uncommoncarib

Hakon Thingstad (hakonthingstad) via flickr Snapping pics (and perhaps popping The BIG Question) beneath the Engagement Umbrella, the lone structure anchored in concrete amid the ever-shifting sands of Mopion, a tiny islet located near Petit St. Vincent in the Grenadines . Read Full Story

Today’s Saturday Video post is all about you guys! Well, most of you anyway… A few weeks ago, we ran a poll on our Facebook page asking you to tell us your favorite watersports activity. As snorkeling was the overwhelming top choice, we’re sharing a cool video view of what it’s like to explore the undersea environs around Sandy Island, a truly off-the-beaten-path spec of sun-kissed perfection in the Grenadines . Actually, Sandy Island is a satellite islet of Carriacou, the largest of the... Read Full Story

Cruzan Black Strap Rum from St. Croix/SBPR In the history of new product introductions from our legendary hometown distillery, the unveiling of Cruzan Black Strap Rum was a dud for me, and most of the tried and true Crucians in my circle of friends. This came as a shock, of course, as like all proud St. Croix natives, we’re steadfast in our staunch support and unabashed bias toward our blessed Cruzan Rum. What we didn’t know – what we just could not know at the time – was that the problem... Read Full Story

Front entrance to La Suite Villa/SBPR In an island like Martinique , that despite being about the size of Manhattan still boasts 10 different rum distilleries producing God knows how many different types of rhum , you can well imagine that there exist a great many excellent places where one can enjoy the quintessential Caribbean spirit. On the more casual end of the spectrum, you have sultry  seaside gourmet party spots, like Le Petibonum and Lili’s . For more traditional West Indian... Read Full Story

Rum Barrels at Fousquare Distillery Barbados Well here it is: our first Uncommon Caribbean Month of Rum. All this month, we’re covering our favorite spirit from all angles. Expect videos, photos, interviews, reviews and more. But so far, the big news is our VIP RumFest Escape sweepstakes we announced yesterday. The excitement around the two VIP passes to the 2012 Miami Rum Renaissance Festival and $500 in travel cash has been spreading fast and furiously. Haven’t entered yet? Stop reading... Read Full Story

VIP RumFest Escape That’s right, we’re kicking our Month of Rum celebration into high-gear with the launch of a new VIP RumFest Escape sweepstakes, offering you the chance to hang with us at the 2012 Miami Rum Renaissance Festival ! The World’s Sexiest Rum Party , as designated by yours truly, the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival is also a serious celebration of the world’s finest rums, and everything that makes them so. Everybody who’s anybody in the world of rum is there – legendary... Read Full Story

Eclipse Crackers from Barbados/SBPR February 2012 being The Month of Rum , as designated by us, you might find it odd that we’d feature these plain-Jane crackers from Barbados as our lead Taste of the Caribbean post for the month. Truly, there’s nothing rummy about these biscuits, aside, perhaps, for their trace levels of sugar content and their shared home-island heritage in The Birthplace of Rum . On a personal level for me, though, Eclipse Crackers and rum go hand-in-hand… especially... Read Full Story

Lindz Graham via Flickr Enjoying Super Bowl Sunday with a little football, Caribbean-style, on the beach at Dickenson Bay, Antigua . Read Full Story

We’ve told you about a half-marathon versus a volcano , an eco-challenge versus another volcano , a kayak race out at sea , an impossible trail race , grueling cycling contests, and a triathlon pitting athletes against a beast ! Indeed, the Caribbean offers a great many opportunities for active travelers to test their mettle competing in some very uncommon sporting events. La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge is certainly no exception. Now entering its 15th year, this arduous canoe race is... Read Full Story

Ron Zacapa 23 de Guatemala/SBPR In the no rules world of rum, imitation is not only the sincerest form of flattery, it’s also quite often a recipe for something very, very special. Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 is a prime example. Like Dos Maderas P.X. from Spain, which we told you about last summer, Zacapa borrows heavily from the winemaker’s art to achieve its uniquely sweet, refined flavor. Sherry is once again the wine in question, though its role in crafting this premium rum is expanded... Read Full Story