The Callwood Distillery, Cane Garden Bay, BVI

The Caribbean is synonymous with RUM. From Captain Morgan to Captain Jack Sparrow, the history of rum in the Virgin Islands is a tale of accidental discovery, gritty pirates and of course, some good old fashioned drinking! Rum originated as a byproduct of the once-massive sugar industry. African slaves living in the Barbados discovered that molasses, a byproduct of sugar production, had a sweet, spicy flavor when fermented and when consumed, resulted in deep inebriation. Once described as a “hot, hellish, terrible liquor”, rum has evolved into a delightful cocktail liquor reminiscent of strolling on white sandy beaches, sailing the blue waters of the Caribbean and living the beach bum lifestyle. I’ll take two!