TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands some kinda cane rum?

hey all-
I heard from a little birdie that there is a possibility of obtaining a little bit-o hooch while on the islands. specifically, some sort of uber strong homemade style cane rum. any tips on where to procure this delectable treat?

hmmm...."uber strong?" ...."delectable treat"??? Hmmm.....I will let others break the news to you on your delectable treat....but ...
Here is a write-up on like for QUOTE "Callwood Distillery, reportedly the oldest continuously operating rum distillery in the Caribbean. Michael Callwood will demonstrate how rum was made two hundred years ago, and is still being made today at his facility. It’s all there in one condensed operation. To the left of the ancient stone building is the belt-driven cane crusher, with stonework ducts draining freash-crushed cane juice into fermentation pots boiling coppers. Lucky visitors might see the wood-fired boilers out back. Then step inside and warp backwards in time 200 years, as you stand slack jawed among, barrels stacked with aging ru small pot stills, and sundry other pieces of ancient distilling craft. Take pictures, sample the goods, and by all means take home one of the smoothest spiced rums you’ll find anywhere. Months after you’ve returned home, Callwood’s Spiced Rum will transport you back to this day on Tortola, while their Arundel aged rum reeks of old world production values." UNQUOTE That being posted....I am going to let others comment on the taste and tours....I'll back away on a positive note. BTW...this is a short walk from Myetts in CGB

Its worth a side trip when in Cane Garden Bay to have a taste and a look. You can find the rum in a lot of places labeled as "Arundel Rum." Its certainly an artisanal product.

Cheers, RickG

lol-
I know, I know- delectable is probably not the best word to describe what I'm talking about! more like screeching -hot firewater.
the stuff I'm talking about is probably not even considered "rum" , more like cane moonshine. it comes in plastic jugs, not from a distiller....

thus the term "hooch"

"probably not even considered "rum" , more like cane moonshine." My take on that: probably not even considered "rum" , more like cane varnish remover <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> (but it does come in glass bottles and not plastic jugs.)

Hi

It’s worth seeing what Dave Russell has to say about Arundel Rum on his web site : http://www.rumgallery.com/arundel-cane-rum-10-year.html . Of course, he’s talking about the 10 year old stuff - you can get the 30 minutes old stuff at CGB, hence the varnish remover jokes. As he says, the 4 year old stuff is only so-so compared to, say, 10 Cane rum from Trinidad (which is only 6 months old!). The barrels at Callwood’s have seen better days - probably one of the causes of its deficiencies. But, as he says, it’s the genuine article and has a great history. Think I’ll stick with Barbancourt - get the 15 year version (if you can afford it), but the 4 year old Three Stars is just fine.<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Peace
Dugg & Chris
Our VI pics are at http://picasaweb.google.com/papadugg/ - haven’t started on our ‘14 pics for Picasa. Having trouble getting ‘13 on the site.

Back in the 70's the Windjammer crew would save empty plastic soda bottles and you would take them and trade them in for bottles filled with Arundel rum! The emptys you just threw in this huge old iron sugar cauldron where they were "aging" I think some of them were still there last year!

been to callwood dist. almost a whiskey taste to me actually. not very smooth. so if you like that you'll be fine. just taking the tour and the atmosphere is great value. and nice little bottle to carry around and bump up at places <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

On some islands (St.Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenada for sure) they make an "over-proof" (usually 180, ie, 90% alcohol) rum which is often referred to as "Jack Iron". You drink it straight and usually chase it with water. I have seen it for sale in the BVI grocery stores, although not labeled Jack Iron. Not sure if Callwoods or anyone on Tortola makes any, though.