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Style: A delightful modern variation on the traditional Jamaican plantation estate house, using some original stones and architectural techniques. Set in fantastic gardens. Low key, lived-in atmosphere with bags of character, very private and romantic. Excellent for Jamaica weddings in your own villa
The Beach: Round Hill beach 10 minutes drive - beach club membership gives access to resort’s beach and fitness centre
The Rooms: Master bedroom in main house with en suite bathroom. Four bedrooms in a separate annex, all with en suite bathrooms
Key features: A good choice for a plantation-style villa vacation in Jamaica. Marvellous 35 acre estate, complimentary a/c van with driver, swimming pool (28ft x 65ft), gazebo, all bedrooms with cable TV and CD player, great house living room with pool table, large screen satellite TV, VCR, CD system and inlaid games table, telescope, computer with internet access, selection of books, CDs, videos and games, croquet, massage tables for use by pool or in tree house with services on request, free weights and bench, Round Hill beach club membership.
Children: Welcome
Staff: Butler, chef, bartender, housekeeper, laundress, gardeners - 2 resident staff |
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Description
Drambuie is a genteel house in modern plantation style set in an impressive 35 acres of gardens to the west of Montego Bay on Jamaica’s north coast. It sits on a hillside 1500 feet above the shoreline and has stunning views over the whole area around the town. Built with stone from the original plantation estate house, the villa blends modern architectural features with the best of traditional Jamaican style to create an intriguing, private and very comfortable property. It has a certain atmosphere of an old plantation great house, with thick stone walls, steeply pitched roofs, traditional white painted shutters and – always a feature of early Jamaican houses - a wide covered, wrap-around veranda, but Drambuie is also designed for modern comfort, making it ideal for families, groups of friends and a perfect setting for larger weddings.
The villa is one of just a handful of properties in the exclusive residential enclave of Content Estate above Montego Bay and it is reached via a pleasant drive inland from the coast, over a forested hillside and then along a private driveway in the villa’s own estate. Before you even reach the house you will be captivated by the gardens. The drive and parking area are surrounded by an amazing variety of fruit trees including citrus, sapodilla (known locally as naseberry) and ackee, thickets of bamboo and many flowering shrubs. There are also many coconut palms that survive from the days when the estate was a plantation. In fact the gardens are so interesting that guests can be taken on a guided tour.
The main villa and the bedroom annex both stand above the driveway. You enter via a quaint courtyard garden. An old canon stands to attention and the low lying, weathered stone walls set a suitably antique scene for the villa. Drambuie is said to have been built in the 1940s by the Duke of Marlborough, from original stones taken from the ruins of the Content Estate great house. Red bricks have been re-used on the pool terrace. (Bricks are found in many Caribbean plantation houses. They were used as ballast for sugar-ships sailing from England.)
There are just two large rooms in the main house, the master bedroom and a gracious but comfortable formal sitting room known as the Great Room. The Great Room has exposed limestone walls and a pitched ceiling of exposed shingles that are painted white to avoid any heavy look. It also has several broad sash and French windows that let in plenty of light. There is a grouping of upholstered sofas and chairs at the centre, a pool table to one side and a large corner cabinet with the cable TV, VCR and sound system. The room is decorated with prints, art, craftwork and antiques from around the globe, which the owner has acquired from many years travelling. The windows and doors also open the room onto the veranda, which is a more casual living extension. It has a sitting area furnished with white wicker seating and a separate area set aside for dining. The kitchen is located at the rear of the building, facing the entrance, and just off the Great Room is a butler’s pantry with intricately carved cupboards. These are said to have been carved by an African craftsman brought over specially to do the job. There is also a powder room.
Perhaps the most impressive feature of Drambuie is the view. From the veranda it carries over the manicured, terraced lawns and the pool to the most breathtaking views of the coast, taking in the Bogue Islands, the Freeport Peninsular and beyond them Montego Bay. And while the view is fabulous during the day, it is equally stunning at night, and makes a dramatic backdrop for dinner. As you eat dinner you can watch the cruise ships slide out from among the lights of the city. There is also a telescope on the veranda for those who want a closer view of the scene or a look at the night sky.
A few steps down from the veranda, a pathway leads through the lawns to a lower level garden and then down another set of steps to the pool area. Here a large, oval-shaped swimming pool sits within a red-brick surround and railings on the hillside edge where the land falls away beneath coconut palms. This is a very special spot. It has a refined air and is decorated with potted urns and some unusual French-style lamp-posts that are set either side in their own parcels of lawn. On the tiled sun terrace there is a gazebo which provides an area for alfresco meals. It is also a pleasant area for a massage - a therapist is available on request – or for a little exercise – there is a range of free weights and a bench. An even more exotic location for a massage is the treehouse, which overlooks the gardens off the driveway.
All five bedrooms at Drambuie are air-conditioned, have ceiling fans, hairdryers, cable TV, CD player and mini fridge. The Master bedroom is the only one in the main house and it is reached from the Great Room through a set of large mahogany doors or via the veranda. It has the same thick stone walls and pitched white-painted shingle ceiling and is dominated by an antique mahogany king-size four-poster with a canopy. It is very spacious and has a sitting area, a desk with computer and internet access, and large sash windows with shutters that open onto the main veranda. The en suite bathroom is quite a sight. Etched mirrors line the walls and ceiling through the dressing room and into the bathroom, where the marble vanities are decked out with elaborate knick knacks.
The other four bedrooms are set in a separate annex, a more recent addition with a more tropical style, located next to a landscaped woodland gully, with partial sea views. They are each individually decorated with some flamboyance and bold use of colour. Three are located on the ground level and have king-size, therapeutic waterbeds and en suite bathrooms with tub/shower. They have connecting doors which can be locked off if not required, but are useful for families with small children. All the bedrooms are accessed via louvered doors from a shared covered veranda that is furnished with wicker seating, a swing chair and small drinks table. The first, set on the corner opposite the entrance courtyard garden, has dark green walls and a small en suite bathroom. The centre room, the largest of the three, has bright yellow and pretty white lattice wood panels with lilac soft furnishings, a sitting area and a larger bathroom with oval tub/shower. The other corner bedroom has dark blue walls with a window-seat that looks out onto the gully, through which there are glimpses of the sea. The fourth bedroom is located beneath the other three. It has a separate entrance and is built into the side of the gully which it overlooks. It is a delightful hideaway and great spot for honeymooners, with large louvered doors that fold right back, opening the side of the room onto its own wicker-furnished veranda. There is an area for breakfast and a hammock from which you can enjoy the surrounding tropical greenery. With a queen-size bed, the room has a yellow and blue theme. It is furnished with a couple of reading chairs and a writing desk and has an en suite with tub/shower. |
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Beach & Swimming
Guests of Drambuie Estate have Beach Club membership at Round Hill around 10 minutes drive away. There is a sandy beach with good swimming and snorkelling and a range of watersports including scuba diving.
At Drambuie itself there is a very attractive, oval freshwater swimming pool. It is set below the main veranda, from which steps lead through the gardens to the lower pool terrace. The pool (28ft x 65ft) has a red brick surround, steps to the shallow end, a seating ledge and a sun terrace. There is also a gazebo to one side. |
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Sports & Recreation
Drambuie has some free weights and a bench in the poolside gazebo, and there is a basketball net in the drive. A guided tour of the extensive grounds can be arranged with one of the many gardeners. Spa style services are available (at additional cost) at the villa through a doctor of Oriental medicine who will set up in the poolside gazebo, the tree house over the drive or anywhere that you choose. Thai massage and also chiropractic services are on offer.
There are several excellent 18-hole golf courses in the Montego Bay area. The closest is at Tryall Club, a par 72, 6772 yard course about 10 minutes drive away. The others are on the other side of Montego Bay and can take 30 minutes to reach by car, depending on traffic through the town. The White Witch at the Ritz Carlton is a hilly par 71, 6,718 yard course, the Cinnamon Hill course at Rose Hall is par 71 and 6,637 yards and there is a par 72, 7,119 yard course at Half Moon. The nearest riding stables are at Chukka Blue near Tryall and at the equestrian centre at Half Moon. |
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Locality
Drambuie is located in forested hills ten minutes inland from Reading village, in 35 acres of the 50 acre Content Estate. Just seven other houses are tucked away in the remaining 15 acres of this very private and exclusive hillside retreat, which was once a coconut plantation of several hundred acres. The surrounding landscape is stunning forest. For a closer encounter with nature, a ten minute drive further inland brings you to Rockland’s Bird Sanctuary, where you can hand-feed hummingbirds. The drive up from the small community at Reading is a pleasant one as the road threads through a fantastic forested gully. Down on the coast, turning west you pass a number of other rental villas including The Wharf House and then, all together on the waterfront at Unity Hall, Noble House, Tranquillity and Serenity. Across the Great River (which is known for its bamboo river rafting, a popular activity) you come to Round Hill Hotel and Villas (five minutes) and beyond it Tryall Club, which has an 18 hole golf course. Both properties have popular beach-party nights with barbecues and live music (reservations required) in addition to their normal fine dining. Just above Round Hill is the village of Hopewell, which has a supermarket and liquor store/off-licence, pharmacy, AMT, post office, library and service station. If you continue to drive for an hour you will be in Negril, the popular beachfront town at the western tip of the island.
Drambuie is approximately 20 minutes from Montego Bay, Jamaica’s second largest city and the island’s tourism epicentre. In the centre of the city there are several craft markets and shopping centres, including duty free outlets. On the northern edge is Gloucester Avenue, which calls itself the “Hip Strip”. Here there are cafes, shops, craft markets and restaurants serving anything from jerk at the Pork Pit to fine cuisine at The Townhouse by the Sea, as well as some lively clubs and bars, including Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. The best beach in the area, Doctor’s Cave Beach, is also there. Closer to home is the Freeport peninsular, just south of Montego Bay, where you will find a shopping mall next to the cruise ship berths, and the Houseboat Grill restaurant on the lagoon itself. In nearby Bogue you will find the Fairview Shopping Centre with SuperPlus, a large, well-stocked supermarket, a cinema, department store, hardware store, pharmacy, fast food jerk centre, service station and a KFC. Closer to town is the Westgate Shopping Centre with a bank, supermarket, off-licence, McDonalds and service station. |
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Useful Hints
Provisioning:
The chef at Drambuie will pre-stock for you welcome meal and buy in initial food and drink supplies. You may opt to prepay your groceries (if so, this should be done at least 60 days prior to arrival). If you are booking direct, ask your travel organiser or the villa agent for a list of suggested items. If you do not pre-pay, the bill for the initial provisioning (plus the costs for transport) should be paid in cash on arrival and you should then also provide the chef with funds for all subsequent shopping, including transportation costs.
The chef works to an average budget of US$45 per adult/US$20 per child, per day when provisioning the menu. Pre-stocking includes a basic drinks package of rum, wine and beer, but does not cover extras such as whole lobster or imported steak, which vary according to market prices. The rest of the shopping for your stay will be done by the chef once you have liaised with him on arrival. You may opt to go with him on the first trip.
Gratuities: Rental rates for villas in Jamaica do not include ‘tips’ and it is recommended that you set aside 10% of the total villa rental in winter and 15% in summer as a gratuity for the staff. You will be expected to pay this directly to the staff before you leave. Information on how it is to be divided will be included in the guest’s welcome book, and you may find an envelope is provided.
Your villa’s laundress will attend to your personal laundry (excluding items for dry cleaning). If you hand over laundry in the morning it is usually ready later that same afternoon.
If you are allergic to animals you should note that the owner and staff of the villa keep pet dogs, which normally have free run of the property. If you wish they can be kept in their yard during the day, only to be let out to roam the grounds at night.
Weddings: Drambuie is an ideal location for Jamaica weddings. It is very private and has spacious grounds, stunning views and a hint of romance. It is also one of just a handful of villas that will cater for larger weddings. It has sufficient tables on site (without having to rent extra) to seat fifty guests and will accept a maximum of one hundred guests for a wedding reception.
Permission to hold a wedding or any large function at Drambuie should be obtained in advance, when you are making your initial reservation enquiry. Functions generally attract a US$15 per person guest surcharge if the number attending the ceremony/reception exceeds the villa’s maximum occupancy. Also note that if party numbers exceed the maximum villa occupancy you will normally be required to use the services of an outside catering company to arrange food and beverage. |
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Rates
| Drambuie Estate | 16 Apr- 14 Dec 2007 | 15 Dec- 15 Apr 2007-08 | Christmas/ Christmas & New Year 2007-08 | Easter 2008 | 16 Apr- 14 Dec 2008 | Thanks- Giving 2008 | | 1-5 bedrooms | 5,600 | 7,600 | 12,000/ 13,000 | 7,600 | 5,600 | 6,600 | Rates are quoted in US$ per week (7 nights), room only (EP). All rates are subject to change without notice. Minimum stay of 5 nights from 16 Apr-14 Dec except during Easter , Thanksgiving and 15 Dec-15 Apr when the minimum stay is 7 nights. There is a minimum stay of 14 nights over the Christmas/New Year period, unless booking for the Christmas week (lower rate) only and departing by 27/28 Dec. |
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How To Book
If you wish to book direct, bookings should be made through the villa agent, Jamaica Villas by Linda Smith. To confirm a reservation you must send a deposit of 25% of the total rental fee (50% for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year). Payment of the remaining 75% is required 60 days prior to your arrival (90 days for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year). If you are booking within 60 days of your arrival, full payment must be made to secure the booking. A US$500 security deposit is also required, against damage to the villa or contents during your stay. It is refundable on your return home if no damage occurs during your stay. You may contact Jamaica Villas by Linda Smith by using the WEB LINK or DIRECT ENQUIRIES facility at the top of this page, or if you wish to telephone them, please click on TELEPHONE CONTACT to reveal the number. For a review of Jamaica Villas by Linda Smith please see here. |
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Airport Meet & Greet
Airport transfers, which take about 30-40 minutes, are included in the price of Drambuie, in an air-conditioned van with driver, who will be waiting for you outside the arrivals hall when you reach Montego Bay.
If you are booking through a travel organiser, it is likely that their representative will also be at the airport to meet you. Please check at the time of booking. |
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Getting Around
A complimentary air-conditioned van with a full-time driver is provided by Drambuie for trips to the beach, for shopping, to restaurants and places of interest. Guests are requested to tip the driver directly for his services.
If you wish to hire a car you can do so through Jamaica Villas by Linda Smith at the same time as booking. You can also ask for your vehicle to be delivered to the property (there may be a delivery fee). Vehicles can be returned at the airport or collected from the property at a pre-arranged time on your departure day. |
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