West Indies
There are 169 rums from the West Indies distillery in the RumX database.
Show all West Indies rumsLocated in Bridgetown and adjacent to the Brighton Beach, West Indies’ origins date back to 1893, making it the second oldest yet operational distillery in Barbados. WIRD or the “Blackrock distillery” as it is called by the locals due to its location in the Blackrock suburb, was founded as the “West Indies Rum Refinery” (WIRR) by the brothers Georg and Hermann Stade who immigrated from Germany to Barbados a couple of years earlier. In 1903, however, the distillery went insolvent and was subsequently taken over by local merchants (i.e. mainly its customers for which it produced the rum). It remained - with changing ownership, inlcluding Goddard Enterprises Ltd. more recently - in local hands until 2017, when Maison Ferrand took over the distillery, securing not only a rich stock of Bajan rum and vast production capabilities but also access to Jamaican rum producers due to WIRD’s stake at National Rums of Jamaica Ltd. (fully owning Long Pond Distillers Ltd. and a majority stake in Clarendon Distillers Ltd.).
WIRD currently has four operational stills, two column stills, a batch (or chamber) still and a pot still. The largest column still, a Canadian-made four-column still is mainly used for production of light type rums. The second largest, a John Dore built four-column still, commissioned in 1975, can be used in several configurations and produce rums ranging from very light to a heavy types.
The batch still, which is called the “Vulcan“ is named after former Cincinatti-based coppersmith company Vulcan, basically bridges pot and column distillation techniques. It was build in the late 19th/early 20th century and is the last original in operation of its kind. It was decommissioned for some time and reactivated in the early 2000s. Previously, it has been used mainly to produce the so-called wash which is the first step in the distillation process.
The operational pot still is named “Gregg Farm” after its initial location at the Gregg Farm plantation. It is used for the production of heavier rum types. This still often comes into play for the second distillation step at WIRD’s.
While WIRD has been providing the basis for many “lower-end” rums and rum-based spirits such as Malibu, it has also been producing one of the most iconic rums for rum nerds: The so called “Rockley Style” rum, which is occassionally also referred to “Blackrock Style” or “Rockley Still” rum. Currently there are two acknowledged “Rockley Style” vintages, one from 1986 and one from 2000. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the Gregg Farm and Vulcan still are key to this rum style. The “Rockley Style” is renowned for its smoky and medicinal notes, accompanied by sweeter honey-like notes. Rum Artesanal’s West Indies - Barbados Rum Rockley Style 1986 (RX 7784) was rated second best in the RumX annual review 2021.
The “Rockley Style” rum may, however, not be confused with rum from the ancient Rockley distillery. The Rockley estate was founded in the 18th century and abandoned at the end of the 19th century. While WIRR/WIRD acquired and operated one of Rockley distillery’s pot stills at some time, it was not functional any longer at the time the “Rockley style” rums were produced. Indeed, Don Benn, master distiller at WIRD, recently acknowledged that the “Rockley styles” were not produced to replicate any rum profiles originating from the Rockley still. The reason for this was simply that there was no more rum existing from this still at the time the “Rockley styles” were produced. Hence, “Rockley Style” could rather be consiedered a marketing term without reference to any actual rum from the Rockley distillery.
In 2021, WIRD shipped the disfunctional pot still, which is supposedly “the Rockley still” to the UK for refurbishment. It remains to be seen whether there will be any rum emanating from this still in the near future.
Top rated rums from West Indies
1028
Top review from Zucker und Zeste:
"Ich fand ihn etwas frischer als den Rum Artesanal, dafür war dieser noch eine ganz kleine Spur komplexer und reifer. Bei beiden Abfüllungen ist es erstaunlich wie genial Alkohol in einen Rum eingebunden sein kann."
5360
Top review from Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰:
"This one was like a hammer when it comes to flavour and I had to add a bit of water to release alle the flavours. Not that it's needed, but it will give you a wider spectrum of flavours. The nose is fruity with smoke, herbs, vanilla and waxes. Without water it will bite your nose a bit. The palate has some sweetness to it with fruits, vanilla, nuts, caramel and honey. I also get wax and a medicinal note that reminds me of iodine. The finish is long and warm with vanilla and herbal notes and again the same medicinal note. Again it doesn't really need water, but it does release more flavours."
4746
Top review from crazyforgoodbooze:
"Teil 1/8 unseres 1986er Rockley Tastings: Madeira Einfluss ist stark da aber sehr schön eingebunden. Trotz Trinkstärke schön komplex: etwas Pfirsich/Mirabelle verbunden mit gerösteten pekannüssen, an armagnac erinnernd. tannine nicht zu stark ausgebaut, ganz im Abgang kommt leicht Rose dazu. sehr geil!!"
11342
Plantation Barbados 10YO Imperial Stout Cask Finish (Cave...
Top review from Henry Davies:
"Rich, deep and dark amber colour. A hint of grilled pineapple which is not typical for a Barbados rum. A real powerful belter, great after dinner rum. Sweet and rich somewhat sickly body, with candied nuts and pineapple on the mouth. A caramel and wine cask nose. The elements of stout barrel don’t come through for me but an interesting rum nevertheless"
11345
Top review from Frank:
"Ein kleiner Exot… Nase: wow, super vielschichtig. Fruchtig, würzig , rauchig, süßlich. Von allem etwas. Zu Beginn noch etwas alkoholische Schärfe und überraschend der Geruch von After Eight, gefolgt von einer herben Ahornsirup-Süße. Dahinter kalter, süßlicher Rauch und altes, verkohlte Holz. An Frucht etwas alte Zitrone und grüner Apfel. Hinten raus Leder und Vanille-Pulver. Gaumen: auch am Gaumen ist diese After Eight-Note präsent, vielleicht etwas zu stark. Zunächst bitter. After Eight geht in etwa! künstliches, Jod-haltiges über; durchaus nicht angenehm. Die Fruchtigkeit kommt eher von herber Bergamotte. Die Würzigkeit eher von Kümmel. Erinnert auch an Retsina. Schade, der Nase hätte ich 85 gegeben, dem Gaumen jedoch nur 71. Da hatte ich auf mehr gehofft."
7627
Top review from Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰:
"Despite the age of only 6 years Plantation has managed to create a nicely balanced and full body rum. A delightful nose with spices and fruit and a palate that is sweet, well rounded and medium complex. The finish has spices and fruits to it with a bit of pear. Price to quality is very good. "
Flavour profile of West Indies
Most frequently mentioned flavors
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Popular independent bottlers of West Indies
- Maison Ferrand 61 rums
- Selected Cask Community 5 rums
- Pellegrini 5 rums
- Bristol Classic Rum 5 rums
- Cadenhead‘s 4 rums
- The Rum Cask 3 rums
- Moon Import 3 rums
- Liquid Gold 3 rums
About the West Indies distillery
The West Indies distillery is located in Barbados. Rums from West Indies have been reviewed 2,962 times with an average of 7.9/10.
All rums from West Indies
- Whiskybroker West Indies 2000 17yr 51,8% RX2526
- Whiskybroker West Indies 2000 16yr 57,6% RX2782
- Whisky & Rhum West Indies L‘Esprit 2000 12yr 57,7% RX4069
- Whisky & Rhum West Indies L‘Esprit 2000 12yr 46% RX6406
- West Indies Stade’s Rum Bond No8 43% RX13699
- West Indies Stade’s Rum Beach Vat No 1 43% RX12954
- West Indies Stade’s Rum Barbados 130th Anniversary 2023 46% RX18512
- West Indies Savannah Gold (Matured Cane Spirit) 40% RX19397
- West Indies S.B.S Barbados PX Cask Finish 2000 21yr 47,1% RX11281
- West Indies S.B.S Barbados 2000 16yr 54% RX1293
- West Indies Rum Artesanal Barbados Rum Rockley Style BBR 1986 34yr 53,7% RX7784
- West Indies Rum Artesanal Barbados Rum (Rockley Style) 2000 21yr 47,1% RX7785
- West Indies Planteray Cut and Dry Coconut Rum 40% RX13104
- West Indies Plantation Very Special Old Rum 2016 5yr 44,8% RX14368
- West Indies Plantation Ukraine charity 2022 7yr 51,7% RX12991
West Indies in Your Pocket
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