Discover South America & Caribbean Tours
Discover South America & Caribbean Tours
Discover South America & Caribbean Tours
The best in the world
Guyana Rum, also known as Guyanese Rum, is a unique spirit that has been made in the Caribbean nation of Guyana for centuries. With its unique flavor profile and rich history, Guyana Rum is a must-try for any gourmet looking to expand their palate.
Over the years, Guyana’s rums have been raking in the awards and praises from connoisseurs, experts, and fans across the globe. But what makes our rums so remarkable?
It begins with the rich alluvial mud found in the fields on the sugar cane plantations which lends an earthy taste to the cane juice and molasses. And it ends with the use of 9 unique stills which range in age from the Double Wooden Pot Still of 1732 to the two Diamond Coffey Stills acquired about 15 years ago.
Production began in roughly 1670 with over 300 estates producing their unique spirit blends based on the methods of distillation still in use today. The British Navy connection made Guyana’s rum famous. “Britannia ruled the waves” with Guyanese Rum. British sailors were given a rum tot every day and on the eve of battle, they were given extra rum to give them more courage. The rum tot was stopped in the early 1970’s and the British Empire has never been the same!
The spirits produced by the stills range from neutral alcohols to heavy spirits before being aged in Bourbon oak casks for anywhere between 3 years to 21 years. There are also specially aged rums for occasions such as Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary which retailed for a whopping US$5,000 per bottle! Some of this 50 year old rum was returned to the vaults to continue aging for Guyana’s 75th Independence Anniversary in 2041.
The three top rums from Guyana are the 12 year old, 15 year old and 21 year old. No other rum has ever won the prestigious gold medal at the International Wines and Spirits competition in London more than once. But, the 15 year old has won it seven times, with four in a row and the 12 year old has now won it 5 times.
We have a tradition in Guyana of sprinkling a few drops for the ‘spirits’ whenever you open a new bottle. But when a barrel is filled some rum naturally evaporates through the barrel and this is called the “Angel’s share”. And when you discard a barrel after 15 years, some rum is left in the charred inside of the barrel and that is called the “Devil’s share”. Once I learned that everyone has had their share, I realized that there’s no need to sprinkle a few drops any more.
Writer’s note:
The best way to experience Guyana’s remarkable rums is by having a Rum Tasting Dinner with our in-house Rum specialist, Salvador de Caires! You’ll have the opportunity to taste the top 3 aged rums and decide which side you are on. Are you a 12 or a 15 year person? This is a very important question. Salvador personally prefers the 12 year old, while our Managing Director, Tony, is a 15 year man. The 21 year old was entered in a cognac competition and the judges could not pick out the rum. We can all agree to love the 21 and dream to afford a taste of the 50, and the 75, now aging in the vaults for 2041.
Introduction to the Guiana Shield The Guiana Shield is a vast and ancient geological formation located in northeastern South America, spanning across six countries: Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. Renowned as one of the most biologically diverse
Key Highlights Kaieteur Falls is one of the world’s tallest single-drop waterfalls at nearly 750 feet. The waterfall is in the Kaieteur National Park in Guyana, South America. Kaieteur Falls is surrounded by the Amazon rainforest, which boasts unparalleled biodiversity.
The Otter Lady Those were, of course, different times, so perhaps the way in which Diane McTurk found her herself at the forefront of ‘ecotourism’ in Guyana might not happen in the same way today. Nonetheless, she was in many
Subscribe to our newsletter!
We will keep you up to date on new products, tours, news, special offers and much more.
Driver/Office Assistant
Shamir Khan hails from Yupukari, a small village in the central Rupununi region of Guyana. With deep ties to his community, he has served as a prominent figure, including roles as a tour guide and a member of the Board of Directors for Caiman House Incorporated. His leadership experience also includes serving as Toshao, the chief of his village, where he played a pivotal role in community development and cultural preservation.
Currently, Shamir works as a driver and office assistant at Wilderness Explorers, where he continues to promote eco-tourism and connect visitors with the natural beauty of his homeland. An avid fisherman, Shamir cherishes opportunities to engage with nature, reflecting his commitment to the environment and traditional practices.
Driver/Office Assistant
Accounts Assistant
Accounts Assistant