On The Road: Rum packs a punch in idyllic Grenada

Beth Tierney
Saturday 27 June 2009 00:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The sunset is reflecting gold across the bay, twinkling lights flicker on the lapping water. Yachts in the nearby marina announce their presence with a distinctive twang, as rigging pings against masts.

The atmosphere is hazy. Warm and sultry, festive... but still hazy. I contemplate my rum punch and realise it's me. "What's this thing been spiked with?" I ask my Grenadian waiter. He holds up a bottle of local rum and I squint at the label. It says it's 138 degrees proof, so I decide it's time to put the glass down. Tomorrow will be soon enough to investigate whether that's true or whether I've completely lost focus.

The next morning I head off to explore Grenada's natural charms. I've only been here a few days but have quickly come to realise that the heady descriptions I'd read about Grenada are justified: this small speck of land is a complete assault on the senses. This is not a place that does things by halves.

My driver circumnavigates the island but we don't get far very fast, as he brakes every few minutes to point out a spice tree (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves – scents permeating the air) or a flower (bougainvillaea and helliconias in saturated hot colours). Later, I climb steep-sided hills and look back to the sea, then walk to a chattering waterfall that lies deep in the cool, soothing green of the rainforest.

We stop at a spice plantation that operates from near-derelict buildings dating back to the 1700s. The spices are processed in exactly the same way as they were back then. At the rum distillery it's the same: methods haven't changed there either and my guide is at great pains to point out that the rum is distilled to the purest standards. And it is 69 per cent alcohol by volume, which corresponds to 138 degrees proof. I have a taste of the product before it's been bottled. It's just like last night's cocktail, but without the juice it has twice the punch.

Grenada is certainly not a place that does things by halves.

Seafocus, a resource for scuba divers run by Shaun and Beth Tierney, is at seafocus.com . Footprint's 'Caribbean Islands Handbook' is out now (£14.99).

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in