The Rumelier and Caribbean Rum

Turks & Caicos Rums

Turks Head Gold Rum.

This rum is now available with a different label.

Turks and Caicos Rums

Currently there are no distilleries producing rum in the Turks and Caicos Islands and there appear to be no plans in the near future to establish one either.
The main reason for this, is that there is very little soil on most of the islands and as a result sugar cane has never been grown commercially. The islands are all made out of limestone and this is a very porous rock. There is also very little rainfall, with most of the landscape resembling a dry desert, covered in cactus plants or low lying brush. The only crops that have been tried commercially in the past are sisal and cotton. These plantations no longer exist, just a few long abandoned, derelict buildings are left to remind us of a bygone era.
Due to this dry desert like climate, salt production was successful for many years on many of the islands and many trees were cut down to deter rainfall.
Despite all this, there are numerous rums available in the Turks and Caicos Islands, with several "local" rums sold in the market.

Some of the local rums are bottled and labelled in other Caribbean countries and imported to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Other local rums are imported in bulk, in large plastic drums, at a higher than normal strength (to save on Customs Import Duties) and then diluted to about 40%, where it is bottled and labelled locally.
These rums are called:-
1) Bambarra Gold Rum.
2) Bambarra White Rum.
3) Cave Gold Rum.
4) Cave White Rum.
5) Caicos Light Rum.
6) Caicos Gold Rum.
7) Lucayan Rum.
There was one called "Turks Head Caribbean Spiced Rum" that was available for a short period.

The Rumelier recently discovered that another "local" rum will be available in the Turks and Caicos Islands very soon. This will be bottled by the Turks Head Brewery and will carry the same name as the Brewery, Turks Head.
All of these rums are distilled in other countries and only two, Bambarra and Turks Head are bottled and labeled locally. The Bambarra rum is about to be discontinued in favour of the Turks Head Rum and other names for private labels, such as "Don Faustino, Turks and Caicos Gold Rum". This is also available as a white rum by the same name.
Cave Rum which currently is available sporadically is also about to be discontinued.

There is a vast range of imported rums available in the island's liquor stores, from big name brands like Bacardi, Appleton, Myer's, Cruzan and Barbancourt to the smaller known brands such as Barcelo, Brugal, Botran, Macorix and Bermudez.

The Wine Cellar alone carries over 100 different types of rum, probably one of the best selections of any liquor store in the Caribbean. This selection changes on a regular basis depending on supply and availability. Please see the list at the bottom of this page.

TURKS AND CAICOS CAVE RUM

Turks and Caicos Cave Rum is currently being phased out in favour of Bambarra Rum, which is in the intial stages of development.
Cave Rum was designed as a "well" brand rum, with the idea that it would be a quality tasting rum at a cheap price.
At the time of it's development there were no bottling plants available in Providenciales. This meant that the rum was distilled and bottled in Jamaica, especially for Cave Limited. Bottling the rum overseas meant that when it was imported it was subject to the same customs import duties as other rum brands.
There have always been supply issues with this particular rum and this is one of the main reasons it is being phased out in favour of Bambarra Rum, which will be blended, bottled and labelled locally.
The name of the rum was inspired by the massive cave system in Middle Caicos where the native Indians once lived. The label was designed locally with pictures actually taken inside the caves.
This rum has become popular with both locals and tourists alike, and is often taken home to other countries as a souvenir by the departing tourists.

Here is the script that appears on the back label of the rum:-

"Turks and Caicos Cave Rum.
Far in the depths of a paradise known as the Turks and Caicos Islands lies an island that defines extraordinary. Middle Caicos is it's name.
Over 100,000 years ago a process involving the porous limestone that make up this island was beginning. Rainwater would find it's way through this rock and out to sea, aided by the rise and fall of the oceans, due to the advances and retreats of the great glaciers tens of thousands of years ago.
The results of this process are the immense cavernous rooms, known locally as the Conch Bar Caves. The largest room in this cavern was measured and found to be a shocking quarter mile in diameter.
It is from these caves that we have gotten our inspiration for Cave Rum. This perfectly blended Rum - though it hasn't been through the same refining processes as the Conch Bar Caves - is just as extraordinary!"

The Entrance To Conch Bar Caves.

These Caves are the Inspiration for Cave Rum.

Turks and Caicos Cave Rum Label.

This rum is about to be discontinued.

New Rums

A Selection of Turks & Caicos Rums.

No rums are distilled in the Turks & Caicos Islands.

There is a rumour going around that an exciting new line of rums are being developed to be launched very shortly in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is belived there will be a white, a gold and a reserve rum (aprroximately eight years old).
All rum lovers in the islands are looking forward to this launch. Apparently the bottles have been secured and the labels have been designed and the producers of the rum are busy scouring the Caribbean for the best available rums. They have gone as far away as Trinidad and as close as Haiti and Jamaica. It is beleived this will be the first rum to be bottled, blended and labelled exclusively in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Stay tuned for more updates as soon as they happen.
The Rumelier is proud to announce that shown below is the first copy of the labels for the newest rum in the Turks and Caicos, Bambarra Rum.
In a recent head to head rum tasting against Zacapa 15 Year Old a sample of the Bambarra 8 Year Old Reserve came out a unanimous winner. It was tasted by The Rumelier and two of his salesmen.

Latest News

It has been decided that the new rum for the Turks and Caicos Islands will be called "Bambarra Rum The Spirit of the Turks and Caicos".
This a completely seperate rum from the previously mentioned Bambarra Rum and the label shown above, which has since been discontinued. These are brand new rums to the liquor market.
Here is an official description of the new rum:-
"Bambarra Rum is as unique as the Turks and Caicos Islands. Inspired by one of our original settlements in picturesque Middle Caicos, it takes its name from the home of the African settlers who were delivered to our shores by the winds of fate aboard the wrecked slave trader Trouvadore in 1841. A life of freedom was theirs upon landfall, at a place they called Bambarra Beach. From there they planted the seeds of a nation. With them came traditions and culture we still enjoy today - such as the colorful Junk-a-Noo, intricate craft weaving, and the fine art of smoothly blended sugar cane rum.

Enjoy Bambarra and the unique legacy of freedom and tradition it celebrates."

A Rum Cask Arrives for Bottling.

This cask holds 195 litres of aged rum.

The Newest Addition to Turks & Cacos Rums.

Bambarra Rum is an Exciting New Rum to be launched soon.

The New Bambarra Rum from Turks & Caicos.

This is a completely different rum from the one shown left.

This Version of Bambarra is No Longer Available.

Bambarra Rum was available in White and Gold Rum.

Plastic Drums of the new Bambarra Rum.

These drums each hold 208 litres of rum.

Unloading Bambarra Rum from a Container.

Rum comes by oak casks and plastic drums.

A Private Label Rum for the Turks & Caicos Islands

This was a private label for the local Club Med.

Lucayan Rum Tasting at the TCI National Museum.

The Grand Turk Cruise Terminal.

More tourists now come to the TCI for a taste of the Caribbean.

Imported Rums in The Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks and Caicos Islands are a small British Dependency lying 575 miles South East of Miami, Florida. The population is estimated to be around 20 to 30,000. Of this only one third are considered "belongers". There is a large Haitian, Dominican, and Jamaican population, aswell as many North Americans and Europeans. A new addition to this are many Asian migrant workers.
Due to the small size and relative youthfulness of the country, nearly everything is imported into the country, including all the rum and other liquors. Heavy import duties are assessed onto imported liquors. Import duties are the main form of Government income as there are no direct income taxes in the country.
Presently there are no distilleries in the country and no rumours of any plans to build one. As mentioned above there are some locally bottled rums. There is however a great selection of rums available in the liquor stores from all parts of the Caribbean. With the Dominican Republic being a close neighbour of the Turks and Caicos and with the large Dominican population there is always a good selection of fine Dominican rums. These brands include Barcelo, Bermudez, Brugal, Matusalem, Sibonney, Don Rhon, and Macorix. Haiti is also well represented with several types of Barbancourt and various types of Clairin. This is also small batch unaged often illegal rum, commonly called "Monkeyback". This smells and tastes like very raw rum. Jamaican rum is popular also, with Wray and Nephew, Appleton and Myers leading the way.
If you talk about Jamaica you have to talk about the classic Myers's Original Dark rum that is available widely in the islands.This is usually used as a floater in cocktails, such as "Rum Runners" and "Pina Colada's".
One can not talk about rums without talking about the giant, Bacardi. This is mainly produced in Puerto Rico, but some does come from Nassau in the Bahamas, like Bacardi 8. Sometimes Bacardi bottles can be found here that were meant for other markets, that have often been bought into the country illegally. One of Bacardi's biggest sellers in the islands are the Castillo range of rums. This is an unpromoted cheaper version of their well known rums, usually used as a "well" brand.
Also from Puerto Rico is Captain Morgan that can be found easily and is popular with the North American tourists who represent the majority of tourists who visit the country.
Very few Cuban rums can be found in the Turks and Caicos. Until a regular shipping route is established between the two countries this will continue to be the case.
St. Lucia is also well represented with a good selection of rums from St.Lucia Distillers, including Admiral Rodney, Chairman's Reserve and Elements 8, amongst others.
The US Virgin Islands are represented by Cruzan rums from St.Croix. Their flavoured rums are popular with tourists especially the coconut flavour rum.
The home of rum, Barbados, can be relied on in the market with their Eclipse and Extra Old rums, aswell as the ever popular Mailbu Rum, currently found in three flavours, Coconut, Mango and Pineapple.
Pyrat rum from Anguilla can be found in the Pistol, XO and Cask versions. Most recently some of the Rhum Clements have been available in a few select locations, with promises of more "vintages" to come in the near future.
Most of the other rums to found locally can be found in small ammounts and are usually imported from Miami. These rums can include Zacapa, Botran, Flor de Cana and El Dorado to name a few.

A Bonded Liquor Warehouse in the Turks and Caicos.

Rum is stored in Bonded Warehouse's so as to save large duty payments.

Bonded Warehouses

Bonded liquor, beer or wine warehouses are found all over the world. The main purpose in the Turks and Caicos Islands is to save the local businesses that own the warehouses from making large unfront payments of import duties to the local government cutoms departments. In the Turks and Caicos Islands and other countries, these duty payments generate large ammounts of money for the local government.
Imported beer, liquor and wines are imported by local distributors and unloaded with customs department officials present into their respective warehouses. At this time no duties are paid on the goods. Duties are only paid when items are removed from the warehouse for re-sale or distribution. Once again this will be under supervision from the local customs department who actually will be the only ones that have the keys to the warehouses. This saves the local companies from paying large ammounts of duties upfront on each container in favour of smaller weekly payments and also provides a good method of controlling and checking all imported goods.
There are heavy fines imposed on any companies who break these rules, including removal of bonded warehouse rights.

A Pallet of Rum from a Bonded Warehouse.

Rum has a lesser duty rate that other liquor to support other Caribbean countries.

THE WINE CELLAR RUM LIST

The Wine Cellar in Providenciales has one of the largest collections of rum for sale in the Caribbean. This list changes on a regular basis due to the availability of some of the rums. Come and visit The Rumelier at The Wine Cellar and he will gladly help you find what you are looking for. All the rums listed below are for sale at The Wine Cellar, Leeward Highway, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, B.W.I.
e-mail:- discountwholesale@tciway.tc Call:- 649 941 5600 fax:- 649 946 5006
Sorry but we do NOT ship overseas.

(But The Rumelier is often open to trade rums!!)

AGED/PREMIUM RUM

Admiral Rodney

Angostura 1824

Angostura 1919

Angostura Royal Oak

Angostura Single Barrel Reserve

Appleton Estate V/X

Appleton Estate Reserve

Appleton Estate Extra 12 YO

Appleton Estate 21 YO

Appleton Master Blender Legacy

Bacardi 8

Bacardi Anejo Reserve

Bacardi Select

Bambarra 8 Year Old Reserve

Barbancourt 3 Star

Barbancourt 5 Star

Barbancourt Reserve Du Domaine 15 YO

Botran Anejo

Botran Solera

Chairman's Reserve

Cruzan Estate Single Barrel

El Dorado 12 YO

El Dorado 15 YO

El Dorado 21 YO

Flor De Cana Black Label 5 YO

Flor De Cana Gran Reserva 7 YO

Flor De Cana Centenario 12 YO

Flor De Cana Centenario 15 YO

Flor De Cana Centenario 18 YO

Mount Gay Extra Old

Myers's Legend 10 YO

Porfidio Anejo

Pyrat Cask 1623

Pyrat XO Planters Gold Reserve

Zacapa Centenario 23 YO

Zacapa XO 25 YO

GOLD/AMBER RUM

10 Cane Rum

Angostura Caribbean Club Limbo Drummer

Appleton Special Gold

Bacardi Gold

Bambarra Gold

Castillo Gold

Cruzan Estate Diamond 5 YO

El Dorado 5 YO

Elements 8 Gold

Flor De Cana Gold 4 YO

Mount Gay Eclipse

Pyrat Pistol

St. Lucia Stackable Gold

Turks and Caicos Cave Gold

Turks Head Gold Rum

DARK/BLACK RUM

Cruzan Black Strap

Myers's Original

Whaler's Rare Reserve Dark

WHITE RUM

Appleton White

Bacardi Superior

Bambarra Silver

Barbancourt

Castillo Silver

Elements 8 Platinum

Flor De Cana Extra Dry 4 YO

Myers's Platinum

Ron Carlos

Turks Head White Rum

St. Lucia Stackable White

Whaler's Great White

OVERPROOF RUM

Bacardi 151

Porfidio Cask Strength 70 %

Wray and Nephew Overproof

FLAVOURED/SPICED RUM

Bacardi Big Apple

Bacardi Coco

Bacardi Limon

Bacardi O

Bacardi Razz

Captain Morgan Spiced Rum

Captain Morgan Parrot Bay Coconut

Captain Morgan Private Stock

Cruzan Banana

Cruzan Coconut

Cruzan Mango

Cruzan Orange

Cruzan Pineapple

Cruzan Vanilla

Crystal Lime

Don Lorenzo Pineapple

Kweyol Spice

Malibu Coconut

Malibu Mango

Malibu Pineapple

Sugar Ray Rum Punch

Whaler's Spiced Rum

Wray and Nephew Cocomania

RUM CREAMS

Javalatte Cappuccino Cream

Nutz ‘N Rum

Ponche Kuba

Sangsters

Worlds End Blue Mountain Coffee

Worlds End Coconut

Wray and Nephew Blue Mountain Mist

CACHACA

Batuque
Rio D Cachaca

Rio D Lime Cacaaca

Rio D Passion Cachaca

A Bonded Liquor and Beer Warehouse.

There are four bonded Liquor Warehouses in the T.C.I.