Alexander Gabriel tells me, sitting on a wooden deck just above the sands of Brighton Beach. “We can save the world one barrel at a time.
Whether it’s a well-timed cocktail, wide open turquoise waters, or time for conversation, these moments are becoming a rare commodity in today’s world.
Gabriel, master blender and owner of Stade’s Rum Distillery in Barbados, points out the power of rum – the power of an artisanal product – to help us all pause, look at our phones, and savor the human engagement.
And sitting here in the aptly named “Rum Beach Club” in Barbados, it’s pretty hard to disagree.
This is a great concept. The concept began here on the shores of this beach in 1983 when George Stade founded the West Indies Rum Distillery, which was then acquired by Gabriel’s Maison Ferrand in 2017.
Now it is the most unique rum distillery experience in the Caribbean. Here you can tour fascinating rum-making operations (including one billed as the oldest operation in the region, dating back to 1780), then relax in one of the well-stocked bars and restaurants.
There is a striking contrast between the steam rising from the distillery roof and the waves crashing just a few steps away.
Standard Stade’s Beach Vat No. Whether you’re sipping 1 (yes, aged right on the edge of the sand) or one of the fine Planteray expressions, including some very creative experiments with high-ester rums, that’s what makes the rums here special, made under brands like Stade’s and Planteray (a rebrand of the former Plantation Rum). (Going up to the still feels like you’re in a living museum. There’s something visceral about being around this historic old still, including its brassy, stately rockleys that feel like they have a soul of their own.)
But the best thing about this place is the beach club, which has its own rum distillery. Here you can lie on the sand all day, drink all kinds of rum and sample well-prepared Bayan favorites (the curried fish sandwich was especially good).
Proximity to the distillery means the list of rums is endless. Spend a day here and you can begin your journey with this wonderful Bajan Rum. These include the company’s more creative bottlings, such as the coconut-flavored Cut and Dry, the old standard Grand Reserve, and Planteray Legacy 120. The latter is clearly one of the best rums on the market today, a blend of rums aged between 8 and 15 years and representing the pinnacle of current Bajan rum making.
Planteray also celebrates rum makers from across the region with a series of special bottlings from other distilleries, and bottles from countries such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Panama can be tried here too.
I’ve been to more Caribbean rum distilleries than I can count, but this one is beyond the category. It’s great to know that the rum you’re enjoying on the sand was made literally just steps away. The fact is that it took years for the same sea breeze to swirl around you and do the same thing to that barrel.
In a world of computing power, prompts, and doom-scrolling, it’s nice to know that you can come to a Caribbean island, hit the beach, and spend the day at your own rum distillery.
And at least save the day – one drink at a time.
Directions
Stade’s Rum Distillery is located just outside Bridgetown, close to the cruise port of Barbados if you’re coming to the Caribbean island by sea.
