Cartagena: The Legendary Colombian Rum and Chocolate Tasting

Cartagena’s first dedicated rum and chocolate tasting puts eight Colombian rums side by side, from everyday local pours to carefully made aged spirits. The tasting also uses more than 80 Colombian rums in its wider collection, so you get a useful look at the country’s drinking culture rather than one sugary sample and a sales pitch.

I like the thoughtful pairings, especially chocolates made with cocoa from Montes de Maria and snacks from local cooking. I also like the private format, which lets your group ask questions and set its own pace. The main drawback is the cost: at $109 per person, this makes the most sense for adults who care about rum, chocolate, or food, not for anyone seeking a quick drink.

Key points

• Eight rums, eight different lessons: Compare spirits with different ages and styles, including some that can recall ouzo, gin, brandy, or whiskey.
• Montes de Maria chocolate: Taste artisanal chocolate by cocoa percentage, age, and origin alongside selected rums.
• Three Colombian bites: Savory food gives the tasting a local food angle and helps balance the alcohol.
• A genuinely private booking: Your group of 2 to 40 people stays together, with no unrelated participants added.
• A social guide-led format: Alejandra and Coco bring humor, stories, and cocktail knowledge to the session.
• Central Arsenal Street meeting point: Look for the pink two-story building with wooden barrels outside, across from the convention center.

Eight rums, not one generic Cartagena pour

The heart of the experience is comparison. You taste eight premium Colombian rums aged in different ways, then consider how age, production, and serving style alter the drink.

That matters because rum is often treated as one broad category. Here, you can encounter a wide range of flavors. One tasting included spirits that recalled ouzo, gin, brandy, and whiskey, a useful reminder that Colombian rum does not have one fixed personality.

Some pours represent the kind of local drink you might find at a party. Others are more artisanal and suited to slow sipping. That range gives you a better sense of what to order during the rest of your time in Colombia, especially if you usually reach for rum only in a sweet cocktail.

The session includes one rum mixed into a cinnamon-based cocktail. This breaks up the straight tastings and shows how a spirit changes when combined with another flavor. You are not simply lining up glasses and waiting for the clock to run out.

Chocolate from Montes de Maria

The chocolate comes from the Montes de Maria region, an important detail for anyone who wants more than a standard candy pairing. Artisanal chocolates are selected with different cocoa percentages, ages, and origins, so the food changes as the rum changes.

A higher cocoa percentage can bring a firmer, more bitter edge, while a sweeter piece may soften a stronger pour. The exact pairings are part of the host’s presentation, but the basic idea is clear: you taste both products with attention to how they affect one another.

I like this setup because chocolate can reveal qualities in rum that are easy to miss when you drink it alone. A spirit that seems sharp by itself may feel rounder with chocolate. Another may overpower a delicate piece. You get a small lesson in pairing without needing prior tasting experience.

The chocolate also gives the session a stronger connection to Colombian agriculture. It is not just a rum flight with a few sweets placed on the table. The cocoa’s regional source helps link the tasting to a particular part of the country.

Three savory bites keep the tasting grounded

The food is not limited to chocolate. You also receive three small bites from local gastronomy, which adds a savory counterpoint to the sweet pairings.

These bites are especially useful early in the session, when the tasting moves through more casual local drinking styles. They give you something substantial to eat while also showing how rum can fit with Colombian food.

The exact dishes are not specified, so you should not book this expecting a full meal. Think of the food as a thoughtful snack course. If you arrive hungry, eat beforehand. The tasting lasts about 105 minutes, and the snacks are there to support the experience, not replace lunch or dinner.

Water is included. That sounds basic, but it matters during an alcohol tasting. Use it between pours, and take your time. Eight spirits in under two hours is manageable for many adults, but it is still a serious amount of tasting.

El Arsenal: The Rum Box is easy to find

The meeting point is El Arsenal: The Rum Box, at the beginning of Arsenal Street. You are looking for a two-story pink building with wooden barrels outside and a free hugs sign, positioned around the corner and across from the convention center.

That description should make the arrival fairly simple, though the surrounding street can be lively and active. Give yourself a few extra minutes to locate the building rather than trying to arrive exactly at the starting time.

When you reach the meeting point, the host takes you to the exact room or area used for the tasting. The activity begins and ends at the same place, so you do not need transport between stops.

This central setup works well as part of an evening in Cartagena. You can arrange the tasting around dinner, though you should account for the alcohol and avoid packing the rest of the night with demanding activities.

A private format changes the feel

This is a private experience for groups of 2 to 40 people. No unrelated people are added to your booking, so the tone depends on the group you bring.

For two people, it can feel like a focused introduction to Colombian rum. For a larger group, it becomes more social, with room for jokes, questions, and shared reactions. The host can keep the conversation centered on your interests instead of giving a fixed speech to a room full of strangers.

The private structure is also useful if some people in your group know little about rum. You can ask basic questions without worrying about holding up other participants. If everyone already enjoys spirits, you can spend more time comparing styles and discussing the pairings.

The tradeoff is that private activities often cost more per person than a shared tasting. At $109 each, the price is easier to justify when the group values privacy and conversation. A solo visitor cannot book this as a standard one-person activity, since it is best suited to at least two people.

Alejandra, Coco, and the social side of the tasting

The host makes a big difference here. Alejandra is described as welcoming, fun, and interesting, with a warm style that helped make the tasting a highlight of a Cartagena visit. Coco brings broad knowledge of spirits and cocktails, along with an easy sense of humor.

You can expect more than technical notes about barrels and age. The session includes pirate tales and stories tied to Colombian drinking culture. That gives the tasting a sense of place and keeps it from feeling like a formal spirits exam.

Coco’s presentation also covers the range from everyday local party drinks to artisanal rums. That is valuable because it avoids presenting premium bottles as the only worthwhile part of the country’s rum culture.

English and Spanish are available. If you have a strong interest in cocktails, tell your guide early. The cinnamon cocktail and the wider discussion of spirits make this more useful for someone who wants to understand how rum works in mixed drinks, not just taste it neat.

What the 105-minute itinerary feels like

The advertised duration is two hours, while the tasting portion is listed as about 105 minutes. In practical terms, plan on roughly an hour and 45 minutes at the venue, with a little extra time for arrival and settling in.

The experience follows a single-stop format:

• You arrive at El Arsenal: The Rum Box and meet your guide.
• You taste eight Colombian rums aged in different ways.
• The pours are matched with artisanal chocolates and three savory Colombian bites.
• One of the rums is served in a cinnamon-style cocktail.
• You hear stories about rum, cocktails, Colombia, and pirates.
• You finish back at the same Arsenal Street location.

The lack of movement is a benefit. You do not lose time boarding a vehicle or walking between unrelated stops. The drawback is that the activity stays indoors at one venue, so it will not suit you if you want views, city sightseeing, or a walking tour alongside your drinks.

The pace should feel social rather than rushed. Still, eight pours in 105 minutes means you need to pay attention to your limits. You can sip slowly, use the water, and focus on comparison instead of finishing every glass quickly.

Is $109 per person fair?

The price is high for a two-hour activity, but the contents are substantial. You receive eight rum samples, several artisanal chocolates, three savory bites, water, a private host, and a tasting designed for your own group.

The strongest value comes from the number of comparisons. A bar flight might give you a few rums, but it would not normally include this many pairings, local food, guided explanation, and private access. If you bought eight premium pours separately, the cost could rise quickly, though the exact bottle sizes are not provided.

The price is less attractive if you only want to try rum casually. You may prefer a simple cocktail or a less formal tasting. This experience charges for the complete presentation, not just the alcohol.

I would consider it good value for a group celebrating a special occasion, a couple with a strong interest in food and drink, or anyone who wants a focused introduction to Colombian rum. It is harder to recommend for a budget-minded visitor who has little interest in spirits.

Who should book this tasting?

This suits adults who enjoy guided food and drink experiences. You do not need to be a rum expert. The range of styles gives beginners an easy way to compare flavors, while more experienced drinkers can pay attention to age, production, cocktail use, and pairings.

It works especially well for:

• Couples looking for a private evening activity
• Small groups of friends
• Rum and cocktail fans
• Visitors interested in Colombian food products
• People who prefer conversation over a large group tour
• Adults planning a food-focused stay in Cartagena

It is not suitable for children under 18 or pregnant women. It also may not be the right pick if you do not drink alcohol, since rum is the main focus rather than a side feature.

Because the format is private, your group should have similar expectations. If one person wants a serious tasting and another wants only a quick cocktail, the session may feel long for the second person.

Practical tips before you go

Eat a light meal before arriving. The three savory bites are useful, but they are not described as a full meal.

Wear something comfortable and arrive with enough time to find the pink building. The wooden barrels and free hugs sign are the key visual clues, and the host will guide you inside once you arrive.

Do not schedule a strenuous activity immediately afterward. Eight tastings can add up, even when the pours are modest. Plan to walk slowly, drink water, and let the tasting be the main event.

If you have dietary concerns, ask before booking because the available information does not specify the ingredients in the three savory bites or the chocolates. The same applies if you need alcohol-free alternatives, since none are listed.

The experience allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time, and you can reserve now while paying later. That is useful if your Cartagena plans are still shifting, but it does not change the need to confirm the available start time before booking.

The final call: book it for the pairing, not just the rum

You should book this if you want a private, social introduction to Colombian rum with chocolate and local snacks. The eight pours, Montes de Maria cocoa, cinnamon cocktail, and choice of English or Spanish guide give the session real substance.

I would skip it if you want a low-cost drink, a city walk, or a full meal. At $109 per person, the value depends on using the whole package: the range of spirits, the food pairings, the guide’s stories, and the privacy of your own group.

For the right audience, this is a smart Cartagena evening. You leave with a clearer idea of how Colombian rums differ, which chocolates suit them, and what you may want to order next.

FAQ

Where does the rum and chocolate tasting begin?

It begins at El Arsenal: The Rum Box, at the beginning of Arsenal Street. Look for the two-story pink building with wooden barrels outside, around the corner and across from the convention center.

How long does the experience last?

The activity is advertised as two hours, with the tasting portion listed as approximately 105 minutes.

How many rums will I taste?

You will sample eight Colombian premium rums aged in different ways.

Is the experience private?

Yes. It is a private group activity, and no one outside your group will be added. Groups can range from 2 to 40 people.

Are chocolate and food included?

Yes. The rum is paired with artisanal chocolates with different cocoa percentages, ages, and origins. You also receive three bites of local gastronomy and water.

Which languages are available?

The experience is offered in English and Spanish.

Who cannot participate?

Children under 18 and pregnant women should not participate. The activity is also best enjoyed by groups of at least two people.