Touring a rum distillery is a popular, fun, and authentic experience for tourists visiting Puerto Rico. A key export with a rich cultural history dating back centuries to the time of colonial sugarcane plantations, if you consume rum in your cocktail, chances are it originated somewhere on the island. One of the largest producers of rum in terms of sales volume and brand recognition, Bacardí, is headquartered approximately 20 minutes from the historic La Perla district in downtown San Juan.
Open to the public for tours, we recently visited Casa Bacardí to learn more about the delicious liquor that inspired the creation of so many tropical drinks.
Bacardí, Rum Tasting Tour: What to Expect
Upon arriving at Casa Bacardí, guests check in at the outdoor Pavilion and are given a token to be redeemed for a welcome cocktail. Leave time to wander the grounds, take photos, enjoy your drink, order food from the cafe, and use the restrooms.
Check in at the Pavilion and enjoy a welcome cocktail.
At your designated tour time, your guide will direct you to board an open-air trolley. For the next thirty minutes (or so), you’ll learn about the history of rum across the Carribbean and the growth of the Bacardí empire in San Juan. On this tour, guests stay in the trolley as it passes by many of the buildings and structures on the campus.
Buildings on the Bacardí Tour
Up next, guests step off the trolley and into this building which houses both the Bacardí Store and tasting rooms. The second half of the tour involves guided instruction on tasting six different types of Bacardí rum paired with a gourmet chocolate. Exiting through the store presents you with the opportunity to purchase both rum and other branded souvenirs.
Bicardi store and tasting room building.
A 75-minute guided tour offered in English and available for adults 18* and older, the Bacardí rum tasting tour runs $80/person. Reservations are both recommended and required.
* The legal drinking age in Puerto Rico is 18.
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