Do you need to know anything about rum first?
No specialist knowledge is needed to follow the guided experience. The class introduces rum through tasting, a brief Caribbean history and a practical sequence of flavour selection, mixing, testing and bottling. Your role is to make choices and ask for assistance when you need it.
If you enjoy reading ahead, start with what rum blending means. It will help you distinguish creating a blend from fermenting a raw ingredient or aging spirit in a barrel. There is no need to arrive with a finished recipe or a list of technical terms.
What should you arrange before you leave your accommodation?
Have your booking confirmation available, check the destination and arrange a safe return journey. The Academy is at Loose Cannon, Galleon Beach, English Harbour. Aim to check in at least five minutes before your session; the class starts promptly and late participation is not guaranteed.
If you have booked shared resort transport, be ready at the agreed meeting point when the driver arrives. Pickup and waiting rules are detailed on Plan your visit. Do not apply a resort pickup arrangement to a cruise-port journey without confirmation from the team.
What happens when you take your seat?
Your place is arranged around a live hot tabletop still. Listen to the safety instructions and avoid touching the equipment. Put on the provided apron and make sure your instructor knows about any allergies before you begin tasting. Some rums contain dairy, nuts or spices.
Keep personal belongings and your phone clear of the working area when following instructions. Photos are encouraged, but choose moments that do not distract you from a hot surface or a hands-on step. Our safety page explains the classroom rules and the team's first-aid and CPR training.
How do you choose a name for your rum?
Your chosen name goes on your finished rum label. A shared holiday memory, a nickname or a name you agree on together can give the bottle a personal connection. You can think of ideas in advance without deciding your blend before you have tasted the options.
The label is one part of the experience: you also work through blending, alcohol-percentage testing, bottling, capping and waxing with guidance. See the full session sequence if you want to picture each step. A certificate marks completion, and an optional Academy shirt is available to purchase as a graduation keepsake.
What if you have a question this guide does not answer?
Contact the Academy before booking if you need to discuss an allergy, accessibility, non-drinking participation or a ship departure. Include your intended visit date and the question you need answered. The team can discuss your situation before you commit to a class.
For transport, include your resort or cruise details and number of passengers. Keep the agreed pickup information with your booking confirmation. On class day, that preparation leaves you free to focus on the tasting, the instruction and the bottle you are creating.
A few practical questions
Is an apron provided?
Yes. The Academy provides an apron for use during the class.
Can a pair each take home a bottle?
A pair booking makes one shared bottle. Choose individual bookings if each participant wants to make a separate bottle.
Published by Academy of Rum Antigua, an interactive rum education and blending experience at Galleon Beach. External references are linked beside the information they support. For current bookings and operational details, use the experience, pricing and visit information pages.
Galleon Beach · Antigua
Experience rum differently.
Taste, learn and create your own rum at our Antigua mini distillery, with guidance from your first flavour choice to your finished bottle.
18+ to drink. Please enjoy responsibly.
