Barbados

This Caribbean island is often called the birthplace of rum, because evidence suggests the first recorded (and still operating) rum distillery in the world opened here in 1703. Rum production was, at first, bound up with the planting of sugarcane in the 17th century (with plantations worked at first by European indentured servants, then later by African slaves). Happily, the crop remained after emancipation and rum went from strength to strength after independence. Bajan rum’s style is notable for its traditional blending of pot still and column still rums to balance robust fruity flavours with easy-drinking smoothness.​

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