West Indies
There are 198 rums from the West Indies distillery in the RumX database.
Show all West Indies rumsLocated in Bridgetown and adjacent to the Brighton Beach, West Indies’ origins date back to 1893, making it the second oldest yet operational distillery in Barbados. WIRD or the “Blackrock distillery” as it is called by the locals due to its location in the Blackrock suburb, was founded as the “West Indies Rum Refinery” (WIRR) by the brothers Georg and Hermann Stade who immigrated from Germany to Barbados a couple of years earlier. In 1903, however, the distillery went insolvent and was subsequently taken over by local merchants (i.e. mainly its customers for which it produced the rum). It remained - with changing ownership, inlcluding Goddard Enterprises Ltd. more recently - in local hands until 2017, when Maison Ferrand took over the distillery, securing not only a rich stock of Bajan rum and vast production capabilities but also access to Jamaican rum producers due to WIRD’s stake at National Rums of Jamaica Ltd. (fully owning Long Pond Distillers Ltd. and a majority stake in Clarendon Distillers Ltd.). WIRD currently has four operational stills, two column stills, a batch (or chamber) still and a pot still. The largest column still, a Canadian-made four-column still is mainly used for production of light type rums. The second largest, a John Dore built four-column still, commissioned in 1975, can be used in several configurations and produce rums ranging from very light to a heavy types. The batch still, which is called the “Vulcan“ is named after former Cincinatti-based coppersmith company Vulcan, basically bridges pot and column distillation techniques. It was build in the late 19th/early 20th century and is the last original in operation of its kind. It was decommissioned for some time and reactivated in the early 2000s. Previously, it has been used mainly to produce the so-called wash which is the first step in the distillation process. The operational pot still is named “Gregg Farm” after its initial location at the Gregg Farm plantation. It is used for the production of heavier rum types. This still often comes into play for the second distillation step at WIRD’s. While WIRD has been providing the basis for many “lower-end” rums and rum-based spirits such as Malibu, it has also been producing one of the most iconic rums for rum nerds: The so called “Rockley Style” rum, which is occassionally also referred to “Blackrock Style” or “Rockley Still” rum. Currently there are two acknowledged “Rockley Style” vintages, one from 1986 and one from 2000. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the Gregg Farm and Vulcan still are key to this rum style. The “Rockley Style” is renowned for its smoky and medicinal notes, accompanied by sweeter honey-like notes. Rum Artesanal’s West Indies - Barbados Rum Rockley Style 1986 (RX 7784) was rated second best in the RumX annual review 2021. The “Rockley Style” rum may, however, not be confused with rum from the ancient Rockley distillery. The Rockley estate was founded in the 18th century and abandoned at the end of the 19th century. While WIRR/WIRD acquired and operated one of Rockley distillery’s pot stills at some time, it was not functional any longer at the time the “Rockley style” rums were produced. Indeed, Don Benn, master distiller at WIRD, recently acknowledged that the “Rockley styles” were not produced to replicate any rum profiles originating from the Rockley still. The reason for this was simply that there was no more rum existing from this still at the time the “Rockley styles” were produced. Hence, “Rockley Style” could rather be consiedered a marketing term without reference to any actual rum from the Rockley distillery. In 2021, WIRD shipped the disfunctional pot still, which is supposedly “the Rockley still” to the UK for refurbishment. It remains to be seen whether there will be any rum emanating from this still in the near future.
Popular rums from West Indies
Top rated rums from West Indies
Plantation Barbados XO (The Netherlands)

Top review from Gregor :
"Very delicious tonka bean flavor. The 10 g of sugar are super contractual and fit in well. However, a few percent more would be great. Unfortunately, it comes across a little watered down. Anyone who loves the taste of tonka bean and rum should definitely buy this. I think it's great value for money"
Planteray Barbados 2017 (Adriatico Amaretto Cask) Barrel Swap Collection

Top review from Johannes:
"Nettes Experiment, aber das Amaretto Finish dominiert deutlich- vom Grundstoff kann man nicht viel erkennen. Mir zu aufdringlich, aber wie gesagt lustiges Experiment."
Flavour profile of West Indies
Most frequently mentioned flavors
Popular independent bottlers of West Indies
- Maison Ferrand 82 rums
- Bristol Classic Rum 5 rums
- Pellegrini 5 rums
- N. Kröger 5 rums
- Cadenhead‘s 4 rums
- The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 4 rums
- Velier 3 rums
- Duncan Taylor 3 rums
About the West Indies distillery
The West Indies distillery is located in Barbados. Rums from West Indies have been reviewed 3,863 times with an average of 7.9/10.
To West IndiesAll rums from West Indies
- West Indies Plantation Extra Old XO 20th Anniversary 10yr - 15yr 40% RX1
- West Indies Plantation Grande Réserve 1yr - 3yr 40% RX65
- West Indies Plantation Barbados 5 Years 5yr 40% RX133
- West Indies Planteray Cut and Dry Coconut Rum 40% RX13104
- La Confrérie du Rhum West Indies Stade’s Rum JAWS Barbados 2022 56% RX20217
- West Indies Plantation One-Time Limited Edition 2011 9yr 51,1% RX7714
- West Indies Plantation Barbados 2007 (Extreme No. 5) 2007 14yr 58% RX12498
- West Indies Planteray Barbados High Ester WLP Foundation 2022 2yr 59% RX21760