Casa Melaza

Fantastic rum tasting experience. We sat with Antonio who told us about the history of the rum & Puerto Rico. They had many tasting options — less expensive rums, fruity rums, and high-​end rums — all for different price points. They also serve beer, water and coffee. I highly recommend to all!

Fantastic place to sample rum. Stopped here and had several flights between three of us. Great bartender too. Thoroughly enjoyed it and would come back.

Excellent local rums and knowledgeable bartenders that bring the whole story to the shot glass… What a treat this place!!!

I went to Casa Melaza, as it was recommended in reddit, and had a great time.
I figured I would mention a few of the surprises I found on this place, and maybe see if there are other future surprises for when I visit my family again (God knows I need a lot of alcohol when I visit my family)
I went to Casa Melaza by myself because my friends were busy, and my family does not drink, nor condone it. I was looking for rums and other concoctions that I could bring to the US that were not easily found over here (sorry Bacardi and Don Q), and maybe a few surprising new products. I had already bought Pittorro con Coco for my coconut obsessed friend, but really everything else seemed just too normal, and expected.
In Casa Melaza the have a few specialty rums that you can taste for $ 7.00 each, or five for $ 25. They also have different liquors (pitorro, and anise kind of things) that you can taste for $ 5.00 each. I tasted a chichaito (rum and anise liquor), coquito, and 5 rums. I liked the chichaito (bought two canecas), it was Palo Viejo. The coquito was tasty too, but I make coquito at home every Christmas so it felt like a waste to carry it over from PR.
The rums I tasted, the two at each end were the best. The rum Caray had a lot of fruit and molasses flavors, and very smooth.
El Barrilito was a bit more straighforward in flavors, but again very smooth.
After tasting all those rums, I had to eat, and drink lots of coffee before I left.
The staff was knowledgable and friendly, and I left with a few bottles of rum and other products that I did not expect to find.

We stopped into this small little store to take advantage of the rum tasting offer. We opted to go for the lower end quartet tasting, and the young guy working there helped us choose four rums according to our taste, and took us through the particulars of each one. The shots were massive — I think they were 12oz at least — so you really got good value for money there. For such a young guy, the dude really knew his stuff. He was pretty much an encyclopedia when it came to rum, and told us all about the best places on the island to visit, as well. He also answered tons of other questions we had about Puerto Rico, which was great, and really helped us understand more about the island. It was great just hanging out with him for 45 minutes or so, and the rums were pretty awesome, too. Highly recommend to anyone looking to spice up their day walking around Old San Juan (read: you get a good buzz from drinking all the rum)!

Great family business and had fun learning about various rums if Puerto Rico and also of the Coffees grown here too. Antonio and his family are knowledgable and we had a lot of fun during our visit. He also gives an amazing tour of the fortresses and other historical places in Old San Juan. A must do of you come to visit this beautiful place!

Local spot to pick up some Porto Rican spirts with a friendly and knowledgeable owner. I purchased Porto Rican moonshine, rum, and coffee beans too! T-​shirts are unique and one of a kind.

We were walking around Old San Juan and seen this little tasting room. We stopped to see what it was all about. It’s a small place with a little bar and some stools. Here you are able to taste local island rums, moonshine and beers. I had an IPA and my wife had a rum shot to sip on. My beer was great. The rum for my wife was a little to strong but what do you expect it’s liquor. After my beer I had a shot of there Tamarindo moonshine. It’s pored in a shot glass and you sip it. It was amazing! Great flavor and very enjoyable. The place is ran by a father and son. While sitting there the father/​owner shared knowledge about the liquor and had great conversation about the island. My wife’s next drink was a mix drink that the son made. She enjoyed it a little more then the shot. As we enjoyed our drinks and conversations it was then time to move on but before leaving we bought 3 bottles of their local moon shine to bring home. If ever around the area and want to taste a little of the island, stop by this little local spot. Oh one thing to note there are no restrooms so be mindful when drinking.