West Indies

There are 221 rums from the West Indies distillery in the RumX database.

Show all West Indies rums

Located 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

Plantation Extra Old XO 20th Anniversary

RX1  10yr - 15yr   40%

8.0 (1,362)
Bottle of Plantation Extra Old XO 20th Anniversary

Sweet coconut-vanilla sipper, crowd favorite

Plantation Grande Réserve

RX65  1yr - 3yr   40%

7.0 (345)
Bottle of Plantation Grande Réserve

Sweet, fruity, smooth everyday sipper

RA Barbados Rum (Rockley Style)

RX7785  2000   21yr   47,1%

8.4 (67)
Bottle of RA Barbados Rum (Rockley Style)

Honey, smoke, and wood—classic Rockley in lighter style.

RA Barbados Rum Rockley Style BBR

RX7784  1986   34yr   53,7%

9.3 (73)
Bottle of RA Barbados Rum Rockley Style BBR

Honey, mango and smoke—elegant, warming, deeply complex sip.

Planteray Barbados High Ester (French Exclusive)

RX23980  2022   3yr   60,1%

8.5 (8)
Bottle of Planteray Barbados High Ester (French Exclusive)

Plantation Barbados 5 Years

RX133  5yr   40%

7.2 (235)
Bottle of Plantation Barbados 5 Years

Sweet, mellow, coconut-forward sipper

Planteray Cut and Dry Coconut Rum

RX13104  40%

7.5 (164)
Bottle of Planteray Cut and Dry Coconut Rum

Natural coconut, Bounty-style sipper

Romdeluxe Wild Series Rum No. 62

RX24537  2016   7yr   65%

- (1)
Bottle of Romdeluxe Wild Series Rum No. 62

La Confrérie du Rhum Stade’s Rum JAWS Barbados

RX20217  2022   56%

8.0 (86)
Bottle of La Confrérie du Rhum Stade’s Rum JAWS Barbados

High-esters, pineapple and citrus—Jamaica funk meets Barbados edge.


Top rated rums from West Indies

RA Barbados Rum Rockley Style BBR

RX7784  1986   34yr   53,7%

9.3 (73)
Bottle of RA Barbados Rum Rockley Style BBR

Honey, mango and smoke—elegant, warming, deeply complex sip.

Duncan Taylor Single Cask Rum BRS

RX1028  1986   25yr   52,7%

9.2 (20)
Bottle of Duncan Taylor Single Cask Rum BRS

Complex, smoky, and distinctively Barbadian.

Nobilis No. 3 Rockley BBR

RX9395  1986   34yr   54,7%

9.1 (63)
Bottle of Nobilis No. 3 Rockley BBR

Honey, smoke, vanilla and fruit — complex and creamy.

Silver Seal Barbados BRS

RX3896  1986   33yr   58,8%

9.1 (52)
Bottle of Silver Seal Barbados BRS

Honey, smoke, herbal—complex, wild Barbados with waxy charm.

Bristol Rockley Still

RX5776  1986   26yr   46%

8.8 (40)
Bottle of Bristol Rockley Still

Honey, sherry and red fruits, complex yet inviting.

Plantation Extreme No. 5

RX12816  1986   35yr   55,1%

8.7 (26)
Bottle of Plantation Extreme No. 5

Unique honey, tea, and mango blend rum.

Planteray Barbados High Ester WLP Foundation

RX21760  2022   2yr   59%

8.4 (86)
Bottle of Planteray Barbados High Ester WLP Foundation

Funky esters, pineapple, and banana with warming tropical flair.

RA Barbados Rum (Rockley Style)

RX7785  2000   21yr   47,1%

8.4 (67)
Bottle of RA Barbados Rum (Rockley Style)

Honey, smoke, and wood—classic Rockley in lighter style.

Cave Guildive Barbados Rum

RX1865  2000   17yr   56%

8.4 (46)
Bottle of Cave Guildive Barbados Rum

Unique Barbados Rum with smoky, honey, whisky notes.

Bristol Rockley Still

RX3769  1986   12yr   46%

8.4 (19)
Bottle of Bristol Rockley Still

Classic Rockley: smoky, sweet, and well-balanced.

Kill Devil

RX11149  2000   21yr   51,3%

8.3 (38)
Bottle of Kill Devil

Uniquely floral and woody with a balanced taste.

Plantation Extreme No. 5

RX12611  2000   21yr   47,8%

8.3 (35)
Bottle of Plantation Extreme No. 5

Rich honey notes with a subtle smoky twist.

Swell de Spirits Flashback Series 2-07

RX15671  1996   61,9%

8.2 (51)
Bottle of Swell de Spirits Flashback Series 2-07

Roasted, woody, creamy, with coconut and warming caramel sweetness.

Plantation Barbados 2007 (Extreme No. 5)

RX12498  2007   14yr   58%

8.1 (75)
Bottle of Plantation Barbados 2007 (Extreme No. 5)

Coconut and vanilla, wood and chocolate—refined Bajan comfort.

Plantation Extra Old XO 20th Anniversary

RX1  10yr - 15yr   40%

8.0 (1,362)
Bottle of Plantation Extra Old XO 20th Anniversary

Sweet coconut-vanilla sipper, crowd favorite

La Confrérie du Rhum Stade’s Rum JAWS Barbados

RX20217  2022   56%

8.0 (86)
Bottle of La Confrérie du Rhum Stade’s Rum JAWS Barbados

High-esters, pineapple and citrus—Jamaica funk meets Barbados edge.

Plantation One-Time Limited Edition

RX7714  2011   9yr   51,1%

8.0 (80)
Bottle of Plantation One-Time Limited Edition

Caramel and spice, woody with a peppery finish.

Plantation Barbados Vintage

RX1520  2005   13yr   42,8%

8.0 (34)
Bottle of Plantation Barbados Vintage

Sweet, rounded; dried fruit and woody essence.

Plantation Barbados One-Time Limited 20

RX13823  2013   9yr   50,2%

7.9 (55)
Bottle of Plantation Barbados One-Time Limited 20

Smooth, woody and gently sweet—classic easy Barbados sipping.

Boozehounds Double Retorts Double Retorts Barbados 2000 West Indies Rum Distillery WIRD 24 Years 70cl 52,3%Vol

RX23779  2000   24yr   52,3%

7.9 (17)
Bottle of Boozehounds Double Retorts Double Retorts Barbados 2000 West Indies Rum Distillery WIRD 24 Years 70cl 52,3%Vol

Distinctly smoky, dry, and creamy with quirky whisky echoes.

Planteray Barbade Foundation

RX21763  2004   20yr   55,5%

7.8 (27)
Bottle of Planteray Barbade Foundation

Elegant, coconut-rich, classic Barbadian rum.

Plantation Barbados XO (The Netherlands)

RX5287  48%

7.8 (26)
Bottle of Plantation Barbados XO (The Netherlands)

Plantation Single Cask (Partizan Brewing Cask Finish)

RX3173  2012   7yr   48,2%

7.7 (17)
Bottle of Plantation Single Cask (Partizan Brewing Cask Finish)

Unique fusion of beer and rum flavors.

Planteray Cut and Dry Coconut Rum

RX13104  40%

7.5 (164)
Bottle of Planteray Cut and Dry Coconut Rum

Natural coconut, Bounty-style sipper

Planteray PXXO 20th Anniversary Rum

RX21905  40%

7.5 (41)
Bottle of Planteray PXXO 20th Anniversary Rum

Sweet, coconut-forward rum with a sherry twist.

Plantation Barbados (Port Cask)

RX17886  2015   8yr   47,2%

7.5 (23)
Bottle of Plantation Barbados (Port Cask)

Smooth, slightly sweet, with well-blended spice and wood.

Plantation Barbados Single Cask VSOR 2022

RX13821  2016   5yr   44,9%

7.4 (18)
Bottle of Plantation Barbados Single Cask VSOR 2022

Distinct Barbados rum with subtle port and spice.

N. Kröger Wagemut Special Edition Homebase 2021

RX9892  10yr   51,5%

7.3 (47)
Bottle of N. Kröger Wagemut Special Edition Homebase 2021

Fruity, wine-finished with a sharp edge.

Plantation Barbados 5 Years

RX133  5yr   40%

7.2 (235)
Bottle of Plantation Barbados 5 Years

Sweet, mellow, coconut-forward sipper

Planteray Barbados 2017 (Adriatico Amaretto Cask) Barrel Swap Collection

RX22108  2017   7yr   41,4%

7.2 (19)
Bottle of Planteray Barbados 2017 (Adriatico Amaretto Cask) Barrel Swap Collection

Plantation Riversaltes Wine Cask

RX17883  2014   9yr   48,3%

7.2 (18)
Bottle of Plantation Riversaltes Wine Cask

Unique Barbados rum: spicy, sweet, wine-influenced profile.

Fassbind AG Secret Treasures Old Barbados

RX6229  1986   14yr   40%

7.1 (27)
Bottle of Fassbind AG Secret Treasures Old Barbados

Mild citrus flavors, but quite diluted.

Plantation Grande Réserve

RX65  1yr - 3yr   40%

7.0 (345)
Bottle of Plantation Grande Réserve

Sweet, fruity, smooth everyday sipper

Planteray Black Cask (Barbados & Paraguay) 2024

RX21988  40%

7.0 (34)
Bottle of Planteray Black Cask (Barbados & Paraguay) 2024

Sweet, spiced, and tropical – a real crowd pleaser.

Plantation Barbados (Arran single malt scotch whisky cask)

RX17889  2013   10yr   51,2%

6.9 (60)
Bottle of Plantation Barbados (Arran single malt scotch whisky cask)

Vanilla, caramel and whisky notes—smooth, sweet, gently spiced.

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7.9/10
4,054 reviews

Flavour profile of West Indies

Most frequently mentioned flavors

Aroma

Vanilla Coconut Woody Caramel

Taste

Vanilla Woody Honey Sweet

What people are saying


Popular independent bottlers of West Indies

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

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