Do you think the pirate days are over in the Caribbean? True, the tall ships no longer pounce on their prey from hidden island coves, but if you open up your imagination and dive into this book you’ll believe those days aren’t quite over yet.

Two years ago when I first started this Caribbean escapism blog, I was contacted by a gentleman named J.C. Perez. He lives in the southwest Florida area and took an early interest in the site. We exchanged email and even talked on the phone a few times. He told me he was an author and a native Cuban. I valued every time I got the chance to talk to him. He would tell me stories of Cuba, the Bahamas, drugs and the Florida Keys. As you can imagine I was fascinated and wanted to find out more about the under belly of the Caribbean. What, it’s not all rum runners, white sand and bikinis?

About 6 months or so ago J.C. sent me his new book, Heisting the Beard. It took me awhile to finally open it up, but once I did I was hooked like a mahi mahi. Heisting The Beard is a story that’s sprinkled with money, murder and a little bit of sex. Told through the eyes of the main character Kiki Logan, you’ll follow him through the Florida Keys, Havana Cuba and the Bahamas. The Beard, Cuba’s own Castro, has not only been stealing form the people of Cuba but from other Caribbean nations as well. Kiki has it in his mind to enact a little bit of revenge. Almost like a modern day Robin Hood, but does he survive and get away with it? Get the book to find out.

Here is the teaser from the back cover…

Kiki Logan is convinced by the well connected Banco to search for a large cache of treasure pulled from the depths of the Caribbean by the Cuban Government. On this perilous adventure, numerous characters join in, most notably David, Kiki’s connection in Cuba. Kiki and David try to locate the treasure in Cuba. They find a giant warehouse and upon raiding in, they discover cars, cocaine, and cash, as well as the infamous and elusive Golden Madonna statue. Will the treasure hunters be successful, or will the raid end, as many fear, in their deaths? And what will happen to the famous statue.

About The Author

J.C. Perez is a Cuban-American writer, born in Caibarien, Cuba in 1955. His great grandfather was a Cuban sugar baron, a Colono, who owned an immense sugar plantation in the middle of the island. Perez’s parents fled Caibarien for Havana in 1959 when Che Guevara’s troops hit Santa Clara. A product of the Peter Pan flights organized by the Catholic Church to get children out of the revolutionary turmoil, Perez ultimately grew up in suburban New Jersey, as what could best be described as a normal, middle-class American child. However, Perez spent many weekends in the hills of New Jersey playing war games. These weren’t the usual Boy Scout fare; they were sponsored by the CIA and were instrumental in what later became ine Bay of Pigs fiasco and many other insurgencies.

Arriving in Miami in 1977, Perez was at the center of a regional boom that was controlled by the Cubans. He became a significant player and in the process of traveling in order to meet his business obligations, he became familiar with the entire breadth of the Caribbean scene, from the Bahamas to Cartegena, and all the major players involved. Some of these people were reggae singers, some were drug lords, others business men.

Perez knew when to call it quits. He moved to the west coast of Florida and settled on a farm, cultivating his own garden and, to everyone’s surprise, he began to write.

Go get the book and let me know what you think. Its inspired me to take a deeper look into Cuba.

Cheers,
RumShopRyan

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Let’s talk shoes, cool, comfortable, good lookin’ beach shoes. Cushe Footwear makes some of the coolest shoes on the market today and they are easily one of my favorite brands. They have a ton of great flip flops and sandals for men and women. The newest addition to the collection is the Cushe Slipper.

I’m usually a straight flip flop guy but when the temperature dips down into the 50′s like they sometimes do during the winter in southwest Florida, one needs to ditch the open toe flip flops for something a little warmer. Enter the Cushe Slipper. Below is a short video of Erin and I talking about the Cushe Slipper and toughing it out on the beach on a chilly morning.

Cushe Slipper – A Great Beach Shoe

The Cushe Slipper has a lightweight canvas upper with a soft comfortable footbed and the unique Cushe hexagon bottom. The shoe easily slips on and off and looks good if you’re wearing jeans or shorts. The Cushe Slipper comes in five different colors; Black, Brown, Military, Sand and Navy. It’s rugged and has that already warn look. Click here to see more about the Cushe Slipper.

If you’re in the market for some cool casual beach shoes check out the Cushe Slipper. Cushe also has a ton of other stylish shoes and even have boots for cold weather.

Let me know if you have a pair of Cushes. I’d love to know what you think.

Cheers!
RumShopRyan

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The mad tiki doctor, Kahuna Kevin has been slaving away over the rum bottles to bring us a new round of perfectly created cocktails. His new book, “Kahuna Kevin’s Why Is The Rum Gone? Vol. 2“, is packed with 52 new Tiki-Licious rum cocktails. Each one tested, improved upon, tested again, then perfected. Seriously, the drinks in this recipe book are out of this world good and all newly invented. A metaphorical party in your mouth.

Today’s Boat Drink recipe comes straight from the pages of Why Is The Rum Gone? Vol. 2. The 151 Gun Swizzle is a rum drink that’s ingredient intensive, so a shopping trip may be in order to mix this bad boy up. I’ve talked to Kevin and he said that each ingredient is tested and purposefully added to the mix to give the drink that perfect taste. Can’t argue with the doctor I guess. Let’s see what it takes to bake up this meal in a glass.

The 151 Gun Swizzle Cocktail Reicpe

Ingredients:

• 2oz. Dark Cola (Fentiman’s Curiosity Cola – Chilled)
• 2oz. Guyanan Demerara Overproof Rum (Lemon Hart 151)
• 1oz. Lime Juice (Fresh)
• 1oz. Martinique Cane Syrup (Depaz)
• 1/2oz. Lemon Juice (Fresh)
• 1/2oz. Pineapple Juice (Fresh or Dole)
• 1/2oz. Pomegranate Liqueur (PAMA)
• 1/4tsp. Campari Aperitivo Liqueur
• 1 dash Free Brothers Bitters

Mixing Instructions: Shake all ingredients, except the chilled Cola, over ice for a minimum of 30 seconds to a maximum of 1 minute. Strain into a low fluted glass or Tiki mug filled with 1/2 cup freshly crushed ice. Top with 2oz. chilled Dark Cola and thoroughly stir with a bar spoon. Add additional crushed ice as necessary. Garnish with 2-3 mint sprigs, 1 round lime slice, 1 rock candy swizzle stick and 1 straw.

Kevin’s warning with the 151 Gun Swizzle – Careful with this one as it doesn’t taste like you’re sipping 151 proof rum!

The rum recipe book would make a great Christmas present to any Castaway on your gift list. Click here to check out Why Is The Rum Gone? Vol. 1 & 2. Be sure to like Kahuna Kevin’s Facebook page for fun cocktail creation insight.

Cheers to putting a few holes in that freezer,
RumShopRyan

NOTE
Don’t forget to sign up for the Castaway Winter Beach Bash! This break from the cold will take place January 20 – 23, 2012 at the beautiful Bolongo Bay Resort on St. Thomas in the USVI.

The fun will be hosted by yours truly and will include a rum tasting, a complimentary bottle of Cruzan Rum in your room, a sunset sail, a rum snorkel scavenger hunt, nightly entertainment and Castaway room discounts. Take a break from the Winter and come lime Castaway style in the US Virgin Islands! Click here for booking and details. Can’t wait to hangout with everyone on the warm sands of St. Thomas!

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I’m not much of a fictional novel reader, I tend to stick to light magazines with pretty pictures. What can I say, I’m a simple soul. Below Mile Zero however, pulled me in and I couldn’t put the book down.

Without giving to much away, the story is told through the eyes of a drifter that can’t seem to straighten out his life. He keeps finding himself in situations that threaten his freedom and the breath in his lungs. You follow the main character from his time in New Orleans to him washing ashore in Key West. Throughout the story you’ll read about real life places on the rock and you can’t help but put yourself in the same situation.

I recommend this book to anyone looking to be entertained. It’s interesting to see a different, more local and darker side to our favorite southern most island. We think of Key West as a rum soaked, happy-go-luck, anything goes type of place, but when you add drugs, sinister characters and double-crosses, even the most beautiful places can be turned into a war ground.

If you’re interested in the book here is a link for you.

If you’ve read the book, let us know what you thought of it.

Cheers!
RumShopRyan

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I have recently explored the world of loafers. See I’m a laid back dude and you will almost always find me in some type of open toed shoe, be it a brown leather slip on sandal from Cushe or a rugged Reef flip flop that can take the wet and sandy nature of my beach explorations. But my better half jumps on me sometimes because flip flops just don’t work in certain situations. Despite my best arguing skills and the fact that I can be as stubborn as an ass, I have seen a glimmer of her point. That doesn’t mean I have to like it though.

If I am forced to wear a closed toe shoe then dammit, it’s going to be casual and sure as hell isn’t going to have laces. That’s how I discovered the world of loafers.

I have added two pairs of loafers to my collection of laid-back living footwear, the Margaritaville Loafer and the Cushe Surf-Slipper loafer. Here’s a little review on each.

The Margaritaville Loafer

Margaritaville Loafers

The Margaritaville Loafer is my more casual of the two. It’s light brown leather goes with just about any outfit (Are guys suppose to say outfit?) and the shoes is easy to slip on and off with no need to bend down and pull it on.

Margaritaville Loafers

The interior is comfortable and lets your foot breath easily. Tip – do NOT wear these with sock! I’m not sure if it’s an “advanced years” thing or just an oblivious to the fact that you look ridiculous thing, but it’s a big no no. Remember that Beach Ethics post I did a month ago, well wearing socks with loafers should be added to that list of unwritten rules.

Margaritaville Loafers

It’s hard not to be a fan of the Margaritaville footwear line, I mean having a little palm tree and the word “Margaritaville” on you shoe is about as cool as it gets. Even the bottom of the shoe is island cool. Flip the loafer over and you’ll see an abstract map of the lower Florida Keys. Simply mucho mucho cool.

The Cushe Surf-Slipper Loafer

Cushe Surf-Slipper Loafer

You’ve heard me rave about the Cushe brand before. They just have a unique style that attracts me like a mosquito to one of those purple bug zapper things. With the addition of these Cushe loafers I think that makes 7 pairs of shoes I have from them. I should go work for these guys!

Cushe Surf-Slipper Loafer

The Surf-Slipper loafer is the shoe that I wear when I’m heading to a more upscale or stylish place. I’m not really sure you can call any place I go to upscale, but just in case these are the closed toes shoes I most likely will be sporting.

Cushe Surf-Slipper Loafer

The loafer is easy to slide into with its expandable heal and tongue sections. It has a super cushioned footbed and a light breathable canvas top. Cushe has several different styles and color of loafers, they even have a fleece lined loafer for you castaways in the higher cooler latitudes.

I’m still partial to my flip flops, but when the need arises I’m happy to slide a pair of these casual shoes on to my beautiful (ugly) feet.

Are you a loafer type person? Tell me your opinion on these brands.

Cheers!
RumShopRyan

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Don’t you just hate it when you can’t find the bottle opener? The above scenario might be a little dramatic but you get the point. It’s good to have a bottle opener nearby.

A couple months ago, Castaway Scott Redd posted a link on my page for some cool refrigerator bottle openers. Thanks Scott! I wanted to find out more so I contacted the owner Brian. He was nice enough to send me a couple so I could try it out and tell you guys about it.

Here is a short video showing how the bottle opener works.

I’ve been using mine for about 3 weeks now and it works great. If you’d like more information and want to see the different background plates they have go to BottleOpenerParadise.com. They have a bunch of tropical scenes that are perfect for us Castaways.

I promise I’ll try to get better when on camera!

Cheers,
RumShopRyan

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I’m talking about the beautiful items that can be found at Sun Lyon Studio. Artist Jan Bennett has a special touch when it comes to designing jewelry that inspires island escape. She can make a flat piece of sterling silver transform into a unique item that was meant for just you.

Yes, Sun Lyon Studio is an advertiser with me, but I don’t write this because I have to, or am paid to. I write this because I’m truly blown away by the art. I have two pieces now and have my eye one more.

I trekked out to Lovers Key Tuesday to take some photos for this post, I wanted to make the St. John Pendant Necklace and Wave Bracelet look good for you guys and needed to give them a beautiful setting. Plus I got to spend some time on the beach, always a good thing!

St. John Pendant Necklace

St. John Pendant

St. John Pendant

St. John Pendant

Nearly every piece of jewelry was designed and created to be worn as a token of personal energies, inspirations and experiences which have shaped our lives. Jan Lyon Bennett takes special care in her design and has a strong desire to resound a very personal meaning for the wearer.

Jan currently lives and works in both the U. S. Virgin Islands and Louisiana. As life experiences both challenge and inspire her spirit, Jan focuses her designs on life’s ever changing tides. She melts precious metals with emotion (sometimes, adding a bit of whimsy) to create her truly unique line of jewelry.

Makin’ Waves Braclet

Sun Lyon Studio

Sun Lyon Studio

Sun Lyon Studio

Sun Lyon Studio has a plethora (big word!) of items to choose from and they can even custom design some pieces just for you.

If you guys are interested, I’m thinking about having Jan design a special Castaway Pendant that’s just for you. Maybe a dog-tag like necklace with the Castaway logo stamped into it, or some type of palm tree that says “Castaway” on the back. If you guys think a Castaway Pendant is a good idea and have any ideas on the design, please write them below in the comment section. I would love to hear what you think.

Treasure Found

Please visit www.SunLyonStudio.com and check out the all the great stuff they have to offer us island loving souls. Tell Jan that Ryan sent you and that you want a piece of wearable treasure that will last forever.

SUN LYON STUDIO
P.O. BOX 472
KINGSHILL, VI 00851
(340) 773-6733
(340) 690-8043
www.sunlyonstudio.com

Cheers,
RumShopRyan

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Yes, you read that right. If you didn’t already know, Ron Jeremy has rum out on the market called Ron de Jeremy. It’s tagline? Long Smooth Taste. But of course. I will try and keep the bad puns to a minimum.

First, if you don’t know who Ron Jeremy is you are either really pure of heart or have been leaving under a rock. Ron “the Hedgehog” Jeremy is the most famous male adult entertainment star in the world. He is a worldwide legend, ranked by AVN as number one in “The 50 Top Porn Stars of All Time” list. They have rankings for porn stars?

I know that kind of stuff isn’t for everyone, but a bottle of rum with his name and face on it in your collection will definitely be a conversation starter.

Olli, the CEO of One Eyed Spirits, was good enough to send me a bottle of Ron de Jeremy rum so I could give it a taste. Thank you Olli.

I really wasn’t expecting much when it came to taste. I was guessing that this was more of a marketing gimmick than an quality product. When the bottle arrived and I popped the cork for the first time and let the aroma greet my nose, I knew right then that Ron de Jeremy rum had a lot more character than I was expecting.

Below is a taste testing video I shot on Lovers Key a couple days ago.

My buddy Carl, over at Coastlines & Tan Lines also received a bottle of Ron de Jeremy rum. We thought it would be cool to partner up and give you guys two different perspectives of the rum. After all, taste is such a subjective thing.

The Rum

Ron de Jeremy Rum is an exceptionally well-balanced 7-year old rum from Panama. It has an inviting light amber color with very attractive copper hues. The aroma is that of carefully aged rum, with a harmoniously balanced orchestra of oak, fruit and spices. In the palate it opens up smoothly, showcasing a high level of craftsmanship. The oak comes through robustly and satisfyingly, yet gently enough to allow hints of vanilla and raw sugarcane to reveal them selves. The finish is elegant and long, true to the aromas and flavors previously experienced. Ron de Jeremy sips perfectly, naked or savored over the rocks, and mixes beautifully to make Ron’s many signature drinkxxx. It is the adult rum.

Ron de Jeremy Rum

Ron de Jeremy Rum is hand crafted by another legend, 72-year old Cuban Master Distiller Francisco “Don Pancho” Fernandez. Don Pancho is one of the most experienced and renowned Master Distillers in the rum industry today. His skills have been directly responsible for the success of countless rum brands. Don Pancho inspected his best barrels to hand pick the ones worthy of becoming Ron de Jeremy. It is this attention to detail that will reward the senses of those fortunate enough to try this perfectly distilled and aged rum. (From rondejeremy.com)

The Verdict

Like I said in the video, I’m no rum expert, but I do know what I like and what I don’t. Ron de Jeremy rum is a good quality rum with a great taste that will have you begging for more long into the night (Bad pun?). I’ve been drinking it neat for a couple weeks now and continue to enjoy thoroughly.

If you are interested it getting your hands on a bottle of Ron de Jeremy rum just visit their website, www.RondeJeremy.com and you can purchase it there.

Let me know if you guys have tried Ron de Jeremy rum and what you thought.

Cheers!

RumShopRyan

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Slide one of these cool hats on and you will automatically be more attractive to the opposite sex. No really, it’s true. Look at the photo above, do you think this nice lady wanted her photo with me because I’m charming or a cool beach blogger? Not a chance, it was the rockin’ Castaway hat that caught her eye. True story.

Put one on and you’ll instantly feel cool. I’m talking Maverick from Top Gun type of cool. You know how putting on your favorite flip flops, Kenny Costas or that perfectly worn out Margaritaville shirt will give you an extra bounce in your step, the Castaway hat will do the same. It’s like having a super power.

Done with the colorful fantasy language? Okay Okay, the truth is when you purchase a Castaway hat or koozie you will be part of a family. An amazing group of people that love cold rum drinks, empty beaches, and musical artists that take us there when our body isn’t. We are Castaways and are proud to show it.

Here are the new colors we have. You can now get a Castaway hat in Beach Khaki and Lime Green. We also got more of the popular Burnt Orange in for you guys.

Castaway Hat, Beach Khaki

Castaway Hat, Lime Green

Pretty cool right! You can order yours below or the Castaway Box on the right side of the page below the navigation bar. Click here for the page with the original colors.

Order Here 

Colors

Beach Khaki $20.00 Midnight Black $20.00 Olive Green $20.00 Burnt Orange $20.00 Lime Green $20.00 Navy Blue $20.00

 

I hope you guys like the new colors. Castaway t-shirts are coming soon, designs are done and just waiting to get them printed.

Cheers to a great group of people that are kind enough to follow the tropical ramblings of this salty soul.

Thank you,
RumShopRyan

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The new addition to the flip flop family are a pair of sweet Manuka Fearless flip flops from my favorite shoe company, Cushe. I’ve written about Cushe sandals before and talked about how I love there unique style and design. They somehow speak to my island soul. So of course I had to get more.

The Fearless is the perfect beach assault flip flop. Ruggedly built with a soft rubber sole that allows the sand to easily roll off and a comfortable upper silicon strap.

Cushe Fearless Flip Flops

Comfort is important, but so are looks. I like the Fearless because they flat out look cool. Isn’t that why we buy a lot of things?

I’ve talked about how many of the sandals and flip flops on the market today all look alike. It’s easy to see as you scan the pages of Zappos.com.  You’ll see sandal after sandal, all with the same basic design as other brands. Boring. Then you’ll see a select few that will catch your eye with their stylish design, and that’s how I stumbled upon the Cushe brand. They just looked different, and of course cool. I didn’t want to look like every other Joe Blow when walking the streets and beaches of southwest Florida and the Caribbean. It’s the same reason I love Sun Lyon Studio’s island jewelry so much, it’s just different and unique.

Cushe Fearless Flip Flop

So there you have it, the newest addition to the flip flop collection. Collection…I like that word. Obsession, addiction…not so much. Hey, shouldn’t a Caribbean travel writer have a butt load of sandals and flip flops? Wouldn’t be much of a beach brat if I didn’t.  Besides, I think a lot of you Castaways are just like me, always looking for that next pair of  flip flops to waste away a sunny day in. Let those toes breathe people!

Cheers,
RumShopRyan

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