Food & Drink

Taste the flavors of Guyana — from world-famous rum to authentic Caribbean cuisine

El Dorado Rum

Home of the world's best rum — 300+ years of heritage, distilled using the last wooden stills on Earth

The El Dorado Collection

Established in 1992, El Dorado has become one of the most awarded rum brands in the world. Each expression is crafted using a unique blend from up to nine different stills at the Diamond Distillery.

El Dorado 3 Year Old Rum
3 Year
Gold, smooth mixer
El Dorado 5 Year Old Rum
5 Year
Amber, balanced
El Dorado 8 Year Old Rum
8 Year
Rich, tropical notes
El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum
12 Year
Award-winning sipping
El Dorado 15 Year Old Rum
15 Year
World's best rum
El Dorado 21 Year Old Rum
21 Year
Ultra-premium
El Dorado 25 Year Old Rum
25 Year
Grand Special Reserve

Awards & Recognition

World's Best Rum (4 consecutive years) International Wine & Spirit Gold World Spirits Awards Gold San Francisco World Spirits Gold

The World's Last Wooden Stills

What makes Guyanese rum truly unique? The Diamond Distillery operates the last wooden stills in the world — a collection of historic equipment salvaged from closed estates that produce flavors impossible to replicate anywhere else.

Port Mourant
Double Wooden Pot Still • Est. 1732

Full-bodied, complex rums with woody and leathery notes. Contributed 85% to British Navy blends.

Versailles
Single Wooden Pot Still • 250+ years old

One of only two VAT stills left in the world. Produces incredibly unique flavor profiles.

Enmore
Wooden Coffey Still • Est. 1880

The last fully functional wooden Coffey still on Earth. Modeled after the 1832 Coffey patent.

Demerara Distillery Tour

Visit the legendary Diamond Distillery and experience 300 years of rum-making heritage firsthand.

  • Location: Diamond, East Bank Demerara (30 min from Georgetown)
  • Duration: 90-minute guided tour
  • Cost: $15-20 USD per person (book at DDL shop, not distillery)
  • Includes: Heritage Centre, working distillery, barrel warehouse
  • Tasting: El Dorado 5, 12, and 15 year expressions

Pro Tip: Buy El Dorado at the airport duty-free shop — best prices and largest selection (20+ varieties).

Where to Enjoy Rum in Georgetown

Cara Lodge Rum Tasting

Dedicated El Dorado tasting experience in a charming colonial hotel setting.

Terra Mare (Marriott)

Try the Instagram-famous "Kaieteur Falls" cocktail with Guyanese flair.

Palm Court

Unassuming exterior, but locals know the bartenders are "cocktail historians."

Skylark Lounge

Rooftop venue at Double Hotel. Famous for coconut martinis at sunset.

Traditional Cuisine

A fusion of African, Indian, Chinese, Portuguese, and Indigenous flavors

National Dish

Pepperpot

An ancient Amerindian dish predating European contact. The secret is cassareep — fermented cassava juice with spices — which preserves the meat so well that some families maintain the same pot for generations. Christmas morning tradition.

Cook-Up Rice

West African heritage brought by enslaved peoples. The name echoes "jollof" traditions — rice, black-eyed peas, and coconut milk cooked together. Eaten on New Year's Eve for prosperity in the coming year.

Roti & Curry

Arrived with East Indian indentured laborers (1838-1917) who came after slavery ended. They adapted their recipes with Caribbean ingredients, creating unique "dhalpuri" and "paratha" styles found nowhere else.

Metemgee

African roots — the name possibly derives from Twi (Ghanaian) meaning "I am satisfied." Ground provisions and dumplings simmered in coconut milk. Sunday comfort food since the plantation era.

Bake & Saltfish

Colonial-era fusion — salted cod was shipped from Newfoundland to feed enslaved workers. Paired with fried dough ("floats"), it became the Caribbean's beloved breakfast. History in every bite.

Garlic Pork

Portuguese gift from Madeira — immigrants (1835-1882) brought "Vinho d'Alhos" (wine and garlic preservation). Pickled for 4+ days in garlic, wiri wiri peppers, and thyme. Christmas morning essential.

Chow Mein

Chinese indentured workers arrived from 1853, bringing stir-fry traditions. Guyanese chow mein uses local seasoning and is a staple at every cookshop. The original fusion food.

Street Food & Snacks

Egg Ball

Amerindian-meets-Chinese — cassava dough wrapping technique fused with Chinese deep-frying. Best at Exclusive Egg Ball near Bourda Market.

Pine Tarts

Sweet pineapple jam in short crust pastry. Part of the "holy trinity" with cheese rolls and patties.

Black Pudding

Blood sausage with rice and herbs. British influence — find it at any market stall.

Pholourie

Golden fried dough balls served with tamarind or mango chutney. Perfect snack anytime.

Local Beverages

Beyond rum — refreshing homemade drinks for the tropical heat

Mauby

Made from tree bark with spices and orange peel. Tastes like root beer with a slightly bitter finish.

Sorrel

Deep red hibiscus drink with warm spices. Festive favorite but enjoyed year-round.

Ginger Beer

Homemade with grated ginger, cloves, cinnamon — fermented for days. Refreshing and spicy.

Swank

Simple lime juice, brown sugar, and ice. Name means "full of life" — and it delivers.

Banks Beer

Guyana's homegrown lager since 1956. Try Banks Shandy in lemon, sorrel, or honey lemon.

Coconut Water

Fresh from the shell — vendors everywhere. The ultimate natural refreshment.

Where to Eat

Georgetown's best spots for authentic Guyanese cuisine. For a complete guide with reviews and tips, read our Best Restaurants in Georgetown blog post.

The Backyard Cafe

Reservation-only. World-renowned for authentic Guyanese cuisine by Chef Delven. Beautiful grounds, 10 min from Bourda Market.

Pepperpot
Shanta's Puri Shop

Best roti in Georgetown. No-frills, legendary flavors. Lines form at lunch but worth the wait.

Roti & Curry
Sunny & Sweetie Roti Shop

Guyanese Creole classics. Try saltfish and bake, chicken curry with coconut choka.

Creole Cuisine
Aagman Indian Restaurant

One of the first Indian restaurants in Guyana. Fresh broths, stews, and spice bases made before each meal.

Indian Cuisine
New Thriving Restaurant

Chinese-Guyanese fusion. Reflects the influence of Chinese indentured workers on local cuisine.

Chinese-Guyanese
Grand Coastal Hotel

Restaurant of the Year (Tourism Association). East Coast Demerara, 10 min from Georgetown.

Fine Dining

Markets & Street Food

Bourda Market

Georgetown's most vibrant market. Fresh tropical fruits, spices, street food, and local snacks. Go early morning for best experience.

Stabroek Market

Guyana's biggest market under the iconic clock tower. Fresh seafood, pastries, cook shops. Some stalls run by 3rd generation families.

Food Tours & Cooking Classes

Singing Chef Adventures — The premier culinary experience in Georgetown. Want more food experiences? Check out our complete culinary experiences guide.

  • 7 Curry Tour: Market visit + learn to make 7 vegetable curries with a singing chef
  • Emancipation Tour: Explore Guyanese food history through the lens of slavery and independence
  • Cooking Class: Make cook-up rice, metemgee, and congee with live music

Book at singingchefadventures.com

Photo Credits: El Dorado rum bottle images courtesy of Demerara Distillers Limited. Food images via Unsplash (free license).

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