Cartagena has a sweet spot for adults: rum and chocolate. This private tasting turns Colombia’s favorite pairings into a guided, story-driven flight with eight Colombian rums and artisanal chocolate matches. Expect pirate-tale energy, lots of learning, and plenty to taste without rushing.

What I like most is the scale and care: you get a big sampling range, including rums with different ages and flavors, paired thoughtfully with chocolates. I also love that the cocoa focus is specific, coming from Montes de Maria, so the chocolate doesn’t taste like generic dessert.

One thing to consider: this is an adult-style tasting. It isn’t suitable for pregnant women or children under 18, so it’s best to plan it when everyone in your group can fully participate.

Key things worth knowing before you go

• Private and intimate: it’s just you and your guests, no strangers added midstream
• 8 Colombian rums: sampled across different ages, strengths, and styles
• Montes de Maria cocoa: you’re tasting chocolate with an origin story, not just sweetness
• Paired in two modes: everyday-style rum pairings lean savory, while more artisanal bottles lean chocolate
• Three savory bites: you’re not doing rum plus chocolate only
• English or Spanish guide: your host explains in the language you choose

First stop: El Arsenal and the Rum Box on Arsenal Street

I like tours that start easy. You meet at El Arsenal: The Rum Box, at the beginning of busy Arsenal Street—near the convention center area, just around the corner and across from it. Look for a two-story pink building with wooden barrels outside, and a little promotional vibe that makes it pretty easy to spot.

When you arrive, your host will guide you to the exact tasting spot. That matters because it’s easy to wander into the wrong room when a venue has several areas. Once you’re inside, the session has a relaxed feel—more like a guided tasting night than a classroom.

If you’re coming with friends, this is also the kind of experience that benefits from arriving a touch early. You’ll get settled, meet your guide, and be ready to start tasting without that first-minute scramble.

The 105-minute spirits show: eight rums, real differences, no fluff

This experience runs about two hours total, with 105 minutes focused on the tasting itself. The core idea is simple: you’ll sample eight premium Colombian rums, and each one is paired to help you notice what actually changes in the glass.

The tasting isn’t just about sipping. Your guide walks you through what you’re tasting and why it’s different—age, strength, and style all matter here. And if you’ve only ever thought of rum as one flavor category, this tasting helps you reset that idea fast.

Here’s what I find especially useful: the range covers rums that can feel everyday and party-friendly, as well as more artisanal expressions. One of the samples can also be mixed as a cinnamon-y cocktail, which is a great way to understand how the same spirit can feel completely different depending on how it’s served.

You’ll likely notice big personality shifts between the eight samples. In one tasting, the profiles can read like ouzo-like anise notes on one pour, then shift toward flavors that feel gin or brandy-like on another. You may even get something that comes across similar to whiskey in structure—warm, aromatic, and not just sweet.

That matters because you’re not paying just for alcohol. You’re paying for guidance that teaches you what to look for: aroma first, then body, then finish. If you pay attention, you’ll walk away with a map for choosing rums later in Colombia.

Chocolate pairings that actually teach you something

Chocolate is not an afterthought here. The tasting pairs rums with artisanal chocolates that vary by age, percentage, and origin, so each match has a point.

The cocoa focus is also a big deal. The chocolate uses cocoa from Montes de Maria, which gives you a terroir angle—one that changes how the chocolate tastes, not just how it looks. If you’ve ever had chocolate that tasted like generic sweetness, this is the opposite of that. You’re training your palate to recognize how cocoa percent and production style affect bitterness, aroma, and texture.

In practice, the guide tends to set up pairings in two lanes:

• For the more everyday rum-style pours, you’ll get savory bites as part of the pairing approach.
• For the more artisanal rums, chocolate becomes the main partner.

That structure is helpful. It keeps you from feeling like everything is competing. Instead, you’ll taste, reset your palate, and then shift to the next rum with a pairing that highlights a specific flavor relationship.

One caution: chocolate lovers sometimes get tempted to chase sweetness only. Try to taste for cocoa notes first. If you do, the pairings become more interesting and you’ll understand why the guide keeps switching chocolates through the flight.

Three savory bites: where local gastronomy enters the story

Rum and chocolate is the headline, but the tasting includes three savory bites from local gastronomy. This is a smart move. Savory food breaks up the sweet-and-alcohol cycle and keeps your taste buds from getting tired too quickly.

Think of these bites as palate reset buttons. They also help you connect the tasting to everyday Colombian eating, not just dessert culture. The guide uses them to support the rum choices—especially when the rum expressions feel more like the everyday local party drink style.

If you like food tours that include real flavors beyond sweets, you’ll appreciate this portion. It makes the experience feel more grounded in Colombia as a place, not just a packaging of two famous ingredients.

And because water is included, you can take your time. That helps you keep tasting with clarity instead of rushing to finish before you’re too warm, too full, or too fuzzy around the edges.

Guides you’ll remember: Alejandra and Coco set the tone

The energy level matters in a tasting like this. You’re at a table tasting eight rums and multiple chocolates, and you want the guide to keep it fun without turning it into performance art.

Two names came up repeatedly in past sessions: Alejandra and Coco. Both were described as welcoming and genuinely engaged, with knowledge that extends beyond rum and chocolate. That’s important because it shapes how you learn: it’s easier to understand rum when your guide can connect it to the wider world of spirits and mixing.

In one memorable moment, the guide connected the tasting to cocktails—so if you’re the kind of person who likes to order drinks back home, you’ll likely leave with ideas. You might even start thinking about what rum you’d want in a cinnamon-leaning drink, versus something that works better straight or with a simple mixer.

The pirate tales and laughter are part of the overall vibe. Still, the real win is how the guide turns differences in taste into something you can actually use later. That’s what makes the tasting feel worth your time.

Price and value: what $109 buys you in real terms

At $109 per person for a private, about-two-hour experience, you’re paying for ingredients, setup, and expert guidance. This isn’t a quick pour of a couple rums and a token chocolate square. You get eight rum samples, matched chocolates, three savory bites, and water, all guided in either English or Spanish.

Is it expensive? It depends on how you drink and how you travel. If you like learning through tastings and you’ll actually remember flavors later, the value is strong. You’re effectively buying a guided education plus a serious tasting menu.

If you’re the type who only wants a light snack and a single drink, you may feel like it’s more than you need. But if you want to understand Colombia’s rum identity and how chocolate pairing works, this is the kind of structured tasting that usually costs more when done in scattered stops.

The private format also matters. It’s not a crowded group where you miss details. It’s you and your guests, and that often means the guide can slow down or explain more clearly.

Who should book this rum and chocolate session

This experience is best for adults who enjoy tasting menus and want context. If you’re a foodie, a spirits person, or the kind of traveler who likes comparing flavors side by side, you’ll have fun with the range of rums and the cocoa-focused pairing.

It’s also a great choice if your group wants something more social than a museum but more structured than a bar crawl. The session is built for groups of 2 to 40, so it can work for couples, small friend groups, and even larger private gatherings.

Here’s who should skip it:

• Pregnant women
• Anyone under 18

Beyond that, consider your pace. This is an active tasting (eight rums plus chocolate plus savory). If you don’t like alcohol at all, or if you prefer a low-key food-only tour, you might feel uncomfortable.

Finally, if you’re traveling with a group, choose the day you can focus. A tasting like this is more fun when you’re not rushing to fit in five other things right after.

How the experience flows, from meet-up to finish

The session starts with you finding the right room at El Arsenal: The Rum Box. Once everyone is gathered, your guide leads the tasting portion for about 105 minutes, moving through the rums and their pairings.

You’re not left guessing what to do. The guide sets the order and explains what you’re tasting. That structure helps you pick up details like how age and strength change aroma and finish, and why certain chocolates pair better with certain styles.

Then you head back to the same meeting point, El Arsenal: The Rum Box. It’s a straightforward setup: no complicated transfers, no hopping neighborhoods, no added waiting time.

If you like tours that are easy to plan around in a single spot, this one fits well.

Should you book it?

I’d book this if you want a private, guided tasting that goes beyond a couple sips. The combination of eight Colombian rums, origin-focused chocolate from Montes de Maria, and three savory bites makes it feel like a real food-and-drink experience, not a novelty stop.

I’d hesitate only if you’re traveling with someone who can’t participate for health or age reasons, or if you know you don’t enjoy tasting flights. Also, if you prefer free-form nightlife over structured learning, you may find this too organized.

But if you like comparison tasting—different styles, different pairings, and a guide who keeps it playful while explaining the why—this is a strong value for Cartagena.

FAQ

How long is the Cartagena rum and chocolate tasting?

The experience lasts about 2 hours, including 105 minutes of tasting.

What’s included in the tasting?

You sample 8 Colombian premium rums, paired with artisanal chocolates, plus 3 bites of local gastronomy. Water is also included.

How many rums and chocolates will I try?

You’ll taste 8 rums. You’ll also have artisanal chocolate pairings matched to the rums, though the exact number of individual chocolate pieces isn’t specified.

Is this a private experience?

Yes. It’s a private group, and no one other than you and your guests is added.

Where do we meet in Cartagena?

Meet at El Arsenal: The Rum Box on Arsenal Street, near the convention center. The host will direct you to the exact spot.

What languages are available for the guide?

The live guide is available in English and Spanish.

Is it suitable for children?

No. It’s not suitable for children under 18.

Is it suitable during pregnancy?

No. It’s not suitable for pregnant women.