A Rum Tour of Jamaica

Rum – the true taste of the Caribbean and the core of many of our favourite cocktails. From daiquiri to mojito and even as a simple shot, the taste of rum is like summer in Jamaica, so where better to taste it than right where it’s born and bred?

Jamaican rum is reason enough to visit the island. A favourite of seafarers, locals and fictional pirates, it is the quality-crafted liquid gold that has been enjoyed for centuries. From the island’s agriculture to buzzing bars, the influence of it is hard to miss.

Appleton Estate is one of the oldest distilleries in the world, dating back over 260 years to 1749, and creates the finest rum in the world. The estate is located in the beautiful Nassau Valley two hours from the capital of Kingston, with lush green vegetation, tropical palm trees and a hilly backdrop. Achieve an up-close look at the rum-making process, from the extraction of juice from the sugarcane to the copper pot distillation and the warehouse of oak barrels where the rum is left to mature and develop flavours of vanilla, coffee, cocoa and hazelnut. You can sample the full range of Appleton Estate rums, learn how to make them into unique cocktails and even purchase bottles exclusive to the estate.

Needless to say, when there’s a premier rum culture on such a small island, there are going to be endless outlets to sample the goods. Bigg’s BBQ Restaurant & Bar on Montego Bay serves hearty portions of jerk chicken, braised beef and pulled pork with a side of Jamaican rice and peas or three-cheese house fries. Cocktails are strong, with names such as Man-go Kill Yoself which can also be served frozen, and The Hell Fire Mother Bloody, which is blended with Scotch Bonnets.

Further west in Negril is Rick’s Café, which hosts the finest sunset views on the island. The food menu makes use of the sea, with shrimp, lobster, snapper and tuna, while the Boombastic Banana Rum Cake is swimming in delicious rum sauce and ice cream. Rick’s Cliffside Cooler features Appleton’s very own rum, with orange juice, cranberry juice and ginger ale, but why not live the Jamaican way and have some of his famous punch?

Rum is the epitome of Jamaican culture. It’s relaxing, sociable and compliments the sun as it beats down upon you. To ingrain yourself into island even further, converse with the barkeep in Patois. You may pick up these words during your stay on the island, such as “criss” (fine), “walk good” (goodbye) and “nuff” (plenty).

Sit back and relax in the heart of the Caribbean, where good vibes reign and the drinks keep flowing. So the next time you visit jamaica be sure to grab yourself some Rum.