Background to
Clifton Hall
12 year old Rum
The Legacy of Clifton Hall Great House
It starts with the history of Clifton Hall Great House (CHGH) and its significance to Barbados as a country as well as for its rum. It is well recognised by locals and many tourists from UK/Europe/USA and Canada.
Clifton Hall is one of Barbados’ oldest, largest and grandest Great Houses. Its fascinating history as a Great House begins in 1656 with its first known owner, Ferdinand Paleologus. A direct descendent of Constantine, the last Byzantine (Greek) Emperor. Ferdinand’s father Theodore, emigrated to Cornwall in England, where he raised his children in Clifton! This accounts for the name of Clifton Hall in Barbados. Before the civil war Ferdinand and his brother emigrated to Barbados. He became a prominent man in the parish, as a vestryman, church warden, trustee, lieutenants and surveyor of the highways. Paleologus is buried nearby at St. John’s Church. Clifton Hall appears in Robert Schomburgk’s 1848 classic, The History of Barbados, and its large and stately residence has been chronicled in such publications as Historic Houses of Barbados, Country Life Magazine, Maco Caribbean Living, Living Barbados, The Times and The Spectator. It has been featured in music videos as well as in television programs such as Place in the Sun.
– Massimo Franchi
Owner, Rum Clifton Hall Great House
Rescuing a Historic Treasure
This historic Bajan Great House was rescued from ruination when I purchased the near derelict property in 2009 and began renovation. By 2014, the house and grounds were totally transformed. Overall, the original historical character was retained yet a few modern comfortable family areas can be seen. The beautifully furnished five-bedroom mansion has three wings—the stunning Caribbean Georgian structure which was added in the late 18th/early 19th century together with the two original medieval-style wings that date back to the mid-1600s.
A Recognized Gem of Barbados
In January 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2024, Barbados National Trust featured Clifton Hall Great House in their ‘Open House’ programme, describing this pink mansion as a ‘gem’ of Barbados. Since the official opening, hundreds of people annually have visited the house, exclaiming of its magnificence, its elegance and the unbelievable revival! They also love the RUM.
A Deep-Rooted Rum Heritage
As early as the 1650s, virtually every sugar estate in Barbados had a rum distillery attached, and Clifton Hall Great House was no exception. Therefore, this amazing rum is a tribute to the heritage of Clifton Hall Great House. The rum has been selected by myself from the reserves of the nearby award-winning distillery, Foursquare Rum Distillery.
Foursquare: The World’s Best Rum Producer
As you know, Foursquare Rum Distillery is simply the best in the world and is recognised as one of the finest artisanal spirit producers in the world. Its success over the last 25 years is extraordinary. In 2021, it was awarded by the International Wines and Spirits Competition (WSC) in London, the oldest and most prestigious competition, as ‘Spirit Producer of the Year,’ beating out global competition from across all spirits categories. It is the highest ever honor awarded in the spirits industry and the first time ever awarded to a producer in the Anglophone Caribbean. It was also named as ‘Rum Producer of the Year’ in 2021 for an unprecedented fourth time.
Clifton Hall’s Exclusive 12-Year-Old Rum
The Clifton Hall rum is unique to the House and is distilled, matured, and bottled by Foursquare Distillery. Its rum is made from artisanal pot distillation and traditional twin column distillation. The rum has been aged in ex-bourbon barrels of American oak for a full 12 years and bottled at 46% proof.
As stated in Forbes, “To drink Foursquare rum, one must only possess a dream of tasting some of the finest things that money can buy.”
100% Authentic Barbados Rum
🇧🇧 100% Genuine Barbados Rum
🇧🇧 100% No Added Sugar
🇧🇧 100% Distilled in Barbados
🇧🇧 100% Matured in Barbados
🇧🇧 100% Bottled in Barbados
Clifton Hall Rum Tasting Notes
Coppery gold in the glass, vanilla, butterscotch fudge, allspice, and caramel are in the initial aroma. On the palate, a lovely balance of smoky oak, spices, and citrus. The citrus is backed by some raspberry and banana, then vanilla and caramel. Long, elegant, warm finish.
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