Rivers Royale Grenadian Rum
Rivers Royale Grenadian Rum is unaged, 138-proof (69% ABV) pot-still rum from the River Antoine Estate — "one of the oldest rum producing distilleries in the Caribbean," established 1785. Fresh hand-cut organic sugarcane juice (never molasses) is crushed by a water-wheel-powered mill, wild-fermented 6–10 days, and distilled on copper pot stills heated by open flame — no electricity on the estate, no additives, hand-bottled within 24 hours. Brought to the US in 2021 by La Maison & Velier. It's available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 69% (138 proof) — export strength (Grenada local bottling is 75%)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: unaged white rum
- Origin: River Antoine Estate, Grenada — est. 1785
- Production: fresh cane juice, water-powered mill, wild yeast, copper pot stills
Don't Say Rum, Say Rivers
The estate's motto says it all: in Grenada, "Rivers" is its own category. The newest technology on the property is the water wheel, installed in 1840; cane is still hand-cut, fermentation runs on wild yeast in the open air, and the copper pot stills — John Dore stills patched with Vendome parts — run on bagasse and wood fire. What comes out is bold, funky, intensely aromatic cane-juice rum that rum nerds rank among the Caribbean's great unaged spirits. Explore the store's Rivers shelf or browse more Caribbean rum.
Tasting Notes
Bold and funky: wild vegetal and grassy notes, gherkin and olive brine, pineapple rind, fresh-cut sugarcane, tropical fruit esters, saltwater, white pepper, a smoky mineral edge; thick, oily mouthfeel; long briny-spicy finish (reviewer-aggregated notes — no official brand tasting notes found).
How to Enjoy
A few drops at a time, neat — 138 proof demands respect. Built for tiki: a quarter-ounce transforms a Mai Tai or Zombie. Never shoot it straight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Rivers Royale 138 proof?
It's bottled at export strength (69% ABV); the Grenada-local bottling runs 75%. High proof is traditional for this style.
Is it made from molasses?
No — from fresh-pressed organic sugarcane juice, hand-cut on the estate. It's a cane-juice (agricole-style) rum.
How old is the River Antoine distillery?
Established 1785, making it one of the Caribbean's oldest working rum distilleries.
One of the Caribbean's great unaged rums — order Rivers Royale Grenadian Rum online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.