The Complete Guide to Rum Tasting in Grenada | Pandy Beach House
- Pandy Beach House
- Jun 7
- 5 min read
Grenada is one of the Caribbean's great rum islands — and the 12 Shots of Paradise at Pandy Beach House is the most distinctive rum tasting experience you will find on it. Here is everything you need to know before you sit down at the board.
Why Grenada for Rum Tasting?
Most visitors come to Grenada for the beaches, the spice markets, and the warmth. What they discover — sometimes by accident — is that this small island is home to one of the Caribbean's most interesting rum cultures. The island grows sugarcane, nutmeg, cocoa, sorrel, and a remarkable range of tropical fruits that, when combined with aged rum, produce flavours you simply cannot find anywhere else in the Caribbean.
Rum tasting in Grenada is not just about the liquid in the glass. It is about understanding a place — its soil, its harvest, its character — through something you can hold in your hand.
There are rum distilleries on the island, and there is River Antoine, one of the oldest working rum distilleries in the Caribbean. But if you want a rum tasting experience that tells the full story of what Grenada produces — from the lightest fruit liqueur to a 65% ABV overproof barrel-aged rum — there is one place that has designed exactly that experience: Pandy Beach House and the 12 Shots of Paradise.
What Is the 12 Shots of Paradise?
The 12 Shots of Paradise is a custom tasting board designed exclusively for Pandy Beach House in St. George's, Grenada. It features twelve pours from the Ron Beard Rum family — the only rum brand served at Pandy — arranged in order from the lightest and sweetest through to the most powerful.
The board costs $40 XCD per person — approximately $15 USD — and takes about an hour to work through properly. There is no rush. The table is yours, the sea is in front of you, and the idea is to slow down and taste each one.
The Structure of the Board
The twelve pours are split into two halves: The Nine and The Three.
The Nine — Fruit & Spice Liqueurs (Shots 1–9)
The first nine shots are Ron Beard Rum liqueurs — each one made by soaking real Grenadian fruit, spice, or botanicals in aged rum for months. No artificial flavours. No shortcuts. Each liqueur starts at 22% ABV and climbs, so the board builds in intensity as you go.
Working through the nine liqueurs is like a tour of Grenada's harvest:
Banana & Nutmeg (22% ABV) — the opener. Gentle, golden, and easy to love. Grenadian nutmeg is the best in the world and you taste why immediately.
Mango (24% ABV) — bright and lush. Pure ripe fruit, nothing added.
Soursop & Sea Moss (27% ABV) — creamy and tropical. The sea moss grounds the soursop's floral sweetness in a way that surprises most first-timers.
Pineapple, Ginger & Moringa (28% ABV) — the first kick of heat. Zingy, bright, and genuinely interesting.
Coconut (30% ABV) — smooth and clean. By this point the board is finding its rhythm.
Sorrel (31% ABV) — deep ruby. If you have ever had a Caribbean Christmas drink, this is it in a glass. Unmistakable.
Coffee Bean & Vanilla (31% ABV) — indulgent and rich. The deep roast of the coffee and the warmth of vanilla are something else.
Stallion / Bois Bandé (32% ABV) — for the uninitiated: Bois Bandé is a legendary Caribbean bark, long revered for its properties. Earthy, aromatic, bold.
Cocoa & Cinnamon (40% ABV) — the final liqueur. Grenada's cocoa is world-famous, and with cinnamon heat behind it, this closes the liqueur half of the board beautifully.
The Three — Ron Beard Rum, Neat (Shots 10–12)
Once the nine liqueurs are done, the fruit and spice steps aside and the rum speaks for itself. Shots 10 through 12 are Ron Beard Rum in its pure form — no fruit, no blending, climbing steeply in proof:
Sky Red (40% ABV) — the classic. Lightly aged, smooth entry, warm finish. The rum that started everything.
Spiced (40% ABV) — aged rum blended with Caribbean spices. Complex, aromatic, and deeply satisfying.
Kill Devil (65% ABV) — the finale. Barrel-aged overproof rum. The kind of finish you remember for days. Not for the faint-hearted — but absolutely for the curious.
Pro tip from the bar: Take your time between shots. Drink water. Talk to your host — they know each expression well and can tell you exactly where each ingredient came from. This is meant to be an education, not a race.Where the 12 Shots of Paradise Is Served
The tasting board is served exclusively at Pandy Beach House, located directly on Pandy Beach in St. George's, Grenada — a short walk from Port Louis Marina. We are an adults-only venue (strictly 18+), open Wednesday to Monday from 11AM to 10PM.
You can walk in without a reservation, but for groups of 6 or more we recommend booking ahead.

What About Pandy Beach Reserve?
The 12 Shots of Paradise does not include Pandy Beach Reserve — our 44% ABV expression aged up to 15 years in oak. This one is available separately, by the bottle only ($200 XCD), for guests who want to sit with something genuinely exceptional. Ask your host when you arrive.
Tips for Getting the Most From Your Rum Tasting in Grenada
Don't eat a heavy meal beforehand. A light lunch and you will appreciate every pour far more clearly.
Come in the afternoon, not late evening. The golden hour light over the water during the tasting is part of the experience. Late afternoon (3–5PM) is when the light is best and the bar is perfectly unhurried.
Come as a pair or small group. The board is per person — a table of two or four creates a natural conversation about what you are tasting. It is a shared experience.
Ask questions. The staff know Ron Beard Rum and can explain how each liqueur was made, what's in it, and why the order matters.
Buy a bottle to take home. After the board, you will have a clear favourite. All Ron Beard expressions are available by the glass or bottle to take away.
Is the 12 Shots of Paradise Right for You?
If you enjoy rum at all — or if you are curious about rum but don't know where to start — this board is the single best rum tasting experience available in Grenada. It is structured enough to be educational but relaxed enough that you never feel like you are in a classroom. The setting (beachfront, adults-only, beautiful light) does the rest.
If you are visiting Grenada for a week and you do one rum-related thing, make it this. $40 XCD. One hour. Twelve reasons to understand why Grenada is one of the great rum islands in the world.
Ready for the board?
Wednesday to Monday, 11AM–10PM.
Walk-ins welcome. Groups of 6 or more, book ahead.
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