From Jamaica to Martinique, The World’s Best Rums Are Coming to St Barth

Martinique’s Rhum Neisson is the most exclusive rum on the planet.

Made at a boutique distillery in the town of Carbet on the northwestern coast of Martinique, its aged expressions regularly fetch thousands of dollars per bottle, all in extremely low bottling numbers.

Rum connoisseurs the world over seek it the Vernant family’s masterworks, from treasured rhum blanc to its 30-year-old Armadas and the like.

In other words, it isn’t easy to find Neisson.

green caribbean — The Neisson plantation and distillery in Le Carbet, Martinique.

But at the Caribbean’s most exclusive rum festival, Neisson is front and center.

This year’s Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth will bring together a rarefied selection of the top rums in the world for another weeklong celebration of artisanal rum-making next month from Oct. 31-Nov. 4.

The festival, which kicks off the season in St Barth, is anchored by an international blind-tasting competition that crowns a World Champion.

But the competition is just the beginning. The party kicks off with a VIP opening event presented by Rhum Neisson itself, followed by a series of master classes, ti’ punch parties, rum dinners and special tastings around the island of St Barth.

The festival culminates with the popular Rum Expo on the Quai in the heart of Gustavia, with super yachts in the background.

A ti’ punch by Neisson at the opening VIP party at Le Barthelemy Hotel and Spa.

“If you love fine spirits, this is the week for you,” said Alexander Britell, co-founder of the Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth. “This is an intimate, exclusive journey into rums that are impossible to find in much of the rest of the world.”

That includes sought-after brands like Antigua’s English Harbour; Jamaica’s Worthy Park; Martinique’s A1710, HSE, Depaz, La Favorite; Guadeloupe’s Bielle, Damoiseau, Reimonenq, Karukera, Bologne and others; Panama’s La Marielita; Puerto Rico’s Don Q and San Juan Artisan Distillers; Grenada’s Renegade; the Dominican Republic’s E Leon Jimenes — just to name a few.

If you’re planning a trip, make sure you book your villa with the event’s official villa provider, WIMCO St Barth Properties, or a hotel room at Le Barthelemy or Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth.

Tradewind Aviation is the official airline of the Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth.

For more on tickets, visit EventBrite.

For information on the event, visit the Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth.