John Watlings Rum Distillery

John Watling’s Nassau Rum Distillery bottles up rum, James Bond, and the beauty of the Bahamas into a single package. If you’re looking for a fun destination that travelers of all types can enjoy, the Rum Distillery Nassau is it.

The Nassau Rum Distillery is where you can enjoy refreshing drinks on New Providence. Besides that, however, it’s also a destination to learn about several elements that make the Bahamas unique. From Hollywood history and James Bond to rum production and more, the rum distillery Nassau is an exciting attraction for travelers of all ages.

Good to Know

Location: Nassau Old Town, Delancy Street

How Long to Spend: 1-2 hours

TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5 stars.

Nearby Attractions: Graycliff Heritage Village, Bahamas Heritage Museum, Junkanoo Beach

Entry Fees: Free entry, $20 per Rum Tasting flight [Correct as of 2023]

Nassau Rum Distillery: Enjoy a Nassau Rum Tour in the Bahamas

John Watlings Nassau Rum distillery in old town Nassau is one of the most popular places to visit in downtown Nassau Bahamas. Take the Nassau Rum Tour to discover the most of the Bahamas Rum Distillery in Nassau.

The Bahamas Rum Distillery is a popular Downtown Nassau destination.

Bahamas Rum Distillery: How to Visit

The Nassau Rum Distillery is in the Downtown area. This makes it easy to visit even on the shortest of trips.

If you’re entering Nassau via the cruise port, it shouldn’t take you more than 5-10 minutes to reach the Distillery Nassau. Along the way, you’ll pass by several other Nassau attractions, including cultural sites like the Graycliff Heritage Village.

Travelers staying on New Providence or Paradise Island can make a day trip out of a visit to the Nassau Rum Distillery. Consider starting at a nearby historical site, like Fort Fincastle, before snaking your way by other attractions in the area. You can conclude your Old Town day trip with a Nassau rum tour.

The Rum Distillery Nassau is open every day of the week from 10 am to 6 pm.

Distillery Nassau: Where Is It?

The Bahamas Rum Distillery is on Delancey Street, close to the central part of the city. The structure itself is on the Buena Vista estate and has a history that stretches back hundreds of years.

John Watlings Nassau Rum distillery is one of the best things to do in Nassau Bahamas. Booking the Nassau Rum tour is easy with Nassau Guide!

The Buena Vista Estate is beautiful and historic.

The building dates back to 1789, also the year George Washington was elected president of the newly-formed United States. In 2005, it was a filming location for Casino Royale, and in 2013, the Nassau Rum Distillery opened its doors to the world.

Today when you visit the Rum Distillery Nassau, you have the chance to appreciate all of this.

What to See and Do at the Rum Distillery Nassau

At the John Watlings Nassau Rum distillery, Rum is distilled locally on site, barreled and bottled on site. Visitors can enjoy a top rated Nassau Rum Tour

A mini-tour around the grounds offers insight into rum production.

Learn About Rum Production

While sampling alcohol is a highlight of visiting John Watling’s (more on that below), it’s not the only one. A visit also gives you the chance to learn about and observe rum production.

A walk through the grounds lets you see several stages of rum production. From aging the rum in barrels to filling and labeling the John Watling’s bottles, an impressive amount of work goes into producing each and every ounce of liquor.

Explore the Buena Vista Estate

Besides learning about rum production, touring the Nassau Rum Distillery also lets you appreciate the history and beauty of the Buena Vista Estate.

From the slaves who dug the property’s well to Daniel Craig, jumping over the estate’s fence, everywhere you turn has something worth pointing out. And with lush landscaping, bright colonial architecture, and great views of the surrounding area, it’s a scenic experience, to say the least.

Visit the James Bond 007 film location for Casino Royale, where Daniel Craig jumps over the fence of the John Watlings Rum Distiller in Nassau Old Town

Keep an eye out for James Bond history!

James Bond in the Bahamas

In the film Casino Royale (2006) starring Daniel Craig as the famous 007 Spy, James Bond gives chase to a bomb maker in Madagascar. It’s a thrilling chase scene across a construction site with elements of parkour used in the stunts. However these scenes were not filmed in Madagascar, instead the film makers of the bond Franchise used the facilities of the Bahamas Defence Force, located in South West New Providence (Nassau), as the fictional African city of Nambutu. Note that this area is not publicly accessible.

As Bond makes chase of his suspect, Daniel Craig is pictured traveling down Delancy Street, hanging on to the back of a truck. He takes a jump from the moving vehicle, flies over the wall and lands into the grounds of the Nambutu Embassy (John Watlings Rum Distillery) 007 then proceeds into the main building (film set). At the time of filming in 2005, the Buena Vista Estate had fallen into disrepair, as evidenced by the dilapidated looking buildings captured on film.

It wasn’t until 2013, that the estate was redeveloped and the original buildings fully restored as the John Watlings Rum Distillery. A sign post (above) marks the spot of where James Bond jumps over the wall into the grounds of the Rum Distillery.

Try the Rum

Nassau Rum Tour tastings at the John Watlings Nassau Rum distillery in Nassau Old Town.

A Nassau rum tour lets you try the different rum varieties.

If you don’t usually enjoy rum, the Nassau Rum Distillery could be the perfect place to try it and see if it yields a different takeaway. It’s also a quintessential Caribbean product, so you’d be remiss not to sample it!

A rum flight lets you try some of the different varieties that the Bahamas Rum Distillery produces.

Enjoy a Drink

John Watlings Nassau Rum distillery Shop offers a wide range of John Watlings locally distilled Rums for purchase.

Make sure to pick up a bottle before leaving.

If you don’t feel like sipping straight rum, John Watling’s has a regular bar that serves all of your standard beverages. Unsurprisingly, most of the craft cocktails are tropical in nature. There are also alcohol-free options.

John Watlings Rum Distillery Travel Tips

Take a mini-tour around the estate: A mini-tour around the Buena Vista Estate only takes around 15 minutes. That said, it’s a worthwhile experience since the guides are entertaining and informative.
Guided Tours: Consider taking a guided tour. This will provide you with valuable insights into the rum-making process and the history of the distillery. Guides often share interesting stories and facts about John Watling’s Rum.
Try the rum: Even if you’re not ordinarily a fan of rum, you’ll want to try it at the Nassau Rum Distillery. Whether you get a rum flight or a piña colada, you won’t regret trying the housemade, artisanal liquor.
Purchase Souvenirs: The distillery likely has a gift shop where you can purchase souvenirs and bottles of John Watling’s Rum. Consider buying some to take home as a memento of your visit.
Appreciate the history: At the Rum Distillery Nassau, it’s possible to enjoy the drinks and views on a surface level. However, as the side offers history (both in the colonial and 20th-century Hollywood form), try to appreciate that as well. Located in a historic building, the Buena Vista Estate; take some time to appreciate the historical significance of the place and its connection to Bahamian history.

Grounds of the John Watlings Nassau Rum distillery where visitors can enjoy Rum Tastings and cocktails in their indoor and outdoor terrace bars.

A tour around the grounds lets you better appreciate what you see.

Nassau Rum Distillery: The Best of the Bahamas

With tropical drinks, housemade rum, unique history, and more, the Nassau Rum Distillery is one of the top attractions on the island. Given all that the destination has to offer, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy a visit to the Rum Distillery Nassau, regardless of what type of traveler you are.

While the Distillery Nassau is an exciting attraction, many travelers miss it. Unfortunately, the same is true for other top Nassau attractions. To ensure you make the most of your time in the Bahamas, check out our other travel guides and interactive map of Nassau.