With everything going on in the world right now we’ve had to cancel our trip. It was the right thing to do, but it doesn’t mean we don’t feel like we’re missing out. We look forward to planning it all over again as that’s half the fun.
I also need to say that when everything needed to be unwound the tour operators and planners we worked with were all amazing. We always try to work with local agencies and support the local tourism economies of these small islands. If you have any future plans to travel to Barbados the people at these companies are amazing.
Williams Tours Barbados, Scott and Raquel are amazing to work with and have your best interest at heart. St. Nicholas Abbey, I chatted with Melisa, what a kind and helpful person. Copper Still Bar (Four Square Distillery), Dario was extremely friendly and I hear gives the best tastings, looking forward to it.
Time to sit back, enjoy my Mauby Rum from Mount Gay, and give this one final proof read before publishing. Stay safe and healthy everyone.
The wifey and I are in the last stages of getting ready for our trip to Barbados. We’ve been once before and it was a special treat she planned for my birthday. Turns out that on return from Grenada there is no direct flight to Toronto. She set everything up so we could spend one night in Barbados and get out to see Mount Gay. Two days and one night was not enough, but we certainly decided we would be back. Looks like its only just over a year since that visit and we can’t wait to get there.
Planning our excursions
When we vacation in the Caribbean we typically do one excursion and then spend most of our time recharging in the sun with some books and stiff drinks. We are big fans of getting out in a catamaran for some ocean cruising. There is something so peaceful about sitting up front on a catamaran.
For this upcoming trip we’re doing something a little different. As I have jumped head first into the deep water for Rum with this Blog, and @overthebarrelproof we’re going on a bit of a rum tour.
There are three prominent distilleries on the island of Barbados:
- Mount Gay
- Four Square – To book a tour go through Copper Still Bar
- St. Nicholas Abbey
On this trip we are going to visit Four Square and St. Nicholas Abbey as I’ve previously been to Mount Gay and getting to St. Nicholas Abbey is a bit out of the way. Our excursion will start bright and early at 9:30 with a pick-up at our hotel by Williams Tours Barbados and head straight to Four Square where Dario of Copper Still Bar will meet us to give us the grand tour, sample rums, and a “cocktail tour”. I am really looking forward to this as Four Square and Doorly’s rum are difficult (if not impossible) to find here in Ontario.
Four Square to Soup Bowl
From Four Square will be heading up the the eastern coast of the island, a path less traveled. The western coast is where you find the powdery beaches, resorts, and golf courses. The western coast is known as the Platinum Coast. The eastern coast is the “real Barbados” where tourist often don’t go.
Bathsheba is the main town in this area and around here is where we’ll be stopping at a local Rum shop to try some more rums and get some food. We’ll also have the opportunity to see the Soup Bowl, a surf break and surfers dream wave.
If you’re not familiar with Rum shops and what they are, here are a few pictures taken from Instagram #rumshop to give you an idea. Rum shops are traditionally gathering places to socialize and gossip. Catch up on sports, play dominoes, and of course enjoy some rum.
From Soup Bowl to St. Nicholas Abbey
We depart the rum shops and make our way to our final destination, St. Nicholas Abbey. St. Nicholas Abbey is located in the Northern end in the town of Saint Peter. It is a plantation house, museum and rum distillery full of history which I am looking forward to explore.
For this stop we’ve booked ourselves the Rum Experience Tour which includes a tour of the grounds, distillery, and a personalized tasting with the distillery owner, Mr. Larry Warren.
And that’s a wrap
From St. Nicholas Abbey we return to our resort via the Western coast on the highway. The entire outing is about 6 hours and jam packed with everything rum, and this is just a hint of what can be done in beautiful Barbados. With that in mind we’ll have to visit again and stay tuned for some follow-up posts.
-Time flies when you’re having RUM.
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