St Martin/St Maarten / Rum

By Nigel Tisdall

St Martin/St Maarten is not a producer of rum but it is quite apparent that many of its visitors are ardent consumers of rum punches and cocktails imbued with the spirit. Connoisseurs will find fine rums from the French islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe on sale in the better bars, restaurants and hotels – La Samanna resort, for example, commissions its own cuvée from the renown producer Habitation St Etienne in Martinique. Spiced rums are sold widely in souvenir shops, often in handpainted bottles that make attractive gifts.

We recommend these rum shops:

St Martin

Ma Doudou, Cul-de-Sac - Stacked full with flavoured rums in handpainted bottles, this cute purple and green shack is the centrepoint of an enterprising cottage industry. There's all sorts of exotic tastes - banana, vanilla, passionfruit, mojito – and you can also buy shot glasses, hot sauces, aphrodisiac bois bandé and a kit to make your own spiced rum back home. Closed weekends.

St Maarten

Guavaberry Emporium, Philipsburg - Drop in for a free tasting of this “island folk liqueur” made from the guavaberry, a Caribbean fruit that has nothing to do with the guava but looks similar to a cranberry. It can be drunk in many ways but the “Original” is the most popular buy – and at 35% ABV it has a useful kick.