of production to some of the world’s best tasting and most popular rums. Some of which can even add the words award-winning to their repertoire of accomplishments.
In Jamaica, there are a few rum distilleries in production, however, to my knowledge, there are only 3 who offer rum tours to the public. These are: Appleton Estate, Worthy Park Estate and Hampden Estate.
Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting all 3 rum tours, even going on one of the tours more than once. Therefore, I feel like I’m probably one of the best persons to give you an honest run down of what to expect for each tour and how they compare. Each tour showcases Jamaica’s deeply rooted alcohol producing history, while also offering unique experiences that highlights the individuality of the brands.
Visit to the Worthy Park Estate Rum Tour
1. A Taste Of Jamaica With The Appleton Estate Rum Tour
While it may not be the oldest rum producer in Jamaica (I’ll leave the distilleries to have that debate), it is the first distillery in Jamaica to offer a rum tour. The Appleton Estate is a signature staple in the Jamaican spirit market. From sugar cane fields to bars around the world; Jamaica’s Appleton Estate Rum is one of the oldest and most beloved spirits worldwide. The Appleton Estate rum production has been in operation since 1749, even though some mark as early as 1655 as the origin point for this distillery operation.
The company also has the pleasure of boasting the presence of the first female Master Blender in the world, Joy Spence who ascended the ranks in 1997. The curated Appleton Estate Rum Tour is but a small gateway into the making of a premium delicacy that is crafted in the cool valleys of St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. The tour last around 2 hours long and involves video presentations, live demonstrations and of course tasting experiences. Over the years, Appleton Estate has perfected the seamless execution of their tours which has lead to it being a must stop destination for many locals and visitors alike.
The Appleton Estate Rum Tout
I’ve had the pleasure of going on the Appleton Estate tour twice. The first time the tour was a little longer than it is now, lasting approximately 3 hours. They have however refined it and cut down tour time to 2 hours in recent years. I must admit the time reduction was due to taking out 2 of my personal favourite stops which were the history house and the view tower that overlooks the factory, but I will say removing these has not overall affected the seamless execution of the tour. Let me be frank, Appleton knows their formula and have over the years perfected their execution. Their tour is the most popular because they’ve been doing it for years and know exactly how to deliver. They also know how to take advantage of social media by placing their branded marquee in the middle of the tour and allowing visitors to take photos there and undoubtedly will share the pics on social media. Smart. Plus, their visitor center is beautifully decorated and seamless to navigate which makes for a perfect visitor experience.
Overall, the entire tour is wonderful and I’d rate it a solid 8/10 experience. Pro tip: The rum punch is delectable and my personal favourite rum is their 12 Year old rum. Can someone say delicioso?! And if it’s your birthday, not only do they sing happy birthday to you; they also give you an extra bottle of rum as a token.
Tour Schedule: Mondays to Saturdays. 9am until 4pm. No reservations are required.
Cost: $2500JMD for the tour, $3000 JMD with lunch for locals. US$30 for non-locals.
Duration: Two hours.
Related: Appleton Estate Rum Tour Jamaica
2. From Grass to Glass on The Worthy Park Estate Rum Tour
Nestled in the cool and tranquil hills of Lluidas Vale, St. Catherine (approximately 1200ft above sea level); the Worthy Park Estate has become one of the more recent factories to open its doors to the public and offer rum tours. Although the company is in no way, shape or form new to the rum production game; in fact the almost 300 year old estate has roots dated all the way back to the 17th century, the company hadn’t started offering rum tours until around 2019 as a way to raise both brand awareness and as a revenue earner for the company.
The Worthy Park Estate is distinct in that it is a 100% Jamaican owned company and has been with the current owners, the Clarke family, since 1918. The estate produces 100% pot still distilled rum and prides itself on making all its rum from their own molasses. Another fun fact is that it is still a fully functional sugar factory and is responsible for majority of the country’s sugar.
Having become a rum tour connoisseur with my 2 Appleton Estate rum tours under my belt, I went with feverish excitement to see what Worthy Park had to offer. I knew they were a newer rum tour so I did expect a few kinks along the way as they sorted out the execution of the tour and I tried not to hold that against them.
The first thing you should know is this tour is offered by reservations only and doesn’t take walk ins. Similarly to the Appleton Estate tour, the Worthy Park tour is approximately 2 hours long and features a multimedia presentation about the history of the estate and where it is now, tour of the production factory and a tasting portion where you sample their offerings under the Worthy Park and Rum-bar brands.
Worthy Park Estate Rum Punch
With regards to the tour experience, I still think they have a few things to work out. For example, the tour center is a distance from the factory and the tour sees you at the tour center for the first portion of the tour, then jump in your cars to drive to the factory for a tour and then you have to drive back to the tour center for the tasting portion. I think it would’ve been better if they had a shuttle bus or even a modified tractor ride to transport visitors to the different destinations to add to the unique experience.
Overall, the entire tour is pretty great. It needs a little refining but I’d rate it a solid 6.5-7/10 experience. Pro tip: I absolutely looooove their rum cream. It is tantalizing!!!
Tour Schedule: Mondays to Fridays at 10am or 2pm, reservation only.
Cost: $2700 JMD for locals, $25US for non-locals.
Duration: Two hours
Related : Worthy Park Estate Rum Tour Jamaica
3. A Tantalizing Walk Through History on the Hampden Estate Rum Tour
The Hampden Estate is quaintly situated in the tranquil valleys of Trelawny, Jamaica. Drenched in a rich and colourful history, the 3500 acre property was established in 1753 by a Scottish man, Archibald Sterling. One thing the Hampden Estate prides itself in is using centuries old techniques passed down through the times with only minor modern tweaks done to increase its production volume without detracting from the tantalizing taste that makes Hampden an award winning spirit.
The Hampden sugarcane estate and distillery has the pleasure of boasting being fully operational for more than 260 years. Despite this, the Hampden brand may not be a familiar name to many locals as the brand mainly produces rum for export to places like USA and Europe. In fact the brand is so popular it has a 2 year waitlist. The recently established Hampden Estate rum tour offers visitors a deep dive into the rum making process that has made the Hampden brand a taste and aroma accessory to many palettes across the world.
Hampden Estate Rum Tour
This was by far the most intimate of the tours I went on. In fact, apart from my little group, there were only around 1 or 2 other groups that came during my tour. This is actually a bonus in my book because it’s usually less of a rush and the staff tend to be interactive and entertaining. I really loved the fact that our tour guide was so engaging and accommodating throughout the tour. She was truly top notch.
Like the other 2 tours, The Hampden Estate lasts around 2 hours. It begins with a welcome drink or 2 at the bar where you will have the most delicious rum punch you’ll ever have. The Hampden signature rum punch is absolutely fantastic. It is so delectable, I could use a cup right now. Once you’ve settled in and are a bit more relaxed, then there is an information portion of the tour. You’re given an outline of the tour experience and then a brief history lesson about the estate and how it produces rum. After this, the tour begins and you are carried across the environs to the factory for the tour and then the day ends with a rum tasting.
One thing that stood out is that Hampden Estate is the only one of the that still has a piece of their great house still erect on the property. Unfortunately, viewing the inside isn’t offered as a part of the tour as it is reported the family still uses the house sometimes. A bit disappointing but we move.
I’m not going to lie, The Hampden property is picturesque. They have an abundant of spaces to serve as the backdrop for alluring social media worthy captures. From the marquee with the miniature factory set up at the tour center, to the palm trees aligned on either sides of the driveway; you will definitely be able to take a photo or 2 for memory sake.
Overall, the Hampden Estate rum tour experience was a great one. It was informative, the place was absolutely stunning and the rum punch muy delicioso. I’d rate it a solid 7.5/10.
Tour Schedule: Mondays to Fridays at 10am, 11am and midday. Reservations are preferred.
Cost: Local rates are $3000, $4000 with lunch. Non-local rates are US$50.
Duration: Two hours
Related: Hampden Estate Rum Tour, Trelawny
The Wrap Up
Despite it’s sordid start, rum has managed to seep its way into the hearts of spirit lovers in Jamaica, the Caribbean and the world at large. Saporous, intricate and strong like its people, the rum produced in Jamaica is a divine experience in a bottle. Rum tasting has over the years become a tiny look-book into the Jamaican history and experience; with each producer giving a tour as distinct and unique as its rum. Therefore, no trip to Jamaica is truly complete without a stop at one of our rum factories. A delicious walk through history.