Grenada Rum Distillery
Grenada Rum Distillery-River Antoine Estate is one not to miss! Do you ever feel like you would like to step back 250 years in history? Visit Grenada and take a tour of the River Antoine Estate Rum Distillery. You will.
If you are chartering a yacht in Grenada, make sure you tack on a day to do a day tour, hopefully with ROGER of Pure Grenada.
Grenada is an island with a rich history of distilling rum, moonshine and bush spirits. Of the three existing distilleries on the island, the most scenic, historic and unchanged in its 228 year history is River Antoine. Located in the beautiful northern parish of St. Patrick, River Antoine has been making their legendary high proof Rivers Rum since 1785. Their age-old techniques and antique equipment have remained, making a tour of the facility like walking through a working rum museum.
Traditional Grenada Rum Distillery
River Antoine is a traditional working rum factory from 1785! River Antoine has 99% original parts and a water wheel, done in the conventional labor-intensive old ways.
It is the oldest functioning distillery in the western world, still churning out bottles of rum with a water wheel.
The Grenada Rum Distillery, to me, is a real highlight on the Grenada Island tour 🙂 It won’t take you long to realize why Grenada is called the Spice Island of the Caribbean!
While living in the British Virgin Islands, I have been fascinated by ruins of rum distilleries, but the sights, smells, and ambiance of a real working one was an experience I could not have imagined.
This company does not export its rum. Everything they make sells as soon as it comes out on the island. The Grenadians prefer a potent overproof rum, but if a tourist is buying to take on a plane, they have to get it under 70%, so they cut it with mineral water.
If you manage to get your hands on a strong bottle, I warn you that it won’t be allowed onto the planes to take home with you.
I love the name “Tourist rum.” So appropriate!
Local Following
River Antoine operates throughout the year and enjoys a very strong local following. Like regional beer snobs in the States and Europe, Grenadians often choose their rum brand based on where they live on the island. Rivers fans are so loyal, in fact, that the company is not able to export any rum – they just cant make enough. 100% is consumed by locals who proudly stick to one brand. There is a popular adage in the north of Grenada, “DON’T SAY RUM, SAY RIVERS.” It’s pretty clear that in nearby taverns and rum shops, people are enthusiastically saying RIVERS over and over again.
Distilling in large barrels
Up until this century, the rum was distilled in traditional large barrels, but they have worn out, and now it is large steel vats.
The only properly functioning water-propelled distillery in the western hemisphere!
Go. Be Blown Away
River Antoine Estate Grenada Rum Distillery Facebook Page
We have many yachts that can take you around Grenada. Visit a sampling of our yachts available below.
Scuba Diving On Board