Antilles Treasures

Grab your passports and a hand full of doubloons, we have a concoction that will take you to ST Somewhere.  A Caribbean escape from the reality of an oncoming Fall and Winter.  We also believe a glass or two of this on a regular basis will keep one from contracting a case of scurvy.  Prepare to have your timbers shivered and the barnacles blown right off your hull by this elixir.

We know that  yesterday was “talk like a pirate day”and this drink certainly would have helped to loosen your tongue to make pirate speak easier however we wanted to share the recipe for our Tropical Tuesday post.

This is our favorite of rum punches, grogs or any rum flavored mixes and we have brewed this punch successfully for several parties. Always with the warning, if you partake, do not plan to drive as it has quite a kick.

How to make a pirate’s grog;

Fill a pitcher with ice, use a shot glass to measure and add in each of the following,
1 shot of white rum (any white rum is fine)
1 shot of amber rum (we use Pyrat pistol or MT Gay)
1 part dark rum (again we use Pyrat this time XO reserve or Gosslings Blackseal)
1 part Grand Marnier
4 parts Orange juice
4 parts Pineapple juice
1 part Ruby Red Grapefruit juice

This potent concoction will make enough to serve 4.

For those that would prefer a bit less alcohol increase OJ, Pineapple and Grapefruit portions to taste.

When we have made this grog for parties 1 shot is replaced with 1 part and is equal to a 375 ML bottle of pyrat pistol or 1.5 cups.

Even made strong the fruit juices mask the alcohol flavor and drinking more than a little of this grog can lead to waking the next day aboard a ship a victim of a local press-gangs recruitment.

Please don’t drink and drive!

Antilles Treausres has  proudly put together a series of photos by AxARob that is some of our favorite shots of ST Maarten/ST Martin and Anguilla. These beautifully colored prints are perfect for framing and hanging in a professional space or in a place that you want to remind you of time spent in the Caribbean. Each print has a white border and lists the name of the photo and where it was captured. These can be enjoyed individually or as a set.  All works are printed on 11″x17″ and printed on Kodak photo paper.  The price is $12.50 each and will be delivered to you in a cardboard tube.

	The Sandstone cliffs add a breathtaking effect to the beauty of this beach.  The beach it’s self comes and goes with the weather, one day a beach full of sand and the next is all rock.  The view from here is exquisite as you can see the island Saba in the distance on a clear day and you will be privy to the coming and goings of boats from nearby Simpson Bay as well as all flights jammed with new arrivals coming to the island each afternoon.
	The Overlook from above the world famous Orient Beach presents you with an artist’s palate full of colorful rooftops below.  This is one of our favorite views on the island as the vista of multicolored rooftops make a natural transition to the azure waters and bright blue skies, entice us to enjoy the charms of the beach below.
	Standing in the hillside FT ST Louis, the 18th century protector of Marigot Harbor, you are able to look out and see not only the French capital below but the entire western end of the island of ST Martin/ST Maarten.   Directly below is the ferry service that can take you to Anguilla, ST Barths and even Saba.  Just inland from the ferry building there is a daily open air market that is filled with bright colors and fresh smells. It is a great place to spend a day and visit the French culture.
	Solitude aptly describes the beautiful scene of this large piece of drift wood resting on Upper Shoal Bay in Anguilla.  The sand is a talcum powder white and the water is travel poster blue.  The drift wood lying on the beach is a large part of an old tree trunk that to us looks like a wheel from a covered wagon that delivered someone to their dream escape.  This beach is frequently rated as one of the top 10 beaches in the Caribbean and world.
	Day’s End was shot on the western facing beach at Pelican Key on Simpson Bay, ST Maarten.  We spend most evenings of our visits to this island within a couple of hundred meters of this very spot.  The vista is incredible and the painting of the sunset done by the setting sun is breathtaking.  This spot draws crowds of people wanting to toast the setting sun as a salute of gratitude for a day spent lounging on island.
	Beached, Yes you have seen this photo before.  It is one of our favorites and was last week’s feature as a stand alone work.  Shot on the beach at Island Harbour, Anguilla which is a quaint fishing village on the northeastern shore of the island.  The beach is filled with multicolored fishing boats that glisten in the mid day sun.  It felt that morning that if you listened closely you could here Harry Belafonte’s call to work with the Banana boat song from the movie Island in the Sun.

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Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva

Distilled by Distilerias Unicas, S.A. – Venezuela
Distilled from fermented molasses in Copper Pot stills, then aged for 12 years in white oak barrels. 40% alcohol by volume. 
Price $32
Awards Won
Gold Medal – Premium Rum – 2009 Ministry of Rum Tasting Competition
Gold Medal – Premium Rum – 2007 Ministry of Rum Tasting Competition
Gold Medal – Premium Rums – International Sugar Cane Spirits Tasting Competition Ybor City 

 
How I found this rum
I found this 12-year old rum while on a business trip in Orlando. I was looking for another brand but the liquor store I was in said that they had never heard of it. This bottle was sitting with a bunch of other topshelf rums and it drew my attention for a couple of reasons. The first was packaging, It was displayed in front of a cardboard sleeve that it was to be tucked into for sales. The second was the rums it sat among, I was very familiar with those and enjoyed them so I asked the clerk about the rum. I was in luck as he wasn’t just the clerk but the owner of the store as well and said this was a personal favorite. After reading the package and small card attached to the bottle I decided that this could be my backup rum in case I couldn’t find the other one…and I never did find the other one so this was a good choice.
Initial Thoughts
When I first opened the bottle there was an aroma of a molasses, quite sweet and appealing. I poured it into a glass and found the coloring to be rich and dark, somewhat of a chestnut brown. This rum is thick enough that it will coat your palate with its flavors, which is rewarding as it has a wonderful sweet finish that lingers a bit longer than most. The aroma was a blend of whisky, chocolate and honey. Only thing I wasn’t happy with was the upfront alcohol smell was a bit stronger than we liked and it carried over to the taste as well.
Taste
This rum has enough differing flavors to satisfy all of your taste buds. It starts with a hint of caramel and citrus then shifts where you can taste the alcohol leaving a bit of an oily but that is replaced quickly with the finishing flavor and that my friends is smooth! The finish is where you can taste the molasses the most and I certainly found the finish to be the most pleasant surprise of the entire experience and would gladly overlook the parts that I didn’t care for because of how it finished.
Final thoughts
How did we sample this rum? I tried it both straight and with a couple of cubes of ice. The ice did mellow the alcohol vapor a bit but either way the finish was very consistent. I wouldn’t use this as a rum to mix with but it would make some quality drinks when paired with the right ingredients.
Would we purchase this rum again? Certainly, Diplimatico is smooth on the palate with a wonderful finish. I certainly will keep a bottle of this particular product in my own bar. I would envision this as a cool to cold weather rum, to be shared with a loved one in front of a fire or on the patio with a nice cigar.
Rating…We will give it a solid 4 out of 5 barrels on our rating system.

Cap’n Rouge recently escaped his terarium and set sail on a business trip to sunny Florida, specifically Orlando and figured that while he was visiting the great state of Florida would stop to fill his sea bag with some Siesta Key rum. 

This were to be a 4 day journey, a shake down cruise of sorts to work out the kinks of dealing with the TSA and migrating himself thru the multitudes of airports that he will be traveling thru in a couple of months to get back to his Caribbean home.

This trip Cap’n Rouge has a new crew member…we will call him Mr Peebody as this crew member be a nervous flyer and lets just say Mr Peebody got to know the aft stewardess well because of his many visits to her staging area. 

Cap’n Rouge and Mr Peebody started their travels at 8 bells on Sunday morning.  Sitting in the airport MR Peebody wanted to take a bit of edge off so we strolled to the airport bar…which didn’t start serving till 9.  Traveler’s nerves appropriately calmed….we head off to our gate for a great flight to Orlando.  Navigated across town to our hotel and checked into our rooms.  The search for Siesta Key began in earnest.  We were on a county line…one county no liquor on Sunday the other no big liquor stores.  Stopped in one that had rum but not the Key….did however decide to mitigate risk and snagged the only bottle of anything decent in the store…..a bottle of Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva….now this trip is not wasted even if Siesta Key doesn’t end up in the Cap’n’s storage locker.  Gave up the search at this point and will focus on it later. 

We were in town for three and a half days of training as we work for a company that has just merged with another so this was both sides eyeing new teammates and determining the pecking order!!   We had some long days and fun evenings. 

The Cap’n didn’t abandon searching for his mystical rum but changed course and lets just say “enlisted” local team members to put their heads together and help locate the treasure we had set out to find.

Cap’n Rouge and Mr Peebody did stop at another large liquor store but they acted as if this rum were the proverbial black spot…and pretended to never hear of it. 

One of the crew members did locate all three variations at a store that is on the return route to the airport.  Now that you have the history…..here is how the return trip to the airport went.

Cap’n Rouge was of a mind set that he was to have a bottle or more in hand so set a time for leaving our training to allow for a stop.  We took a different route on our way back to the airport which was all surface streets so I am thinking we stopped at 1500 red lights and got behind every snow bird and tourist in Orlando…..Rouge nearly clipped the wings of a few snowbirds that habitually drove 10 mph under the speed limit and thought the dotted white line was where they centered their cars. Rouge was pretty busy dodging snowbirds, lost tourists and reading cross street signs looking for that turn off that would lead him to his local obsession.  With about 75 lights to go to the airport Mr Peebody spoke up that he needed to make a pit stop so we found a McDonalds and off he went to off load a bit of nervousness.  Once he returned to the car Rouge recognized that he had one shot at getting his stash of rum and that was it otherwise, may miss the flight home. 

Peebody had by now forgotten about Rouge’s quest and the Cap’n was switching his focus to return of the rental car as he had been warned that the last time Peebody was in Orlando with another crew member they had totally blown by the rental return and had to circle the airport like a buzzard looking for road kill.  Cap’n Rouge promised he would hit the mark on the first attempt.  While having this very conversation and passing thru intersection #1486 with a green light…..Rouge bellowed out….that was our exit to the liquor store….CRAP!!! oh well, guess there is always a next time to stop and get this rum or we can beg one of our local friends to pick up some for us and send a care package our way.

Rouge did find the rental car exit on first attempt.  Check in was a breeze.  Cap’n Rouge then saw a Sea World store in the airport lobby…..he had to stop in and pick up something for his grandson, the family powder-monkey.  Rouge picked up a penguin pillow that converted into a stuffed bird, cool gift for a three year old.  Next stop was TSA for our yearly physical then off to wait on our flight in hopes that none of the forecast thunder boomers would develop before we got into the air.  None did and  the return flight was even great…..Peebody only got up 4 times on a two hour flight to visit the lavatory and we are still friends…that is at least till he reads this..

We made it to our home port but while standing at baggage claim waiting on our luggage to appear, it donned on Rouge that he had left powder monkey’s new pillow on the plane.  Rouge talked to an agent at baggage claim and they called to the gate.  The pillow had been rescued.  The agent told Rouge to go to a specific gate and wait for the bag.  The gate was of course behind security so a knock at the door startled the security agent Deputy Fife.  As he reached for the bullet in his pocket…Rouge stepped back away from the door and told the agent he was looking for a package.  As Deputy Fife was giving Rouge the once over to see if he were a threat or not, one of the flight attendants arrived on the scene and told the Deputy that this indeed was the package that Rouge was looking for.  Whew, she saved Rouge from at least a full body cavity search and probably a screen door to the shoulder..I owe her for that one!  Thank you, MS. Flight Attendant!!

Epilogue

We all made it home safe, the Cap’n, MR Peebody and the penguin.  The bottle of rum that was purchased…though not Siesta Key, was tasty and the powder monkey is bonding well with his new penguin.  A good time was had by all!!

Vivant le Reve..is living the dream.  AT’s newest creation in t-shirt form makes you feel as if that is just what you are doing.  The image that is on this shirt was shot on the beach at Baie Rouge in ST Martin.  We had a little help from our own Cap’n Okole Rouge, our mascot, who makes an indellible mark, quite literally, with his dripping paintbrush in hand.  

This shirt is made of hefty 6.1oz pre shrunk 100% cotton. Shirt color is White and comes in men’s sizes M to 3XL and women’s sizes S to XL.  The shirt is true fit so order a size larger if you like a bit of extra room.   The image is ink bonded to the cotton and t won’t chip or crack like a screen printed image.

To purchase this  T-shirt select Treasures & Trinkets from the Antilles Treasures main menu then the Wardrobe drop down, select your shirt in either Mens or Womens size and be the frist to show that you are “living the dream” AT style.

We were looking for a refreshing twist to a Mojito.

Discovered a recipe on line and tweaked it a bit go meet our needs.

This one is all about the simple syrup that one makes for this drink.

It takes some planning and time but the drink is a refreshing reward.

Mojito

Needed to make the drink:
1 cup lime juice use eight limes
4 tablespoons finely grated lime zest use 6 limes
1 cup fresh mint leaves, stems removed and chopped fine
1 cup sugar
¼ cup water
Club Soda
Dark rum of choice (we used MT Gay)
Strainer or cheese cloth

Sauce pan
Jar for storage of the prepared syrup

Making the Syrup:
Juice the limes and remove seeds but leave the pulp.
Grate lime zest, being careful not to include white pith. You’ll need about 6
limes to make 4 tablespoons of zest.
Remove stems from mint measuring a cup, wash well and chop fine.

Combine lime juice, zest, mint leaves, sugar and water in a pan over
medium-low heat.

Bring to a simmer, remove from burner and let the syrup steep for two to three hours.
Strain syrup into a storage container, pressing mint leaves into strainer to extract all of the oils. 

Cover syrup and store in fridge until ready to use.
The simple syrup will be enough for 6 drinks.

Mixing the drink:

Using a 12 oz glass, add 3 oz of syrup and 2 oz of rum then drop in several ice cubes.  Top off with soda water, we used Perrier but any club soda works.

Stir gently add a lime slice garnish for some charm and enjoy!

“Robelto”

Who can resist shooting an image that starts with shell white sand and  flows into multiple shades of blue water and sky.  Toss in the bright colors of this little fishing boat as it rests in the sand after a morning of work.  The accents of the palm fronz and their shadows give the forward area of the photo depth.  The little key(island) in the background puts a finishing touch to the image.  All that’s missing is a pair of beach chairs and a couple of cold ones to complete the scene.

Logistics of the photo;

Shot on the Beach at Island Harbout, Anguilla in the mid day sun.

Shot with a Canon EOS 50D, Settings, Focal length 28mm  F10 , 1/125s, ISO 100

Available without matting in the Treasures &  Trinkets section Click here to order

Our Antilles Treasures staff has racked our rum addled brains looking for a character that best represented AT in our way of thinking via business and life.  Those of you that have followed us for a while have seen this character develop over the last year or so, and we are now proud to introduce you to AT’s feature blogger….Cap’n Okole Rouge.

The good Cap’n is so entrenched in AT that he has become the face of our business; that’s right, Rouge is the red lizard in our logo. 

This well traveled lizard writes his whimsical views while sitting in a terrarium somewhere in his Kansas residence.  He dreams daily of the “Tropical Way,”  patiently planning his next escape to ST Somewhere, while listening to island themed music and sipping from his owner’s well stocked rum bar.

Why a lizard?

Though they may be different sub species, the lizard is very common in Hawaii and the Caribbean, and we even have them in Kansas.  Rob even sports an ink version on the crest of his left shoulder.  He is a character that is there, but often unseen.  That is how Rob likes to do his photo work…giving you many times that view that is there, but not noticed by many.

What’s with the name?

We will break it down, and then after you roll your eyes or chuckle a bit, you will understand the AT logic here….

Cap’n….Rouge, thinks of himself as a bit of a rogue or free spirit, doing the things he wants and likes; Things that others turn their tails up at and walk away, whether in fear or shyness.  This is a lizard’s lizard; Hence, the moniker, Cap’n.

Okole….The AT owners lived in Hawaii for several years.  There were three Hawaiian words that became an every day part of our communications.  The words were Aloha…”hello” and “goodbye” and Mahalo, meaning “Thank You.”  The last of the three was Okole…meaning “bottom,” “backside” or “butt.”  We were in the process of rearing two toddlers at the time, and that word was popular for anything from changing diapers, to getting your backside over to mom or dad for a talking to.  Hawaii is where the “Tropical Way” grew into our hearts and minds therefore we chose to use Okole in the naming of our lizard.

Rouge…French for red.  We picked this one for a couple of reasons.  First, we have plenty of experiences with the tropical sun and its burning effects.  Second, ST Martin is one of our favorite hang outs.  There, you can choose to get sun on as much of your body as you are comfortable with.  Now we have a lizard living in a land locked state like Kansas.  He visits the tropics regularly viewing himself as a free spirit.  Put the naming explanations together and you get two versions….1. Cap’n Okole Rouge, and then flip the names like you were speaking French , this brings you to the less refined version…2.  Cap’n Red Ass…need we say much more…go ahead roll your eyes now.

Yes, this guy is the face of Antilles Treasures.  His character will be the author of many of the stories here.  The photo work is that of AxARob, and will stay that way no matter how hard the Cap’n tries to lead a page mutiny.