Experiences / Workshop
Craft your personal Caribbean spiced rum in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten
Step behind the blending counter at Rumhuys and take control of your own bottle. This is not a demonstration — you are the blender. Under the guidance of our rum master, you'll work with a selection of Caribbean spices, tropical fruits, and flavour extracts to create a rum that is entirely yours.
The base rum you'll be working with is pure agricultural rum — rhum agricole — crafted from fresh sugarcane juice rather than molasses. This is the oldest and most traditional method of Caribbean rum-making, producing a spirit with more character, more aroma, and a truer expression of the island it comes from.
The sugarcane is harvested by hand from volcanic hillside plantations, then crushed within 24 hours of cutting to preserve the natural freshness of the juice. Nothing is wasted — the fibrous cane waste, called bagasse, fuels the steam engine that powers the crushing mill itself. This closed loop of energy is as old as Caribbean rum-making, and still one of the most sustainable processes in the industry.
The fresh cane juice ferments for 48 to 72 hours — nearly double the industry average. This extended fermentation is what gives the base its aromatic depth: fruity esters, floral notes, a subtle earthiness that no shortcut can replicate.
After fermentation, the liquid passes through a traditional copper column still. Copper actively reacts with the distillate, binding sulphur compounds and allowing the aromatic molecules to shine through. The spirit exits the still at between 74 and 80% alcohol, already rich with character.
Working with this base, you'll add your own signature. Our selection of natural additions includes Caribbean spices like cinnamon, clove, vanilla and nutmeg; tropical fruit extracts from mango, coconut, passion fruit and lime; and aromatic botanicals unique to the island. By the end, your blend is finalised, bottled, and ready to travel home with you.
Minimum age: 18 years. The workshop runs daily when cruise ships are in port. Walk-ins welcome when space allows — advance booking recommended for groups of 6+. A 5-minute walk from the cruise terminal in Philipsburg.
Yes — at Rumhuys in Philipsburg. Our 90-minute workshop walks you through the blending process from start to finish. You leave with your own personalised bottle, labelled with your name and your recipe.
Rumhuys is a 5-minute walk from the cruise terminal in Philipsburg. No taxi or transfer needed.
Your bottle is sealed and packaged. Most cruise lines allow duty-free alcohol in sealed containers — check your specific cruise line's policy. The bottle is a standard size, well within cruise line allowances.
The workshop involves tasting, but participation is flexible. Non-drinkers are welcome to blend and take the bottle home as a gift. A non-alcoholic welcome drink is available.
Agricultural rum is made from fresh sugarcane juice rather than molasses. It produces a spirit with more aromatic complexity and a cleaner flavour profile. All Rumhuys base rums are agricultural rum.