The Best Wineries, Breweries and Distilleries in the Bahamas

After mooring up in Nassau, head to the city’s downtown area and roll into the John Watling’s Distillery, named after a 17th-century buccaneer. The business, which has been producing small-batch rums and vodka since 2003, is located on a historic estate overlooking the harbor. It offers complimentary tours where you can learn about the history of rum and the production process. Round things off with a refreshing drink at the on-site tavern, plus there’s a store where you can pick up a bottle or two. The distillery is open seven days a week.

If craft ales are your thing, point your compass in the direction of the Rip Ty’d brewery, situated near the main port in Nassau. The small-batch Bahamas brewery is open daily for tours and tastings, with a relaxed bar area for sampling afterward. Rip Ty’d pride itself on using natural ingredients and Bahamian water in its libations. Some of its creations include Wild Passion – an IPA infused with passion fruit – and One in a Melon, a German Pilsner with hints of watermelon. The brewery is open from Tuesday to Sunday.

Replenish your wine supplies with a trip to Bahama Barrels. The winery, the first in the Bahamas, is housed within a former convent and chapel. Instead of daily communion, the complex now offers wine masterclasses headed up by a Californian wine expert. As the Bahamian climate doesn’t lend itself to grape growing, Bahama Barrels uses various grapes from around the world to make unique blends – you can even blend your own. The winery is open daily with tastings and classes available for individuals and groups.

Work up a thirst before sailing over to the Bahamian Brewery in Freeport on Grand Bahama. The small team produces eight beers – ranging from a punchy black stout to a refreshing grapefruit-flavored Radler. Its most popular product is Sands beer named after the CEO Jimmy Sands and you’ll find this served throughout the island chain. The brewery, which opened in 2007, runs regular tours around the factory facilities, so you can see the beer-making process from start to finish. After watching the beer being bottled, pull up a seat in the tasting room.

After producing Bahamian rum cake for many years, Luna on the outskirts of Nassau ventured into the world of rum production in 2020. Book onto a 30-minute tour and learn how one of the island’s newest distilleries goes about making its products from locally sourced ingredients. At the complimentary tasting, knock back the factory’s more unusual creations – including banana and cherry chocolate-infused rums. Be sure to swing by the rum cake factory and stock up on sweet treats to enjoy back on board.

The Commonwealth Brewery Company is behind the best-selling beer in the Bahamas, Kalik. The name was derived from the “Kalik, Kalikin’ Kalik” – the sound of the cowbell instrument used in Junkanoo, otherwise known as a traditional Caribbean street parade. You’ll find Kalik across the archipelago, with different variations including Kalik Light, Gold, and Lime. It is not possible to tour the Commonwealth Brewery Company, but you can stock up on Kalik and conduct your own tastings back on board.

“X” marks the spot at this drinking establishment, where you’ll hit upon gold in liquid form. The Pirate Republic Brewing Company, located in Nassau, has been deemed one of the best microbreweries in the Caribbean and it was the first to land in the Bahamas. It brews a wide range of drafts including the Black Beer’d Stout (a chocolate malt) and Island Pirate Ale, its flagship IPA. The beer-infused cocktails are also worth dipping into – with the Renegade (a blend of IPA and Campari) and the Flaming Dr Pepper (a mix of Long John Pilsner and Amaretto liqueur) among the unusual concoctions.