The Classic Daiquiri is one of the easiest cocktails to make (just 3 ingredients), but the result is light and delicious. For Friday Happy Hour this week we thought we’d make a Classic Daiquiri using a bottle of Banks 5 Island Rum that we had just received, and the resulting cocktail was very nice. A very nice balance of sweet and tart.
*We love bringing you amazing rum recipes! Our recipes may contain affiliate links to products that we use. If you click the link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support in helping us to continue providing rumlicious, tropical recipes!
Gently shake all ingredients over ice. Strain into a glass and garnish with lime.
The traditional Daiquiri is slightly tart, so if you like a sweeter drink, increase the amount of simple syrup or decrease the amount of lime by 1 tsp.
If you’ve walked through Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke, you’ve probably seen Jost Van Dyke Scuba. Located between the Methodist Church and Corsair’s you’ll find their shop – newly built since the hurricanes of ’17. The shop is air conditioned and the largest shop on JVD and offers a full array of dive and snorkel gear, 60 original T-Shirt designs- designed here on Jost, and name brand lines like Costa Del Mar sunglasses, Corkcicle, SunBum, Suncloud, Pelagic Gear, Cobian sandals, Chums, Tiki Toss, Cablz, Sun & Sand, and many fashionable women’s beachwear lines. Additionally the Jost Van Dyke Scuba Shop offers equipment rentals such as snorkeling and scuba gear, SUP boards, kayaks & fishing equipment.
(This article is part of our “Local Businesses of the Caribbean” series. Find out more at the end of this article.)
Jost Van Dyke Scuba
We’ve walked by Jost Van Dyke Scuba many times and stopped in on occasion (thank goodness that they also carry sunscreen and bug spray!) but really didn’t know the extent of the services they offered until doing some research for this article. Read on to find out what they do above and beyond scuba gear and excursions!
Scuba School. Jost Van Dyke Scuba additionally offers a scuba school. Says the owner, Capt. Colin Aldridge, “We are a PADI 5 Star Dive Center and the only dive shop on Jost. We teach all levels of diving up to Assistant Instructor and are also the only SCUBA company diving the North side on the BVI. We’ve discovered, named and charted over 40 World Class Dive Sites that no one dives but us. We have been filmed by National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Water Channel, Dive Zero, SCUBA Diving Magazine and many others because our dive sites are so off the beaten path and hold big animal life and unmolested healthy corals!”
For those that already are diving enthusiasts, you can set up a diving excursion with Jost Van Dyke Scuba to some of the ‘must see” dive sites visited only by them. Read about some of these sites here.
Private and Group Powerboat Charter and Fishing Charters. Additionally, for non-divers or families, they run Private and Group Powerboat Charters all over the BVI for snorkeling, site seeing, island hopping AND deep sea fishing charters!
Snorkeling on a BVI Eco-Tour
Calypso Day Sail
Calypso Day Sails. And if that doesn’t keep him busy enough, Capt. Colin also added Calypso Day Sails to the services he offers about 8 years ago. Calypso is the only Day Sail Yacht on Jost Van Dyke: a 45ft Robertoson and Caine Leopard certified for groups of up to 24 people. Book a day sail on the luxurious yacht, or inquire about other sailing options such as sunset cruises, dinner cruises and overnight charters!
Upcoming Online Shop. Jost Van Dyke Scuba is currently working on an online store and hope to have it up and running in August, so check back then to see their online merchandise offerings. Their beautiful wall art can already be purchased by calling or emailing them.
Stingray Wall Art, Jost Van Dyke Scuba
Capt. Colin Aldridge
So, who is Capt. Colin? Colin Aldridge moved to the Caribbean 32 years ago, got a Captains license, and started running Sailing Yacht Charters and yacht deliveries all over the World. He’s lived on sailboats most of his life, and is an avid fisherman and Sportfishing Captain as well. Colin is a single father of two kids from Jost who are 14 and 11. He and his children are serious farmers here on Jost, owning and working the Laid-Back Farm on the East End of the island.
Be sure to stop by to talk to Capt. Colin and his crew while visiting JVD and call ahead for more info or questions about services you are interested in at 1.757.287.2731 (USA cell) or 1.284.443.2222 (BVI cell). You can also reach Jost Van Dyke Scuba by email at [email protected].
Keep up to date on re-opening dates and requirements for the BVI here.
Many locally owned businesses are being hit hard right now due to restricted tourist traffic during the pandemic. Hoping to help in any way we can, we are highlighting some great local businesses that we hope you will enjoy learning about and may want to visit once we are able to travel to the beautiful islands once again… Some of these businesses also offer merchandise that you can order, gift certificates and pre-booking options. Be sure to contact them for additional info and watch for more articles soon!
Are you a fan of Mango drinks with rum such as this Mango Mojito, Mango Hurricane, Mango Colada or Papaya Mango Rum Float? If so, you’re gonna love this Rum & Mango Salsa! A little sweet, a little spicy and a whole lot of yummy! It’s mangoey freshness with just a taste of rum! Easy to make, you can enjoy this with some tortilla chips or with chicken or fish.
*We love bringing you amazing rum recipes! Our recipes may contain affiliate links to products that we use. If you click the link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support in helping us to continue providing rumlicious, tropical recipes!
Perched up high and overlooking The Baths, a well known and very popular beach in Virgin Gorda, you’ll find a restaurant/bar and shopping area called Top of the Baths. The first time we visited Top of the Baths was during our very first BVI sail in 2006. We’d spent the entire day exploring the trail through the gigantic boulders of The Baths and lounging in the crystal clear water of Devil’s Bay. Thirsty and hungry, we climbed the path to Top of the Baths.
(This article is part of our “Local Businesses of the Caribbean” series. Find out more at the end of this article.)
Top of the Baths is in a beautiful setting with panoramic views of the Sir Francis Drake Channel and many of the surrounding islands. Large bushes of Bougainvillea add a beautiful pop of color to the already stunning vistas.
The restaurant/bar at Top of the Baths, which originally opened in November of 1994, offers open air dining with that magnificent view.
They serve local specials, sushi and a variety of other signature dishes. See their menu here. Top of the Baths also features a new coffee bar which serves Caribbean coffee and a variety of tea drinks including the local Bush Tea.
Thirsty for something a bit stronger? They’ve definitely got that covered. The Top of the Baths signature drinks are the Rasta Man Punch and Boulder Roller. “However,” says owner Charlene, “Our Painkillers, Mango and Pina Colada’s, Bushwhackers and lots of other creations are equally as popular. Our bartenders are always creating something new for our customers to try.”
After getting your fill of delicious food and drink, you might want to do a little shopping at the shops right there including Caribbean Flavor Gift Shop, which features Cuban Cigars, souvenir items and a large selection of beautifully designed t- shirts for the entire family. It also has a nice selection of sandals and swim wear. Or Bamboula Boutique, which offers sterling silver Caribbean Hook Bracelets, Larimar sterling silver jewelry and Island Crystal sterling silver jewelry. Sterling necklaces and the island West Indian bracelets can also be found here. The store also has a large selection of men’s cotton and linen clothing and a complementary women’s clothing line. An interesting fact – the mother of the owner of Bamboula’s was the owner of the original Bamboula located on Main Street on St Thomas, US Virgin Islands in the 1950’s. The store on Virgin Gorda is named in her honor.
Although closed right now, they expect to re-open around October 31, 2020. Charlene says, “We all look forward to the time that they can completely reopen our borders. Our entire team at Top of The Baths will be awaiting the arrival of repeat guests that come to visit us while welcoming first time visitors to this magical place.”
If you’d like to stay on Virgin Gorda, we’d highly recommend Mon Repos which is also owned by the owner of Top of the Baths. It’s a beautiful villa, just a short walk from Top of the Baths. We loved our stay at this stunning and unique accommodation and you can read more about it here.
Many locally owned businesses are being hit hard right now due to restricted tourist traffic during the pandemic. Hoping to help in any way we can, we are highlighting some great local businesses that we hope you will enjoy learning about and may want to visit once we are able to travel to the beautiful islands once again… Some of these businesses also offer merchandise that you can order, gift certificates and pre-booking options. Be sure to contact them for additional info and watch for more articles soon!
Anchored off the coast of Jost Van Dyke in White Bay, the floating Ocean Spa BVI is the first of its kind in the British Virgin Islands. “It’s the only spa that I know of where brightly colored tropical fish swim under your massage table,” says Dale Mapp, the spa’s owner and creator.
(This is the 2nd article in our “Local Businesses of the Caribbean” series. Find out more at the end of this article.)
Ocean Spa BVI in White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands
Ocean Spa BVI opened for business in the fall of 2018 but it wasn’t without a few bumps in the road. After 25 years in hospitality industry, Dale initially came up with the idea of a floating spa about 10 years ago. He began to research how to make the idea a reality and began building a version of the floating spa in 2009 on a different island. Unfortunately that one never quite got off the ground.
His dream of building a floating spa remained on his mind and after relocating to the British Virgin Islands, he began building a new structure. Then, in 2017 came Hurricane Irma. Dale had to start his structure from scratch – again, but this time he used salvaged wood, metal and other material left in the wake of the devastating hurricane.
Ocean Spa BVI now rocks gently in the beautiful blue water of White Bay and offers massages in the easy ocean breezes and the gentle waves. Enjoy a Champagne Moonlight Couples Massage , a Private Spa Party or one of the other relaxing offerings.
Although the road to get here was not easy, Dale reflects on the trying times with calmness saying, “Beauty comes in many forms, and out of the most dire circumstances. Storms don’t always come to disrupt our lives – they come to clear a path for us also.”
Gift Certificates are available for purchase! Contact Ocean Spa BVI at (284)340-0772 or email them at [email protected] . Check out their website here: Ocean Spa BVI as well as their Facebook page and Instagram too!
Many locally island owned businesses are being hit hard right now due to restricted tourist traffic during the pandemic. Hoping to help in any way we can, we are highlighting some great local businesses that we hope you will enjoy learning about and may want to visit once we are able to travel to the beautiful islands once again… Some of these businesses also offer merchandise that you can order, gift certificates and pre-booking options. Be sure to contact them for additional info and watch for more articles soon!
Have you ever heard of SNUBA? Well, SNUBA, or Surface Nexus Underwater Breathing Apparatus, allows you to explore more of the underwater world than you can experience while snorkeling. If you already like to snorkel, but have yet to dive in and learn how to scuba dive, SNUBA is a perfect blend. Learning to SNUBA is easy and does not require any Scuba diving certification or previous experience; if you can breathe, look and kick your legs then you too can SNUBA!
(This is the 1st article in our “Local Businesses of the Caribbean” series. Find out more at the end of this article.)
We’d like to introduce you to BVI SNUBA. It’s located in the beautiful North Sound of Virgin Gorda at Leverick Bay Marina and is run by a lovely lady named Elaine who will immediately make you feel comfortable and excited to get under that clear blue BVI water! Elaine has been living on Virgin Gorda since 2000 and loves taking guests on their first underwater adventure. Right now, BVI SNUBA is the only SNUBA operator in the BVI and strives to enhance guests underwater experience and make it an easier transition to diving.
BVI SNUBA, offers SNUBA and snorkeling trips, full and half day charters and sunset charters and has been in business since Feb 2018. BVI SNUBA can also do rendezvous SNUBA where they can come to their guests if they are staying on a yacht, or on a crewed or bareboat charter.
Are you heading to, or thinking of heading to the BVI and would like to learn more about the SNUBA experience? Give BVI SNUBA a call or WhatsApp 1 (284)341-0660 or email them at [email protected]. Check out their website at BVI SNUBA for rates and booking info and follow them on Instagram and Facebook for more photos of this fun experience! Check out their reviews on Trip Advisor!
Tour Guide, Elaine
Need some masks, snorkels, fins, underwater fish ID’s, BVI maps or rashguards? Email them for more info!
Many locally island owned businesses are being hit hard right now due to restricted tourist traffic during the pandemic. Hoping to help in any way we can, we are highlighting some great local businesses that we hope you will enjoy learning about and may want to visit once we are able to travel to the beautiful islands once again… Some of these businesses also offer merchandise that you can order, gift certificates and pre-booking options. Be sure to contact them for additional info and watch for more articles soon!
We’ve been really missing the islands and have had a hankering for a good coconuty rum drink lately. We just happened to have a full bottle of Blue Chair Bay Coconut Rum on the rum shelf and thought we’d look through the recipes on their website. They all looked good, but there was one that really sounded delicious – the Island Girl. We had all of the ingredients on hand so we whipped one up. It was super easy and tasted similar to a Painkiller – but a bit more refreshing. SOLD! This will be one we make a lot during the upcoming hot summer months!
*We love bringing you amazing rum recipes! Our recipes may contain affiliate links to products that we use. If you click the link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support in helping us to continue providing rumlicious, tropical recipes!
Pour ingredients into two glasses with ice. We used something similar to these Pineapple Glasses. For a party or get together, you can increase the ingredient amounts to make a large batch and use this Pineapple Dispenser!
We started hearing about a new floating bar/restaurant in St. John, USVI, in the Spring of 2019. It originally was anchored in Hansen Bay, on the East End of St. John. We were familiar with the area, having spent a bit of time at the old Angels Rest floating bar in Hansen which unfortunately was destroyed in the hurricanes of 2017.
As we planned our trip for Spring 2020, Lime Out was on the list of places we wanted to visit. Then suddenly we read that there was a problem with their location in Hansen Bay and they had to close for a while. We kept our fingers crossed that it would reopen in its new location by the time we got their, and fortunately, it did!
Lime Out now sits in Coral Bay – also on the East end of St. John. If you are visiting by boat, you can pull up and anchor close by. If visiting by car, you can no longer swim or kayak out to Lime Out. Instead, park at The Oasis in Coral Bay and take the boat shuttle out to Lime Out ( currently $13pp round-trip).
Oasis Restaurant, Coral Bay – great Southern comfort food!
Boat ride to Lime Out
The ride out takes just a few minutes and you have to swim/walk a short way (not very deep) from where the boat leaves you off to Lime Out.
Approaching Lime Out
Swimming in
We swam up and took a seat at the bar.
Beverages are served in tumblers
There are bar stools in the water next to Lime Out, or you can grab a seat on one of the vibrant rafts. Order your food and drinks and they’ll float it out to you.
Lime Out is known for its tacos and they are GOOD! We ordered the Rum Rib Tacos along with a couple of beverages and grabbed a seat on a raft.
A half eaten Rum Rib Taco. They were so good we forgot to take a pic until we were halfway done!
A family from Vancouver asked if they could join us and we had a great afternoon chatting and enjoying more drinks.
The shuttle runs every half hour or so and we reluctantly decided to head back.
We had a great day at Lime Out. Well worth a visit in our book. To find out more, check out their website, Facebook page and Instagram.
Approximately 575 miles southeast of Miami, Florida lies a beautiful tropical archipelago comprised of 40+ small islands. It’s called the Turks & Caicos Islands. The islands are separated into two groups – the Turks Islands to the east, which include Grand Turk and Salt Cay and the Caicos Islands to the west, including Providenciales, North Caicos, South Caicos, Middle Caicos, Pine Cay and Parrot Cay. All in all, there are 8 islands in the chain that are inhabited.
The archipelago is a British Oversees Territory and is home to over 31,000 full time residents. Due to its stunning calm, blue water and white sand beaches, T&C has become a popular beach lovers destination and welcomes more that a million tourists annually.
Have you been to T&C? If not, here are some reasons why you should plan a trip to Turks & Caicos!
Beaches
It’s no secret that we love a beautiful white sand beaches and the islands of Turks & Caicos have some of the prettiest we’ve seen. With miles of secluded beaches to explore, these islands are truly a beach lover’s paradise. Some of our favorites?
Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales
Grace Bay, Providenciales. This stunning beach frequently makes the “Top Most Beautiful Beaches” list and for good reason. At a little over 3 miles long, this white sand beach lapped by beautiful turquoise water just begs you to come in for a swim, float, snorkel or to play. Some areas around the resorts can be busy at times, but we’ve never had a problem finding a quiet, beautiful area to enjoy. And, if you get hungry or thirsty after a day in the sun, there are several restaurants and bars (such as Somewhere Cafe’ & Lounge) to quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger while enjoying the incredible views.
Sapodilla Bay, Providenciales
Sapodilla Bay, Providenciales. Although not as long as Grace Bay Beach, Sapodilla Bay compares in sheer beauty. Crystal clear water and white sand make this beach an absolute treat for the eyes. There are villas for rent just off the beach and if you get hungry, Las Brisas Restaurant is close by.
Whitby Beach from Barracuda Beach Bar
Whitby Beach, North Caicos. There are several stunning beaches on North Caicos and you will most likely have the beach entirely to yourself. We enjoyed Whitby Beach, a long stretch of soft white sand with a small restaurant/bar named Barracuda Beach Bar & Grill. The beach and shallow water were dotted with pretty conch shells during our visit and were used as decorations at the beach bar.
Mudjin Harbour Beach, Middle Caicos
Mudjin Harbour Beach, Middle Caicos. A stunning coastline of beautiful beach, a rugged rocky outcropping called “Dragon Cay”, caves and high limestone cliffs that somehow reminded us a bit of Ireland all combine into one special place on Middle Caicos called Mudjin Harbour. Accessed by boat tours or by car via the causeway between North and Middle Caicos, this area is definitely worth a visit. Read more here.
Eat & Drink
Not surprisingly, conch is a popular dish in Turks & Caicos. Whether made in a ceviche, fritters, chowder, curried or in a salad, we found it all to be fresh and delicious. Wash it down with a refreshing rum drink (Bambarra is the local rum) and what more could you need! Other seafood is also readily available, such as Grouper and Caribbean Lobster (in season). Some of our favorite restaurant/bars so far?
da Conch Shack, Providenciales & RumBar. Enjoy a delicious dinner (cracked conch and jerk chicken are excellent) with a tall glass of Jan’s Rum Punch while sitting on a picnic table with toes in the sand. Perfect. Read more here.
Mr. Grouper’s. Sometimes it truly pays to ask the locals for a dining recommendation. Unsure of where to go one evening, we asked a lady we met for a good local eatery. She said that if we like seafood, we should definitely try Blackened Grouper at Mr. Grouper’s. Man, was she spot on. We ordered a Blackened Grouper and a Coconut Crusted Grouper with Mango Chutney Sauce. Other dishes are available, but when we went back a second time that week, we ordered the exact same thing, Delicious.
Rum Drinks at Bugaloo’s Conch Crawl
Bugaloo’s Conch Crawl, Providenciales. A beach side, seafood restaurant with delicious food and great drinks. Dine on the deck under the trees or grab a table in the shallow water, if there’so one available! Read more here.
‘Somewhere’ Cafe’ and Lounge, Providenciales. Located on the beach in West Grace Bay, this multi-level restaurant and bar serves up a beautiful view of Grace Bay Beach in addition to tasty food and drink. Excellent place to enjoy a colorful Turks & Caicos sunset. Read more here.
Other Things to do in Turks & Caicos
Besides spending time on the beach or eating and drinking, what else is there to enjoy in Turks & Caicos? Here are a few ideas:
1. Diving and snorkeling – with such amazingly clear water, it’s no wonder that diving and snorkeling in Turks & Caicos is top notch. The coral is vibrant and the reef fish are plentiful .
2. Take an excursion to a deserted cay and enjoy your own private island for the day!
3. Visit Water Cay and learn about the endangered Rock Iguanas that used to live on all islands in the Turks & Caicos but are protected here.
4. Attend the Thursday Fish Fry on Providenciales. Sample food from local restaurants and vendors, enjoy some live music and shop for local arts and crafts.
5. Play golf. Get a round in between beach days at Provo Golf Club.
6. Explore other islands. Ferry to North Caicos, rent a car and explore North Caicos and Middle Caicos (connected by a causeway) for the day.
7. Catch a sunset on Grace Bay Beach or Leeward Beach. Stunning.
A delicious Sangria with rum which may make social distancing a little…more tolerable? Six-Feet Sangria – it’s got a dose of Vitamin C in the fruit and sits pretty on a coaster of a square of toilet paper (no TP was wasted in photographing this drink)! The ingredients make one, but it can easily be doubled or quadrupled. Call your friends, give them the recipe and have a virtual happy hour! Cheers!
In all seriousness, please take any recommendations seriously and stay safe!
*We love bringing you amazing rum recipes! Our recipes may contain affiliate links to products that we use. If you click the link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support in helping us to continue providing rumlicious, tropical recipes!
1/2oz.Simple Syrup Optional and to taste. If you are using a sweet red wine or do not like your drink too sweet, the simple syrup is not needed.
Ice
Instructions
Pour the wine into a bowl and add the rum and lemon lime soda
Add the fruit to the mixture.
Taste the mixture and add simple syrup to taste. This step is optional and depending on the wine and your taste, you may not want to add simple syrup to make it sweeter.
