What? Me? Where? With whom? Really? An invitation to join a Cane to Cocktail tour of Jamaica hosted by premium Jamaican rum producer, Appleton Estate, with its Master Blender Joy Spence as guide for much of the trip was met with a speedy Yes please! and plenty of anticipation about the delicious fun ahead finding out about (and drinking plenty of) one of my favourite rums at its source.
My first time in Jamaica, all expectations and Caribbean cravings were more than met during the tour. Food was awesome. Beaches were beautiful. Everybody I met was super nice. And, of course, the rum and rum cocktails were exceptionally tasty. A brief but active four-night/five-day breeze across the island, my itinerary was a mix of hitting a few locally celebrated destinations (while still keeping largely off the tourist circuit) and visiting some of Appleton’s key sites of production.
If you’ve never been to Jamaica or enjoyed the rich liquid comforts of Appleton Estate, you’re missing out. For me, this one-two punch tour was like having my cake and eating it too. Indulge me as I share the indulgent highlights in a Cane to Cocktail miniseries about the trip. Some of my posts will be specific to rum production and the unique conditions that make Appleton such a fine spirit. Others will be more generally about the wonders of the island and how you can make the most of your own Jamaican getaway.
But before I dive into all that, here’s a quick look at some practicalities.
My first couple of nights in Jamaica were spent in Kingston at The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. If you’re heading to Jamaica for a beachside idyll, this ain’t the place. But if your flight arrives in Kingston in the evening, it’s a convenient, clean and comfy place to rest your head. I certainly slept well there, and I loved the full spread breakfast buffet. Features include a big pool, spa, fitness centre, proximity to a Emancipation Park and more.
The Pegasus served as a great base for exploring the Kingston area. I’ll write more about Kingston sightseeing soon – as well as details about the other hotels visited across the island.
I was on the go a lot in Jamaica, most days out from early morning to late evening (and maybe even early morning to early morning once as well). My rum fueled doings across the island proved a perfect opportunity to put my new Groov-e Solar Bank to the test. This durable, lightweight and pocket-sized solar powered portable charger (with a RRP of £49.99) was ace at keeping my phone as juiced up as I aimed to be. On a full battery, the Groov-e Solar Bank can charge a smartphone four to six times over and recharges itself when in sunlight. Obviously, somewhere like sunny Jamaica seems like an ideal place such a gadget. That said, the charger has yet to let me down with its recharge magic while using it here in less than tropical London.
