Coconut Old Fashioned

Ready for a classy new cocktail? This twist on a classic from the people at Cruzan Rum highlights the flavor of Cruzan Single Barrel with just a hint of coconut (using coconut water ice cubes!) and citrus. Great to serve during a small cocktail party!

*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!

Coconut Old Fashioned

Servings: 1

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Cruzan Single Barrel Rum
  • 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
  • 3 dashes Bitters
  • Coconut Water Ice Cubes (strain a can of coconut water into an ice cube tray and freeze for several hours)
  • Orange Peel

Instructions

  • Cut a wide swath of orange peel and lightly press it in the bottom of a rocks glass.
  • Add rum, syrup and bitters.
  • Drop in a few Coconut Water Ice Cubes, stir gently and serve.

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You Might Have a Tropical Obsession If…

It’s no secret that we here at Rum Therapy do indeed have a tropical obsession…so  much so that we actually are willing to “work” to make our tropical obsession our profession. But just what are the signs of a tropical obsession? If you answer yes to any of these, you may have it. Not that having a tropical obsession is a bad thing – and we’re here to help fuel your obsession with pictures and ideas of what to see and do in the tropics. So whenever you find yourself day dreaming about a beautiful beach and a piña colada, just stop by for a visit. Our pictures of the islands and drink recipes will give you all the therapy you need to make it through your day!

You Might Have a Tropical Obsession If…

1. You see a picture of a beautiful beach on the computer and you drool just a little. Kind of like Pavlov’s dog – you can’t help it.

2. You find yourself planning your next tropical vacation the day you get back from the last one.

3. A hammock with an ocean view sounds so much more relaxing than a cushiony pillow top bed in your own home.

4. Just the thought of a Painkiller on the beach can get you through a Monday.

5. If you close your eyes, look up and imagine yourself on a sugar soft sand beach, you can almost feel the sun on your face and a soft tropical breeze blowing – even in the middle of winter.

6. You get a little teary every time Kenny Chesney’s song “Be As You Are” plays.

7. You can finish this entire verse from Jimmy Buffet’s song “Margaritaville”:

I blew out my flip flop, __________________________________________________

8. You feel like commenting “Oh, I REALLY need this” on every beautiful beach and frosty rum concoction picture posted on Facebook.

9. The thought of traveling with your in-laws is actually tolerable if it will include beach time…and rum.

10. You have a sign that says “It’s 5:00 Somewhere” hanging from your tiki bar in the backyard…


And the number one way to tell if you might have a tropical obsession?

You feel that flip flops are a perfectly acceptable form of footwear…year round!

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Let us know if you have a Tropical Obsession too!

Tropical-Obsession-(600)-O
Check out more posts in Tropical Tips & More!

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Coconut Mojito

It’s Monday and time for another Mojito Recipe. This time we took a little Coco Lopez and Coconut Rum and concocted a mojito with a light, refreshing coconut taste. Reminds me a bit of a Lime in D’ Coconut Drink – maybe a bit less sweet, but with the lime and mint I think it could fit in the mojito category too! Enjoy!

*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!

Coconut Mojito

Servings: 1

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Juice the lime and gently muddle with the mint leaves.
  • Add rums, Coco Lopez and brown sugar.
  • Gently stir, then pour over ice in a tall glass.

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Melon Mojito

Can you ever have too many Mojito Recipes? Of course not! Our favorite will always be the traditional Perfect Mojito, but during the summer, these fruity mojitos are perfect themselves – so sweet, light and refreshing!

*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! 

Melon Mojito

These fruity mojitos are perfect themselves – so sweet, light and refreshing!
Course: Drinks
Servings: 1

Ingredients

  • 3/4 oz. Midori Melon Liqueur
  • 1 1/2 oz. Light Rum
  • 2 Tbs. Mint Infused Simple Syrup (see recipe below)
  • 1 Tbs. Lime Juice
  • Club Soda
  • Fresh Honeydew Melon Balls

Instructions

  • To a rocks glass, add the lime juice and mint infused simple syrup.
  • Add the light rum and the melon liqueur.
  • Add ice and melon balls and top off with the club soda.
  • Garnish with mint leaves and lime. Enjoy!!

Notes

Mint Infused Simple Syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
Stems from 1 bunch of fresh mint
In a small saucepan, combine sugar, 1 cup water, and mint stems. Place over medium heat, and cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; let cool. Strain through a sieve. Syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks.

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Raspberry Mojito

Summertime is fresh fruit and berry time and today’s Mojito is made from one of my favorite berries – the raspberry. I tried it several ways, including using mint and raspberry infused simple syrup, but the following recipe makes such a tasty and refreshing cocktail that I had to choose this one to post!

*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!

Raspberry Mojito

Fresh and tasty, made with raspberries!
Course: Drinks
Servings: 1

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Muddle the sugar and raspberries until pureed. Add mint leaves and gently muddle until the flavor is released. 
  • Add the lime, rum and ice and then fill to the top with club soda. Gently stir.
  • Garnish with lime wheels, mint and a couple of raspberries.

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Gosling’s Dark ‘N Stormy

Because today (June 1st) is the official start to the hurricane season, we thought a Goslings Dark ‘N Stormy might be an appropriate drink for the day. A popular rum drink, the Dark ‘N Stormy is light and refreshing and very easy to make – a favorite summer drink around here.

*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!

Dark 'N Stormy

Servings: 1
Author: Goslings Rum

Ingredients

  • 1 - 1/2 oz Gosling's Black Seal Rum
  • 4 - 5 oz Gosling's Stormy Ginger Beer
  • Garnish with a Lime Slice

Instructions

  • In a tall glass filled with ice, add 4-5 oz ginger beer and top with the rum.
  • Garnish with a lime slice.

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Dirty Mojito

Dirty up your mojito by using a gold rum instead of a white and changing the simple syrup or white sugar to raw sugar or demerara sugar. Tonight we’re gettin’ dirty and making mojitos that look a little darker and taste just a little rummier. Mmmm… love Mojito Monday’s!

*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!

Dirty Mojito

Dirty up your mojito by using a gold rum instead of a white and changing the simple syrup or white sugar to raw sugar or demerara sugar.
Course: Drinks
Servings: 1
Author: Rum Therapy

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Muddle lime, sugar, mint in the bottom of a tall glass.
  • Add the rum and then top it with crushed ice.
  • Fill the remainder of the glass with club soda, stir gently and garish with lime and mint.

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Sammy’s Maui Rocker

Just two ounces of commitment, Now shake it up and pour it tall
One sip and you’ll surrender, One taste and you will fall
Sammy Hagar’s “One Sip”

We recently received a bottle of Sammy’s  Beach Bar Rum. Sammy’s rum is smooth enough to drink with just a cube of ice, but we thought we’d give it a try in one of the delectable recipes on his website.

We were really drawn to the recipe for Sammy’s Original Maui Mai Tai, but looked everywhere to no avail for Lychee Juice – although now we’re even more determined to find it and give the recipe a try! Sammy’s Maui Rocker looked equally as appealing, so we mixed up a batch. Don’t tell Sammy, but we changed the amount of rum from 1.5 oz to 2 oz (although we imagine that the Red Rocker probably mixes them a little stronger himself – ie, 2 oz of commitment???) Refreshing and fruity, this could become a regular. Mahalo Sammy for your rum and these tasty recipes!

*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!

Sammy's Maui Rocker

Servings: 1

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 oz Sammy's Beach Bar Rum (we bumped it up to 2 oz.)
  • 1-1/2 oz Pineapple Juice
  • 1 oz Fresh Sour (recipe below)
  • 1/2 oz Orange Curacao
  • 1/4 oz Grenadine
  • Pineapple Chunk and/or Orange Slice for Garnish

Instructions

  • Mix in tall glass with ice, then strain into a hurricane glass with ice. Garnish with fresh pineapple and orange.

Notes

Make the Fresh Sour by combining:
1/2 c. fresh lemon juice, 1/2 c. fresh lime juice and 1/2 c. simple syrup.
Stir, cover and keep in the refrigerator

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Cool Signs

As you know, we’re always interested in hearing about people who have been able to make their tropical obsession their profession. We recently heard about the owner of a shop on St. Thomas that manufactures signs and thought that her story was intriguing. Meet Jill Farley, the owner of Cool Signs. Oh, and did I mention, she met Kenny Chesney while doing some boat graphics for him??

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself? I’m actually a civil engineer and was working for the Port of Houston in 2000.  I came down here on vacation with a girlfriend and just decided that I didn’t need to be miserable anymore where I was.  I NEVER planned on staying here –figured a few months would be enough.  Now it’s 12 years later. . .

2. Has it been an easy transition to the islands?  For me, not bad.  I do understand how it would be difficult for most people, however.  I was also lucky enough to meet my wonderful husband down here and he brings a good balance into my life.

3. What do you enjoy the most about your life in the islands?  Sunshine / beach.  After that would be Carnival – I just finished up my 6th year in the Infernos Carnival Troupe and it’s just so much fun.  Parade day is like a day full of joy.

4. What made you decide to start your own business?  It was never my intent to start my own business.  I started working for a lady whose husband had a vinyl plotter and it all just kind of evolved.  It was like I found my niche – after years of not enjoying or being particularly good at my job (as an engineer) I was finally good at something! 

Cool Signs now has 12 full-time employees and is one of the largest sign shops on island.  5. Which famous bars and/or locations have you made signs for?  One of my favorites was going up to Necker Island to put graphics on wind surf boards for Richard Branson.  No, I didn’t actually get to meet him although I did do boat graphics for Kenny Chesney and Sterling Marlin and met both of them.. 

6. What are the challenges of living in the islands?  Living in the islands is a real challenge and hard to describe.  Here’s an example – you find yourself being guarded about making friends b/c it’s such a transitional place.  People come and go for the most part so you don’t really want to let yourself get too attached. 

7. What advice would you give to someone who would like to relocate to the islands?  That’s a tough one because I really don’t encourage people to move here for the most part.  I’ve just seen so many people come and go and know how difficult it is.  Just because it works for me doesn’t mean it works for most people.  I would advise people to practice patience & restraint.  To me, the fact that it’s hard here forces me to remember what’s important.  You just have to let the little things go!

8. Is there anything else we should know about you or your business?  This is my favorite question.  Living here and having this business has given me the opportunity to make people’s lives better and that’s amazingly rewarding.  I get to conduct my business with the highest integrity and standards.  No, I don’t make much money.  I rent an apartment and make car payments and struggle financially but I get to live MY way instead of having to follow a cookie cutter life.

Jill is currently working with photographer William Anthony Torrillo (Old Mango) to publish postcards from the VI’s made from some of his wonderful photos.

Old Mango Postcards will be available in packs of 6 soon on Jill’s website:

Website:  www.coolsignsvi.com

Twitter:  @coolsignsvi


Other posts on Making Your Tropical Obsession Your Profession:

4242 Miles to St. Lucia – The Boiled Frog Guesthouse – Danielle and Steve Unruh

Tears of a Mermaid – Elizabeth Ivy, Glass Jewelry

Searching for Pieces of Eight – Thomas Gidus

Okolemaluna Tiki Lounge, Kailua Kona, Hawaii – Brice Ginardi

Vessels of Freedom – Captain Darrel Hearne

Through the Eyes of a Tropical Soul – William Anthony Torrillo, Photographer

A Pirate Looks at 10 – Fletcher Morton, Trop Rock Musician

I’m Gonna Live My Life Like a Jimmy Buffet Song by Anthony Bjorklund (book review)

Railean Distillers – San Leon, Texas, Kelly Railean

Exploring Jost Van Dyke

We recently got an email from Facebook friend Angela asking “What is there to do on Jost Van Dyke besides barhopping?”.  Well, the bars on Jost Van Dyke are pretty stellar and you can read more about them on our post Barhopping on Jost Van  Dyke  or Barhopping on Jost Van Dyke Part 2 (after Irma), but, there’s a lot more to experience and explore on the Barefoot Island and here are a few suggestions from our visits there.

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1. Check out the Bubbly Pool –  on the East end of the island, pass Foxy’s Taboo and take the path to the Bubbly Pool. Dubbed “Nature’s Jacuzzi” the ocean spills over the rocks when the surf is rough and breaks into effervescent bubbles in the pool.

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2. Take a drive – or a hike high above the beaches. We rented a jeep in Great Harbour and then took a steep road to the top of the island close to East End Harbour.

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The road was paved for a short distance and then became a “not too bad” dirt road which continued to climb and twist through the hills with stunning overlooks of East End Harbour, Diamond Cay, Sandy Spit, Little Harbour, Great Harbour and Tortola. We hiked a bit around Roach Hill – the highest point in the island (1,054 ft) and then because the road was getting steeper and rockier, we turned around and headed back.

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3. Rent a dinghy for the day and explore Sandy Cay and Sandy Spit.

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Sandy Spit

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Sandy Cay

We rented a dinghy in Great Harbour and headed out for an island adventure. We went to Sandy Spit first, pulled the dinghy ashore and enjoyed an hour or so of….well just sitting in the sand and enjoying the beauty of this teeny little island. About 15 minutes (via dinghy) from Sandy Spit is another beautiful deserted island called Sandy Cay. Sandy Cay is bigger and has a hiking trail through middle that takes you from the calm side of the island to an overlook of the rougher side.

4. Treat yourself to some Caribbean Lobster. Caribbean Lobster is readily available in the BVI’s and an incredible treat. During our stay on Jost Van Dyke, we ordered Caribbean Lobster for dinner at Harris’ Place in Little Harbour. The service, setting and lobster were wonderful and we’ve heard that it’s equally as good at several other restaurants on island.

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5. Hammock Time. If you’re staying on Jost Van Dyke for a while, you should definitely spend some time swaying in the hammocks. You’ll find hammocks all over, including Ivan’s, Hendo’s, Soggy Dollar, Foxy’s and others on the beach in Great Harbour to name a few.. Pair hammock time with your favorite rum drink for some relaxing Rum Therapy…

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6. Get in the water. Snorkel, wade and float – just get in that beautiful crystal clear, take your breath away blue, warm water. The water around Jost Van Dyke is excellent for snorkeling and has some of the nicest water around for just enjoying….look at that water – don’t you just want to dive right in?

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7. Watch the sun set. We were on Jost for a little more than a week and every single night we were treated to a spectacular sunset – each one just a little different. Whether you’re on the beach, in a hammock or on the deck of your villa – watch the sun disappear behind clouds with unimaginable hues of orange and pink…
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8. And our favorite thing to do on Jost Van Dyke…….nothing!! Put your toes in the warm sand as the sun caresses your body, breathe in, breathe out, listen to the sound of the waves lapping the shore and feel that feeling that we don’t often feel in our busy lives – total relaxation….

JVD 14 (500)
And….just in case you see everything there is to see, get totally relaxed and still have time to see more – Jost Van Dyke is just a short ferry from Tortola, Virgin Gorda and St. John!


To see more posts on Jost Van Dyke and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

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Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC.  All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.