News

The Caribbean’s Highest Cocktail

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - October 10, 2014

This isn’t the highest bar in the Caribbean. Or is it?

As a standalone bar, i.e. unattached to a restaurant, it might be, at more than 2,100 feet above sea level.

Sure, there’s the bar (attached to a restaurant) at Strawberry Hill in Jamaica, and assorted mountain hotels in the Dominican Republic. And a number of others scattered around the region.

But, here, high above the green hills of St Thomas and scattered Virgin Islands, this sure feels like it.

d4

This is Mountain Top, one of the most famous bars on the US Virgin Island of St Thomas, a massive complex that is two parts: one, a large shopping destination and two, a rather good bar.

The bar itself is located inside what feels like an old hangar (with about as many souvenirs, rum bottles and clothing as any store in the region), and it specializes in the banana daiquiri.

d3

One can order the banana daiquiri in any of several different cups, themselves souvenirs, and then head out to the observation deck, where you can see just about every island in both the US and British Virgin Islands.

In the near ground, there’s St Thomas’ Magens Bay; to the far left, the tiny islet of Hans Lollik in the USVI, then Great Tobago, Jost Van Dyke and Tortola of the BVI, and then the USVI’s Lovango Cay, Thatch Cay, Grass Cay and St John.

d2

The daiquiri itself? Superb. You might call it the Caribbean’s Highest Cocktail — and certainly one of its best.

mountain

It’s made expertly using fresh bananas and Cruzan Rum by the barman who identified himself as “Joe Banana.”

Whatever the size, you’ll likely finish it before you finish counting all the islands you can see.

And with the banana and the rum and all those islands in sight, you might get briefly disoriented.

But don’t worry — it’s just the altitude.

— CJ

Popular Posts cape santa maria

From Anguilla to Aruba, the Best Caribbean Beaches to Visit This Summer

Forget the Hamptons, forget Santorini. And Florida? There’s a reason snowbirds go home in the summer. If you’re looking for a summertime beach getaway, the Caribbean is it. The water is deliciously warm, the trade winds keep you cool and […]


The Winners of the 2024 Caribbean Green Awards 

caribbean green

With almost 20,000 votes, the winners of the Caribbean Green Awards 2024 Presented by E-Finity have been crowned.  From state-of-the-art marine conservation projects to hotels that are redefining sustainability, the Green movement has never been stronger in the Caribbean.  “This […]


Curacao’s Newest All-Inclusive Resort Reinvents the Beach Bungalow

beach bungalow on the sand with reflection of water

Hyatt’s Dreams brand first debuted on the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao back in 2019, a transformation of what had been the Hilton Curacao. In many ways, Dreams’ debut helped change the game for the island, helping to kick off […]


Related Posts the beach at the caribe hilton

Caribbean Airlines Is Adding a New Island: Puerto Rico   

The intra-regional airline market in the Caribbean is starting to heat up, and the focus is clearly on San Juan, Puerto Rico as more and more carriers set their sights on the city. Fresh off Frontier Airlines’ major expansion out […]


The CHTA Is Looking for the Caribbean’s Next Tourism Leaders

last year's forum

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association is looking for the next generation of hospitality and tourism leaders in the Caribbean.  The CHTA has launched the next session of its Young Leaders Forum, chaired by Barbados hotelier and former CHTA President […]


This Is the Best-Value All-Inclusive Vacation in the Caribbean 

beach with blue water and white sand

It’s one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Period.  That perfect, vibrant, almost neon turquoise. Sugar-white sand so white you sometimes have to squint depending on the sun.  It’s the beach you dream about on cold winter days, or […]


SUBSCRIBE!

Sign up for Caribbean Journal's free newsletter for a daily dose of beaches, hotels, rum and the best Caribbean travel information on the net.


No. Thank You