Callwood Cane Rum

Callwood Rum Distillery is one of the oldest continuously operating pot distilleries in the Caribbean. Visitors to this British Virgin Islands facility can still see some of the old equipment used throughout the distillery’s history of making rum. Ranked 6 of the Top Best Caribbean Rum Distilleries.

A visit to the Callwood Rum Distillery on Tortola is like taking a walk back in time. This distillery has been producing rum for over 200 years! Although Cane Garden Bay was hit hard by the hurricanes of 2017, Callwood Rum Distillery is open again and well worth a visit! 

Ever thought of where the name Cane Garden Bay on Tortola comes from? I’m sure you guessed it, it’s from the history of their sugarcane plantations and rum distillery, a fundamental part of the British Virgin Islands’ cultural heritage. 

This is the Callwood Rum Distillery, a sugarcane plantation and distillery whose history of rummaking dates back some 400 years.

This place has survived for four centuries, with a brief interruption last year thanks to the installation of a new roof, until, four months after Irma, it was back in operation.

Cane Garden Bay is Tortola’s version of Magens Bay on St. Thomas: both are incredibly beautiful, a bit touristy, yet an absolute must-visit. The waters are stunning, with plenty of snorkeling and swimming opportunities, while the shoreline is lined with upbeat bars and seafood establishments.

My favorite part of Cane Garden Bay wasn’t the beach, though. Instead, I loved visiting the Callwood Rum Distillery across the street. This family-owned and operated rum factory is the oldest in the Virgin Islands and one of the longest-running in the Caribbean. Tours are $5 and include tastings.

This BVI rum is not mass produced in a factory.  It is distilled and blended in Cane Garden Bay by the extended Callwood family and its dedicated team. They have been using much the same process and equipment for more than 200 years in the Caribbean’s oldest continuously operating pot distillery, still housed in its ancient stone building.

The Nyammin’ BVI rum cake is locally made and uses Arundel’s Original Dark rum which is aged for 4 years. Dried fruit is soaked in the rum for maximum flavour, a nod to the traditional method of making rum cakes in the BVI.

The cake has a rich dark colour inspired by the rum cakes the Nyammin’ co-founders would eat growing up which were always dark in appearance. The cake is 4-inches with a larger size available upon request.

The cakes are also available for wholesale and corporate orders.