From the moment you set your eyes on it, it’s hard not to like Clifton Estate Rum.

The first full-fledged rum produced in Nevis in the modern era (and the brainchild of rum expert Mark Theron) has a clever, playful bottle design in the shape of a barrel that immediately hits an emotional chord.

But this rum is far from just a pretty face.

Clifton Estate is a handmade, small-batch rum that is a blend of two-year old dark rum with natural ingredients; what distinguishes it from most spiced rums is the infusion of orange, which is joined with some honey and what the company says are secret island spices.

So what’s it like?

The 80-proof Clifton Estate Rum has a fragrant aroma of spice that immediately reminds of the Eastern Caribbean; its color is orange-amber.

The flavor profile has notes of orange peel, bitters, nutmeg, black pepper, brown sugar and honey.

It’s a robust rum with power: yes, this is a spiced rum from a small island: but it is serious.

And its spicy, playful character somehow tastes Nevisian.

It’s so good that it passes our ultimate spiced rum test: yes, you can drink it neat or on the rocks.

Simply put, this is already one of the world’s best spiced rums.

— CJ

The post Rum Journal: Nevis’ Clifton Estate Spiced Rum appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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JetBlue is continuing its expansion on the Spice Isle.

The New York City-based carrier increasing its flight service from New York to Grenada to five nonstop roundtrip flights a week beginning in January.

The new flights, which start Jan. 9, will operate on Mondays, meaning travelers to Grenada can reach the island on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

“Increased airlift from this very important source market provides the opportunity to bring more visitors and Grenadians residing abroad to Grenada,” said Grenada Tourism Minister Dr Clarice Modeste-Curwen. “This Monday flight boosts Grenada’s weekly seat capacity from New York to seven hundred and fifty (750). It will therefore allow a greater number of visitors and Grenadians an additional option of travel to Grenada to enjoy the product diversity of our tri-island home, the grandeur of our cuisine and the hospitable attitude of Grenadians. These exposures help to create those enduring vacation memories of the Spice of the Caribbean.”

The Laluna boutique hotel, one of Grenada’s top places to stay.

JetBlue first launched its nonstop flights to Grenada from JFK in June 2015 with two flights per week.

Earlier this summer, the company announced it would be launching its Mint premium cabin service on Grenada flights beginning Jan. 21, 2017.

New York is the largest source market for Grenada, contributing 19,000 stayover arrivals last year alone.

“Between January and July 2016, we’ve seen a 19% increase in arrivals from New York largely due to the presence of JetBlue’s four-day weekly flights,” said Grenada Tourism Authority Chairman Rodney George.

The post JetBlue Adding More Nonstop Flights to Grenada appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Things have more or less gone back to normal in Puerto Rico after a power failure on the afternoon of September 21 practically paralyzed the entire archipelago for three days, though for some people electricity was restored much later. Not even the…

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It’s one of the wider region’s most popular destinations, and the Bahamas remains a tourism power in the Caribbean. That’s because the Bahamas isn’t just a single destination — it’s a multitude of destinations from the urban appeal of downtown nassau to remote, exotic getaways like Cat Island and Andros.  So with our inaugural Bahamas Travel Awards, we’re celebrating the best and brightest in the 700-island destination’s travel industry, from the best hotels to the hotelier of the year. Here are the first-ever Bahamas Travel Awards.

Hotel of the Year: One & Only Ocean Club

This Paradise Island standout is one of the Caribbean tourism industry’s signature hotels, and thanks to its recent renovations, it’s better than ever. From its famous Versailles Gardens to its perch on spectacular Cabbage Beach to its simply stunning service, the One & Only continues to set a standard for hotels in the Bahamas — and the world. This is the Bahamas Hotel of the Year.

The post The Bahamas Travel Awards 2016 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Royal Caribbean Cruises President and COO Adam Goldstein has been named the new chairman of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association.

The new appointment, which will take effect Jan. 1, 2017, was announced during this year’s FCCA Cruise Conference and Trade Show in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Goldstein will succeed Carnival Corporation Chairman Micky Arison in the role.

“The cruise industry today is now a global industry player, and under Micky’s leadership, the FCCA has strengthened its relationships with the industry and our Caribbean and Latin American partners,” Goldstein said. “I am extremely proud to take over the chairmanship of the FCCA, and my main goal is to continue on this path by making sure the region is prepared to face the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in this highly competitive and globalized environment.”

Arison had served in the role since January 2015.

“I am honored to have served as FCCA Chairman for a total of more than a decade,” said Arison. “During this span, I have watched the growth of not only the Association, but also the partners we serve, and I know that Adam Goldstein will continue this mutual growth.”

The post Royal Caribbean’s Adam Goldstein to Chair FCCA appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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