Bajan (Barbados) Rum ENG


Bajan (Barbados) Rum

Old map of Barbados (undated)
Source: www.historytoday.com
Barbados boasts itself to be the birthplace of rum. Rum is allegedly being distilled there since the 17th century. The oldest and still active distillery in the Caribbean 'Mount Gay' refers to its roots back to 1703, but there are also indications, that the distillation of rum was started earlier. As in many other colonies o the rum in Barbados was also only a by-product of the sugar production. Sugar-cane was not exclusively cultivated for the production of rum. The plantations were not particularly large, they were rather small. In 1780 there were about 800 small sugar-cane estate on this little island. The idea of large central factories was not considered up until the 20th century. Those few big factories did replace many small mills and did increase the efficiency of the sugar production.

In British Guiana the estates and factories were so great that there was no need for a major change. Thos factories were considered to be large central factories for the sourrounding cane fields. In Trinidad the change began in the 19th century. Even in Jamaica this kind of change began earlier with the creation of a central sugar factories. But Barbados was for a long time a taillight in the sugar production, when it came to efficiency and modernity. In 1846 there were just one steam-powered mill. While this figure rose to 1911 to 109 the last windmill of the island was still operating until the year 1947. This should make clear the old-fashioned way of the production of sugar on the island. 

In 1893 also the rum production began to change dramatically. Geo Stade, a 'Civil Engineer' from Berlin and engaged in the business of the sugar industry, built a modern rum distillery in Bridgetown (BlackRock) and brought the first column still to Barbados. It was the West Indian Rum Refinery. Gradually, this distillery supplanted the competition from the domestic market. Many old producer disappeared.

Today onlyl 4 rum distilleries are left. Of these four are two very young and have been recently established, in comparison to the two old top dogs.

Mount Gay Distillery
West Indies Rum Distillery (ehemals West Indian Rum Refinery)
Foursquare Distillery (im Herzen der alten Zuckerfabrik)
St. Nicholas Abbey Distillery (Micro-Destillerie)

The Foursquare Distillery was founded by the Seales family around 1996 and the small micro-distillery at St. Nicholas Abbey was established by Larry Warren only in 2010. It remains to be seen whether this small distillery can really survive, or whether it will remain only a small tourist attraction to entice tourists to the estate. Much of the former diversity of the 19th century has been lost. Like on so many other Islands. Barbados was no exception of this change.

More information on this topic will be in a separate "Bajan Distillieres" article when I have the necessary time for a thorough research on this topic. A visit to the island will be necessary, which has not yet taken place. 

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List of known bajan bottlings
(not complete)

- Alambic Classique Foursquare 6 YO (2000 - 2006), 45% vol.
- Baltic Runner Barbados Single Rum Rockley Still 18 YO (1986 – 2004), 68,3% vol. (Pot-Still)
- Berry's Own Selection Bajan Rockley Still 16 YO (1986 - 2002), 46% vol. (Pot Still) 
- Berry's Own Selection Bajan Rockley Still 21 YO (1986 - 2007), 46%vol. (Pot Still)
- Cadenhead's Dated Distillation BMMG Mount Gay Distillery 8 YO (2000 -2008), 66,3% vol. (Pot Still)
- Cadenhead's Dated Distillation BBR Blackrock Distillery 11 YO (2000 -2012), 59,1% vol.
- Cadenhead's Dated Distillation WIRR Blackrock Distillery 12 YO (1986 - 1998), 74,1% vol. (Pot Still)
- Cadenhead's Dated Distillation BRS (Rockley) Blackrock Distillery 14 YO (1986 - 2000), 69,2% vol. (Pot Still)
- Cadenhead's Dated Distillation BRS (Rockley) Blackrock Distillery 16 YO (1986 - 2003), 67,7% vol. (Pot Still) 
- Cadenhead Green Label Barbados 10 YO (Mount Gay; 2000 - 2010 oder2011), 46% vol.
- Cadenhead Green Label Barbados 11 YO (WIRD; 2002 / 2003 - 2013 / 2014), 46% vol. 
- Cadenhead Green Label Barbados 12 YO (Rockley; 1986 - 1998 oder 1999), 46% vol. (Pot-Still) 
-Cadenhead Green Label Barbados 12 YO (Rockley, 2000 - 2012), 46%vol.(Pot Still)
- Cadenhead Green Label Barbados 13 YO (Rockley; 1986 - 1999 oder 2000), 46% vol. (Pot-Still)
- Cadenhead Green Label Barbados 15 YO (Rockley; 1986 - 2001 oder2002), 46% vol. (Pot-Still)
- Cadenhead Green Label Barbados 18 YO (Rockley; 1986 - 2004 oder 2005), 46% vol. (Pot-Still)
 

- Cadenhead Green Label Barbados 25 YO, 46% vol.
- Ciguena Carta 1975 Very Old Superior Rhum 25 YO (1975 – 2000), 45% vol.
- Cockspur Rum 5 Star Fine Rum, 37,5% vol.
- Cockspur Old Gold Rum, 43% vol.
- Cockspur Fine Golden Rum, 37,5% vol.
- Cockspur V.S.O.R.Vintage Blend, 43% vol.
- Cockspur V.S.O.R 12 Bajan Crafted Rum, 40% vol.
- Cockspur Sir Gary VSOR
- Cockspur Rum Punch, 20% vol.
- Cockspur 5 Star 151 US Proof, 75,5% vol.
- Cockspur Fine Rum 1639, 43% vol.
- Doorlys Rum 5 YO, 40% vol.
- Doorlys XO Rum, Oloroso Finish, 40% vol.
- Doorly's Macaw White Barbados Rum, 40% vol.
- Duncan Taylor Mt.Gay Distillery 12 YO (2000 - 2012), 53,7%vol (Pot Still)
- DuncanTaylor West Indies Distillery 25 YO (1986 - 2012), 52,7% (Pot Still) 

- E. S. A. Field White Foursquare Distillery, 40% vol.
- E. S. A. F. Barbados White Rum, 43% vol.
- Foursquare Cask Selection 10 YO (1998 – 2008), 40% vol.
- Foursquare Rum Sixty-Six 12, 40% vol.
- Foursquare Spiced Rum, 37,5% vol.
- Isla del Ron Barbados Mount Gay Distillery 12 YO (2000 - 2012), 61,6%vol. (Pot Still) 
- Kaniche Reserve Barbados, 40% vol.
- Kaniche Double Wood 11 YO, 45% vol.
- Kaniche Double Wood XO, 40% vol. 
- L`ESPRIT Black Rock 12 YO (2000 - 2012), 57,7% (Pot Still)
 - L`ESPRIT Black Rock 12 YO (2000 - 2012), 46,0% (Pot Still)  
- Moon Import West Indies Distillery 7 YO (2000 - 2007), 46%vol. (PotStill) 
- Moon Import Barbados 2000 7 YO (2000 – 2007) (West Indies Distillery), 46% 
- Mount Gay Eclipse Silver, 40% vol.
- Mount Gay Eclipse Black 100 Proof, 50% vol.
- Mount Gay Eclipse Rum, 40% vol.
- Mount Gay Extra Old 12, 43% vol.
- Mount Gay 1703 Old Cask Selection, 43% vol.
- Mount Gay Sugar Cane Brandy, 43% vol.
- Mount Gay Tricentennial (Rums aus 1969, 1974 & 1976), 40% vol.
- Mount Gay White Premium Rum, 43% vol.
- Mount Gay Special Reserve Barbados Rum, 40% vol.
- Mount Gilboa Barbados Rum, 40% vol.
- Mount Hope Distillery Runway Rum, 43% vol.
- Olde Brigand 10, 43% vol.
- Old Brigand Special Rum, 43% vol.
- Old Brigand Barbados Rum, 43% vol.
- Old Brigand Barbados White Rum, 37% vol.
- Old Brigand Black Label Superior Barbados Rum, 43% vol.
- Old Pascas Ron Blanco, 37,5% vol.
- Old Pascas Ron Negro, 37.5% vol.
- Paulsen Collection - Seales Foursquare Rum Vintage 1998 10 YO (1998 – 2008), 40% vol.
- Pellegrini Rum Barbajos Rockley Barbados 18 YO (1986 -2004), 46% vol. (Pot-Still)
- Pellegrini Rum Barbajos Blackrock Barbados 11 YO (1996 – 2007), 46% vol. (Pot-Still) 
- Pellegrini Rum Barbajos Blackrock Barbados 10 YO (2000 – 2010), 46%vol. (Pot-Still) 
- Pellegrini Rum Barbajos 2004 “West Indies” 9 YO (2004 – 2013) (895 Fl.), 46% vol. 
- Plantation Rum Barbados Grande Reserve, 40% vol.
- Plantation Rum Barbados Grande Reserve 5 YO, 40% vol. 
- Plantation Rum Barbados Old Reserve 1991, 45% vol. (Blackrock Distillery) 
- Plantation Rum Barbados Old Reserve 1993, 45% vol.
- Plantation Rum Barbados Old Reserve 1995, 45% vol.
- Plantation Rum Barbados Old Reserve 1999, 45% vol. 
- Plantation Rum Barbados Old Reserve 2000 9YO (Blackrock Distillery),42% vol. 
- Plantation Rum Single Cask Barbados 5 YO, Pineau des Charentes, 40% vol.
- Plantation Rum Single Cask Barbados 10 YO, 42% vol. 
- Plantation Rum Single Cask Barbados (Denmark) 15 YO, 42% vol. 
- Plantation Rum Barbados XO 12 YO, 20th Anniversary, 40% vol. 
- Renegade Rum Company Foursquare 6 YO (2003 – 2009), Vin DouxNaturel Banyul Finish, 46% vol. 
- Renegade Rum Company Blackrock 8 YO (2000 - 2008), Port Finish, 46% vol.
- Renegade Rum Company Blackrock 9 YO (2000 - 2009), Petrus Finish, 46% vol.
- Rendsburger Barbados Rum Rockley Still 18 YO (1986 - 2004) (Christian August Berner), 63,8% (Pot Still) 
- Rinaldi Importatori Caribbean Reserve Mount Gay Distillery 2000, 46% vol.
- Rinaldi Importatori Caribbean Reserve Rockley Distillery 15 YO (1986 – 2001), 46% vol. (Pot-Still)
- Rinaldi Importatori Caribbean Reserve Rockley Distillery 18 YO (1986 – 2005), 46% vol. (Pot-Still)
- Rinaldi Importatori Caribbean Reserve Rockley Distillery 19 YO (1986 – 2006), 46% vol. (Pot-Still)
- Rinaldi Importatori Caribbean Reserve Rockley Distillery 22 YO (1986 – 2009), 46% vol. (Pot-Still)
- R. L. Seale's Finest Barbados Rum 10 YO, 43% vol.
- R. L. Seale Barbados Gold Fine Rum, 43% vol.
- Rum Company Old Barbados Rum, 40% vol. 
- Rum Dealers Selection West DInies Rum Distillery (Rockley)  140 YO (2000 - 2014), 56,8%vol.
- Rum Nation Barbados 12 YO (1995 - 2008) (Blackrock Distillery), 43% vol. 
- Rum Nation Barbados 8 YO (2000 - 2008) (Blackrock Distillery), 43% vol. 
- Rum Nation Barbados 10 YO (2001 - 2011) (Blackrock Distillery), 43% vol. 
- Rum Nation Barbados 8 YO (2002 - 2010) (Blackrock Distillery), 43% vol. 
- Rum Nation Barbados 10 YO Release 2014
- Samaroli Barbados Rum Rockley Still 13 YO (1986 - 1999), 45% vol. 
- Samaroli Barbados Rum 18 YO (1986 – 2004), 45% vol.
- Samaroli Barbados Rum 20 YO Single Cask (1986 – 2006), 45% vol. 
- Samaroli Barbados Rum 11 YO (1995 – 2006), 45% vol.
- Samaroli Barbados Rum 15 YO (1996 – 2011), 45% vol. 
- Samaroli Barbados Rum Yhemen Selection 9 YO (2000 – 2009), 45% vol. 
- Secret Treasure Old Barbados Rum WIRD 14 YO (1986 – 2000), 42% vol.
- Secret Treasure Old Barbados Rum WIRD 7 YO (1995 – 2002), 42% vol.
- Silver Seal "Chairman's Reserve" 10 YO (1996 - 2006), 46% vol. (Pot-Still)
- Silver Seal "Special Reserve" 14 YO (1996 - 2010), 46% vol. (Wildlife Series No. 1)
- St. Nicholas Abbey 8 YO, 40% vol. (Column- & Pot Still)
- St. Nicholas Abbey 10 YO, 40% vol. (Column- & Pot Still) 
- St.Nicholas Abbey 12 YO, 40% vol. (Column- & Pot Still)
- The Rum Cask Barbados Rum West Indies Rum Distillery 12 YO (2000 - 2013),61,6% vol.
- Velier Rockley Barbados Rum 11 YO (1986 – 1997), 46% vol. by Thomson and Co. for Velier
- West Indies Distillery Barbados ? YO (1986 - ?), 46% vol.
- West Indies Distillery Barbados Rum 8 YO, 50% vol.


Original bottlers:

Of the four remaining distilleries in Barbados only three are selling their products in bottles and sell these under their own names and brands. These include Mount Gay, RL Seale & Co. Ltd. and the smaller distillery St. Nicholas Abbey, which is owned by the architect Larry Warren. The West Indies Rum Distillery (aka WIRD) is only bottling a white rum on its home island, which is not being sold to export. The largest buyers are Hanschell Inniss Ltd. (Cockspur) and Pernod Ricard (Malibu rum liqueur). RL Seale & Co. Ltd. expanded in the past and swallowed several other bottlers. Among them were long-established companies like Martin Doorly & Co Ltd. in March of 1992 and Alleyne Arthur & Hunte Ltd. in July of the following year. The Foursquare Distillery was founded in 1996 and implemented the latest CO2-friendly technologies. However, a large part of the historical structure of the old sugar factory has been implenented into the distillery. Interesting note: Foursquare was one of the later emerging central factories in the 20th century.

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