One of our favourite experiences during our two days in Puerto Rico wasn’t inside Old San Juan—it was escaping the city for the Ron Barrilito rum experience. We booked this tour to get a real experience of a Puerto Rican rum distillery and where better than the oldest in town? It stood out to us not just for the history but also the location, it is on the actual operating distillery so we could see this side of the process too, we had such high high expectations for this tour and it really lived up to them!
We visited before boarding our Virgin Voyages Caribbean cruise and it was the perfect experience, it would also be great as a port day activity.
Table of Contents
Is The Ron Barrilito Tour Worth It?
Yes, we loved our experience at the Ron Barrilito Rum Tour in San Juan, we had a fantastic time and think it was excellent value and a great experience.
| Experience | ★★★★★ |
| Value | ★★★★★ |
| Cocktails | ★★★★★ |
| History | ★★★★★ |
| Location | ★★★★☆ |
| Would We Recommend? | YES! |
This tour is best for:
✔ Couples
✔ Cruise travellers
✔ Cocktail lovers
✔ First-time Puerto Rico visitors
Skip if:
✖ You don’t drink
✖ Travelling with young children
✖ Have a tight schedule
Ron Barilito Rum Tour Overview
We took both the tasting tour and the mixology class and loved both! The tours are located at the Hacienda Santa Ana distillery which is in Bayamón part of San Juan.
| Tour Name | Rum Tasting & Mixology Class |
| Location | Hacienda Santa Ana Distillery San Juan |
| Duration | ~ 2 Hours for each tour |
| Price | $90 USD each tour |
| Transport Required | Yes |
| Cocktail Included? | Yes |
| Advance Booking Needed | Yes |
| Time Needed | Total for one tour ~ 3 hours |
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What Is Ron Barrilito?
Ron Barrilito is the oldest rum brand still in production in Puerto Rico. They began in 1880 at the historic Hacienda Santa Ana in Bayamón where it remains today. The name Ron Barrilito translates to rum from a small barrel, which refers to its history where the creator would serve the rum from a small barrel to guests. It is this sense of preserved history that makes a tour at Ron Barrilito a must and so different from ordinary rum tastings and a must for visitors to Puerto Rico.
Getting To Ron Barrilito From Old San Juan
The Ron Barrilito Distillery is at the historic Hacienda Santa Ana in Bayamón which is an area of San Juan. If you have a rental car you can drive yourself out there, but of course you want to make sure there is a designated driver to get back. You can get a taxi but will have to accept the rate given or use the Uber or Lyft apps. We used Lyft to get out there, it took 25 minutes and our fare was $14.21 USD. We called for a Lyft at 2:15pm and it took us half an hour to actually get picked up. If you are going from the centre of Old San Juan make sure to leave with enough time to wait for a ride or walk to the outskirts and call one that doesn’t need to go through the old city traffic. The tours were so good it is absolutely worth the ride out there!
You could also take public transport over to the area but would have to get a taxi, Uber or Lyft from the bus terminal there to the Hacienda, honestly it is just easier to get a ride the whole way. While the location is a little out of the main part of town and it would be more convenient if it was closer it really is part of the charm. You see the authentic, original hacienda where the rum has been produced for years, touring the facility and tasting on site. It adds a sense of history and character to the experience that is definitely worth it.
What Happens On The Ron Barrilito Distillery Tour?
The Ron Barrilito Distillery tours are really well organised, once at the hacienda you have nothing left to do but take part and enjoy, this was our experience:
Arrival & First Impressions
We arrived at the hacienda and immediately loved the beautiful landscaping and authentic atmosphere. The buildings were country, farm style and the whole area gave us the feeling that we had stepped back in time, it was a great first impression! There are lots of photo opportunities here, get here early enough to take some pictures and soak up the pretty atmosphere. You receive a welcome drink on arrival, get this and sit to wait for your tour to start.
Touring The Distillery
Our tour started by taking a walk over to the distillery, we were shown the area where the rum is distilled and bottled. After this we walked into the barrel room where we saw the oldest barrels and also smelt some of the ingredients to get a sense of the flavours in the rum.
We were surprised by how old the barrels were and how expensive the rum gets as it ages. It was so interesting to learn about how old some of the rarest rums were.
The Rum Tasting Experience
We went to a room set up with tasting sets and were lead through each. As we tasted we learnt about the flavours, what each was best used for and how long it was aged. It was so interesting to taste the different flavours and find our favourite.
The Ron Barrilito Mixology Cocktail Making Class
We had a ball in the mixology class, it was a lot of fun. While learning so many new skills and flavours we were walked through creating 3 cocktails in a step-by-step process. The guide moved at a pace that allowed us to enjoy the process and ask questions. The class was not difficult and the group size was small enough to have a fun, intimate atmosphere. The cocktails were of a high quality and of course included the classic Puerto Rican pina colada and two other unique mixes. This was so much fun we would do it again on our next visit. Our favourite cocktail was of course the pina colada closely followed by a kiwi cocktail that was really refreshing.
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Was The Rum Tour Or Cocktail Class Better?
The rum tasting and mixology class were both fantastic, and really I think doing them both was a perfect way to learn about the rum and taste it singly to understand the flavours and then to use them in the mixology class and taste them in action.
Tour vs Cocktail Class
| Best For: | Tasting Tour | Mixology Cocktail Class |
| Fun | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Value | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Learning | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Photos | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Our Favourite | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
We really did love both experiences, they gave slightly different vibes and we learnt different skills in each.
Is Ron Barrilito Better Than Other Puerto Rico Activities?
From our experience the Ron Barrilito tours were better than other possible Puerto Rico activities that we could have done. Tours we considered doing (and would next time or if we had an extra day or two) were a beach day, a rainforest & beach tour, Bacardi tour and a rainforest. We would do these tours on our next visit but we had to choose one for our time frame and are so glad that we did the Ron Barrilito rum tours! We did do a walking food tour in Old San Juan which we also rate very highly, you can check out our review on it to see if it is something that suits you.
Costs: Is Ron Barrilito Worth The Money?
We think these tours are worth the money, the experiences were high quality and included everything except the transport. The staff and guides were fantastic, sharing knowledge and anecdotes along the way. Both tours include a welcome cocktail of your choice from the onsite bar which are made individually and of quality. At all times the tour and facility operated at an exceptionally high standard, creating tours which we really enjoyed.
What We Wish We Knew Before Visiting
Things that may have been helpful to know were:
- Booking ahead is better to secure your spot on the time and day you prefer as they do sell out time slots.
- Make sure to eat before you arrive, there is food available for purchase however you will be drinking on the tours (if you choose to) and it is better to not be hungry while on the tour.
- Wear cooler clothing, the tour is mostly inside and it can be warm.
- You will need transport to the hacienda so make sure to allow for the time an Uber or Lyft takes to get there, I would leave 30 minutes transport time and more to actually get a car.
- Make sure you schedule your tour around your port day cruise schedule, you don’t want to return too late.
- Pace yourself! The welcome cocktail combined with the tasting or mixology class can definitely creep up on you if you are not a big drinker.
Perfect Half-Day Puerto Rico Plan
With a day in Old San Juan you could spend your morning walking the streets of Old San Juan, or do a food walking tour, then have some lunch and head over to the Ron Barrilito Distillery to do your tour and either back to the ship or head off to dinner at Metropole Restaurant in the T Mobile District.
Our Old San Juan itinerary gives you all the best things to do in Old San Juan.
Ron Barrilito Before A Cruise: Would We Recommend It?
We loved this experience so much that we would definitely recommend it on a port day or before a cruise. It is a fantastic way to experience a piece of Puerto Rican history and culture. Having the opportunity to learn about and appreciate the flavours of a historic Caribbean rum was a great starting point for a Caribbean cruise! We did it the day before our embarkation which was great. If you are planning to do it on the day of embarkation you would need to plan for a early time slot so you were back at the port ready.
FAQ For The Ron Barrilito Rum Tour in San Juan
Is Ron Barrilito worth visiting?
Yes! We loved visiting the Ron Barrilito Distillery and think it is the best activity to do in San Juan. It is a lot of fun and we learned a lot as well.
How long does the tour take?
The tour takes about 2 hours but you could easily spend 3-4 hours here, looking at the hacienda prior to your tour and enjoying a few drinks after!
Do you need to book?
Yes, it is better to book beforehand to make sure you get your preferred time slot and day. They do fill up and you could miss out making your schedule a little tighter.
Can cruise passengers do it?
Cruise passengers would love this experience, just make sure that it fits into your schedule and book your transport early to allow for traffic.
Is transport included?
Transport is not included in the tours.
Can you do only the cocktail class?
You can do just the cocktail class, or just the tasting class or both, you book them separately.
How much does it cost?
The tours are $90 USD per person.
Can non-drinkers enjoy it?
I think non-drinkers could enjoy the tours. The walk through the grounds and distillery is interesting and instead of drinking the tasting you can smell the differences and learn about the processes. With the cocktail making class I believe it is possible to make them as virgin cocktails so you could still take part.
Final Verdict
We definitely recommend this tour, it was such a great experience, in fact I would do it again on our next visit. The tasting taught us a lot about the different rums produced and the mixology class was the perfect way to put our knowledge into practice. We think the Ron Barrilito tours are the best things to do in San Juan!
Plan your trip:
👉 Read next: Our Virgin Voyages Cruise Experience
👉 Plan your trip: Caribbean Travel Guide & Caribbean Cruise Guide
👉 Don’t miss: Dominican Republic Travel Itinerary
👉 Don’t miss: All our port day guides here!
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