My travel companion had his heart set on doing a rum tasting tour at Don Q, so we had to make sure we tried it during our time in Ponce! However, be advised that this is NOT a distillery tour and you won't get to see any areas where the rum is made (that happens at an entirely different site).
They offer three tours daily, but only the 1 pm one is in English, so plan accordingly. Currently there's capacity for about 27 people per tour, but when we went on a Wednesday, our total group was only about a dozen. We didn't pre-book and just walked up, but if you have a larger group or don't have a lot of flexibility on dates, you may want to reserve spots in advance.
Parking is just on the side of the road opposite the entrance, and you can buy tickets at the little hut next to the gate. The rum tasting is $60 and includes access to the gardens, and we were told we could go to the gift shop and add on tickets for the Japanese gardens and the Vigía Cross (an observation platform) for $5 per person, but we didn't do that.
When you enter, you go to the gift shop to check in and receive a welcome cocktail, then you wait on the balcony, which has an amazing view and is a great photo opportunity. You start by watching a short video about the history of Don Q. The tour goes quickly through the house, and you don't get to stop and look in the rooms, so I recommend taking pictures as you go. (There is a separate house tour for an additional fee.)
From there, you go to a tasting room outside the house, where you'll try an aged rum straight from the barrel and then with water. Then it's back to the house for a "mixology class," which is really just making a pre-measured rum old fashioned and a piña colada. Still, it's fun to do, and you end up getting two more drinks! The tour ends in the gift shop, and there's plenty of time for questions throughout. It takes 1.5 hours total.
I didn't realize that we wouldn't get to see much of the house and its historic furnishings, so that was a bummer. And I wish they would provide water, because they give you quite a bit of alcohol and it can go to your head in the heat. (They tell you to drink water, but they don't make it available or have a place to fill water bottles.) Definitely pick a designated driver who doesn't drink all of their rum, or get an Uber!
The gardens are pretty and are worth a stroll after the tour. There are some nice areas for photos, like the floral arch at the bottom of the gardens. The gift shop has a small selection of PR souvenirs in addition to bottles of Don Q rum.
Overall, the tour is worth it if you're a rum enthusiast and/or are prepared to drink three cocktails and a shot of barrel-strength rum at 1 pm. If you're less interested in alcohol or you want to see more of the house, I would recommend taking the house tour instead - there is a bar in the gift shop, so you can still have a drink while you're there. Either way, it's a fun and unique local experience. Enjoy! read more