There is a train in Barbados strictly dedicated to celebrating the island nation’s history of rum. Traversing through sugarcane fields of a farm-to-bottle distillery, rum-loving visitors will be taken on a journey aboard the St Nicholas Abbey Heritage Rail.
Rum, often associated with the pirates we see in movies, has its historical roots firmly planted in Barbados. Settlers grew sugarcane crops to craft the predecessor of the spirit, named ‘Kill Devil’ for its intense burn. In 1640, the first commercial sugarcane crop was planted.
Rum is distilled from fermented molasses, a byproduct of sugar cane or from freshly pressed sugar cane juice. It is then traditionally aged in oak barrels. The train is a restored steam locomotive that takes visitors on a tour around the property, to see how far rum has changed from its Kill-Devil days.
The rum train is operated by the St. Nicholas Abbey Great House Plantation and Distillery, located in the north of Barbados, in Saint Peter Parish.
The property, which was purchased in 2006 by Anna and Larry Warren, is approximately 350 years old and spans across 400-acres. According to Anna, the railway’s purpose is to ‘compliment’ the Plantation House and distillery. Since its purchase, the Warrens have worked carefully to restore the different sections – the house, rum tasting area, bottling plant, steam mill and distillery.
The tour is narrated, and passes by the St Nicholas Abbey Great House, the property’s lake and through the mahogany woodlands. The tour route ends at Cherry Tree Hill, an elevated viewpoint overlooking the island’s east coast.
The pair also began sugarcane production for their St. Nicholas Abbey rum.
The sugarcane stalks are hand cut and ground in the 1890 steam mill, creating the ‘sugar cane honey’, which is essentially a syrup. The brand produces a 5-year-old rum, a 12-year-old rum, an 18-year-old rum, as well as a white rum. The tour lasts for an hour, where visitors can enjoy a meal at the Whistles Cafe afterward, or purchase some of the world class single cask rum. Tickets for the train tour cost Bds$60 (R430) for adults and Bds$30 (R215) for children aged 3-11.
Image source: Instagram @stnicholasabbey
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