English: Panarama of downtown Bridgetown, Barbados (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Forbes : " BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — Rum is believed by many to be the oldest distilled alcoholic beverage . The first commercially distilled variation of this drink is believed to have occurred in this easternmost of the Caribbean islands in 1637, which coincided with the rise of the sugarcane industry, the source of rum and the backbone of its economy well into the 20th Century. The island also has what I think is the best version of rum punch." Related articles Barbados Rum Festival, Industry In Jeopardy Regional rum producers may look to WTO to solve dispute with United States Where the heck are we? - Bathsheba, Barbados