A master class in rare bottlings of Jamaican rum. A rum-and-cigar pairing with Davidoff. A blind-tasting competition of the Caribbean’s most sought-after rums. A journey through the world of the Rhum Agricole of Martinique and Guadeloupe. 

It’s the Caribbean’s leading rum festival, and it’s back once again on the island of St Barth this November. 

The Fourth Annual Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth, presented by WIMCO and Tradewind Aviation, are set for Nov. 2-7, headquartered at the world’s top rum bar, the Rhum Room in Gustavia. (Here’s where to stay and here’s how to fly to St Barth). 

“Just when I thought 2020 even with CoPan (sounds better than Covid 19 or Pandemic) was an incredible year for the St Barth Rum Festival and Caribbean Rum Awards, 2021 rolls around and after a summer of furious activity we have an INCREDIBLE line up,” said Christopher Davis, co-founder of the Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth and proprietor of the Rhum Room and Quarter Kitchen and Cocktail Lab.

“We have Master Classes from Master Distillers, Master Blenders, Ambassadors and the like from some of the most awarded Rum brands Barrilito, Bielle,  Depaz, HSE, Karukera, La Favorite, Montebello, Neisson and of course Velier. The knowledge that will flow with the rum being judged and available at the Expo and Master Classes has never been assembled before in the Caribbean.  Anyone who loves rum, wants to love rum or just plain is a connoisseur of Quality, and I mean from Champagne to Brown Spirits to Wine, should be here to learn and experience what this tremendous spirit has to offer.  It is time for Rum/Ron/Rhum.”

The event kicks off Nov. 2 with a VIP Ti’ Punch cocktail by WIMCO, followed that evening by a cigar and rum pairing seminar with rare Davidoff selections. 

The next day is the judging, which brings together 10 international judges from across the Caribbean and the United States for a blind tasting of rums in 10 different categories. 

That evening is a cocktail competition of St Barth’s top bartenders, presented by Veritas, the rum blend of Hampden and Foursquare. 

Thursday is the event’s epicenter, a rum expo open to the public that lets guests try Caribbean superstar rums, from Marie Galante’s Rhum Bielle to Puerto Rico’s Ron del Barilito and Martinique’s Rhum Neisson, among others. 

Each night from Thursday through Saturday is a multi-course rum cocktail pairing dinner (reservations required, to do so contact hello@25sbh.com)

And Sunday is a full-fledged Ti’ Punch brunch. 

“This is an essential pilgrimage for those who love the finest rums of the Caribbean,” said Alexander Britell, editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal and co-founder of the Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth. “It’s a week of fun-loving, indulgent events and a union of two of the Caribbean’s most famous exports: rum and cigars.” 

For more, visit the Caribbean Rum Awards. For ticket information, see here. 

For any other questions, contact rum@caribjournal.com. 

The full schedule is below:

TUESDAY Nov. 2

18:00 Ti’ Punch Happy Hour by WIMCO

21:00 Rum and Cigar Pairing With Davidoff

WEDNESDAY Nov. 3  

10:00  Caribbean Rum Awards Judging (Closed to Public)

14:00 Montebello MasterClass

19:00 – 00:00  Veritas Rum Cocktail Competition

THURSDAY Nov. 4
 

12:00 to 16:00 Accutron Rum Expo

13:00 Presentation Bielle

13:30 Presentation HSE

14:00 Presentation Habitation & Clairin

14:30 Presentation Barrilito

15:00 Presentation Neisson

15:30 Presentation Montebello & Karukera

16:00 Ron del Barrilito Masterclass

18:00 Jamaica MasterClass Velier

20:00 Food & Rum Cocktail pairing limited seating

22:30 Cigar & Rum Pairings (Rhum Montebello)

FRIDAY Nov. 5
 

11:00 HSE Masterclass

13:00 Neisson MasterClass

15:00 Velier Masterclass

20:00 Food & Rum Cocktail pairing limited seating 

22:30 Cigar & Rum Pairings (Bielle)

SATURDAY Nov. 6

 12:00 Karukera Masterclass

 14:00 Bielle Masterclass

 16:00 Emerging Market Masterclass: Velier

20:00 Food & Rum Cocktail Pairing Dinner, limited seating    

22:30 Cigar & Rum Pairings

SUNDAY Nov. 7

8:00 Market and Rhum Arrange Expo

10:00 Live Music

12:00  Ti’ Punch Brunch

The post The Caribbean’s Top Rum Festival Is Back appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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The Club, Barbados, one of the island’s top all-inclusive resorts, is officially open again. 

The resort has reopened under parent company Elite Island Resorts’ vaccination policy, which requires proof of vaccination for all guests 16 and over. 

“We’re open, and our guests are having a wonderful time in the Bajan sun night now,” the resort said in a statement to Caribbean Journal.

The reopening means all of Elite Island Resorts’ properties across the Caribbean are now open and welcoming guests, with properties in Antigua, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Panama. 

Travelers need to show their relevant CDC card, NHS vaccination report or a certificate of official vaccination from Canada.

The 161-room property is set in the heart of Barbados’ renowned Platinum Coast, a short stroll north of the Sandy Lane resort. 

The family-friendly resort has a mix of rooms and suites, along with a spa and salon, three freshwater swimming pools.

That’s along with five dining concepts, including the international-cuisine Sunset Restaurant; the Bajan-focused Enid’s; The piano bar with nightly music; and the Rum Shop bar, a “colorful slice of Barbados.”

There’s also a popular beach bar right on the sand. 

You can learn about Barbados’ health protocols for travelers here.

For more, visit The Club, Barbados. 

— CJ

The post This Top Barbados All-Inclusive Resort Is Open appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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It’s long been Puerto Rico’s “Second City,” but the southern city of Ponce is starting to see a wave of new interest from travelers. 

Now, low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines is launching a new nonstop route to Ponce, part of what local tourism officials hope is a continued surge in demand for the destination. 

Beginning in February, Spirit will operate a new nonstop route from Orlando to Ponce, the carrier announced this week. 

The new route will operate daily, with flights kicking off on Feb. 16, 2022. 

“Adding Ponce as our third market in Puerto Rico is a fantastic way to celebrate 20 years of Spirit serving the island,” said John Kirby, Spirit’s Vice President of Network Planning. “Our new nonstop flights to Orlando provide connectivity to many high-value travel options for flying in or out of Ponce.”

The new route complements Spirit’s existing to service to both San Juan and the western city of Aguadilla. 

Spirit has been flying to Puerto Rico since 2001. 

As reported by Caribbean Journal Invest, Ponce has been seeing a surge in interest from hotel developers, buoyed by Puerto Rico’s tax incentives for investors.

Ponce is home to what has long been the leading art museum in the Caribbean, the Museo de Arte de Ponce, and is the site of a proposed “mega project” that would turn the city into a new global wellness and tourism destination.

“Our Island continues promoting its great potential with the announcement of this new non-stop flight between Orlando and Ponce, a route that will increase flight availability for our people as well as those who visit us,” said Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi. “The economic development of Ponce and the southern region is a priority for my administration, and we will continue seeking alliances beneficial to our economy such as this one.”

— CJ

The post Spirit Airlines Is Launching a New Nonstop Route to Puerto Rico appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Is there anything more lovable in the Caribbean than a tiny beach resort? They’re the ones that just ooze character, the ones that pull on your heart strings, playful and personable, where nothing stands between you and the beach, between you and your Caribbean travel fantasy.  Here are six of our favorites to check in to right now. 

Dragon Cay Turks and Caicos Set on one of the untouched island of Middle Caicos in the Turks and Caicos Islands, this delightful beach resort has a total of eight accommodations, with a mix of private cottages and villas. It’s the only hotel on the island, which is home to Mudjin Harbor, one of the most sought after beaches in all of the Caribbean. 

The post 6 Tiny Caribbean Beach Resorts to Try Right Now appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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