Long before the sound of blenders and beach bars, before the arrival of yachts and surfboards, Cane Garden Bay pulsed to a slower, sweeter rhythm — the quiet, earthy cadence of rum being born in the hills.

It still does.

Tucked just steps from the sand and shaded beneath old trees, the Callwood Rum Distillery sits like a secret whispered through generations — a stone building warmed by the Caribbean sun and filled with the aroma of sugarcane and smoke. Here, in the very heart of Cane Garden Bay, is one of the oldest continuously operating pot distilleries in the Caribbean. And for over 400 years, it has been turning cane into culture.

A Family’s Flame Still Burns

In the late 1800s, a buccaneer named Richard Callwood purchased the Arundel Estate for his son. That same land — rich in volcanic soil and wild beauty — became the home of what we now know as the Callwood Distillery.

Four generations later, the Callwoods never left.

The family still walks the same stone paths, still stokes the same coal-fired boiler, and still bottles each batch of Arundel rum by hand. This is not mass production. This is living heritage. Roughly 25 gallons a day — pure cane juice, harvested from the field just behind the building, slowly coaxed into the golden warmth of Caribbean rum.

A Place Where Time Distills

Stepping into the distillery feels like stepping into another time. The walls, blackened by fire and history, are lined with aging barrels and bottles labelled with a family’s name and pride. The light slants through wooden shutters, dust swirling in its glow. You can almost hear the past in the silence.

And then, you smell it.

That unmistakable, heady perfume — a blend of sweetness, woodsmoke, molasses, and memory — it rises from the smoldering boiler out back, where sugarcane is still cooked over charcoal like it was centuries ago. This isn’t just a process. It’s a ritual. A quiet devotion to craft in a world that moves too fast.

A Cultural Treasure of Cane Garden Bay

At Cane Garden Bay Beach Hotel, we consider the Callwood Distillery more than a neighbour — it’s a part of who we are. Our guests often wander across the road expecting a tasting, and leave having touched something deeper. A history you can feel in the stone underfoot, in the warmth of the rum on your tongue, in the stories told by the Callwoods themselves.

They'll tell you how the distillery stood strong after hurricanes, how it weathered the changing tides of the tourism industry, and how it never stopped — even after the roof needed rebuilding. Because some things matter too much to lose.

Visiting the Distillery

The distillery is open Monday through Friday, with limited hours on Saturday and Sunday — especially when a cruise ship sails into port. We always recommend checking in with our front desk team to schedule a visit.

Guests of Cane Garden Bay Beach Hotel can take a short stroll over, enjoy a tasting, browse the small gift shop, and most importantly — stand in a place where centuries of island life have been distilled into every drop.

Island Elegance, Island Spirit

Luxury, to us, is not just found in ocean views or fine linens. It’s found in legacy. In the stories that linger in the salt air and in the craft passed down through generations.

At Cane Garden Bay Beach Hotel, we’re honoured to share a beach with a place like Callwood Rum Distillery — a living testament to resilience, culture, and the quiet magic of tradition.

Come for the beach. Stay for the stories.

And raise a glass to the spirit of the cane.