Rum and chocolate, minus the tourist trap.

This private Cartagena tasting puts Colombia’s flavors front and center, with an inaugural rum and chocolate format built around eight carefully paired Colombian rums and artisanal chocolates. What I like is the attention to how rum changes with age and style, and how chocolate shifts with percentage and origin—especially the Montes de Maria cocoa.

I also like that it’s truly private and intimate, with your group only (groups of 2 to 40). One drawback to consider: it includes alcohol, so it’s not for kids under 18 and it also isn’t suitable for pregnant women.

Key things to know before you go

• 8 rum samples matched to chocolates by age, percentage, and origin
• Montes de Maria cocoa used for the artisanal chocolate tastings
• El Arsenal: The Rum Box is the starting point, on busy Arsenal Street near the convention center
• Guides switch between rum, spirits, and cocktails, not just one-note lecturing
• You’ll also get 3 savory Colombian bites plus water to keep things balanced
• Your group stays private, with no one added beyond your party

Cartagena’s El Arsenal Rum Box: how to find the right spot fast

Your tasting starts at El Arsenal: The Rum Box, right along Arsenal Street in Cartagena (Bolívar). The meeting point is very specific, which helps if you’re arriving during the day when the area is active.

Look for a two-story pink building with wooden barrels outside. It’s right around the corner and across from the convention center, and the outside signage includes free-hugs promotion. When you arrive, your host guides you to the exact place where the experience will run.

Why I think the location choice matters: being at a dedicated rum spot keeps the tasting grounded. You’re not bouncing between venues, and you can stay in the same atmosphere while you go from rum styles to chocolate pairings to savory bites.

The main event: 8 Colombian rums and how the pairings work

This is a structured tasting designed around contrast. You sample 8 Colombian premium rums, each one aged differently, and you’ll taste them alongside artisanal chocolates with different cocoa percentages and origins.

Here’s what that means in practice: you’re not just doing a “sip and nod” session. The pairing is the point, because rum flavor changes a lot depending on age and the production style, and chocolate changes depending on cocoa percentage. Put together, the two can either sharpen each other or smooth rough edges.

It also helps that the venue is known for an impressive range, with over 80 varieties of Colombian rums in the collection. You’re sampling a focused set, but the context tells you the tasting isn’t random. It’s showing you how Colombian rum can cover everything from everyday-drink styles to more artisanal profiles.

Chocolate and cocoa percentages: why Montes de Maria matters

You’ll be tasting artisanal chocolate made with cocoa from the Montes de Maria region. That detail matters because cocoa origin isn’t just marketing language; it can affect aroma and how the chocolate tastes when paired with alcohol.

In a rum-and-chocolate tasting, chocolate can easily become either too sweet or too heavy. Using cocoa from a specific region helps the chocolate stay consistent enough to compare properly with different rums. You get a clearer “before and after” feeling as you move through the lineup.

Also, since you’ll be trying chocolates of different percentages, you’ll notice how bitterness, roast notes, and cocoa intensity shift. Higher percentages can stand up to stronger rum styles, while lower percentages can help round out sharper or more herbal notes.

Rum tasting in motion: what the guide will bring to the table

The tasting has a live guide who speaks English and Spanish, and the best part is how the guide ties rum to the wider world of spirits. In particular, guides such as Alejandra and Coco have been described as fun and welcoming, with a strong grasp not only of rum and chocolate but also of spirits and cocktails in general.

What you can expect from that kind of guiding: you’ll get tasting guidance you can actually use, like what to look for as aromas change from one rum to the next. You’ll also get context that makes the experience feel like Colombia’s drinks culture, not just a product demo.

And yes, the experience includes pirate tales and lots of laughter. That sounds like “theme tour” fluff until you realize what it does: it keeps the mood light while you taste through multiple samples in a short time. Your brain absorbs flavors better when you’re not stiff with ceremony.

The savory side: 3 local bites that make the tasting feel grounded

A lot of food-and-drink tastings forget the real-world setting: people eat with alcohol. This one doesn’t. You’ll sample 3 bites of local gastronomy alongside the rum and chocolate.

These savory bites serve a practical role. They cleanse and reset your palate between sweet chocolate moments, and they also give you a sense of place. Rum can drift into dessert-land if everything is sweet, but the savory breaks pull the tasting back toward everyday Colombian flavors.

If you’re someone who finds chocolate-only tastings a bit exhausting, the savory portion is a big deal. It keeps the session balanced and more interesting than a straight sugar-and-spirits relay.

Timing and pacing: fitting a lot of samples into about two hours

The full experience is listed as 2 hours, with 105 minutes focused on the spirits part. That pacing matters because tasting eight rums takes attention, and attention is exactly what you want for the chocolate pairings too.

You’ll move through the lineup in an intentional rhythm: rum sample, chocolate pairing, then bites that keep things from getting too sweet. Water is included, which is a smart addition for comfort and for keeping flavors sharp rather than blurred.

For you, the takeaway is simple: plan to show up on time and come with an empty stomach-to-snack balance that feels comfortable. You don’t want to arrive overly hungry, but you also don’t want to feel stuffed—because the tasting is about noticing differences.

Price and value: is $109 per person fair for what you get?

At $109 per person for a private experience, this isn’t a budget “walk-in tasting.” But it also isn’t overpriced if you look at the full package.

Here’s the practical value math: you’re sampling 8 premium Colombian rums, paired with artisanal chocolates across different cocoa percentages, plus 3 savory bites and water, all guided in a private group format. You’re also getting a focused session—about two hours—so you’re not paying for long wait time or empty time.

The private part is where the value can really swing depending on your group size. For a small group, $109 per person can feel like a splurge. For a group of 4 to 8, it starts to feel like paying for a dedicated guide and tasting structure that you can’t easily recreate on your own.

If you love learning while you taste, this will probably feel like good spending. If you only want one rum and a quick bite, it may feel like more than you need.

Who this private rum-and-chocolate tasting suits best

This experience is designed for adults and groups. It works best if you like:

• tasting differences across rum ages and styles
• pairing sweet and savory flavors thoughtfully
• learning how spirits connect to cocktails and local gastronomy

It’s set up for groups of 2 to 40, and it stays private—meaning your party stays as your party. If you’re traveling with friends and want a shared activity that doesn’t require heavy planning, this hits that sweet spot.

Two important limits to plan around:

• Not suitable for children under 18
• Not suitable for pregnant women

Should you book this Cartagena rum and chocolate tasting?

I’d book it if you want a structured, sensory tour of Colombian rum and cocoa without the hassle of piecing it together yourself. The pairing format, the Montes de Maria cocoa detail, and the inclusion of savory bites make it more than a simple tasting flight.

I’d think twice if you don’t drink alcohol or if you prefer only food tastings without spirits. And if your group is the type that hates guided sessions, the private setting can still work, but you’ll want to be comfortable with a guide-led pace.

FAQ

FAQ

How long is the tasting?

The experience lasts about 2 hours. The spirits portion is about 105 minutes.

Is this a private experience?

Yes. It’s a private group experience, and only you and your party will be included.

What’s included in the tasting?

You’ll sample 8 Colombian premium rums, paired with artisanal chocolates of varying cocoa percentages. You’ll also get 3 bites of local gastronomy and water.

Where do we meet in Cartagena?

The meeting point is at the beginning of Arsenal Street, around the corner and across from the convention center. Look for a two-story pink building with wooden barrels outside and free-hugs promotion.

What languages are available for the tour guide?

The live guide is available in English and Spanish.

Who is this not suitable for?

It’s not suitable for pregnant women and children under 18 years old.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.