By the Caribbean Journal staff

A new boutique hotel is coming to Bermuda.

The Azura Boutique Hotel and Residences is slated to make its official debut in early 2019, according to a statement from the Bermuda Tourism Authority.

The property, set at the former site of the Surf Side Beach Club, aims to have its first residence ready by this spring.

It’s located in the center of Bermuda’s South Shore Beach corridor, about 10 minutes from Hamilton and adjacent to the island’s Smith Nature Reserve.

The initial phase of the project will include a collection of 21 hotel residences, with up to 46 beds.

The post New Boutique Coming to Bermuda appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

 

By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

The island of Dominica has long been one of the best-kept secrets in Dominica.

And now the island’s largest hotel is offering a way for divers to take advantage.

The hotel, which has served as a base for divers who want to explore Dominica’s marine life, is creating customized dive experiences for its guests with the assistance of a dedicated dive concierge.

“Diving is one of Dominica’s most championed attractions and we want to help visitors have the best possible experience exploring our waters,” said Marvlyn James, General Manager of the Fort Young Hotel. “We’ve enjoyed being a base for divers from around the world and look forward to continuing to serve the diving community as an expert resource.”

The concierge can coordinate diving locations, equipment, whale watching excursions and transportation to and from the desired diving sites, including the Soufriere/Scotts Head Marine Reserve.

With their rugged pinnacles, drop-offs and abyss depths that protected the marine life from Hurricane Maria, Dominica’s waters are “a paradise for divers,”

As divers hit 30 feet and continue a gradual descent, they’ll witness a seascape of forested coral gardens, sponge life, seahorses, frogfish, flying gurnards and more.

Dominica is also a home to a natural wonder in the form of Champagne Reef, so called because of the bubbles rising up through the sand from underwater hot springs, remnants of the island’s volcanic origins.

While the island’s volcanic craters have protected its reefs, the hurricane has served to cleanse the water and make way for new nutrients for all surviving reefs, coral, fish and pelagic creatures.

Additionally, with less water sports traffic, there has been a reported influx of whale and dolphin sightings off the Caribbean Sea.

Fort Young Hotel reopened in January after completing its first phase of renovations following Hurricane Maria.

The hotel has 41 of its 72 rooms available for booking, and many of its core amenities, including the pool, jetty, the waterfront Warner’s Bar, food and beverage services, in-room spa services and one of its meeting facilities and operational.

The hotel is expected to fully reopen in October of this year.

Divers interested in booking a stay at Fort Young Hotel can reserve dates immediately.

The hotel is offering a package that includes: five or seven nights accommodations, daily breakfast, airport transfer marine tags and three or five days of two tank dives and all taxes.

Rates start at $1,256 per person, and for a special deal, groups of ten only pay for nine.

The post How to Take a Dive Vacation in Dominica appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

 

By Alexander Britell

There is an entry point for every rum aficionado.

Seldom does a rum lover begin his or her journey in the world of rum with a rare agricole, or a limited-batch hidden-cask expression.

There are rums like Bacardi 8 (the first rum I ever started to enjoy regularly, back when the choices at the bar were largely nonexistent) or Ron Zacapa, rums that are sufficiently widely distributed — and of high enough quality, that they give access — they are the gateway. They make people realize that rum is more than just an ingredient in a Cuba Libre.

Now, this is not to say that Ron Zacapa is not a fine rum — indeed, even many rum lovers consider it among their favorites.

But the rum world is still esoteric for many; the idea of “premium” rum still very much a nascent niche (one we have long been fighting to grow here at Rum Journal).

Another common entry point rum is Ron Diplomatico, a premium rum from Venezuela that is complex, sweet and well branded and often leads drinkers of other spirits to stop and say, “wait, rum tastes like this?”

Ron Diplomatico has, fairly or unfairly, become too sweet for some more enlightened rum drinkers, a rum with which to begin a rum journey but not one to take along the road.

Of course, this view can also lead to unfortunate rum snobbery — even if it’s too sweet for some, it can play a crucial rule in helping convert more drinkers from other spirits to rum — something that should not be ignored.

But Ron Diplomatico has been quietly expanding its portfolio, perhaps in a nod to these same critics.

The latest result is this: the Distillery collection, a range of rums made with specific stills that produce decidedly different expressions.

We recently tried the Diplomatico No. 2 Barbet, a rum made from the company’s Barbet copper column still that was brought to Diplomatico’s distillery in Venezuela in 1959, with the rum aged (although the aging duration is not provided) in American oak.

So what is it like?

The Diplomatico Barbet has a robust aroma of tangerine, spice and apricot, with a flavor profile marked by anise, orange peel and vanilla, with a hint of smokiness.

This isn’t as full-bodied as the brand’s most popular Reserva Exclusiva; it’s better balanced, with a rounder, velvety finish and even a hint of smokiness.

Yes, it’s still sweet, but decidedly less so. What it does have is Diplomatico’s trademark drinkability.

Diplomatico is an important rum brand, and sweetness is still very much a matter of taste. Let’s not forget that all of us who love rum began our journey with something we may not be drinking today. And some of us are still drinking it. Because everyone’s taste is different.

And if you’re at a bar in a city where rum is an unknown thing, and there’s Diplomatico at the bar, you’d take a Diplomatico every time. I know I would.

And as for the Diplomatico Barbet, this is a very good rum.

No matter where you are on your rum journey.

Rum Journal Rating: 90 Points

The post Rum Journal: The Newest Ron Diplomatico appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

 

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Luxury hotel brand Rosewood is set to unveil the results of a dramatic reimagination of the former Rosewood Tucker’s Point.

The relaunched property, now known as Rosewood Bermuda, is in the final stages of a $25 million renovation project that includes a complete redesign of the hotel’s guest rooms.

The renovation is also upgrading Rosewood Bermuda’s beach club, golf clubhouse and Sense spa, along with an enhanced meeting space and new food and beverage concepts.

The property is slated to reopen in April, according to the Bermuda Tourism Authority.

Rosewood Bermuda has long been one of the top hotels in Bermuda.

— CJ

The post Rosewood Set to Relaunch in Bermuda appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

 

By the Caribbean Journal staff

One of the coolest spots in Jamaica is getting even cooler.

The Skylark Negril Beach Resort, the sister property to Negril’s nearby Rockhouse Hotel, is slated to open soon on Negril’s famous Seven Mile Beach.

The quirky, colorful hotel will have a similar vibe to that of the beloved Rockhouse, with a collection of 28 rooms designed in a playful, bright style.

Every room will have air conditioning, a king-sized bed, a fully-stocked mini-bar and free Wi-Fi.

And then there are the dining concepts, ranging from a jerk BBQ grilling station to a bar filled with rums from around the Caribbean.

There will also be a spa helmed by international spa consultant Linda Hall, with treatments that can also be expanded with a day trip to the Rockhouse Spa.

For more information, visit Skylark.

— CJ

The post A Cool New Resort Is Coming to Negril: Skylark appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico