Discover Barbados Rum. The complete guide for your trip to the island

No trip to Barbados would be complete without a taste of the island nectar—Bajan Rum. It isn’t just a drink, but a way of life on the island. Land of rum for more than 300 years, Barbados is home of Mount Gay Distillery, running uninterrupted since 1703, a world record!

The rum produced in Barbados, called “Bajan Rum”, was Georges Washington’s favorite, insisting for this specific beverage to be served during his inaugural ceremony as the 1st president of the United States of America in 1789.

With exotic flavors, island spices, stories of salty seafarers and island pirates, the rum from Barbados is a drink steeped in history and tradition. What better way to top off a day than enjoying a sun-downer watching the sun set over a beautiful beach!

The Rum Revival

Rum has seen a huge revival in the 21st century and has seen some fantastic growth figures. Rum sales for the first decade grew by a massive 40%. Spiced rum and the flavoured varieties were especially strong performers with these innovations appealing to a younger audience. Some historians suggest that Barbados was the birthplace of rum, therefore there is no better place to come and experience the liquid gold of the Caribbean.

Bajan History of Rum

Rum is traditionally made from sugar cane which was introduced to the West Indies by Christopher Columbus and is plentiful on this beautiful island. Once the cane is cut, the sugar is extracted and molasses is left as a by-product. This molasses is fermented, distilled then aged in oak barrels to produce the Bajan Rum we know today. During the 18th century, the molasses came to be known as “black gold” because of the extra revenue it supplied the sugar plantations!

In the nineteenth century, the country was home to more than ten sugar factories and the sugar cane was produced by the work of thousands of slaves brought from Africa. The crops were cut and brought to the plantations’ grinding windmills. Windmills used wind power to extract the valuable juices from the sugar canes. Today, you can still see many of windmills across the land.

According to many experts, Barbados produces the best rums because of the exceptional quality of its sugar. Why is the sugar so remarkable? Barbados’ island temperate, sunny weather and cool rains are pivotal in creating the perfect conditions for growing sugar cane since the 1600s. The alkaline soil of Barbados is also acting as the special ingredient, it brings a distinctive combination of minerals and nutrients that help to define the aromatic taste of our sugar and therefore, its rum.

The Caribbean is at the core of all rum productions. Barbados is the largest and oldest producer with the first commercial distillery, Mount Gay dating back to 1703. The American colonies acquired a taste for our rum along with sailors and the navy and hence a worldwide trade was established.

Today rum comes in a huge range of colors and complex flavors which are acquired from the variations in production method. From light gold to rich and dark, and with a fantastic array of spices and flavors—it really is a haven for the discerning drinker.

Famous Rum Distilleries

Mount Gay

Mount Gay is the oldest and most famous distillery in Barbados and it’s owned the French spirits group, Remy Cointreau. With its first commercial sales dating back to 1703, the company has a heritage to be proud of. The Mount Gay Visitor Centre is well worth a visit and you can also choose from five tours where you can find out more about Barbados’ finest and most celebrated spirit. Reserve a trip to Mount Gay Distillery

Mount Gays’ premium blend and oldest reserve is the 1703 old cask selection. After that their Extra Old (XO) is a blend that has been aged for 8 to 15 years. Black Barrel is a blended Bajans Rum produced in small batches that have been matured for a second time creating a unique spicy aroma. Eclipse is a great quality rum with a golden amber color and a rich smoky flavor whilst Silver is a white Bajan Rum with banana, peppermint and citrus notes.

St Nicholas Abbey

St Nicholas Abbey is a 400-acre estate with sugar-cane fields, mahogany forests and formal gardens located in the hills of St. Peter. It’s a lovely place to visit both for the magnificent views from Cherry Tree Hill and to find out more about the history of the plantations and rum production. Spend some time in the formal gardens, check out the avenue of Mahogany Trees and enjoy some refreshments including home-made Bajan rum punch in the beautiful and tranquil Terrace Café.

St Nicholas Abbey produces a number of aged Bajans Rum brands from 18 years, to 12 years to 5 years. They also produce a white Rum which is fermented in their “pot and column” still called Annabelle!

Foursquare Distillery

Foursquare is home to the prestigious Barbados rum brands of Rum Sixty-Six and Doorly’s Rum and is located on the southern slopes of the St. George Valley. It is free to visit and you can see the original Foursquare “Distil House” built in 1737 as well as the Modern Distillery built inside the old sugar factory. You can also access the fermentation room and admire the pot still, the column stills and wander between their premium Bajaos rum brands aging in their white oak casks!

The Foursquare distillery also produces rum for the Real McCoy Rum Company. This rum is relatively new to the market and has been carefully researched and developed to closely replicate the rum of the pioneer rum-runner Bill McCoy. Bill McCoy operated in the 1920s where he took rum from the Caribbean and sold it off ships three miles offshore from New York City to get around the laws of prohibition. Whilst many products at that time were cut with other liquids, the Real McCoy was never adulterated and hence the name “The Real McCoy” came about.

Foursquare’s Master Distiller is Richard Seale a fourth generation rum expert. He is also responsible for some other notable Bajan Rum brands to be developed and produced at Foursquare including R. L. Seale’s 10-Year rum and Tommy Bahama.

Berry’s Finest Barbados Rum is another brand of rum produced by Berry Brothers and Rudd in London but distilled in Foursquare.

Plantation Rum

Plantation Rum was developed in the 1990s and is the brainchild of Alexandre Gabriel, an entrepreneur business man. Gabriel developed Plantation Rum as an artisanal blend of the some of the best rums from the Caribbean and Latin America including Barbados, Guyana and Grenada. Plantation Grande Reserve is one of their much-admired signature blend.

The Duppy Share

The Duppy Share is a blended rum from the Worthy Park Estate in Jamaica and the Foursquare Distillery in Barbados. It is a premium brand with unique character oozing with tropical flavors!

How to drink Bajans Rum

Bajan Rum can, of course, be drunk straight and that is how the locals like it! For this we recommend a glass with a good funnel so you can savour the aromas, although do resist the temptation to breathe in too deeply as the vapours are quite strong! Serve the rum at room temperature and you can even warm the glass with your hands if you like. Take your first sip and let the rum reach every part of your mouth to experience all the flavors and also take note of the additional flavors as you exhale!

If you want to spice things up a bit further, Bajan rum makes a great base for many cocktails and here are a couple of our favourites:

Bajan Rum Punch Recipe

Our Bajan Rum Punch is, of course, our most famous cocktail. Nothing beats a classic and this little rhyme helps you remember the recipe! “One of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak!”

Ingredients:

One part pure lime juice (1/4 cup)
Two parts sugar (1/2 cup)
Three parts Bajan Rum (3/4 cup)
Four parts water (1 cup)

Method:

Dissolve the sugar in the water and add the rum and lime juice. Blend well. Chill and serve with a couple of dashes of bitters and fresh grated nutmeg.

Makes 4 servings of Bajan Rum Punch

Rum Runners

A grown-up slush puppy—these Rum Runners are perfect for chilling out with a tropical breeze! This recipe is enough for you and two or three fellow rum runners!

Ingredients:

Four parts gold Bajan Rum (1 cup)
One part blackberry liqueur (1/4 cup)
One part crème of banana liqueur (1/4 cup)
Eight parts orange juice (2 cups)
4 cups of crushed ice
2 parts dark Bajan Rum (1/2 cup)

Method:

Add gold rum, blackberry liqueur, crème of banana liqueur, orange juice, grenadine and crushed ice in a blender. Blend until slushy and pour into glasses.

Float with the dark Bajan Rum and serve with a straw and garnish.

ZenBreak, the best place to stay for your rum discovery adventure

If you fancy visiting Barbados and finding out more about our famous rum heritage, we have some great accommodation available.

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15 WAYS TO ENJOY A MORE FULFILLING VACATION

By Spotzer Spotzer • September 25, 2025

With over 25 years experience in luxury travel industry, we have seen it all. To help you enjoy your next trip to the fullest, the ZenBreak’s team has compiled the best and worst travel experiences and extracted the lessons we learned from the past. Our recommendations applies to business trip, short weekend get away or long escape on the beach. If you like staying in luxury hotels or are planning to go backpacking for a while, any of the following will apply. BOOK AHEAD Yes, there are tons of flight comparison websites, and you’ve just spent the last hour looking for the best deal possible. However you’re not the only one searching and those internet cookies leave crumbs behind. Next time you go back online, the probabilities are that the price you loved today will be higher. Time flies! Book that trip before the price goes up or you might regret it. DON’T BE FLASHY Never underestimate the eyes of pickpockets. Wearing a fancy watch, or even an unnoticeable bracelet might not seem like something to think about when you travel. However, you never know who’s watching you. Being discreet is the best way to avoid embarrassing or unfortunate situations. Don’t show off and remain anonymous. KEEP A JOURNAL Met someone special? Had an interesting or unusual chat? Writing down how you were affected by certain experiences creates a better platform for reflection at a later date. Souvenirs may not always be photos, words carry your emotions much better sometimes. Remember that by writing what you experienced, you drastically increase the probability of remembering what you lived in the future. WRITE THINGS DOWN Just had directions explained to you in a strong hard-to-understand accent? Not sure you’ll remember the details of which way to go? Just write it down. Take that extra minute to recap and make sure you don’t miss the essentials. It may save you, valuable time later on. MORE TIME, FEWER PLACES Would you rather know a limited amount of information about many different places, or really experience and immerse yourself in a few areas? The world is huge and it’s just impossible to go everywhere. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you can only remember how clean or dirty airports or trains were. Try dedicating a full week to explore a large city. I was once forced to increase my stay in Bangkok from 2 days to 7 due to the SARS virus in Hong Kong. It turns out to be one of the best experiences I ever had. ALWAYS ASK HOW MUCH ($) You’ve just got in a cab, and you’re asking yourself if you’ve got enough cash? Don’t put yourself in a situation where you don’t know how much something costs, and don’t be afraid to ask for the price before committing. If it’s too much, feel free to find another option. This applies to taxi, but also to excursions, restaurants, bars and hotels. Many unscrupulous institutions will inflate their prices when a foreigner show up at their door. Be sure not to be the sucker they all remember. If you feel the pressure to commit, just walk out. LEARN SOME BASIC LANGUAGE Hallo! Ciao! Hej! Namaste! Bonjour! xin chào! It may not be the best, but at least you’re making an effort. It may sound rude only speaking your own language, show you are considerate and learn a few simple words on the way to a foreign country. There are no better ways to make friends. PUT YOUR MOBILE PHONE AWAY Why would you travel thousands of miles to stay hooked on your phone? Forget about social media and various apps during your stay and enjoy a little more of the world around you. Rediscover what it is to live disconnected. You may realize you don’t miss your phone at all! TRY THE STREET FOOD Restaurants are nice, but street food is the real deal. Nobody ever died from eating skewers or local specialties from street vendors. Cheap, fast and authentic, eating outside can only do you good. They will leave you with unbelievable memories. DON’T COMMUTE TOO MUCH Yes, you may feel like there is so much to do! And no, unfortunately your holidays won’t last forever. But is it really worth trying to reach every single town of a country you are only just discovering? Take the time to really explore the town you’re in, you can always come back for a future vacation. ALWAYS SAY THANK YOU! Politeness is universal and enjoyed by all. Don’t be rude, even with the insistent seller at the market, culture varies from one place to the other, what may seem like an aggressive sale pitch may just be the norm where you are. Show appreciation to locals, and earn their respect. This may lead to more chances to say thank you! REMEMBER TO CARRY WATER Don’t risk getting ill from tap water because you forgot to pack a bottle in your bag. A little flask is your best friend for hydration. Don’t forget to wash your hand regularly, or if no fresh water is available, to use alcohol-based hand sanitisers. LEAVE REVIEWS Try to leave a short review on commonly used platforms such as TripAdvisor or Google My Business. Do it, whether your experience was incredible, average or poor? Statistics show that those platforms are the number driver when you pick a service or a restaurant. If we don’t leave negative comments to avoid hurting someone, the owner may not find out that you were unsatisfied and the next traveller will not be informed of your experience. On the other end, if your experience really exceeded your expectations, don’t hesitate to mention the individual who provided outstanding service. They may get rewarded. SLOW DOWN, STOP AND OBSERVE Do you feel that you rush around too much in your everyday life? Take the time to look at all the interesting and different things around you. If you enjoy taking pictures, you are sure to find many things to shoot if you slow down a little. Discover the local day-to-day life, this is where the true beauty hides. GET UP EARLY The early bird catches the worm. Rising early gives you more time for exploring, miles traveled and a better overall experience. Early birds enjoy their time off even more! …and finally, to get the best vacation possible, nothing better than saving some money, enjoy the best price guaranteed on your vacation rental with ZenBeak.com

ACCEPT DOGS IN YOUR HOLIDAY HOME ANDINCREASE YOUR BOOKINGS.

By Spotzer Spotzer • September 25, 2025

Did you know that on Airbnb, ‘pet-friendly’ is the fourth most popular request when looking for an apartment or a villa? The top three in order are: Free parking A full kitchen Pool Being dog friendly ranks even higher than wifi. Accepting dogs in your vacation rental will increase your income. For many, dogs aren’t seen as pets but as family members. They are often our best friends, they bring joy wherever they go. No home feels quite right without your pet, so why not bring them with you? 48% of American families own a dog. The number of guests traveling with dogs is increasing every year. According to a TripAdvisor survey, 53% of pet owners take their furry friends on the road with them. However, less than 25% of vacation properties welcome pets with their owners.This ratio plays a big role in favour of those who open their holiday home to dogs. With so many potential customers looking for pet-friendly properties, offering this service is likely to increase your bookings and will allow you to increase your stay costs. Being pet-friendly when renting out your home or villa means that your potential clientele will increase greatly, resulting in a higher occupancy rate. After analyzing the statistics of our partners, such as Airbnb and Homeaway, we found that pet-friendly vacation rentals generated higher rental income and occupancy than those that did not accept dogs – between 10% and 20% more. Accepting dogs will generate repeat rentals from the customers. Paying someone to feed, walk and watch your dog every day can be very expensive for the owner, not to mention the anxiety and stress of separation for both parties. By providing dog-friendly accommodations, you allow patrons to create memories with the whole family, which is likely to generate a return for your visitors in the years to come. Man’s best friend will also allow you to increase the length of the stays of the travelers. When a traveler wants to relocate for a long time, it becomes essential for them to find a property that will accept their faithful companion. Asking their friends and families to keep Fido for a week or two, can work, but when the stay stretches over 3 weeks or more, family and friends become scarce and the cost of institutional care becomes prohibitive. Do not worry about the condition of your property. Worried about the damage that Fido could cause you to your rental property during his visit? Statistics show that tenants of short term rentals that accommodate dogs and those who refuse them show the same cleanliness score and the same house conditions when the visitors leave. Dog or no dog, you won’t tell a difference. You will increase the off-season rental occupation. Looking to fill slow rental periods? Opening your doors to pets will increase rentals during times of low traffic. We found that occupancy rates were much higher in dog-friendly houses during the slow season. Note that guests book more last-minute trips out of season. With a small window between the reservation and the stay, it can be difficult to find a place to keep the dog. Competition for dog-friendly homes is lower at this time of year, guests can both book the perfect accommodation and be accompanied by their dog. In conclusion Open your doors to pets, especially dogs. By accepting dogs in your holiday home, you will increase bookings throughout the year and you will also see increased returns from past clients. The risk of damage is far outweighed by the increase in income, which in addition will not prevent you from increasing cleaning costs when a client reserves with a pet, a practice widely accepted by dog owners. So, make the right decision and increase your income, say: Good boy Fido, good boy!