Whether you’re a rum aficionado looking for the best bottles the world has to offer or a fun-loving vacationer looking for an exciting afternoon away from the cruise ship, the experiences offered by these Caribbean distilleries are sure to fit the bill.

La Route des Rhums, Martinique

Why visit just one distillery when you could experience 10? Martinique’s Route des Rhums allows visitors to experience all 10 of the island’s rum, or should we say rhum, distilleries. If you’re venturing to La Route des Rhums in Martinique, you’ll first want to acquaint yourself with the difference between rum and rhum. While rum is traditionally distilled from molasses, rhum is distilled from sugar cane juice. Due to this unique variation, Martinique’s rhums are the only rums awarded the Appellation d’Origine Controlée designation by the Institut National des Appellation d’Origine, which recognizes the finest agricultural products around the globe. La Route des Rhums is perfect for the rum connoisseur and the history buff alike as many of the distilleries featured on the route boast robust histories dating back to the eighteenth century.

Mount Gay Rum, Barbados

Barbados, considered by many to be the birthplace of rum, boasts the world’s oldest continuously operating rum brand, Mount Gay Rum. Enjoy a delightful tasting session as you sample an assortment of Mount Gay’s rums. Sip a glass of rum punch as you dive into the history of the distillery with the help of friendly and knowledgeable tour guides. You’ll develop a new appreciation for the notes and flavors bursting in your next glass of rum. End the tour with a traditional Bajan meal, paired with a tasty rum cocktail, of course!

Casa Bacardi, Puerto Rico

Perhaps the most renowned rum brand, Casa Bacardi has its roots in Cuba, but has called Puerto Rico home since the 1930s. Travelers can explore the largest rum distillery in the world in Cataño, Puerto Rico, about a 30 minute drive from the airport or 20 minutes from Old San Juan. Casa Bacardi offers three tours that take visitors through the rum production process while learning the storied history of the prominent rum distillery. Budding bartenders also are invited to take part in a 75-minute mixology class to learn how to prepare outstanding rum cocktails from master distillers.

House of Angostura, Trinidad & Tobago

Although better known for its bitters than its selection of liquors, the House of Angostura offers six rums for every type of rum connoisseur. Located in the Port of Spain, you’ll experience more than the delicious flavors of Angostura rum on this distillery tour. Get a sneak peek at how the distillery’s world-famous bitters are made then hop aboard a tram to tour the facility and see the rum-making process. You’ll also get plenty of samples and a chance to view the Malcolm Barcant Butterfly Collection, a rare collection of 615 butterfly species preserved from around the world.

Cayman Spirits Company Distillery, Grand Cayman

Although the island’s only maker of rum, Cayman Spirits Company Distillery packs a punch with its unique aging process. The brand’s Seven Fathoms Rum is aged on the ocean floor 42 feet below the water’s surface. Tour guides showcase the distillery’s many unique features during a short educational tour before participants are invited to sample the distillery’s many offerings including the exclusive “Distiller’s Special,” a seasonal beverage only available onsite. Afterward, head to nearby downtown George Town to shop a wide range of local and high-end goods.