River Antoine Estate Rum Distillery: A Step Back in Time

River Antoine Estate Rum Distillery, nestled in the northeastern parish of St. Patrick, Grenada, has been hand-crafting spirits since 1785. This historic estate provides an authentic glimpse into the island's rum-making heritage. As Grenada's oldest functioning rum distillery, it offers a unique experience where tradition meets craftsmanship. The estate produces some of the Caribbean's finest and most sought-after rums, using methods unchanged for centuries. The art of rum production here is a labor of love, powered by a traditional waterwheel and made from 100% organic, locally grown sugarcane. The distillery is the only operational water-driven distillery in the Eastern Caribbean. The mill crushes the cane to extract the juice using the power of the water wheel. The boiler which distills the fermented juice is fueled by bagasse, the solid residue from the cane crusher. A tour of River Antoine Estate takes you on a journey through the rum-making process, from harvesting sugarcane to bottling the famous River Antoine Rum. You'll witness the original waterwheel in action and learn about fermentation and distillation. At the end of the tour, sample the estate’s signature high-proof varieties. The estate dates back to 1656 when Antoine, a Frenchman, acquired the 500-acre plantation. It was later sold to Captain Grant, an Englishman, in 1724. In 1786, John Glean and Thomas Degale became the new owners until 1988, when three Grenadians purchased the estate, including Lake Antoine and the River Antoine Rum distillery.