Many may think of white sandy beaches and crystal clear, turquoise waters when they think of Barbados, but for some, a trip to this tropical paradise is all about our rum!
The Mount Gay Rum Tour Centre begins outside a quaint, wooden house sat beneath some blossoming trees. From the outside, one would not imagine what inside stores. We are met with the chatter of tourists. As islander- locals as we call it- our excitement is spurred by the happy faces of these visitors. As ambassadors of the island, we are buzzed by their fascination. We are immediately engaged. The smell of rum- overpowering, then calming. Sights and sounds zoom. Our tour begins promptly at 2:00 PM- a sure tick on our list. We are introduced to Mount Gay Rum- its core values, its inception and development. Our tour guide- a young local -engages his audience with his infectious enthusiasm. All ears listen attentively as the story of the world’s great rum unfolds
Molasses ,Rum and whole lot of fun
There’s the cutest baby in the crowd. We wish we could take a photo of her first visit to Barbados, but are hands are full of cups of rum punch! Simply delicious! Next, we are served with some mouth- watering molasses. It is both bitter and sweet and gives us just the right buzz to energize for the rest tour.
Up the wooden stairs, cups in tow, we are led to the tasting area. This is where most of the plot thickens. With the display of alcoholic beverage, our senses are further employed. The liquid gold is poured hypnotically, wafting the strong aroma through the air, to our collective pleasure.
The story goes like this:
• In 1747 the Mount Gay Estate was sold to John Sober (ironic, we know).
• The Estate was ran by the eminent Barbadian Sir John Gay Alleyne. On his death, the estate was renamed in his honor and thus the name ‘Mount Gay’
• In 1918, the Mount Gay Estate was bought by popular business man A.F Ward. His signature still remains on the rum’s label today.
Mount Gay Rum is made from molasses and water filtered through the coral stone. The mix is fermented using a specially selected yeast and then distilled in copper and column pot stills, before being aged in oak barrels. We are offered a generous sample of each of the signature rum as the tour continues. Mount Gay Eclipse- a rum aptly named for the total eclipse and the passage of the Halley’s comet in 1910- was one of our favorites. Amongst the others were the equally flavorful Mount Gay Silver, Mount Gay Black Barrel and the Mount Gay XO.
We had to brace ourselves. One too many glasses might leave even the most experienced drinker a little tipsy!
Thankfully, the next segment of the tour had us all seated. We were given a seven-minute video of the development of the rum. We learned of how rum is inexorable tied to the history of the Caribbean and North America, how it played an integral part in the economic development of the islands and had a profound impact in shaping Barbados into what it is today! It was a nice addition to the tour as it gave a visual understanding of the process.
The Final Taste
The end of the video brings the end of the tour. We all returned to the main bar where some treated themselves to more delicious cocktails and mingling. We also explored the gift store, where one can purchase their own bottle of Mount Gay, souvenirs or other locally made goodies. This fun and informative tour was quite a treat for just USD $20 and you are given a generous sample of various kinds of beverages! We encourage anyone to take the time to learn about Barbados’ rich history. Just be sure you visit with a designated driver!
