Jamaica’s Newest Rum Bar Is Open, And We Saved You A Seat

Rum is the nectar of the Caribbean, and nowhere is it sweeter, sharper, and more creatively infused than at Dunn’s Rum Club, serving guests at the all-new Sandals Dunn's River in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The definitive libation of the region, rum coats the tongue in the smooth molasses of fermented sugarcane, aged in oak barrels and served in a myriad of ways – a drink so versatile, it begs for its own dedicated bartop.

Dunn’s Rum Club is home to a team of local mixologists stirring, shaking, and straining signature drinks using more than 30 variations of the Caribbean’s best rum. Each libation can be cleverly paired with island-inspired small bites, such as the smoked marlin escovietch, the fan-favorite braised oxtail slider, and the jerk chicken cigar. The bar boasts the largest collection of local and imported rums in Jamaica – from darker, spicier English-style rums, to lighter, smoother Spanish rums, to the fruity and vegetal rums of the French Caribbean.

Much more than a quick drink, the guest experience at Dunn’s Rum Club is one of exploration and liquid education. An evening spent in this swanky haven is just another stop on your travel itinerary. This drink destination offers a sensory journey through the Caribbean, marked by the distinct flavors of Jamaica, Barbados, Puerto Rico and beyond – neat or on the rocks.

The drink menu at Dunn’s Rum Club features Sandal-ized spins on rum classics like the Mojito, the Mai Tai, the Papa Doble, and the Planter’s Punch. Guests with more curious taste buds are invited to try one (or a few) of the uniquely crafted house drinks. Take, for example, the Higgin’s Swizzle, which blends Appleton signature rum with house falernum, lime juice, sugar, and angostura bitters. Switch things up with the Have a Buck, house spiced bourbon mixed with ginger beer, lime juice, and simple syrup. End the night with a Painkiller, a house blend of various rums mixed with pineapple and orange juices, coconut cream, and grated nutmeg.

New to rum? “No worries, mon!”

The team at Dunn’s Rum Club has carefully curated specialty flights, designed as a crash course into the world of the rum. Guests are invited to train their tongues to the taste of the best rum in the Caribbean, from the sweetest to the spiciest to the chiefly charred, all the while guided by expert bartenders behind the bar.

Just beyond the bartop, guests of Dunn’s Rum Club mix and mingle over billiards tables and dominoes – Jamaican rules, of course. Across the Caribbean, the sound of tumbling dominoes rides tandem with the woody, sweet scent of rum. An integral part of the Dunn’s Rum Club experience, the pastime represents the best of the Caribbean community, where lovers, friends, and strangers alike come together for a bout of friendly competition.

Guests of Sandals Dunn’s River – plus, the new friends they made over rounds three, four, and five of dominoes – will find more than rum flights in the Caribbean heaven that surrounds the rum club. The all-new resort, which officially opened in May of this year, is unlike anything Ocho Rios has ever seen before.

The resort sits on the north coast of Jamaica, marked by meandering rivers, lush forests, and rushing waterfalls. Beyond Dunn’s Rum Club, the resort is home to 12 restaurants and 8 additional bars, including swim-up bars. Away from the table (or the bar), guests can indulge in stylish accommodations with ready-to-make rum kits in-room, unlimited land and water sports, access to two winding river pools and five large swimming pools, unlimited PADI-certified SCUBA diving, day and night entertainment, and access to the most thrilling and adventurous off-resort excursions in the region.

Rum is the Caribbean. Just as crystal blue waters, vibrant carnivals, and Sandals Resorts are the Caribbean. With the introduction of Sandals Dunn’s River to the Sandals family, and the accompanying Dunn’s Rum Club, we became a sip more Caribbean. From the heart of our newest resort, we’re proud to serve you Jamaica’s largest variety of the quintessential Caribbean drink (and the most of it).

Rum on the Run

Have we ignited a craving? You can sip on a bit of Dunn’s Rum Club magic at home, using our mixologists’ perfected Planter’s Punch recipe.

• To a mixing glass, add ½ oz Myers Dark Rum and 1 oz Jamaican Gold Rum.
• Top rum blend with ¼ oz simple syrup, ½ oz lime juice, and ½ oz grenadine.
• Fill ¾ of the glass with ice and shake vigorously.
• Strain mixture into a chilled, large handled coupe glass, and garnish with an orange slice.
• Sip, sip, and repeat. Then book a trip to Sandals Dunn’s River, we saved you a seat at the bar.

For an in-depth dive into the story behind the Sandals Dunn's Rum Club, listen to our official podcast with Luke Mathot, VP of Food and Beverage Product Innovation for Sandals Resorts International, below.