Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine - August 2017

— Continued from previous page
Barbados is often the first landfall for sailors coming
from the east, and a most welcome one after a passage
from Europe, Africa or the Canaries. There’s a good lee
harbor and a welcoming and friendly population —
and rum. The earliest rum that comes from a viable
distillery is the famous Mount Gay, made here.
It is the oldest existing brand in the world. Named after
John Gay, who managed the distillery from 1703 for the
owner, John Sober (yes, that was his name). Gay’s skills
at production and business inspired the owner to name
the distillery in his honor. (In addition to being the rum
man of the island chain, he was the most influential
person of the time to speak out against slavery.)
Sailors in the 1700s would return to England with
casks of Mount Gay rum as proof of their sailing
accomplishments. Today, Mount Gay is the sponsor of
more than 150 annual regattas worldwide. Yacht racers,
who get a hat for their participation, treasure their
signature red ball caps with the embroidered logo. The
hats have been a mainstay of the regattas’ allure since
the 1970s, first as visors, then evolving about a decade
sweet fruity exotic flavors are owed to Guyana. Why
Guyana? The molasses used to make the rum is
brought from Guyana, as sugar cane is no longer
grown commercially on St Vincent. Sparrow is another
tasty treat, and gives a nice balance to the offerings.
Heading south to Carriacou we find a powerful and
dangerously famous rum. It’s Jack Iron, made in
Trinidad at Angostura Distillery and bottled in Grenada.
According to Tan Rosie’s Caribbean Food Blog: “Some
say it can be used as engine fuel or paint stripper; this
stuff cannot be messed about with.” It’s 99 percent
alcohol. This is moonshine; ice cubes sink in it. It will
make you feel worse than any other hangover you’ve
ever had, and will get you there faster. The smell alone
is intoxicating, and the first drink totally numbing.
The fun of rum drinking in Carriacou is doing it in a
rum shop. If you let the shopkeeper know in advance
you also want food with your rum, they’ll fire up the
Stock Up
on the widest selection and the
best prices in Grenada at our two
later to the more functional caps.
Moving west to the island chain, we arrive at St.
Vincent & the Grenadines. The Grenadines offer great
natural harbors. A few islands are still uninhabited,
and those that are offer cultural and historical pleasures
found in not many other places.
And when the sun gets low and it’s time for a cocktail,
the main island, St. Vincent, has one of the finest
and most diverse distilleries: St. Vincent Distillers.
They have been around for about 100 years and make
a few of my favorite rums. They also make a very
popular “rocket fuel” named Sunset and I know from
experience that it’s a bit too strong for me.
With all the seafarers and pirates that have visited
the islands for plunder, or on a mission from Hollywood
as in “Pirates of The Caribbean”, the distiller smartly
gave their various rums names such as Captain Bligh
and (Jack) Sparrow. Their heavenly and heavily awarded
Captain Bligh XO Special Reserve is very good. Its
barbecue, typically half of a 50-gallon drum out back.
Order your drinks from a street-side table and you’ll
receive an unlabeled bottle of rum, and a bottle of
Coke and glasses. When the time comes, your dinner
is served: a quarter chicken on a piece of foil wrap.
Years ago, a traveler said, “Carriacou is the rum shack
at the end of the universe.”
Jack Iron is bottled at the Westerhall Distillery in
Grenada. To visit this distillery is to take a trip back in
time; there’s a rum-museum feeling as one wanders
about, just being there, and it is epic. Water and sugarcane
were readily available centuries ago, and today’s
Jack Iron remains a “strong” local favorite. Try
Westerhall’s other rums, and be sure to also visit
Grenada’s River Antoine Rum Distillery — the oldest
functioning water-propelled distillery in the Caribbean.
Whatever island you visit throughout the Caribbean,
you can probably find a local rum to “get in the spirit”.
Sail globally, drink locally!
The Bajan Lady’s Classic Rum Punch
1 measure of “sour”: lime juice, with a shake of bitters
to taste
2 measures of “sweet”: sugar or sugar syrup
3 measures of “strong”: rum
4 measures of “weak”: water
Your measurement could be a shot glass… or conch
shell perhaps. Mix well, chill and enjoy. Some like fruit
as a garnish; for most a grating of fresh nutmeg is the
crowning touch.
conveniently located supermarkets.
Whether it’s canned goods, dairy
products, meat, fresh vegetables
or fruits, toiletries, household goods,
or a fine selection of liquor and wine,
The Food Fair has it all and a lot more.
Hubbard’s
JONAS BROWNE & HUBBARD (G’da.) Ltd.
The Carenage:
Monday - Thursday
8 am to 5:30 pm
Friday until 8:45 pm
Saturday until
1:00 pm
Tel: (473) 440-2588
Grand Anse:
Monday - Thursday
9 am to 5:30 pm
Friday & Saturday
until 7:00 pm
Tel: (473) 444-4573
☛ REMEMBER
to tell our advertisers you
saw their ad in Compass!
Read in
Next Month’s
Compass:
Doyle on Mooring Safety Standards
Top Tips for First-Time
Caribbean Cruisers
Thoughts on Swallowing the Hook
… and much, much more!
AUGUST 2017 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 37
YOUR STORE FOR
FRESH
MEAT &
PRODUCE
COMING SOON!
CARRIACOU
Tyrrel Bay, Harvey Vale
Tel: 1 (473) 443-7994
Fax: 1 (473) 443-7995
Mobile: 1 (473) 417-7995
info@savealotcarriacou.com