We’ve long extolled the virtues of the rum bar in these pages: that is, bars that go beyond trivial cocktail rum and offer a serious, diverse offering of rums on the menu.

But none of these bars has ever been right on the sand.

Until now.

Thanks to one of the Caribbean’s most creative hospitality minds, Guy Ferdinand, Martinique’s Le Petibonum beach bar has debuted a full-fledged rum bar on the sand in the increasingly cool beach town of Carbet. (Note: Le Petibonum is a two-time winner of CJ’s Caribbean Beach Bar of the Year).

The simply-titled Rum Bar, which is adjacent to the existing Petibonum bar and restaurant, has a strikingly good collection of AOC rums from Martinique — with around 70 in total — a number that is rising quickly.

Chef Guy Ferdinand.

That means everything from a broad array of white rums perfect for a Ti’ Punch (right now the Clement Blue Cane 2016 is drinking especially well in the famous French Caribbean cocktail) to rarer expressions from HSE and Hardy, among others.

And that’s along with some inventive cocktails using Martinique’s spectacular rum, above.

If you’re a lover of rum, particularly rhum agricole, this is a new bucket-list destination. And if you haven’t tried it, it’s a reason to visit Martinique in its own right — because experiencing Martinique and its rum culture is one of the most fascinating things a lover of Caribbean travel can do.

And here, a place that has long redefined what’s possible at a Caribbean beach bar has done it again.

And it’s all right on the beach.

— CJ