Gran Canaria: canarian rum & local cheese tasting tour

A two-century-old wine cellar, mountain views, three Canarian rums, and a table of local cheeses make this more than a quick drink stop. At Valle de Mogán, a maître sommelier explains how Canarian rum is made and how to choose a bottle for dinner or a special occasion.

I like the strong local focus and the chance to taste rum alongside cheeses made in the Canary Islands. I also like that guide Katerina has been praised by name for her warm service. The main drawback is clear: this is for adults only, and anyone with high blood pressure or who is pregnant should skip it.

Key points to know

• Three Canarian rums: Taste selections including Arehucas Family Selection and Ron Aldea while learning how local rum styles differ.
• A 200-year-old setting: The tasting takes place beside Valle de Mogán’s historic wine cellar, with wood, stone, water, and mountain views.
• About an hour of cheese tasting: Sample several Canarian cheeses and learn why the islands’ dairy products win prizes at international food events.
• A private, guided format: A private guide and professional maître sommelier lead the experience in English, Russian, or Spanish.
• Lunch or dinner is optional: The standard booking covers the tasting, but you can add a meal at Valle de Mogán.
• Easy planning: Parking, water, and toilet facilities are included, while hotel pickup is not.

A rum tasting with a real sense of place

Many tastings could take place anywhere. This one is tied closely to Gran Canaria. You meet at Valle de Mogán restaurant, near a wine cellar dating back roughly 200 years. The setting gives the tasting a useful sense of connection to the island rather than making it feel like a generic bar lesson.

The property was restored as a full tourism experience, using wood, natural stone, and water in its design. You can expect a calm setting with scenic views around the valley. Wildlife viewing is also listed as part of the time in Mogán, though the exact animals or sightings are not guaranteed.

The meeting point is the restaurant parking area at Los Pasitos, 2. Look for a guide wearing a black jacket. Since hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, you need to arrange your own way there. Parking is provided, which helps if you are driving.

The full experience lasts 2.5 hours. One part of the schedule allows about an hour for cheese tasting, with the remaining time used for the rum presentation, tasting, welcome refreshments, and time around the property. One recorded visit lasted about two hours, so I would still keep the full 2.5-hour window open rather than planning a tight connection afterward.

Learning how Canarian rum is made

The rum tasting is led with help from a professional maître sommelier from Valle de Mogán restaurant. You learn about several types of Canarian rum, how production works, and how to select a bottle for a meal or a special occasion.

The exact full tasting list is not specified, but the selection includes Arehucas Family Selection and Ron Aldea. You are also told to expect three types of rum. That is enough variety to compare styles without turning the session into a long parade of tiny samples that blur together.

This is a good format if you normally buy rum by label alone. The useful part is not simply tasting several spirits. It is learning what separates one kind from another and how the drink fits at the table. The guide’s explanation can help you decide whether a rum suits a meal, a gift, or a slow after-dinner drink.

You should expect a tasting rather than a cocktail-making class. There is no indication that you will mix drinks or tour a working distillery. The emphasis is on tasting, production, and food pairing in the setting near the old cellar.

The professional presentation also gives the experience a more focused feel than a casual restaurant sample. You have someone explaining what is in the glass and why it matters. If you are new to rum, that structure is useful. If you already know your way around rum, the local focus and Canarian labels give you something specific to compare.

Canarian cheese deserves its own hour

The cheese portion lasts about an hour, which is unusually generous for a tasting built around rum. You sample several types of Canarian cheese and learn about the quality of dairy production across the islands.

Canarian cheeses regularly appear at international food events and win prizes. That does not mean every style will suit every palate, but it does mean this is not filler placed beside the drinks. The cheese is one of the main reasons to book the experience.

I like the pairing idea here. Rum can be sweet, powerful, smoky, or smooth, depending on the bottle. Cheese gives you a way to notice how those traits work with food. The tasting lets you compare the local products instead of simply eating a snack between pours.

The exact cheeses are not listed, so you should not book expecting a particular goat, sheep, or cow’s milk variety. You will receive a selection of Canarian cheeses, but the specific lineup may vary. That is a minor uncertainty, especially for anyone with allergies or strict dietary needs.

Water is included, which is important during a spirit tasting. Take advantage of it and pace yourself. This is a guided food experience, not a contest to finish every sample quickly.

The Valle de Mogán setting

The setting is one of the experience’s strongest features. Valle de Mogán was restored with a design that combines wood, natural stone, and water. The result is intended to connect the building with its surroundings, and the scenic views add value before the first glass is poured.

The old wine cellar provides atmosphere without requiring you to spend the whole activity underground. You taste near the cellar, in a place designed for suitable tasting conditions. The historic age of the cellar also gives the experience a visual point of interest that a modern restaurant room would not provide.

You should think of this as a place-based food experience. The rum and cheese matter, but so do the building, the valley, and the way the restaurant presents local products. It works well for anyone who wants to understand a little more of Gran Canaria through what people eat and drink.

The property is wheelchair accessible, another practical advantage. The information does not describe every surface or restroom detail, so if you need a particular access arrangement, it is sensible to confirm it before booking. Toilets are available on site.

What the two-and-a-half hours feel like

You begin at the parking area of Valle de Mogán, where the guide in a black jacket meets you. A welcome refreshment and water help settle you in before the main tasting begins.

The rum section introduces Canarian rum and the production process. You sample a selection that includes Arehucas Family Selection and Ron Aldea, with three rum types expected overall. The maître sommelier also explains how to select rum for dinner or for a special occasion.

The cheese tasting takes about an hour. This is the most substantial food portion of the experience, with several local cheeses and an explanation of their place in Canarian food culture. Scenic views and the restored property fill out the visit, and wildlife viewing may be part of what you notice around the valley.

The tour returns to the same meeting point. There is no separate transport segment, so the experience is simple to follow once you arrive. You do not need to keep track of several stops across Gran Canaria.

One practical point: the schedule allows 2.5 hours, but a previous booking lasted about two hours. You might finish a little earlier, or you might spend extra time enjoying the setting. Leave room in your day rather than booking a bus or reservation immediately afterward.

Adding lunch or dinner at Valle de Mogán

The standard package covers the visit and tasting. You can also add lunch or dinner at Valle de Mogán, where local dishes are prepared with fresh ingredients.

This option makes sense if you want the tasting to become a half-day food outing. It also gives you a chance to use what you learned about pairing rum and cheese with a full meal. One person extended the visit by staying for dinner, which suggests the restaurant is a natural continuation rather than an unrelated add-on.

Still, check the price of the meal option before booking. The $77 price is for the tasting experience, and lunch or dinner is not included in that standard amount. If your main goal is rum and cheese, the basic package may be enough. If you are already driving to Valle de Mogán and want a longer meal, the add-on could make the trip more worthwhile.

The restaurant setting also helps this activity suit couples and small private groups looking for an easy food-focused outing. It is less suitable if you want a fast, inexpensive sample and then plan to move on.

Is $77 a fair price?

At $77 per person, this is not the cheapest way to have a drink in Gran Canaria. You are paying for more than the liquid in the glasses, though. The price includes a private guide, professional maître sommelier explanation, rum tasting, Canarian cheese tasting, parking, water, and access to a restored historic property.

The value depends on what you want from a tasting. If you are mainly interested in trying one local rum, you can likely find a less costly option elsewhere. If you want a guided introduction to several rums, an hour of local cheese, and a distinctive setting, the price is easier to justify.

The private format also matters. You are not simply being handed a sample and pointed toward the exit. You have a guide to explain the products and answer questions. The available languages are English, Russian, and Spanish, which makes the presentation more accessible for many people.

The high rating of 4.8 from eight ratings supports the idea that the experience delivers well for the right audience. Specific praise has focused on the service, the beautiful setting, the rum, and the clear explanations of rum and cheese. Guide Katerina was thanked by name after one booking, a useful sign that the human side of the experience is part of its appeal.

Who should book this experience?

I would choose this for adults who enjoy local food, want to learn rather than simply sample, and have time to reach Valle de Mogán independently. It is especially suitable if you like combining scenery, regional products, and a restaurant visit in one stop.

It also suits people who want a gentler cultural activity. You are not walking long distances or rushing between attractions. The setting, food, and explanations carry the visit.

This is not suitable for children under 18. It is also not suitable for pregnant women or people with high blood pressure. Since alcohol is central to the activity, those restrictions should guide your decision rather than being treated as minor footnotes.

The phrase family-friendly needs a little care here. The property and food format may work well for an adult family group, but children cannot join the tasting. Families traveling with minors will need another activity.

Practical details before you go

Book with the meeting point in mind: Los Pasitos, 2, at the parking area of Valle de Mogán restaurant. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, but parking is available.

The tour operates in English, Russian, and Spanish. A live guide leads the experience, and the guide wears a black jacket at the meeting point. Water and toilet facilities are included.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately, which is useful if your Gran Canaria plans are still changing.

Wear something comfortable for a relaxed tasting rather than a formal restaurant occasion. Most important, avoid arriving in a rush. The appeal lies in taking time with the setting, the explanations, and the food.

Should you book the Canarian rum and cheese tasting?

Book it if you want a focused adult food experience with strong local character. The old wine cellar, scenic valley setting, three Canarian rums, and hour-long cheese tasting give the $77 price a reasonable foundation.

Skip it if you do not drink alcohol, need hotel transport, are traveling with children under 18, or want a full distillery tour. For everyone else, this is a smart choice for learning how Gran Canaria tastes, especially if you add lunch or dinner and make Valle de Mogán a longer stop.

FAQ

Where does the Canarian rum and cheese tasting take place?

It takes place at Valle de Mogán restaurant, near its roughly 200-year-old wine cellar. The meeting point is the restaurant parking area at Los Pasitos, 2.

How long does the experience last?

The scheduled duration is 2.5 hours. About one hour is set aside for the Canarian cheese tasting, with the remaining time used for the rum tasting, explanations, refreshments, and time at the property.

Which rums will I taste?

The tasting includes selections such as Arehucas Family Selection and Ron Aldea. You can expect to sample three types of Canarian rum.

Is lunch or dinner included?

No. The standard package includes the visit and tasting. You can choose an optional lunch or dinner at Valle de Mogán for an additional cost.

Is transportation from my hotel included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. Parking is available at the meeting point.

Who can join the tasting?

The activity is for people aged 18 and older. It is not suitable for pregnant women or people with high blood pressure. The tour is wheelchair accessible and offered in English, Russian, and Spanish.