A while ago, staffer Gemma Price gave us 5 rum cocktail recipes born in the Caribbean. And while rum rules in this region, it's not the only game in town.
On my sailing on Silver Spirit, I cornered the top mixologist on the ship, Zak Zlatko of Macedonia, and asked him to whip up some cocktail concoctions that would be fitting for all the ports on our itinerary (plus not-far-away Bermuda) — including a few original recipes. My cruise mates and I can personally attest that all of these are worth a try.
Here are eight Caribbean drink recipes from a master mixologist.
Antigua and Barbuda
Drink: Deep Blue ‘C’
Antigua, home to three of the top luxury resorts in the world, and luxury line Silversea make a good match, so here's a popular tropical drink served on all Silversea ships and dedicated here to Antigua and Barbuda.
Deep Blue ‘C’ recipe
1½ oz. Grey Goose Vodka
1 oz. Grand Marnier
Splash of cranberry juice
2 teaspoons lemon juice
Garnish with lime peel
Shake well, serve straight into martini glass and enjoy.
Barbados
Drink: Mount PekPek (original recipe)
Zak thought long and hard before concocting this new drink as an homage to Barbados, which he dubbed Mount PekPek. It's an original recipe.
Mount PekPek recipe
Begin with an empty poco brandy glass.
2 oz. Mount Gay rum
Add a splash of grenadine
1 oz. sour mix
Pour in a poco brandy glass and shake
Top off with ice
Add 2 orange slices and a cherry — and serve.
Bermuda
Drink: Bermuda Sidecar
For surprising, refreshing Bermuda, with its British heritage, Zak serves up a simple tropical twist to the classic Sidecar. It's a signature cocktail of Silversea — all ships in the fleet have it.
Bermuda Sidecar recipe
1½ oz. Gosling's Bermuda Black Rum
1 1/3 oz. Grand Marnier
2/3 oz. fresh lemon juice
Shake well and serve in classic martini glass with sugar rim.
Dominica
Drink: Dominica Summer Breeze (original recipe)
This is more of a summer drink, but lush Dominica, the nature isle of the Caribbean, boasts a temperate climate all year long, with temperatures averaging a high of 82° F in December and 86° F in July. Zak whipped up this original recipe and it's a winner!
Dominica Summer Breeze recipe
1 oz. Captain Morgan’s Original Spiced Gold Rum
1½ oz. pineapple juice
Add splash of Angobitter bitters
½ oz. cranberry juice
Add ice. Shake briefly. Pour into a Poco Grande brandy snifter glass.
Top it off with soda water.
Garnish with cherry or pineapple and serve.
Grenada
Grenada Dream (original recipe)
Grenadine — the red-colored, sweet, tart, non-alcoholic syrup made from pomegranate juice and sugar — may not hail from Grenada (where pomegranates are rare), but this drink offers a dazzling tropical refreshment.
Grenada Dream recipe
Add ice to classic tall highball glass
1 oz. Absolut Vodka
1/3 oz. Cointreau for flavor
2/3 oz. Peachtree Schnapps
Top off with tonic water
Add a splash of grenadine
Add 2 to 3 drops of bitters for balance (optional)
Garnish with lemon slice and cherry — and enjoy!
Martinique
Drink: Martinique French Martini
For oh-so-French Martinique, drawing influences from both the tropics and the Continent, Zak prepared a classic cocktail infused with French flavors.
Martinique French Martini recipe
2 oz. premium vodka (such as Grey Goose or Kettle One)
2/3rds oz. Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur
1½ oz. pineapple juice
Shake well to create a foam and pour into a traditional martini glass.
Garnish with black currant and serve.
St. Kitts
Drink: Coral Reef
St. Kitts and Nevis boasts some of the richest coral reefs in the Caribbean. So it's fitting that after a day of snorkeling or scuba diving, you can kick back with a refreshing Coral Reef.
Coral Reef recipe
Select a rock glass, which will impress the mad men in your party. Add:
1½ oz. Premium dry gin (such as Plymouth or Beefeater)
1 1/3 oz. St-Germain Elderflower Cordial
2/3rds oz. Aperol
Add ice
Add lemon garnish
Top off with tonic (soda) water
Combine ingredients and serve without shaking as a luminous aperitif on the rocks.
St. Lucia
Drink: St. Lucia Surprise
Here's a beautiful and simple cocktail recipe with two main ingredients, in homage to the Two Pitons, the stunning twin peaks that dominate the coastline of St. Lucia.
St. Lucia Surprise recipe
1 oz. Malibu Rum
½ oz. sour mix
Top off with tonic water
Add splash of grenadine
Top off with Dark Meyer’s Rum for coloring
Add ice as you build the drink in a poco brandy glass.
Garnish with pineapple slice and cherry — and serve.
Your take
How about you? Do you have a favorite tropical drink that you enjoy on a Caribbean cruise?
Updated from an earlier article.
