By Alexander Britell

Can a rum have a terroir?

In Martinique, unlike the vast majority of rum-making regions around the world, rhum is made from the juice pressed from sugarcane stalks, not molasses, the latter of which is a by-product.

In the wine world, the terroir — that set of environmental factors from soil to climate to topography — impacts the grapes. In Martinique, the terroir impacts the cane. In both cases, the raw material matters.

What that means is that the kind of sugar cane, the quality of the sugar cane, the quality of the soil, the conditions of the estate, all play a role in the taste of the rhum.

The terroir is even more apparent in Martinique’s white rhums, whose raw, unaged flavors tell you so much about where they come from.

It’s something you can taste – raw, often vegetal, robust, sometimes floral, sometimes sweet, always loyal to their roots.

But what Martinique’s newest rhum distillery, A1710 at Habitation Simon in Le Francois, has recently done is something particularly special.

The Habitation du Simon in Martinique.

Last year, A1710 debuted its flagship La Perle white rum.

A1710 mastermind Yves Assier de Pompignan did an experiment: he grew two varieties of sugarcane: a “red” sugarcane variety called R579 and a “blue” sugarcane variety called B69-566, all on the same organic sugarcane plot. (The organic certification isn’t a bumper sticker – it illuminates a process that involves everything from hand-harvested cane to fertilizer from the plantation’s mules.)

He then produced two rhums in precisely the same fashion from harvesting to distillation, with only one differentiating factor: the sugarcane itself.

And the results were dramatic.

What’s remarkable is that the two rums are so strikingly different: the red muted but floral, with an aroma marked by tomato and earth, the blue fresh, bold and exotic, with notes of fennel and pure cane, a seriously robust expression.

The Blue is particularly exceptional. The expression is so pure, so faithful, that one almost experiences the feeling of chewing sugar cane stalks and extracting the juice.

Perhaps no rum I’ve tried better exemplifies that process from cane to rhum as this, showing so clearly why the rhums of Martinique are so unique and wonderful.

Because in Martinique, rhum is a gateway to the land, a portal to the cane fields that wave along so many roads on this island.

Because here, rhum is about the raw material, about where it’s grown, about the journey.

Here, rhum has a terroir — and rhum has an integral ingredient: Martinique itself.

La Perle Rare B69-566

Rum Journal Rating: 95 Points

La Perle Rare R579

Rum Journal Rating: 93 Points

The post Rum Journal: In Martinique, a Tale of Two Rums and Terroir appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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It all started on Tortola’s Cane Garden Bay, with Andy Morrell and Fran Samuels’ journey that turned from pure exploration to building a truly authentic Caribbean clothing brand.

Today, British Virgin Islands-based HIHO is an in-the-know product for Caribbean aficionados (see: Caribbean Journal readers), a maker of clothing that’s all about the kind of tropical relaxation that is the core of the Caribbean dream, from linen shirts to active wear.

But one of their latest products has particularly stood out — HIHO’s SPF shirt.

HIHO’s Suntek shirt is the perfect shirt for the active Caribbean traveler: it dries quickly, it breathes and, most importantly, it’s got the SPF protection you need for long days spent on the water — with SPF 50 protection.

What really stands out is the comfort and the lightness — this shirt feels like a kind of second skin. After a few hours out in the sun, you’ll feel like you’re not even wearing a shirt.

They’re available for both men and women.

We love HIHO’s Suntek shirts, and you will too (especially the 2018 Painkiller Cup jersey).

It’s the best SPF shirt we’ve tried in our Caribbean travels.

Fore more information, visit HIHO.

— Guy Britton

The post The Best SPF Shirt You Can Buy appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Alexander Britell

The perfect Caribbean vacation often includes at least one lobster meal featuring some of the freshest, tastiest lobster in the world.

But what if you could travel somewhere where lobster is on every menu, at every restaurant, all day long?

This is Anegada, the beach-filled outpost in the British Virgin Islands that’s making a quick rebound from Hurricane Irma — and playing host to its annual Anegada Lobster Festival that’s become a magnet for foodies and lobster lovers from all over the world.

While Anegada did not escape damage from the storm, its recovery has begun in earnest, and officials thought it important to hold the annual festival as planned this year.

That means that if you head to this year’s festival, you aren’t just coming for an unforgettable culinary experience — you’re also helping contribute to the island’s recovery. Who can argue with that?

The Anegada Lobster Festival will go ahead on Nov. 25 and 26.

“We felt it was important to hold the Anegada Lobster Fest, one of the BVI Food Fete’s signature events, to announce to repeat guests and prospective guests throughout the region and internationally, that the BVI is open for tourism business even as we recover from Hurricane Irma, one of the most destructive hurricanes in recorded history” said British Virgin Islands Director of Tourism Sharon Flax-Brutus.  “Additionally, since Anegada was not as impacted as the other main islands, we felt it would be a good idea for Anegada to ring in the tourism high season as we begin to welcome visitors.”

There are seven restaurants participating in this year’s Anegada Lobster Festival, “putting their unique spins on our most popular crustacean for all guests to sample,” the tourist board said in a statement.

There will be live entertainment and several opportunities to explore the island, home to sparkling turquoise water and some magnificent beaches like the white-sand Loblolly Bay.

So where to stay? Right now, accommodations are admittedly limited — but local charter yacht companies like Marine Max and Sunsail can provide accommodations and options for the event.

Indeed, the BVI yachting sector began welcoming visitors on Nov. 1.

There will also be daily ferry transportation to and from Tortola.

As in past years, visitors to the festival will be able to win special prices from the BVI Tourist Board if they visit all of the participating restaurants and visit the island’s main historic attractions.

In other words, the more lobster you eat, the better.

That’s a wonderful thing.

Fore more information, visit the Anegada Lobster Festival.

The post The British Virgin Islands Is Hosting the Caribbean’s Best Lobster Festival appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Bahamian national carrier Bahamasair is launching new nonstop flights from Houston to the Bahamas.

The carrier will be launching the flights from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Nassau on Nov. 16.

The flights will operate twice weekly, operating on Mondays and Thursdays.

Bahamasair is operating the service on Boeing 737-500 aircraft.

“We’re excited that Houstonians and residents throughout the region can experience the beauty and unique culture of The Bahamas without the hassle of a layover,” said Dionisio D’Aguilar, Bahamas Minister of Tourism and Aviation. “Nassau is a great destination for all types of travelers, as well as the gateway to our Out Islands, and the new Bahamasair service will make planning a vacation to The Bahamas that much easier.”

The post New Nonstop Flights from Houston to the Bahamas appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

SLS Hotels’ first Caribbean project is slated to open this month: SLS Baha Mar.

The next major resort brand to debut at Nassau’s megaresort complex, SLS Baha Mar is a project by sbe [sic] slated to make its formal debut Nov. 14, according to a press release from the resort.

Dining options will include Katsuya by Starck and a Bahamian outpost of the celebrated Miami eatery Fi’lia, the latter the brainchild of Chef Michael Schwartz.

SLS Baha Mar will include 299 rooms on Cable Beach.

For more info on Baha Mar, see Caribbean Journal’s latest video on the Caribbean Las Vegas.

The post SLS Baha Mar Set to Open This Month appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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