Top-picks - Caribbean Cocktails

Get your palate ready…some Caribbean cocktails to try before your trip!

You think about the Caribbean…you think rum and cocktails! Antigua, like many other Caribbean islands, distills its own rum dating back to the early 1700s, but has been recognized as one of the finest producers since the late 1700s. Antigua Distillery Ltd, circa 1930, is still going strong today producing a range of award winning rums including Cavalier Rum, Kokocaribe Coconut Rum, a Rum Punch drink and the pièce de résistance, English Harbor Rum with its 10-year vintage and a limited 40-year vintage. So for a vintage Caribbean cocktail, Keyonna Beach style, we would highly recommend using a rum from Antigua Distillery (which are distributed in the UK, US and Canada.) In the meantime, grab your favourite dark or white rums and try our top rum cocktail picks:

1. Pina Colada

Originally from Puerto Rico but now well known throughout the Caribbean. Finding a really good traditional one is a bit of an expedition but definitely worth it. It is definitely worth your time while on island having a Pina Colada crawl to seek out the very best.

If you are anything like me, you will traverse the island’s bars and restaurants, looking for that perfect Pina Colada, then forget where the best ones were and have to “reluctantly” start your search all over again!
The secret is not too icy, nice and creamy but not too thick….the perfect blend of sweet coconut cream (Coco Lopez is the real deal!) and a dash of pineapple juice. It’s an art and a science… I have in mind a bar dedicated solely to THE BEST Pina Colada! Pina Colada Purists require crushed fresh Antigua Black pineapple and fresh coconut water only available on island! Until then, try out this traditional recipe:

• 2 oz./60 mL white rum (if you can get your hands on it try Antigua Cavalier White Rum, if not Bacardi White or Bacardi Coconut will do)
• 1 oz./30 mL coconut cream (Coco Lopez to be authentic)
• 1 oz./ 30 mL heavy cream
• 6 oz./ 180 mL fresh pineapple juice
• 5 cup/ 120 mL crushed ice
Pour ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth and serve in a tall glass. Garnish with fresh pineapple and a cherry.

2. Old fashioned Rum Punch

Rum punches come in many varieties, from very very fruity and sickly sweet to the real deal. Francine at Keyonna Beach does a wonderful “Old Fashioned” - for those who know their rum punch we don’t need to add the word rum punch! - which follows the local rhyme of one sour, two sweet, three strong and four weak. Adjust your quantities depending on the size of the festivities but follow these proportions:

• 1 portion of freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 portions of white or natural sugar – sugar syrup is the best
• 3 portions of rum – try a mix of English Harbour Rum and Cavalier White Rum
• 4 portions of water
• Generous dashes of angostura bitters
• Freshly grated nutmeg
Squeeze the juice from lime wedges into a highball glass. Add rums, water and sugar syrup. Stir to combine. Add dashes of bitters. Fill glass with ice and stir. Top with grated nutmeg and serve.

3. Keyonna Kiss

Our favourite of course! And will definitely get you ready for romance at Keyonna Beach:

• 1 oz./30 mL of coconut rum – try Kokocaribe
• 1 oz./30 mL peach schnapps
• 4 oz./ 120 mL cranberry juice
• ½ oz. lime juice (to cut the sweetness)
• Slim jim (tall) glass
• Crushed ice
• Whole strawberry
Combine the coconut rum, peach schnapps, cranberry juice and lime juice in a crushed ice filled shaker. Shake vigourously. Pour contents into slim Jim, garnish with whole strawberry and serve.

Cheers!