After our golf plans got canceled, we decided to squeeze in a tasting at Kōloa Rum Company--and honestly, it ended up being one of our favorite stops of the day. It's located at the beautiful Kilohana Plantation, so even if you're not a big rum drinker, it's worth visiting. You can wander through the gardens, stop by the sweet shop, grab a bite at Gaylord's Restaurant, or catch the luau. It's just a really nice place to spend an afternoon. It's highly recommend making a reservation online. However we couldn't book online, but we called about an hour before and were able to get in. I also had no idea the tasting itself was complimentary, which made the experience even better. Our Rumtender, Randy, was awesome! He walked us through the history of Kōloa Rum, explained each variety, and shared his favorite ways to enjoy them. It felt more like chatting with a friend than sitting through a tasting. Safe to say we were convinced--we ended up bringing home two bottles! Whether you're a rum fan or just looking for something fun and different to do in Kauai, I'd definitely recommend adding this to your itinerary. read more

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This is a 21+ NO CHILDREN alcohol tasting event. You sign up ahead of time for reservations to join about 10-15 others for a rum tasting and history lesson about local rum making. Every day is a different experience as they use different rums and premixes. We came on the Mai Tai day with about 10 others. When signing up, it looks like they can sometimes charge, but there was no cost when we signed up. It is located across from a modern shopping area, next to the local highway (not fast). You enter the plantation area that is a wide open flat grass kept area leading to large older building and entertainment like plantation tours, train and restaurant. Drive the little winding path to the left side and there is the Koloa building with a gift shop and tasting room. When you check in at the gift shop you can browse or wait on the porch. They will check ID and confirm no children. In the bar tasting room, you will be given a large shot and then tasters, not more than 2 shots total in liquor. You can ask for water, and you can use one of the two shot glasses to pour any leftovers into if you don't like one of the rums. NO SHARING, it is part of their license requirements. Great rum. I will not explain because that is part of the experience and they do it much better. Friendly staff. No pressure. After the tasting, they offered to take pictures and answer questions. This is a good stop for rainy days or when you are on your way from one side of island to the other. Located on the south side on the main road (highway). read more

Kōloa Rum Company - Front doors to shop and tasting room - Distilleries Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

We were visiting Kauai on the Pride of America cruise, and on our second day we didn't have a rental car. I noticed this place was nearby, so a group of us grabbed a quick and inexpensive Uber over there. There are several shops in the area, but the main gift shop here was definitely worth the stop. They had a huge selection of merchandise along with just about every rum they make from mini sampler bottles to full 750 mL bottles. One of the best surprises was finding out they offer a free rum tasting every hour. We happened to arrive about five minutes before the next one started, so we joined in. The bartender running the tasting was fantastic... super knowledgeable, funny, and engaging. He made the whole experience a lot of fun, even for people in our group who weren't big rum drinkers. After the tasting, all of us ended up back in the gift shop buying something, whether it was rum, shirts, hats, or souvenirs. Since I live in California, I checked Total Wine online while we were there to see which bottles were available back home so I wouldn't have to pack everything in my luggage. I was pleasantly surprised they carried quite a few of their products. I ended up buying several of the mini bottles that aren't sold in California, along with a hat and T-shirt. Before heading back, we grabbed some pineapple ice cream from the stand outside while waiting for our Uber, which was the perfect way to end the visit. We all had a great time here, and I'd definitely recommend stopping by if you're in the area, even if rum isn't usually your thing. read more

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We had the best time having fun, tasting rum! You gotta stop here when visiting Kauai! Girls just wanna have RUM! read more

Thanks for coming out to Yelps Passport to SALT event - the ginger beer was amazing! And your staff was so amazingly friendly! read more

Kōloa Rum Company - Passport to Salt event - Distilleries Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Came to the plantation on a Monday after lunch while waiting for our hotel to be available for check in, and I'm super glad we did because the rum tasting room experience was super fun! We signed up in the shop area an hour before and they just checked our IDs and added us to the list. Our host Randy was super engaging and very informative, taught us a lot about the Koloa rum company, history, and great stories around the flavors! We tried the white rum, the coconut rum, the mai tai mixer, and we ended up buying some minis to take home. I liked learning about the history and the alcohol itself - it's made out of pure Hawaiian sugar cane instead of molasses so the taste is super clean. The tasting experience is free but of course cash tips are encouraged. They had some chairs inside but overall it's a mostly standing room only. I would honestly not mind coming back on a different day, since we heard the tastings are different! read more

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Rums were good but tasting is a little puny and they give you a small selection of their rums. Considering how little alcohol you get it would have been nice to try more kinds. Gift shop is very overpriced but they do have interesting clothes. No food comes with the tasting. I wouldn't do it again and I rarely say that about distilleries. Service was good. read more

A must to do when in Kauai is to do the free Rum Tasting at Koloa Rum. The spot is fun, the guides always a blast to hang with, and the rums tasty AF. Koloa Rum is located at the Kilohana Plantation. They have Single Batch Premium Hawaiian Rums, RTD Cocktails, and food items to go like rum cakes and rum fudge sauce. In the Tasting Room is where you get to do your experience. Every day is a different selection of things to taste. On our day, we got to try the Rum Punch Cocktail (pro tip, top with their Dark Rum). Then the White Rum, Dark Rum, Coconut Rum, and Cacao Rum. We of course bought some rum to take home and can't wait to make some Mai Tais. ___ read more

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Randy was a good and informative host for this tasting, which had us testing several different rums which Koloa makes. Tasted a coconut rum, a coffee rum, a white rum.... There is a gift store adjacent with merch and of course, all the rum! But don't worry, they ship! read more

Kōloa Rum Company - Time for the fun! - Distilleries Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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What a fun experience learning about the Koloa Rum Company and a welcome break from the heat. This will take about 30 minutes but expect to spend more time if you explore the grounds. We made reservations online ahead of time and it's only $5 per reservation, no matter the amount of people. They start on the hour so plan to arrive a bit earlier to check-in and get situated. They will need to check everyone's IDs in the gift shop beforehand. At the beginning of the tasting, everyone gets to try a sample of their pre-mixed cocktails. This rotates everyday so check the calendar when you make your reservations. On top of these, we also sampled gold rum, dark rum, spiced rum, and their coffee rum. Our host was so knowledgable and with each tasting, she even gave us some recommendations for cooking! The staff are incredibly good at upselling the products but we didn't need any convincing to purchase several bottles. Because this involves alcohol, there were some ground rules. In total, we each received 5 tasters but they were very explicit about not sharing them or passing them off. So don't come into these thinking you can take all the tasters from the one friend who doesn't drink! Overall, we had a great time and because of our large group, our host really vibed with us. Afterwards, you can walk the grounds and even get dole whip floats at a shack across the parking lot! read more

Kōloa Rum Company - Rum Samples - Distilleries Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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Girls just wanna have rum alright, but only if it's Kōloa Rum! Got bit by the rum bug on our last trip to Kauai and had to do a repeat of the tasting. Their rum is too good, as is the gift store. Located on the verdant, manicured grounds of the Gaylord, it's a small building and tasting room. However their staff who lead the tastings are always engaging and informative about the rum. And the rum itself is top notch in my book but what do I know? I just love their flavor profiles and process. Could it be that volcanically purified Hawaiian water that is the differentiator or the locally grown coffee beans infused into their coffee rum that makes it so tantalizing? Or perhaps it's their dedication to using pure cane sugar instead of molasses? Perhaps both but what I do know, is this place is a fun stop on the itinerary and their tasting spots fill up so book early! read more

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Fun and delicious! But it goes by quickly! The more we tasted, the louder it got in there (LOL). So much fun!! A must-do when in Kauai! Visit the plantation, take a train ride, enjoy a drink in the lounge, stroll through the shops and museum! Relax and enjoy! Bonus- they were very accommodating for our friend who requires the use of a walker. read more

We enjoyed our tasting at Koloa Rum so much we went twice during our vacation in Kaua'i, once on Saturday and again on Monday. The tasting setup is great because you get to sample four different rums and one of their cocktail mixes. The types of rum you get to taste actually change depending on the day. My favorite was the coffee and cacao rum, it was rich and smooth and the passion fruit mix tasted so good that it didn't feel like I was drinking alcohol. Both times the staff leading our tastings were knowledgeable, friendly, and full of creative ideas for using the rum in cocktails and even cooking. The whole experience was already very affordable, which made it even better. I'd absolutely go back the next time I'm on the island. read more

Kōloa Rum Company - Tasting set up - Distilleries Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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Stopped by and got lucky to be able to get into a Rum tasting. The host of the tasting on Thursday, December 4th was amazing. Great energy and very knowledgeable. The store had some great options for shopping. We got some Christmas presents. Overall plantation is a great relaxing place to stop by and learn about rum. Highly recommend everyone to stop by. We went to the candy shop and got some sweets to take home. read more

Koloa Rum Distillery was such a fun and memorable addition to our trip. The tour was informative, interesting, and... very very tasty. Our tasting lead was fantastic--she was incredibly knowledgeable and made a point to engage with each party, which made the experience feel personal and lively. The rums were absolutely delicious, and making the mini Mai Tai was such a fun highlight. The coffee rum is truly a star--rich, smooth, and honestly hard to put into words just how good it is. It's one of those flavors you just have to experience for yourself. We also had so much fun shopping after the tasting. It's a great place to pick up souvenirs and gifts! Highly recommend stopping by--this is a must-do if you are in Lihue! read more

Kōloa Rum Company - Distilleries Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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The rum safari tour here was by far a huge highlight of the trip to Kauai. It was so much fun and also provided delicious drinks. It happened to be raining pretty hard during the tour which, in my opinion, actually made it that much more fun. It felt like being in the rainforest and the stops for cocktails were so fun too in the covered areas. They provided ponchos so it all worked out. Super cool you also get to feed the pigs, get a history of the farm itself and Kauai in general, and get to taste rum + cocktails they make along the way. This experience as a whole is totally worth it, I would do it again and definitely recommend this! read more

The shop here is great. The rum is good; tastings need to be booked online and only on the hour. The rum cake is great; something to buy to eat or take as souvenirs home. You can buy their alcohol all over the place but it's something different to do it here. read more

Kōloa Rum Company - Front - Distilleries Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Part of the beautiful Kilohana property, and definitely worth a visit. They have a gift shop with rum-themed goodies and a free tasting room. Make sure to make reservations ahead of time! Tastings are themed and include cocktail demos with their rum. Super fun and tasty read more

Kōloa Rum Company - Distilleries Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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This was a great place. They have tours and a train ride but we got there too late for both. We signed up for FREE rum tasting and had a Dole Whip while we waited. They were really good. There was a variety of options and they were just what I was looking for. The free tasting was fun. Everyone had their own barrel table for tasting. All the rums were soo good. I wanted one of everything when I left. I didn't buy any rum tho because I didn't have room in my suitcase to take it back to Oahu with me. They do sell on Oahu too so I will buy there before I fly home. My favorite rums were coconut and chocolate. The guy doing the tastings was quick and efficient. He gave us a lot of info about the rums, their origins, and drink ideas. They also have a few gift shops and a restaurant. This is a great stop in Kauai. Go check them out. read more

Kōloa Rum Company - Me and my sis taking silly pic - Distilleries Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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Came for a rum tasting with a large group, and we all enjoyed the experience, which lasted roughly half an hour. It's not a ton of alcohol, but I wouldn't expect there to be considering the price point. Just be sure to reserve your slots in advance. FYI, you can't give away the samples you don't finish to someone else due to local liquor laws. We got to sample a few different rums as well as a mixer: Pineapple Passion Cocktail, Gold Rum, Dark Rum, Spice Rum and Coffee Rum. I really enjoyed the pineapple passion mixer as well as the coffee rum! We also got to hear a bit about how each drink was made, and some suggestions for how to enjoy them. Our host was engaging and informative. We picked up a few of their cocktail mixers to drink throughout our trip. They also sell random things like clothing, soap, dog bandanas, golf ball markers, and more. Overall, their tasting is a fun experience if you're into alcohol or rum specifically! read more

Our large friend group of 15 were visiting Kauai for a birthday trip, and we all were interested in doing the Rum tasting here! - PARKING - Fairly large lot, as its shared with a few other businesses on the property. - SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - There's a connected souvenir shop next to the Rum Tasting Room. You check in at the cashier of the souvenir shop, and they will direct you to wait outside the tasting room. - EXPERIENCE - The tasting was about 30 minutes long, and we got about 4-5 tasters. The information shared within the tasting was very insightful and so fun to learn! I really enjoyed the portions where they explained how you can use the Rum in cooking and baking - love the multi-usage! - OVERALL - A great way to dip your feet into Koloa Rum! If you have more time, definitely check out the Safari! We had a couple go and they said they had a great time. read more

Neat place with cool tours. Pricy but worth it in my book. Also you wanna support local businesses - here is one to do that thru.

Perfect way to end my trip to Hawaii. Loved the mini cocktails we got to make during the tour, everything was wonderfully delicious. The workers who ran our tour let us try so many different varieties of drinks and provided an awesome and informative experience - was super fun to be a part of. Just make sure you sign up beforehand! They get filled quick! I just loved everything on the Koloa Rum property to be honest - from the candy store to the plantation train ride to the rum tour, everything felt very immersive, unique, intentional, etc. read more

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Took my momma here for the rum tasting when she came to visit and we had a blast. We ended up doing the train ride around the property and grabbed lunch as well. Everything exceeded our expectations and we will definitely be back to do the full tour and drink more Mai tais. Ps the French dip at the restaurant was delicious. read more

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The tour is fairly quick, but also very informative. You get to try three samples of their rum variety (Mai Tai, Cacao Rum, and Kauai Coffee Rum--my favorite!). Very cool how they use locally sourced ingredients. The gift shop is also great for those wanting to take something home, or in our case, a set of mini bottles to take out camping around the island. read more

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We've been to their tastings a couple times over so many trips to Kauai. They serve different samples on different days. You need to book the tasting online and there is a $5 per group booking fee. On both occasions the employees running the tastings were informative and made the experience fun. We really enjoyed the coffee rum and coconut rum, much stronger than similar liqueurs. We bought the rum at Big Wave and Foodland on sale at a much lower price than the tasting room's shop. Costco also carries the mixers and a couple types of their rum. read more

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One of the best Hawaiian Rum's.We like the coffee one that you can now get on the mainland. This time we tried the chocolate one but we can't get it at home. We purchased the chocolate and the fireside, two of the newest flavors. Will let you know how the fireside taste when we get home. Could do a tasting because you need to reserve a slot on line. If you want to do the tasting you have to go onto their website. read more

Best time ever on our 3 hour Rum Safari adventure. There was a group of 20 of us plus our 2 amazing guides, Tanji and Fletcher. Started off on a short ride in an open safari jeep. First stop: 4 tastings and a delicious from scratch MaiThai. Then a drive around the jungle to visit the animals. Absolutely beautiful. Then on to another stop for more tastings and another made from scratch drink. Definitely recommend this adventure when you are here. Thanks again Tanji and Fletcher for a great time. read more

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A great presentation about the different kinds of rum! Although I can't drink it I had fun with people read more

Kōloa Rum Company - Vacation - Distilleries Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

It was a pleasant tasting experience and friendly staff to help with store items. The staff was helpful in recommending items to help with transporting glass bottles in luggage and which ones to purchase based on my specific preferences. Our tasting guide was well articulated in explaining the types of rum products and background of the company. read more

Kōloa Rum Company - Nicole, our rum tasting guide was very friendly and informative! - Distilleries Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

I had a reservation for tasting and they canceled it said they sent a email but we never got one the lady wasn't even sentimental about it she was just like it was canceled. We weren't going to reschedule it after we were already there a hour early. read more

The gift shop is adorable and full of trinkets and souvenirs! The staff is especially helpful and the shop is laid out well. Recommend as a stop during your next trip. read more

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Fun place to stop. The tasting is great. The rum cake is delicious. The staff is always helpful and friendly. The quality of the rum is amazing. The fact that it's available in my local area, makes it even better. Great job! PS, my family had a good time on the train ride read more

Amazing experience trying to run, and the gift shop is awesome. If you haven't done the rum flight, you definitely should. I loved some of these Russ so much that I brought bottles back for my friends, and they make great gifts, the flavor of the chocolate rum and the coffee rum is outstanding. read more

Fun experience rum tasting. Our host was charismatic and informative. All of the rum was easy to take down and had good flavor. Nothing we tasted was too sweet. I highly recommend the fruit punch with some frozen fruit or the coconut rum with coconut water and lime. Absolutely delicious! The gift shop prices are atrocious. You can find these at the grocery stores for much less! read more

Kōloa Rum Company - Distilleries Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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The tasting with cooking tips was a nice touch. Unfortunately, they didn't serve their best seller, but they did offer many of their other samples. The store was fun to look around. Worth a visit while in Kauai. read more

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EVERY single rum was good, I never even appreciated rum this way until our tasting here (we were lucky make the last tasting of the day last minute) The rums are made with with natural Hawaiian sugar so they claim no hangover! Now whenever I'm at a bar and their drinks are not made with Koloa Rum, I am disappointed haha! NOTE: no one under 21 is allowed in the tasting room, even babies, so if you have kids and can't make it, there's a bar on the property that uses their rum for cocktails and has happy hour! read more

Kōloa Rum Company - Distilleries Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

This was the highlight of the trip which was very unexpected. From dining at The Plantation restaurant, to grabbing a cocktail at the lounge next door, followed by an entertaining rum tasting with Randy, and concluding with the train ride around the property. Overall, it was a great way to spend the afternoon! Since this review is for the rum company I will focus on that. Randy made the entire experience SO enjoyable. It's shocking for the 4 of us it was only $5. Obviously they want you to spend money on the product afterwards but there is zero pressure to do so which is refreshing! Our family isn't usually one to seek out a liquor tasting but I had never done one before so I convinced everyone to try it with me and it was such a great way to kill an hour before the train ride. The samples they give you are one 1/4 oz pours so it's very manageable and you don't leave with a buzz, hence going to grab a cocktail post tasting. The rums we tried were the white, gold, dark, coconut, spiced and the coffee. The coffee one was hands down my favorite and convinced me to buy the sample pack at the end of the tasting. For $5 you truly can't beat this experience! read more

Kōloa Rum Company - The clear shot glasses held the pineapple cocktail tasting and the silver shot glasses were what he poured the different rums into - Distilleries Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

This review is long overdue. I came across Koloa Hawaiian Kaua'i Coffee at Spec's wines, spirits & finer foods out of all places in my home town. It was a reminder I need to catch up on all my Hawaii reviews when I have time. Had this rum with coffee when I was in Kauai, Hawaii years ago. Can't remember the entire tasting experience but I know I enjoyed every minute of my vacation. The tasting, breathtaking view, service, food, and overall experience was incredible. read more

Kōloa Rum Company - Koloa Hawaiian Kaua'i Coffee - Distilleries Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Delicious and refreshing Koloa Rum . Very tasty and smooth . Made in Hawaii . Pitch Sports Bar read more

Kōloa Rum Company - Koloa Rum - Distilleries Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii