Rum can be produced through the fermentation and distillation of either molasses or sugarcane juice.
While Puerto Rico is popular for its ultra-flavorful food spanning from mofongo to arroz con gandules, it’s not simply the food that keeps travelers coming to the island time and time onceagain. Over the years, Puerto Rico has likewise developed itself as one of the Caribbean’s most noteworthy rum manufacturers, with both world-renowned and small operations discovered all throughout the island. Whether you’re a fan of boozy mixeddrinks or choose your spirits cool, the ideal Puerto Rican rum is simply a flight away, with no lack of browse, sand and sun to delightin along the method.
Explore the Island’s Top Distilleries
Ron del Barrilito is produced in Bayamón, a town situated west of San Juan.
Puerto Rico’s tradition of rum-making dates back centuries, and for those in search of a distinguished distillery that mixes old-school elegance with contemporary appeal, there’s no pounding Ron del Barrilito. This storied business serves as the earliest rum brandname on the island, with the initial dish and aging technique going thesame consideringthat 1880—and today, rum enthusiasts are invite to book a journey to the Ron del Barrilito visitor center for a peek into the spirit’s tradition. Opened in 2019, this center supplies an chance for visitors to marvel at the protected estate home, register in a mixology class, and—of course—sample Ron del Barrilito straight from the source. While the sherry barrel-aged 3 Stars is a especially popular drinking rum thanks to its vibrant notes of chocolate and nougat, those hoping to craft the best piña colada must be sure to snag a bottle of 2 Stars, with the item’s vanilla-reminiscent taste profile pairing completely with the sweet notes of tropical fruit.
For visitors that wear’t desire to roaming too far from Viejo San Juan, Scryer Rum provides an picturesque escape in the type of their alfresco roof patioarea—and to sweeten the offer, the place likewise standsout at the art of mixeddrinks. While beverages variety from banana-infused Spanish Harlems to traditional Paper Planes, each one comes crammed with Scryer’s really own pot-distilled rum, with each put offering complex notes imbued from the sherry and port barrel aging procedure. After a day invested checkingout Viejo San Juan, enthusiastic visitors can make their method approximately ninety minutes southwest to find Ponce, the home of the renowned Don Q. The verypopular rum on the island, this spirit made its authorities launching in 1934, and presently boasts tastes varying from pineapple to coconut to secret lime—all of which can be knowledgeable direct throughout a rum trip at the spectacular Museo Castillo Serrallés.
Discover Puerto Rico’s Thriving Bar Scene
Viejo San Juan was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark District in 1972.
After checkingout the island’s most precious distilleries, you might desire to find how Puerto Rican rum carriesout in a mixeddrink—and luckily, Viejo San Juan is teeming with top-tier bars all within walking range from each other. To kick off the goto, Antiguo 26 is a especially advanced area that’s teeming with high-end craft mixeddrinks, with choices covering from the Monchito 2020—a revitalizing mix of citrus, rum and clarified pineapple punch—to the tropical fruit-loaded Not So Mai Tai. Further south, La Casita de Rones is particular to wow visitors with its flower-clad waterside outdoorpatio, offering the best chance to snag a signature Coffee Old Fashioned and takepleasurein the breeze. And of course, no mixeddrink enthusiast’s journey to Puerto Rico is total with paying a checkout to La Factoría. Equipped with 6 different bars in one historical area, this dynamic place hasactually made routine looks on the World’s 50 Best Bars list thanks to its remarkable craft mixeddrinks, numerous of which come filled with high-end rum.
Of course, there’s a wealth of can’t-miss cockta