Drinks of The Virgin Islands
Pristine beaches, pearly white sand, blue and turquoise waters, great snorkeling, historic building and ruins, nature trails, exotic food and rum. Wait… rum? Yes, the Virgin Islands do not only feature nature at its finest but also the heavenly taste and of locally fermented rum. In fact, rum is an integral part of the history of the Virgin Islands and its people.
The colonizers of the Virgin Islands build plantations in most of the islands for staple food; one of which is sugar. You can still see the plantation ruins today, as the Virgin Islands are dotted with spectacular ruins of more than a hundred sugar plantations. All of them were made for the production of sugar, molasses and of course, rum.
A few distilleries have survived through the centuries and one them is The Cruzan Rum Factory, which was founded in 1790. On your next trip to the United States Virgin Islands, step back in time and take a tour in their centuries old distillery in St. Croix and see for yourself how the lovely liquor is made, and don’t forget to check the free taste counter while you’re at it. Because rum is made right here in the Virgin Islands, it’s incredibly inexpensive–about half of what it costs in the states, so visitors are encouraged to stock up and take rum back to the states with you–duty free!
The easy access to different types of rum made it possible for locals to experiment with their own cocktail mixes and bring them to perfection. The most famous Virgin Islands cocktail is the Painkiller, which is made by frothing a mixture of dark rum, orange and pineapple juices, sweetened coconut cream, and shaved ice – all topped with grated nutmeg. When on Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands, stop at the Soggy Dollar, where the Painkiller was originally invented, and taste one, or two, for yourself!
Aside from rum, there is another drink that you definitely want to try when in the Virgin Islands – the Guavaberry liqueur. This drink is a combination of guavaberry, a close relative of clover and eucalyptus, rum and sugarcane. It’s sweet and fruity taste is one reason why many people prefer to mix it in drinks. It makes one heck of a colada!
The powdery soft white sand, crystal clear water, the warm sun, and the hum of the island paradise is especially enjoyed with a drink including locally made rum in your hand, while relaxing on a hammock set between two coconut palms. On your next trip to the Virgin Islands make sure that you partake in the islands popular spirits!
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