Barbados / Rum

Rum has been produced in Barbados for centuries. In fact Mount Gay is claimed to be the oldest rum in the world, with documentation showing that in 1703 rum was in production on a plantation in St Lucy, originally called Mount Gilboa.

But the story goes even further back. In 1657 a chronicler of life in Barbados described rum as “Kill-Devil” and was not very enamoured of it, pointing out that it was enjoyed by too many, too often. Later on other names such as ”rumbustion” and ”rumbullion” were used. Rum is even connected to the word ”rumpus”.

Apart from Mount Gay, which produces a variety of different aged rums, other names of note are Cockspur, Doorly’s, Old Brigand, Special Barbados Rum and Barbados Gold.

A rum-based liqueur, which was widely known in the 19th Century, is Falernum. Still available today, it is made from partially distilled cane syrup flavoured with lime juice, almond and clove essences. Malibu, a coconut flavoured rum, is also bottled in Barbados.