St Kitts Rum

After meeting your driver/guide at the pier, you will start your St. Kitts excursion with a quick driving orientation of the town of Basseterre, one of the oldest towns in the Eastern Caribbean. Although destroyed over the years by colonial wars, fire, earthquakes, floods, riots, and hurricanes, there are still several well-restored buildings. As you drive along, your driver/guide will tell you more about life on St. Kitts and point out some of the towns more famous sites including the Clock Tower, Independence Square - once a slave market, centuries old Georgian churches and original wooden buildings that make this charming capital quintessentially West Indian.

Your scenic journey into the past takes you to Wingfield Estate whose restored ruins, aqueduct, machinery, tall chimney boiling pots and rum distillery of bygone times brings to life the fascinating history of the estate and how rum was made. Time at the ruins is approximately 30 minutes.

The historical past of St. Kitts comes alive during a visit to Clay Villa Estate House and gardens. This 10 acre historic property dates back to 1763, and is the only free working estate never to profit from slavery and whose family members are of the native Carib (Amerindian) people. The current owners will give you a tour of the family museum and the original Overseer's House (still a family home) with its many collections of worldly and local treasures. You will also have chance to visit eco friendly gardens full of beautiful, fragrant, lush, tropical plants, fruits and wildlife. Although not on a grande scale as the plantations of the American South, this small property is a true Kittitian Legacy. You will have approximately one hour at the villa.

At Clay Villa you are invited to partake in tasting a selection of three island made rums and enjoy a thirst quenching rum/fruit punch which will have you asking for more. Total time at Clay Villa, including the rum tasting is approximately 80 minutes.

Depart Clay Villa for the port, passing along the way the ruins of the St. Kitts Sugar Factory and the rum bottling and blending plant at Bird Rock, where excellent rums such as C.S.R., Brinley's and Belmont Estate are produced.

A minimum of 2 guests are required for this tour to operate. Minimum age to drink is 18 years old.