When traveling through the Caribbean you’ll visit unbelievable places, see natural beauty found no other place in the world, and of course drink some of the best rum. Then if you’re lucky, really lucky, you’ll get to experience something like what Randall experienced on a recent trip to the British Virgin Islands. Swimming with a whale.

Randall and his wife Tonia are frequent Caribbean travelers and long time RSR readers. On a recent sailing trip through the BVI they were lucky enough to swim with a lone Humpback Whale. They watched the whale as much as the whale watched them. This dance lasted over an hour. An hour that will last for the rest of their lives.

“Ran into this Humpback Whale off the Anegada reef on our way from Virgin Gorda. Was able to hang out and play with it for over an hour. Amazing experience!!! “

Here is the great video they made of the experience set to the music of Zac Brown Band. Truly awe-inspiring.

Swimming with a humpback whale…. from radeaver on Vimeo.

I don’t know about you, but doing something like this would be something I’d remember for the rest of my life. Have you ever had an experience like this?

Cheers,
RumShopRyan

Please Subscribe If You Love The Caribbean!
Subscribe to Daily Updates
Facebook.com/RumShopRyan
Twitter.com/RumShopRyan
Google+
Pinterest

Get ready to climb through your computer screen. This video of the British Virgin Islands will blow your mind.

Filmed and edited by Benjamin Williams, this video will take you on a grand tour of the BVI. You’ll see everything the islands have to offer above and below the gin clear water. Now more words needed.

The British Virgin Islands-Epic Adventure

Unbelievable right. Pretty sure I got goose bumps like three times.

What is your favorite thing about the BVI?

Cheers,
RumShopRyan

Please Subscribe If You Love The Caribbean!
Subscribe to Daily Updates
Facebook.com/RumShopRyan
Twitter.com/RumShopRyan
Google+
Pinterest

Those are a few lyrics from Somewhere in the Sun by Kenny Chesney. The island cowboy sure knows how to sweet talk our tropical, sand on the brain souls doesn’t he. I’d have to say that Somewhere in the Sun has to be in my top 5 Chesney songs. It paints the perfect picture of living in the islands and letting the stresses of “The Real World” slide away like the waning tide. What many would call “THE LIFE“.

Today we’re going to talk about the famous Foxy’s Firewater Rum from Foxy’s Beach Bar on Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands. My buddy Carl from Conch Republic Bikinis was just down in the BVI and picked me up a bottle of Foxy’s Firewater Rum. Thanks Carl!

I’ve been doing a little sipping on this rum to get a feel for it. Again, I’m no rum expert, but here is a video of my take on Foxy’s Firewater Rum.

Foxy’s Firewater Rum Review

I say in the video that it ranks as a 4 out of 10, that might be a little harsh. After a little more tasting I’d probably give it a 5. Good but not over the top good.

It has a sweet aroma with hints of vanilla. The rum has a good bite at the beginning and then falls off. Not a strong after taste and like I said in the video, maybe even a little watered down.

Where can I get my hands on some Firewater Rum? I get this question a lot and mention it in the video, Foxy’s Beach Bar is the only place you can get Firewater Rum. It’s not sold in the states and they do not ship it from Foxy’s. You actually have to go to Jost, and hit up Foxy for a bottle. And when you’re there, don’t forget to pick up a bottle for your good pal RumShop!

Regardless of how the rum tastes, it’s still a great bottle to have in your collection. I won’t be drinking a lot of Foxy’s Firewater Rum because I don’t want it to disappear like so many of my other bottles. I still don’t know how that happens. Damn rum fairies.

Foxy's Firewater Rum

Also, this week is the last week to vote for our buddy Carl for the Tommy Bahama Rumologist Contest. Click this link – Tommy Bahama Rumologist – and vote for Carl Grooms. He is a true Castaway and would make a great Tommy Rumologist.

If you’ve had the chance to sip on some Foxy’s Firewater Rum, whether on Jost Van Dyke or not, let us know what you thought.

Cheers to being Somewhere in the Sun,
RumShopRyan

Please subscribe and Follow on Facebook and Twitter
Subscribe to Daily Updates
www.Facebook.com/RumShopRyan
www.Twitter.com/RumShopRyan

In saying that, you wouldn’t be able to tell any of that from today’s Caribbean Photo Friday picture. I think I see one, maybe two boats in the bay. The calm for the storm. Later in the day White Bay will fill up with gleaming hulls and waving canvas, all toting day trippers wanting their time in this Caribbean playground. Sign me up.

Here is a little diddy by our friend Mr. Chesney that sums up this little island pretty well.

Somewhere In The Sun

Stuck here at a Holiday Inn near Austin, Texas
Seen all the road that I want to see
God I hate the snow, they even cancelled the show
Makes me long for where I really want to be

Oh I wish I was there tonight on Jost Van Dyke
Sipping on some Foxy’s Firewater rum
Or kickin’ back with Ivan
With all my friends down in the islands
Wouldn’t take much for me to up and run
To another life somewhere in the sun

Got cold fajitas and only one channel on the TV
Andy and Barney on Nick at Nite
Seen an ad for Mexico, God I really want to go
Anywhere out of mind and out of sight

Oh I wish I was there tonight on Jost Van Dyke
Sipping on some Foxy’s Firewater rum
Or kickin’ back with Ivan
With all my friends down in the islands
Wouldn’t take much for me to up and run
To another life somewhere in the sun

Here’s a toast to you on the coast and the sailors out at sea
Drink your ales, hoist your sails
Ride the winds and think of me, ’cause

Oh I wish I was there tonight on Jost Van Dyke
Sipping on some Foxy’s Firewater rum
Or kickin’ back with Ivan
With all my friends down in the islands
Wouldn’t take much for me to up and run
To another life somewhere in the sun

Somewhere in the sun

Funny how just reading those lyrics relaxes the soul. One of my all time favorites.  I hope all you Castaways have a great weekend, you deserve it.

Don’t forget, the new “THE LIFE” Castaway t-shirts just came out. Would love to see you represent in style!

(Photo from ireland4517 via Flickr)

Cheers!
RumShopRyan

Please subscribe and Follow on Facebook and Twitter
Subscribe to Daily Updates
www.Facebook.com/RumShopRyan
www.Twitter.com/RumShopRyan

Let’s start with one of the lesser known beach bars on Jost, Corsairs. Located in Great Harbour, Corsairs doesn’t get quite the attention as its White Bay neighbors. Owned and ran by the charismatic Vinnie, Corsairs is a great place to wash ashore, grab a bite to eat and through back a signature Wench Juice or two.

Corsairs Beach Bar - Photo from Chrism.com

Picture yourself on the tiny island of Jost (easy to do I know), and you are attacked by a craving for Italian food, out of luck right? Wrong. Corsairs serves up Northern Italian cuisine, plus TexMex with a Caribbean twist and they are home to the Monster Lobster. They even serve up fresh sushi! Everything I’ve read about Corsairs centers around it’s amazing food and the great personality of Vinnie and his staff. It’s the type of place that has people coming back time and time again.

Vinnie, Owner of Corsairs Beach Bar

Vinnie Ride - Photo from Williem01 via Flickr

Corsairs serves breakfast, lunch and dinner for its salty souled customers. Open 8:30 am until whenever. Yes whenever, it’s an island thing, but the party usually goes well into the night with live music and flowing rum drinks.

Corsairs Bar - Photo by klr2c via Flickr

Next time you toss anchor in Great Harbour, dinghy up to the beach in front of Corsairs and join the pirate party. Ask Vinnie for a Wench or VooDoo Juice, tear off a slice of pizza and chillax in the Caribbean sun. Do this and your life will be completely perfect. I promise.

Corsairs Beach Bar, Jost

www.corsairsbvi.com

Cheers,

RumShopRyan

Please subscribe and Follow on Facebook and Twitter
Subscribe to Daily Updates
www.Facebook.com/RumShopRyan
www.Twitter.com/RumShopRyan

Georgetown, Grand Cayman – Oranjestad, Aruba – Kralendijk, Bonaire – St. Georges, Grenada – Bridgetown, Barbados – Castries, St. Lucia – Fort de France, Martinique – St. John’s, Antigua – Basseterre, St. Kitts – Cruz Bay, St. John…all follow this design.

I know what you’re thinking, “Hey genius, they do that because it’s the calm side of the island, sheltered from the constant trade winds.” This is true, but I think island settlers put their main cities on the lee side for another reason.

Sunsets.

Just look at this photo of a Caribbean sunset on the island of Virgin Gorda in the BVI. Absolutely stunning. The vivid colors slowly transitioning into each other all the way to the horizon and the distant black islands create a rip like border that separates the day’s last yellows and the deep purple of the sea. Magical.

Yes this boat looks as if it will never float on the waves again, but I’m sure it doesn’t mind as long as it can take in inspiring vistas like this on a daily basis.

You tell me what you would do if you were in charge of picking the location of the main settlement on an island and you could look at sunsets like this nightly. Something tells me you would be looking for a safe harbor on the leeward side.

Thank you to Jordana Wright of Jordana Wright Photography for the amazing photo.

Have a great weekend Castaways.

Cheers to seeing your own island sunsets.

RumShopRyan

Please subscribe and Follow on Facebook and Twitter
Subscribe to Daily Updates
www.Facebook.com/RumShopRyan
www.Twitter.com/RumShopRyan

Flanked by small green mountains, Soper’s Hole gives visitors a sense of tranquility and physical beauty. You can’t help but stand there, pause, and take in the natural beauty. Located on the west end of Tortola, Soper’s Hole gives you easy access to a sea of islands, including St. John, St. Thomas and Jost Van Dyke. All waiting to stir your anticipation of pending adventure.

Pusser’s Landing Webcam

I know a bunch of you Castaways have been to the BVI and Tortola, did you make it to Soper’s Hole? Did you jump aboard a waiting charter and set your heading to a salty spit of land? What is your favorite thing to do in Soper’s Hole?

(Top photo of Pusser’s Landing in Soper’s Hole is from Suncat via Flickr.)

Enjoy the island view!

Cheers,
RumShopRyan

Please subscribe and Follow on Facebook and Twitter
Subscribe to Daily Updates
www.Facebook.com/RumShopRyan
www.Twitter.com/RumShopRyan

What this song by Da Tree Men can do is help you relive those sweet sweet memories. The song appropriately named “Jost Van Dyke”, tells the tale of what it’s like to sing your toes into the sand on this famous little BVI island. Singing starts just after the minute mark, so hang in there with that long intro.

Da Tree men are a BVI-based band, started by Tree men who all currently work together for Pusser’s. The band has a growing list of cover music and original songs. Reggae, rock, country, jazz and more.

Adam Dell on guitar is from New York. Michael Daniels plays the tubs and hails from Knoxville Tennessee. Pier Parkins, the Jamaican gentleman from Jamaica on Bass.

Additional players include Steve Butcher on the couch, captain Bob on the mouth organ and other guests that show up at random and play. The group is in the process of recording an album called “Songs of The BVI”.

“Jost Van Dyke” written by Adam C. Dell and performed by Da Tree Men live at The Elm Beach bar, March 2nd, 2011.

Jost Van Dyke Lyrics

I got drunk
as a skunk last night
at a bar on jost van dyke
soggy dollar
got me good again

Played with Ruben Chinnery
you were sitting
next to me
felt the sun
and played
the ring toss game

and I’ve got to
get myself
back there again

CHORUS——————————-
Tropical paradise
so nice
brother man
take my advice
you have got to
get yourself
to jost van dyke

got a drink
to kill your pain
while the breezes cool your brain
soggy dollar bar now don’t forget the name

in this world of broken dreams
where things are not what they seem
take a trip out there
and you’ll see what I mean

take a plane
take a boat
maybe build a
raft and float
click your heels
three times
and just pretend
you’re there

White sand beach
from a dream
goes from wild to extreme
get your ass out there
and you’ll see what I mean

Let me know if you’ve had the pleasure of being in the BVI and seeing Da Tree Men live. Guitarist Adam, has been a long time RumShopRyan reader and is a great guy. The fact that he works for Pusser’s Rum company doesn’t hurt either. Hey Adam, how about sending this Castaway some rum samples! Worth a shot right?

(Photo from ourBVIadventure.blogspot.com)

Cheers,
RumShopRyan

This breathtaking photo was taken by Anya Brewley Schultheiss of ABSphoto.co and it captures the island personality perfectly…laid back, beautiful, simple. Taken at Carrot Bay on the island of Tortola in the BVI, this weathered boat sits idle waiting. Waiting for what we don’t know. That’s the magic of photography, it lets the imagination fill in the gaps, and a different story will be told to each viewer. That’s why I love to do Caribbean Photo Friday here on RumShop, it’s a creative escape for writer and reader.

So what is this boat waiting for? Has it had its time on the water and is now baking in the blazing Caribbean sun, never to stretch its sea legs again? Maybe its a boat that has just reached its prime and has been perfectly worn in by its experienced captain. Or maybe it’s now the property of a proud new young owner who can’t wait to get her seaworthy again and begin starting new adventures exploring the islands. No one really knows what’s happening in this photo. Doesn’t it really matter?

Regardless of what the history or condition of this small, beaten up, rider of waves is, one thing is for sure…it’s happy. It gets to sit on the coast of somewhere beautiful, catching a tan and soaking in the salt air. It has stories that go untold and a life many ponder for…laid back, beautiful, simple. And because of that, I’m  jealous.

What does this photo say to you?

Enjoy your weekend Castaways!

Cheers,
RumShopRyan

Follow on Facebook and Twitter
www.Facebook.com/RumShopRyan
www.Twitter.com/RumShopRyan

There are so many great beach bars in the British Virgin Islands. It seems like every time you round the point of one island another beach front wateringhole is waving you in. After rounding Angilla Point on Virgin Gorda you’ll enter North Sound, and Prickly Pear Island, home of the Sandbox Beach Bar, will be sitting right in front of you. Yes, waving you in.

Vixen Point, Home of the Sandbox Beach Bar

Prickly Pear lays claim to several of the territory’s most wonderful beaches including the ever popular Vixen Point! Swimming, snorkeling, hiking and limin’ at the Sand Box Beach Bar are the four main things to do here. Sounds like my kind of place.

The Sandbox Beach Bar is a great place to toss anchor and waste away the day in the Caribbean sun. Chillax, order a rum punch, rent a lounge chair and soak in the spectacular views of North Sound. Don’t fee like sitting around, try your hand at volleyball, hiking in the park or swimming and snorkeling in the crystalline waters.

Sandbox Beach Bar, North Sound BVI (Photo from Thanh Giang, via Picasaweb)

After all that island exploration you’re going to be hungry. The Sandbox serves lunch and dinner.  Lucille (Sandbox owner) specializes in fresh lobster and other seafood dishes grilled to perfection! I’ve heard her delicious conch fritters are a must try.  But if you really want to try something good, just ask for “Lucy’s Luscious Lobster Salad” which is one of the house specialties.

Sandbox Beach Bar - Photo from Bareboatbvi.com

The restaurant (which seats up to 70 people) was built in 1996 and is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

If you’ve had the pleasure of limin’ at the Sandbox we would love to hear what you thought.

So many beach bars, so little time. The Sandbox on Prickly Pear is one more paradise playground that needs to be added to your ever growing list. I have a feeling a day spent here will make you feel like that 5 year old kid that just wants to tool around in the sand and doesn’t have a care in the world.  Who wants to go play?

Contact the Sandbox Beach Bar and Restaurant at (284) 495-9122
or e:mail Lucille at

(Top photo from bluescruise.com)

Cheers,

RumShopRyan