Caribbean Beat — November/December 2021 (#167)

need to know
Must try
Best Barbados rums
For centuries, rum has been integral to Barbados’s heritage. The spirit’s
unmatched legacy — from modest beginnings on the island to world acclaim
— has led to countless international awards bestowed. At the new Barbados
Rum Experience (running from 1 to 7 November), the island’s three main rum
producers — Foursquare Distillery, St Nicholas Abbey, and Mount Gay Distilleries
— offer exciting opportunities to sample the best fine aged liquors and learn
about their cultural significance. Home-bound tipplers don’t have to feel left out
— award-winning mixologist Shane McClean shares three special cocktail recipes
for some coveted Barbados blends
Mount Gay Black Barrel
Matured in whisky casks, then further
aged in charred bourbon barrels, Black
Barrel features spicy notes like nutmeg,
clove, and ginger, making you yearn
for more after the first sip. It’s ideally
paired with steak, lamb, pork, or fish,
since the rum carries tannins, which
assist in breaking down the proteins.
1703 Express
45 ml Mount Gay Black Barrel
1 dash of black pepper
30 ml pineapple juice
25 ml fresh lime juice
25 ml white sugar syrup
Combine in a mixing glass with one
scoop of ice. Shake and strain over
fresh ice into a rock glass. Garnish with
a pineapple chunk.
Doorly’s 12
A rich heritage and unique notes
full of character and complexity are
wonderfully combined in this twelveyear
old rum — exemplary for anyone’s
introduction to the spirit. It’s perfectly
smooth, with aromas of toffee apple,
cinnamon, and caramel. After dinner,
this mouth-watering sipper can
complement — or replace — your
dessert.
Doorly’s Old Fashioned
45 ml Doorly’s 12
25 ml white sugar syrup
6 dashes Angostura bitters
1 dash cinnamon
Combine ingredients in a rock glass,
add a scoop of ice, and stir. Garnish
with a cherry and orange segment.
St Nicholas Abbey White
Unlike most of the island’s other rums,
the Abbey makes their white rum from
sugarcane syrup instead of molasses
or sugarcane juice. On the nose, it’s
extremely earthy, with hints of citrus
notes, almost like the varied fragrances
of freshly cut sugarcane. The
recommended cocktail is an aperitif,
and can be paired with chicken, fish, or
a fresh garden salad — or savoured on
its own on a hot afternoon.
Abbey Spritz
45 ml St Nicholas Abbey White
25 ml fresh grapefruit juice
1 tbsp granulated sugar
30 ml sparkling water
Combine ingredients in a wine glass,
fill with ice, and stir. Garnish with a
grapefruit wedge.
For more information on the
Barbados Rum Experience, go to
visitbarbados.org
Courtesy Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc
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