One part sour, two parts sweet.
The Princess Margaret Rum Punch Trail
Follow the Princess Margaret rum punch trail to find the best rum punch in Bequia.
If you’ve dropped anchor off Princess Margaret Beach, glance across the water, you’ll likely see the Hairouna fireball beckoning you.
Or, if you’ve decided to spend the day on the beach you’ll probably want to snag a spot where there are a few rum shacks within strolling distance to choose from. Just a short meander from Jack’s Beach Bar, you’ll find yourself at the start of the Rum Punch Trail.
There's a good reason why this stretch of beach can boast the best rum punch on the island. With 5 rum shacks within 500m, competition is stiff. Every bar owner takes immense pride in their mixology, and since some are also market traders, they have access to the freshest ingredients to make this potent drink. No two Rum Punches are the same and each has its own secret dash that will make your rum punch zing.
Chat to each of the bar owners and although they won’t be giving away any trade secrets, you'll find that each one has a story behind their secret dash that makes their version of the most popular Caribbean cocktail unique.
One Part Sour
Fays Beach Bar & Boutique
Make your way to Fays Bar, a delightful pink and purple shack where you can get your beach wear, lovely trinkets and something fresh and delicious to eat. Fays bar marks the start of the Princess Margaret Rum Punch Trail.
Fay is proudly Bequian, and has been trading on Princess Margaret beach for 30 years. In fact she made her first sale on Princess Margaret Beach when she was just 8 years old. Once a market trader in the harbour, Faye has maintained a network of suppliers of fresh citrus from all the islands in St. Vincent & the Grenadines.
You’d be well advised to plan to spend the day at Fays Bar. Her rum punch is absolutely bursting with flavours. Years of experimentation with varieties of citrus fruit that is native to St. Vincent has resulted in her crafting a deliciously tangy version of this Caribbean cocktail. It’s definitely not to be missed.
Two Parts Sweet
The Coconut Bar
Coconuts are probably the most wonderful fruit with which St. Vincent & the Grenadines is blessed. At the Coconut Bar, Jessian McKenzie skillfully takes a cutlass, cleaves off the top of the nut and pours the most naturally sweet and nutritious nut water you will ever have the pleasure to drink.
Jessian swears by coconut water, and he has good reason to. He was reared by his Great-Grandfather who would have a tot of rum with a dash of coconut water every day. His Great-Grandfather lived to the ripe old age of 104.
Jessian was the first to sell Coconuts on Princess Margaret Beach. At that time pure Coconut Water was a rare treat for visitors. A Rum Punch made with just a dash of this naturally sweet elixir, stands head and shoulders above those made with mass produced, concentrated juices.
At the Coconut bar the vibes are sweet. Let Jessian mix your Rum Punch, relax on a beach chair, and add years to your life.
Three parts strong
Lou Ann’s Cool Spot
At a near lethal 84.5 ABV, Sunset Very Strong Rum is the base of the best Vincentian rum punch. However, as Lou Ann will tell you, a good rum punch is not about being punched drunk. Lou Ann carefullly balances both white and dark rums so that its love at first sip. Her expert balance of light and dark rums add a hint of cherries and a whiff of vanilla to her version of this classic cocktail. Lou Ann’s rum punch gives you an instant warm glow and just makes you want to smile.
Cocktails blended with Sunset Very Strong Rum should be treated with extreme caution. Try not to smoke whilst drinking Lou Ans Rum punch, it could catch fire on your tongue. Lou Ann’s rum punch is so delicious you might be tempted to get yourself a bottle of Sunset Rum and make your own. Honestly, don’t try this at home - in any case, they literally won’t let you get away with it. There’s a SWAT team at Argyle International Airport dedicated to confiscating bottles of Sunset VSR that innocents abroad try to smuggle out of St. Vincent.
A better plan is to hire a beach chair, sit back, and relax. Savour your rum punch, and the views, right here at the Jalie Cool Spot on Princess Margaret beach.
Four parts weak
The Bamboo Bar
One of the most delightful features of the classic rum punch is the wonderful colours. The vibrant yellows and oranges of fresh fruit juices, and the pinkish glow of the grenadine syrup makes it truly like a sunset in a glass.
Kentis at the Bamboo Bar will tell you that the blend of tropical juices is probably the most important dimension of this delicious drink. At the Bamboo bar you will be enchanted by the beautiful pieces of beach art that surround you. Settle down for a drink at this delightful spot and you find that Kentis is just as creative with his Rum Punch.
As any good mixologist will tell you in order to get fresh fruit for your punch seasonality is key, as is the ability to be creative when traditional ingredients are scarce. Don’t be surprised if you taste fresh mangos or the tang of sorrel in your punch. Sit back, relax, and enjoy a rum punch that rolls with the seasons.
A pinch of herbs and a sprinkle of spice
Wild Lotus Infusions
The strongest rum in the world is not the only thing St. Vincent is famous for. Its rich volcanic soils produce the best Medicinal Cannabis in the world, too. Chloe, the botanist who runs Wild Lotus Infusions, uses both. She skillfuly create cocktails that are layered, complex and delicious.
As a licensed Cannabis dispensary and consumption lounge under the Greenhouse Cafe brand, Wild Lotus Infusions hosts regular pop up events on Princess Magaret beach.
So if you're searching for a different kind of Zen, stop by at Infusions and partake of a Cannabis infused ‘rum’ punch. Scan the Wearemedicinal barcode on the menu, fill in the form and within 5 minutes the dispensary will email back your Medicinal Cannabis prescription. Then simply choose your infusions. Select CBD for a blissful and serene vibe, or THC for heightened creativity and playfulness. Chloe will infuse your cocktail with THC or CBD, just as prescribed.
With each sip you will experience the entourage effect that Chloe orchestrates through the epert infusion of carefully selected herbs and spices with the finest Cannabis strains. Only the purest THC and CBD is blended in these cocktails to create an utterly unique experience.
You won’t always find Infusions on Princess Margaret beach, it is indeed a rare treat. Chloe takes her pop up bar all over the Grenadines. But if you are lucky enough to be on Princess Margaret beach and you see the Mela tent top of her pop up consumption lounge and her Cannabis leaf chairs, grab your spot. Kick back, relax and enjoy a passing Infusion that leaves you with a lasting impression.
Serve well chilled, with plenty of ice
Shelley’s Bar
It’s clear that Shelley’s secret ingredient for the best rum punch on the trail is to serve it with a smile. There’s always a small crowd at the back of her bar and their peals of laughter can often be heard halfway down the beach. Shelley’s bar is most definitely the place for a well chilled drink and a well chilled vibe.
A multi-talented lady, this is also the place to come if you want to have your hair braided whilst you sip on a rum punch and stare out to sea. As well as hair, she also does make up - just bring your make-up bag and Shelley will make you look like a movie star.
Shelley’s bar marks the end of the rum punch trail. Sure, there are other bars if you continue to meander along, but here, in this 500m stretch is where the competition is at its toughest for the accolade of the best Rum punch on the beach. Shelley is in no doubt that there is no competition. With the broadest smile she invites you to stop by and see for yourself.
