If you love rum, visiting a distillery will give you the opportunity to discover this spirit’s enticing history, learn how it’s made, and, of course, sample a drink or two.

Rum is the Caribbean’s most popular and versatile spirit, so if you want to appreciate rum’s true craftsmanship and rich history, the best option is to visit one of the Island’s three main distilleries. Casa BACARDÍ will wow you with its modern visitor center, premium selection, and views of Old San Juan from across the bay. Hacienda Santa Ana will take you back in time to the late 1800s and walk you through the production process of Ron del Barrilito, the craft cocktail scene’s favorite small production rum. Or take a daytrip to the town of Jayuya for some flavorful moonshine called pitorro at the Craft Spirit Distillery.

Celebration with rum cocktails.

Refresh and recharge in the Rum Capital of the World at Casa BACARDÍ.

Casa BACARDÍ

Carr. 165, Km. 6.2, Cataño

Just across the bay from Old San Juan, in the town of Cataño, is the “Cathedral of Rum.” The Casa BACARDÍ distillery produces most of the BACARDÍ rum consumed worldwide (which is A LOT considering it’s the number one rum in the world). Visitors are greeted with a welcome cocktail at the bat-winged Pavillion and you can choose between three tour options: Historic Tour, Rum Tasting, or Mixology Class. In the gift shop, you can even bottle your own premium rum directly from the barrel.

the exterior of a building at Hacienda Santa Ana where Ron del Barrilito rum is made.

Hacienda Santa Ana, where Ron del Barrilito rum is made.

Hacienda Santa Ana

Edmundo B. Fernández, Inc., Carretera 5, Km. 5.5, Bayamón

Just 15 minutes outside San Juan, the town of Bayamón boasts the oldest distillery in Puerto Rico, where Ron del Barrilito has been manufactured since 1880. This rum is produced in small batches, with a flavor profile similar to bourbon, which makes it a darling of the craft cocktail movement. A visitor center was recently opened, where you can learn its history and taste what Barrilito is all about. 

Aerial view of the Castillo Serrallés

Castillo Serrallés: former home of the Serrallés family, owners of the Don Q distillery. 

Don Q 

Museo Castillo Serrallés

17 Cll. El Vigia, Ponce

Don Q, manufactured by the Serrallés family in the town of Ponce, is the most popular rum in Puerto Rico, but it doesn’t have a distillery open to the public. You can, however, visit the Serrallés Castle Museum. This imposing Spanish Revival mansion was the home of the Serrallés family since the 1930s and visitors can learn about the history of sugarcane and rum during a guided tour. Stroll around the grounds which also include a Japanese garden, a butterfly sanctuary, and the emblematic Cruceta del Vigía, a giant cross overlooking the town of Ponce.

PitoRico

PR-5141, Km 0.7, Jayuya

Up in the mountains of Puerto Rico, moonshiners would bury handles of 95-proof pitorro, pure or mixed with fruit, to “cure” underground until they were smooth enough to drink. A modern and legal version of this spirit, which is a much stronger version of rum, is now available thanks to PitoRico. Manufactured at the Destilería Craft Spirits in the town of Jayuya, Visitors can drop by the distillery from Tuesday through Saturday, and get a brief tour of the factory and a tasting of the different flavors of PitoRico, including coconut, passion fruit, tamarind, orange, and original.

A bartender pours a shot of Ron del Barrilito into a glass

Be sure to try Ron del Barrilito while on the Island. 

Puerto Rican Rum Journey

Get your rum-soaked passport and follow your own path in the Rum Capital of the World. Download the Puerto Rican Rum Journey App and use it as your guide through different distilleries across the Island. Create a route, book your walking and tasting tour, and even make a mixology class reservation. You can even enroll in their rewards program, buy rum and other gifts to bring home, and receive special notifications of promotions directly.

Begin Your Journey

Comment Guidelines

We value your thoughts and want to foster a respectful and engaged community. As such, we ask that you adhere to the following guidelines when posting comments

  • Please ensure your opinions are expressed respectfully. 
  • We won’t remove comments that engage in courteous debate but hate speech or any form of profanity will not be tolerated. This also applies to the inappropriate use of emojis or hashtags. 
  • Do not downvote or dislike a comment simply because you disagree with another person’s views. 
  • Self-promotion and external links are not allowed and will be removed.
  • Avoid sharing private information about yourself or others. Doxing (the act of leaking personal information with harmful intent) is strictly prohibited and will result in a ban.
  • Comments that are off-topic will be deleted.
Discover Puerto Rico's E-Newsletter

Paradise for Your Inbox

Get travel inspiration, news, tips and more delivered monthly. 

Subscribe

Recommended Articles

See All Articles