For those who’ve followed flavour through the world of whisky, this next trail leads you to warmer climes – to islands where sugarcane sways instead of barley, and where you are likely to find far more rustic and traditional processes preserved and maintained throughout the centuries. In the Caribbean, blenders do not work within the sealed walls of a distillery – they choose daily how much of the island to distil into their bottles. Whether to let local flora and fauna influence the yeast strains through open vat fermentation, or harnessing the intense heat of the Caribbean for the tropical ageing of each barrel - each bottle is a postcard from the people and the environment that made it.

If you’ve journeyed through the peated shores of Islay or the sherried depths of Speyside, rum might feel like another world – but in truth, the leap isn’t so far. Whisky gives a sense of place through its grain, peat, casks, and a climate that demands a warming spirit. There are nuances within the whisky world that allow connoisseurs to navigate their way through regionally adjacent distilleries, each with their own unique fingerprints. Rum’s uniqueness lies in the sheer breadth of flavour that a single category can offer - so much so that a newcomer might be hard pushed to recognise that something distilled from cane juice and something distilled from molasses share an ancestry with the same raw material.

So where to begin? When you first journey into the rum world, it can feel like navigating unchartered waters. The Caribbean isn’t one thing. It’s a vibrant mix of cultures, languages, climates, and landscapes – and each of these elements shapes the spirits that come from it. From the funk-filled punch of Jamaican pot stills to the elegant, fruit-laced blends of Barbados, or the grassy, terroir driven agricoles of Martinique and Guadeloupe - the region defies easy categorisation. Each spirit is shaped as much by people and place as it is by its stills and casks.

Understanding the Caribbean begins with appreciating that each island has its own individual identity, and the culture, music, food and flavours are all representative of the people themselves.

Rum is the liquid embodiment of each island where it is made. It is not just a product of sugarcane - it is pure Caribbean culture distilled.

For many, rum is their island drink, their holiday cocktail - enjoyed in the sun, then forgotten once back home - rum often becomes a holiday memento, rather than a passion to be further explored. The idea of appreciating rum on the same level as a whisky or cognac can seem unusual to some - rum takes itself less seriously, and its humble, easy-going nature often belies the truth of the complexity and flavours found within. For those who look a little closer though, rum stands proudly side by side with some of the greatest spirits in the world, albeit with a uniquely Caribbean perspective.

Just as highlands, lowlands, Speyside & Islay are all important landmarks on a whisky lover’s flavour map, we invite you to follow The Rum Trail to discover a whole new range of exciting destinations. Through rum, you are transported and able to taste a spirit made half the world away, and we invite you to look a little closer at the people and the process that made these exceptional liquids.

And why stop with just the drink itself? It’s common for whisky to be paired beautifully with food - and nowhere does flavour quite like the Caribbean. Rum loves spice. Rum loves smoke. It pairs beautifully with jerk chicken, fried plantain, grilled fish, pepper sauces and stews. Drinking it neat is a pleasure – but pairing it alongside local food starts to open up even more culinary delights and gives you even more insight into the flavours of the Caribbean.

Why Follow The Rum Trail?

At Elixir, we believe that flavour tells the best stories. Whether you’re a long-time whisky lover or simply flavour-curious, rum opens up a whole new chapter – one that’s warmer, brighter, and more tropical - but no less complex. For many, this is a whole new category, and we want you to appreciate it as much as we do.

As we explore these regions, we want to bring you with us. The Elixir Trails is your map - not drawn with train lines or country borders, but with flavour, fermentation, and exceptional casks. Every rum we bottle is something we love and something we think you might too.