18/06/2026
NASSAU, BAHAMAS - International honours keep flowing for John Watling’s Distillery – with Paradise Rum and Amber Rum continuing to raise the bar and winning three more awards.
International honours keep flowing for John Watling’s Distillery – with Paradise Rum and Amber Rum continuing to raise the bar and winning three more awards
NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS – John Watling’s Distillery is on a roll – announcing an additional three major international awards hot on the heels of three previous honours announced earlier this month.
The Buena Vista Estate-based distillery has earned Silver and Bronze awards at the London-based International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), widely regarded as the “Olympics of the drinks industry.” The competition evaluates more than 12,000 entries each year from over 90 countries, making it one of the world’s most respected spirit competitions.
John Watling’s Paradise Rum won a 93-point Silver award, while John Watling’s Amber Rum collected two awards, a 91-point silver award on its own, and a Bronze award when served with cola.
This follows three previous honours this month for Paradise Rum – which earned a gold medal and a 94-point rating from the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) in Chicago, as well as earning two stars at the 2026 Superior Taste Awards presented by the International Taste Institute in Brussels. It was also named by Forbes as one of the world’s best rums.
IWSC described Paradise Rum as “ripe pear and gentle orange peel lead into a rich blend of caramel, toffee, and creamy vanilla, with sweet sultanas and light red apple. The finish reveals subtle baking spice”, while it described Amber Rum as “crisp white pear and orange zest aromas, with a palate of softly spiced sultanas, vanilla, and caramel fudge. The warm peppery finish is framed by grippy oak and toasted almonds”.
IWSC says a Silver medal is awarded for “an accomplished drink with considerable personality, character and complexity. A classic”.
“When we won the gold medal at BTI, I said; we do not enter many competitions, but when we do, we enter to measure ourselves against the best in the world – so the success rate we continue to have confirms the quality of our rum,” said Pepin Argamasilla, Managing Partner of John Watling’s Distillery. “It is not only an honour for us, but for Atlantis, and The Bahamas.”
Developed in collaboration with Atlantis Paradise Island, John Watling's Paradise Rum serves as the resort's signature rum and is featured in the popular Pineapple Passion Cocktail, where fresh pineapple, bright citrus, and John Watling’s Paradise Rum come together in a distinctly Bahamian expression served in a signature copper pineapple vessel.
All of John Watling's rums are handcrafted from molasses, distilled using both pot and continuous stills, and aged at the Buena Vista Estate in Nassau. Each expression is distinguished through the art of hand-blending and maturation.
John Watling's Amber Rum is matured for three years in ex-bourbon barrels, resulting in a versatile and well-balanced expression that reflects the traditional character of Bahamian rum.
John Watling's Paradise Rum is a blend of four- and six-year-old rums matured in ex-bourbon barrels before marrying and spending an additional six months finishing in Oloroso sherry casks, creating a richer and more complex expression that showcases the influence of secondary cask maturation.
These latest honours build upon a growing record of international recognition for John Watling's Distillery. In 2024, John Watling's Bullion 10-Year-Old Rum earned Gold at the Monde Selection World Quality Awards in Brussels, while in 2017, John Watling's Single Barrel Rum received a Double Gold Medal at Miami's International Rum Conference. Together with more than a dozen international awards since opening its doors in 2013, these recognitions reflect a consistent commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and innovation.
Produced at the historic Buena Vista Estate in downtown Nassau, John Watling's Distillery combines traditional rum-making techniques with careful blending, barrel management, and patient maturation. The maritime climate of The Bahamas further shapes the character of the spirit, influencing the interaction between rum and oak throughout the ageing process.
Jose Portuondo, Managing Partner of John Watling’s Distillery, added: "These recognitions demonstrate that a premium spirit crafted in Nassau can stand alongside the finest rums in the world. We are proud to fly the Bahamian flag on the international stage and to share this achievement with our country."
For more information about John Watling's Distillery and its award-winning portfolio of premium Bahamian rums, visit www.johnwatlings.com.
John Watling’s Paradise Rum – which was developed in collaboration with Atlantis Paradise Island – has won a number of recent awards, including a Silver award from the International Wine & Spirit Competition, while John Watling’s Amber Rum has also earned two awards in the same contest
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