An Island with a Long Tradition of Rum…
Located on the north-west corner of the island, is Antigua’s capital St. John’s. Situated in the capital on the quiet shores of a picturesque bay opposite Fort St. James is the facilities of Antigua Distillery Limited (ADL). Look no further for Antigua rum!
While rum has been made on the island since the 1700s, the ADL was formed in the 1930s by a group of immigrants from (mostly) Portugal. Initially utilizing base alcohols from other islands, the Antigua Distillery quickly expanded by purchasing a plantation on the island so they could improve their product with the use of locally grown sugar cane and molasses. Using a copper column still, the first mass production of bottled ADL rum started in the 1950s.
The Antigua Distillery produces Cavalier White and Gold rums (min 2yr), English Harbour (5yr, 10yr and a 1981 vintage) and other special batch releases, like a port finished 5 year old. ADL also produces Kococaribe, a coconut flavoured rum, as well as a rum punch.
There are also a couple of other lesser known Antigua rums being made on the island. Skullduggery Rum uses base rum from the Antigua Distillery and is packaged in unique ceramic skull jugs. Originally sold from the Skullduggery Bar only, now the rum can be found elsewhere on the island as well.
Rumour has it that there is another Antigua rum that uses base rum from the Antigua Distillery – Whisper makes a Gold Rum as well as a Honey Punch. Their rum is apparently a 2 yr old, although I could not find these products on my recent visit to the island.
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