It’s the late evening in Grand Cayman, and the rum is flowing.
We’re at a sold-out tasting of Plantation rums, enjoying a seminar on the art of fine rum-making.
That’s because, while it goes without saying that the West Indies Wine Company at the island’s Camana Bay shopping complex is Grand Cayman’s top wine shop — it’s also a great place to find rum.
Indeed, this shop in the beautiful Camana Bay shopping complex famous for its wine selection has a terrific selection of rum, from rhums agricoles like Clement and Saint-James to great molasses-based rums like Abuelo and Zacapa.
We were privileged to attend the tasting this week by Plantation, which takes top-level Caribbean rums, ages them in the Caribbean (in bourbon casks) and then takes them to France to age them in Ferrand cognac casks, making for a rather unique series of rum expressions.
The tasting was led by Plantation’s Vice President, Guillaume Lamy, above, and examined a wide range of Plantation rums (we were rather fond of the Plantation Jamaica 2001 and a pair of rums born in Barbados, the 5 and 20 year editions.)
It’s tastings like these that help spread the gospel of rum — and show the broad quality in the rum world, something appreciated by still too few.
This was just the latest in a series of terrific events at the shop, which has become a hub for tastings of a wide range of spirits, including rum, achieving that rare feat: a place equally popular with both visitors and locals.
The West Indies Wine Company is Mecca in Cayman for all lovers of wine and spirits.
It’s a must-stop on any trip to the Cayman Islands.
— CJ