West Indies
There are 221 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
RA Barbados Rum Rockley Style BBR
RX7784 1986 34yr 53,7%

Honey, mango and smoke—elegant, warming, deeply complex sip.
Silver Seal Barbados BRS
RX3896 1986 33yr 58,8%

Honey, smoke, herbal—complex, wild Barbados with waxy charm.
Planteray Barbados High Ester WLP Foundation
RX21760 2022 2yr 59%

Funky esters, pineapple, and banana with warming tropical flair.
RA Barbados Rum (Rockley Style)
RX7785 2000 21yr 47,1%

Honey, smoke, and wood—classic Rockley in lighter style.
Swell de Spirits Flashback Series 2-07
RX15671 1996 61,9%

Roasted, woody, creamy, with coconut and warming caramel sweetness.
Plantation One-Time Limited Edition
RX7714 2011 9yr 51,1%

Caramel and spice, woody with a peppery finish.
Boozehounds Double Retorts Double Retorts Barbados 2000 West Indies Rum Distillery WIRD 24 Years 70cl 52,3%Vol
RX23779 2000 24yr 52,3%
Distinctly smoky, dry, and creamy with quirky whisky echoes.
Plantation Single Cask (Partizan Brewing Cask Finish)
RX3173 2012 7yr 48,2%

Unique fusion of beer and rum flavors.
Plantation Barbados (Port Cask)
RX17886 2015 8yr 47,2%

Smooth, slightly sweet, with well-blended spice and wood.
Plantation Riversaltes Wine Cask
RX17883 2014 9yr 48,3%

Unique Barbados rum: spicy, sweet, wine-influenced profile.
Fassbind AG Secret Treasures Old Barbados
RX6229 1986 14yr 40%

Mild citrus flavors, but quite diluted.
Plantation Barbados (Arran single malt scotch whisky cask)
RX17889 2013 10yr 51,2%

Vanilla, caramel and whisky notes—smooth, sweet, gently spiced.
Flavour profile of West Indies
Most frequently mentioned flavors
Popular independent bottlers of West Indies
- Maison Ferrand 98 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 4,054 times with an average of 7.9/10.
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All 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
- West Indies Planteray Barbados High Ester WLP Foundation 2022 2yr 59% RX21760
- 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