Barbados: Drink in the History -- and the Rum

Barbados isn't just about small-batch producers, in fact, its home to the oldest rum distiller in the world, Mt. Gay, which exports worldwide. The Mount Gay's visitor center, on Spring Garden Parkway in St. Michael offers a tour that includes a museum visit, a film presentation and a peek at the bottling assembly line -- all of which culminates in a visit to the bar, where a variety of inspired rum cocktails are on offer. If you go, you might want to visit the bar first, since the overall effect of the tour is the same as sitting through a giant infomercial for Mt. Gay -- and a rather crowded one at that, as the facilities are often packed with tourists disgorged from the decks of cruise ships.

A better and more authentic choice would be to tour the island's rum shops, of which there are more than a thousand. A rum shop is sort of like a pub -- but rum, rather than beer, is the drink that bears the standard. Some rum shops are more about the nightlife -- particularly those on the island's South Coast, for instance, Braddie's Bar, on Dover Street in Christ Church has karaoke on Friday nights.

And others are more like neighborhood spots to knock back a rum and chat with locals relaxing after a day's work. Rum Shops are also reliable places to grab a quick bite. El Mona's Bar, for instance, on Barbados Street also in Christ Church offers a menu that includes the island's comfort food staples including "mac pie," which is a baked macaroni and cheese, and a variety of "cutters," or sandwiches. Grantley's Shop, on Bath Hill in St. John offers fresh fish; Chris' Place, on Rock Dundo, in St. Peter, is known for its ribs. To tour most effectively, you'll want a copy of Peter Laurie's The Barbadian Rum Shop: The Other Watering Hole -- and you might also want to hire a taxi.