Saint Nicholas Abbey

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Region

Barbados

Status

Operational

Company

Abbey Holdings

Production type

Pure Single Rum

Saint Nicholas Abbey is a small operation in the Saint Peter parish of Barbados. Although its modern history only began in 2006, it has a tradition of distilling dating back to 1658.

The distillery is unique to Barbados in that it distils from a sugar syrup wash instead of molasses, and it operates a small pot and column combination still known affectionately as "Annabelle."

Saint Nicholas Abbey is unusual in that its modern day brand actually predates the commencement of any rum production at the distillery. When Abbey Holdings sought to resume distilling on the historic site in 2006, various factors caused delays that meant it was 2010 before the distillery became operational. In the intervening years, casks were acquired from neighbouring Foursquare and bottled as Saint Nicholas Abbey branded rum.

The first Saint Nicholas Abbey rum from their own stills was launched at RumFest in 2012. A white rum, it has since been joined in the portfolio by a 5-year-old expression. The distillery continues to markets several more advanced age statements however these remain sourced from Foursquare.

Saint Nicholas Abbey
Cherry Tree Hill
St. Peter
BB26007
Barbados

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History

Saint Nicholas Abbey is a historic Jacobean plantation house in the Saint Peter parish of Barbados. Set within 225 acres of sugar cane, the estate has a history of distilling dating back to 1746 when Joseph Dottin gifted Saint Nicholas Abbey to his daughter, Christian, and Sir John Gay Alleyne on their wedding day. Alleyne is believed to have introduced both molasses production and distilling there in the 1750s.

As a rum producer it was fully self-sufficient and a steam engine designed by Fletchers of Derby was installed in 1890. Prosperous for many years, its fortunes changed in the 20th century however and the estate closed in 1947, selling its mill and equipment for scrap.

Attempts were then made to restore steam milling as a visitor attraction in 1983, and a similar one was brought to Saint Nicholas Abbey in a joint venture between Colonel Cave, who managed the project, and the Canadian High Commission.

In 2006 the estate was then purchased by Larry Warren, an architect specialising in historical preservation. His ambition was to reopen a functioning distillery and included in his blueprint was to complete the restoration of the steam-driven mill, now the last of its kind working in the Caribbean.

Various factors delayed the commencement of distilling at St Nicholas Abbey until 2010 however, and the distillery was kept in business after Richard Seale of Foursquare supplied Warren with a batch of casks that were bottled as 8-,10-,12- and 15-year-olds. The first St Nicholas Abbey estate-distilled white rum was then launched in 2012.

1746

1890

1947

1983

2006

2010

2012

Saint Nicholas Abbey is gifted by Joseph Dottin to his daughter, Christian, and John Gay Alleyne on their wedding day.

Steam engine built by Fletchers of Derby is installed.

Saint Nicholas Abbey closes and its steam mill and other equipment sold for scrap.

Replacement steam mill is installed an restoration of it begins.

Abbey Holdings acquire the estate and begin working on restoring it distillery.