Barbados is considered the birthplace of rum, in fact it is where you can find the oldest existing brand of rum in the world - Mount Gay Rum. So, it was only fair that whilst in this gorgeous sun-drenched country that I went and paid homage - it would be rude not to really, wouldn’t it?
Ex-footballers John Aldridge and Ian Rush are total legends from my neck of the woods, Liverpool, so it was beyond bizarre to find myself in a Barbados bar drinking Mount Gay with the pair of them. The two icons were in the Caribbean promoting Liverpool Football Club and their work in the community as ambassadors for the club and we got to hang out at the iconic rum factory as I tried my barmaid skills out.
I managed to wing my way behind the bar and was lucky enough to have a mini cocktail making lesson with the cheeky barman as he showed me how to whip up a mojito. After ages (minutes) creating the cocktail it was only fair I got to sample my hard work. I don’t want to blow my own trumpet but it was probably the best mojito I’ve ever tasted.
On the tour you learn how rum was first invented, how dudes called Sir John Gay and John Sober (the irony!) bought the land to create the distillery back in 1703 and how the island’s own resources such as sugar cane, molasses and coral play a part in the production.
Mount Gay also produces a rum that is so precious and rare it costs $50 per glass. I don’t know about you but my palate isn’t refined enough to tell the difference between that and the normal stuff.
Even if you’re not a huge rum fan, a visit to the factory to see how it’s produced – cameras were forbidden for this part of the tour, so their secrets remain intact – learning how to appreciate it and sampling a fair few glasses was a very enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. The only problem was that after daytime drinking I was ready for bed by about 7pm - always drink responsibly, peeps!
A cool rum fact for you fact fans out there – the first drink that James Bond orders in Casino Royale is not his trademark martini but a refreshing glass of Mount Gay rum and soda. Well, if 007 gives it his seal of approval then surely it’s got to be good.
Mojito Recipe
50ml Mount Gay Eclipse rum
10ml Fresh Lime Juice
10ml Sugar syrup
Soda water
Fresh mint leaves
Smash the mint leaves in a highball glass, add crushed ice then add in the other ingredients and stir well. Told you it was easy!
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