The Barbados Lager Experiment Conducted By The Wandering Scotsman
Nothing beats a good ice-cold bottle of lager to end the day in Barbados; because most days here are fairly hot they seem to go down a real treat. For me it has to be virtually ice cold or it isn’t going to go down quite so good. The problem in Barbados is that because it is still quite hot hear in the evening it doesn’t take long for a bottle of lager to lose its coldness.
Back home in Scotland my beverage of choice would have been ice cold Guinness on draft, or bottles of Budweiser, Coors, Miller, Hoegarrden bottles or on draft, Peroni, or Amstel, all great drinks in my humble opinion. I would gladly drink copious amount of each of those drinks given half a chance.
In Barbados there isn’t anything like the wide choice of lagers available to choose form, in fact I would go as far as saying the choice on this island is the most limited I have every experienced in any country I have ever travelled to. But don’t get me wrong I’m not complaining but making a very real observation.
I have personally reviewed what I consider to be my favourite lagers, which are easily available to buy in Barbados. I could have also included Sol the Mexican lager in my list but I only seem to like it when I’m eating Mexican food, so for that reason I have not included it.
My Four Favourite Lagers That Are Readily Available In Barbados:
1. Banks Beer, Is Brewed in Barbados itself and this is the only country I have ever seen it sold, but it is seemingly available in a few major cities around the world. It is a very drinkable beverage, which goes down a treat, but it must be ice cold to fully appreciate it.
2. Heineken, an internationally known lager that is brewed in Holland and this one I had tasted many times before I moved to Barbados. A very drinkable lager, that goes down a wee bit too easy, which I suppose isn’t a bad thing, unless you drink too much of the stuff.
3. Carib Lager, another lager that that I hadn’t even been aware that it existed until I sampled it a few years ago in Barbados. This good tasting and smooth lager is brewed in Trinidad and Tobago.
4. Piton Lager, Once again another lager that is new to me out with the Caribbean. This one is brewed in St Lucia and again it is a very good tasting lager, which is surprisingly the cheapest of the bunch at about $1.90BDS a bottle in the supermarket.
I wouldn’t say any of the above lagers were any better than the others, I find them all very drinkable and refreshing lagers, which do the job they are meant to do, which is taste good and help me to chill out at the end of another tough day in Barbados!
The Best Pina Colada Recipe In The World
For me one of my favourite cocktails in Barbados is the Pina Colada. For me there is just something magical about drinking a Pina Colada in a tropical climate, it just seems to taste extra special.
I must be honest and say that I have tasted some delicious Pina Colada’s in Barbados, some not so good ones, and some, which were an absolute disgrace. It isn’t exactly rocket science to make a truly delicious Pina Colada; there are no secret ingredients.
The trick is to use the proper ingredients and you cant really fail but to make a Pina Colada that will taste as good as you will find in the swankiest cocktail bar in any bar in the world.
Pina Colada Recipe
Ingredients:
2oz of Mount Gaye Rum
1 ½ oz of Cream of Coconut
2oz of Fresh Pineapple (cut into chunks & also use the pulp)
1 cup of ice
Method:
Pour everything into the blender.
Blend for roughly 20 seconds or until smooth
Pour into a frosted glass
Drink it through a straw; it somehow makes it taste better
Follow the above instructions to the letter and you will succeed in making the best Pina Colada in the world. Don’t take try to substitute any of the ingredients for something inferior, such as pineapple juice or coconut milk, it just wont work.
What else can I add to the above, apart from find yourself a nice bar or restaurant in Barbados overlooking the Caribbean Sea, along with some candle light, and good company and you will have created a near perfect ambiance to go with the perfect Pina Colada.
Guinness Punch Recipe Via Barbados
Back home in Scotland one of my favourite drinks was a pint of draft ice cold Guinness, it is as good as it gets as far as alcoholic beverages go. Unfortunately draft Guinness isn’t something that you can find in Barbados. The best alternative that is available on the island is bottles of Guinness Original, which just doesn’t do it for me; it is nowhere as good a drink as tasting it on draft.
I however have recently discovered a drink that uses Guinness Original in its recipe and I would say it is a fairly decent tasting drink, which goes down a real treat.
Recipe for Guinness Punch:
12 oz Guinness stout
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/16 tsp cinnamon
1/16 tsp nutmeg
Unsweetened cocoa powder
As much ice as you want
Gently pour a well-chilled Guinness into a small mixing bowl or glass that will hold all of the liquid ingredients. Add the sweetened condensed milk, spices, and cocoa (if it’s wanted). Stir or whisk well, and pour the mixture into a pint-sized beer mug or pub glass, add the ice. Makes 1 drink.
A great wee drink, which does the trick, even though it is not quite as good as Guinness on draft, but what can I do but make the best of things.
The Joys of Cake Sampling In Holetown
Today I was off to Holetown, which is the Parish of St James in Barbados to do some wedding cake sampling on the behalf of family members in London. Sometimes life is unbearable tough, having to sample delicious cakes, what could I do apart from say YES.
The appointment was at 10 am, just the right time for a cappuccino and some delicious cake, the place where the sampling was taking place was Patisserie Flindt, which seems like a great place to go for something to eat, they seem to do a lot more than just cakes.
Let’s get back to the tough job of wedding cake sampling, we had arranged to taste 3 flavours of cake, because the wedding cake will have 3 layers and each one will be of a different cake. The layers are going to be rum cake, sponge and chocolate cake, what can I say apart from each layer was amazingly good.
The girl taking our appointment had arranged for my wife and myself to have a little cake each of all of the 3 flavours. I was only expecting to receive a wee sample, but Flindt wasn’t mucking around they gave us a good chunk of each cake. It was far too much cake for us to eat in one go, so they kindly gave us a box to take the leftovers home.
I was intending on taking a picture to show you how good the cake looked but they had melted by the time I got home. Which was a pity because they not only looked delicious, but they tasted even better than they looked.
Patisserie Flindt, is a very inviting kind of place and I shall return at some point in the hear future for lunch and I must sample some of their unbelievable delicious looking cheesecakes, which looked like heaven.
Cocktail Recipes For The Weekend
It is the weekend again and it is a real miserable day here in Barbados. It hasn’t stopped raining hard for about 2 hours and I need cheered up real bad. So latter on this evening I plan on listening to some good music and having a few cocktails in the comfort of my own home.
I will wait untill the kid has went to bed then create some romantic ambiance with some candles, relaxing music and of course the way to most girls hearts some delicious cocktails, followed by whatever the mood may create!
3 Cocktail recipes:
The Barbados Surfer
4 oz 100% pure pineapple juice
1.5 oz Vodka
1 oz Falernum
1 oz Blue Curacao
1 oz Cointreau
4 ice cubes
Mix it all together in a cocktail shaker and serve with a smile.
Bajan Bandit
2 oz Dark Rum
1.5 oz 100% pure pineapple juice
1 oz 100% pure orange juice
1 tsp Grenadine syrup
1 oz Crème de bananne
Dash of sprite
4 ice cubes
Mix it all together in a cocktail shaker and serve with an even bigger smile
Paradise Island Dream
4 oz 100% mango juice
4 oz 100% cherry juice
4 oz of shandy
Tsp of limejuice
4 ice cubes
Serve with the biggest smile of the night
After a few of these delicious cocktails, along with the candles and the music, the ambiance for a sweet night will have been created.
I have some more cocktail recipes that you may like, It’s Friday, and It’s Cocktail Evening in Barbados.
Lunch Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This!
Sometimes in life the simple things are what makes me tick, I have been to some of the most famous cities in the world and eaten in some of fanciest restaurants in the world in cities such as London, Paris, Barcelona, Edinburgh, Amsterdam to name a few. I wont deny they were memorable cities and meals and I wont forget them in a hurry, nor will I forget the dent that they made in my wallet because I sure aint rich.
What I love about life in Barbados is that if I need a break from work or if work is finished, a fantastic beach is only a short distance away no matter where I happen to be on the island. For me nothing beats heading down to a beautiful beach and just sitting watching the clear blue sea and going for a wee walk along the sands.
I suppose my love of beaches and the sea, stems from having been born and having growing up in a city called Aberdeen, which is in Scotland. We also have some of the most amazing beaches in the world and I would often head down there to spend some time chilling out and relaxing. I can’t see myself ever living anywhere that wasn’t relatively close to good beaches and the sea.
The other day I had been working since about 5am and the clock had just struck 2pm. The faithful rooster that lives next door was crowing like crazy, telling me that It was time to call it day as far as work was concerned. I for one have no intention of working myself into an early grave, and anyway I had got through a power of work. I could rest assured that I had earned my trip to the beach. For me there is no point in working hard if there is no reward at the end of the day, it is what makes me feel good about life and being alive, is having the opportunity to spend some time relaxing with loved ones.
I had been so focussed on work and running around meeting people, that I had missed lunch. Fortunately the garage just across the road from Oistins Fish Fry sells the most amazing hot dogs that I have probably tasted in my life, but my wife tells me there is another garage in Barbados that even surpasses them. It only cost about $15 for a 2 loaded hot dogs, 2 mauby’s and can of Heineken, which is about £3.75 back, home in Scotland.
The best thing about my late lunch was the view and being able to sit in the sun watching the sea and the fisherman with their spearguns hunting the fish in the bay and this was absolutely free. Everything was perfect the company of my wife, the food and drinks and the location were as perfect as it can get.
Sometimes in life the simple things are all I need to keep me motivated and on the road to living a happy and fulfilling life. The meal maybe only cost me $15 but It will have a ever lasting effect on my memory. I felt truly inspired to continue working hard to achieve my dreams and aims from life!
Mamoncillo Sure Does Taste Sweet and Delicious
Even though I have being coming to Barbados for a number of years as a visitor and I have now moved to the island, for some inexplicable reason I had never eaten an ackee. The official botanical name for the ackee is Mamoncillo, and it is a fruit that grows in small bunches on a tree.
Ackee’s are a fairly common fruit in Barbados, and most days I will come across someone selling them, either on a makeshift stall in the street, kids selling them door to door, or even people walking down the centre of the road selling them to people in their cars.
I must admit I’m not sure why I hadn’t tried them, I suppose they look harmless enough. They are not something I had ever came across in Britian or anywhre else I have traveled to in Europe. I suppose the nearest fruit I have seen to a ackee in Britian is the Chinese fruit called lychee, which are a personal favourite of mine.
I went to pick up the Kid from his Lessons, and he showed me a small bag of something, which he said his teacher had given to him. I had believe it or not, had never seen an ackee so close up before. He told me what it was and then he proceded to give me a lesson in how to eat it, which was good because it was kind of confusing me, he told me “you just gently bite it to take the skin off and then suck the fruit, don’t bite it because there is a hard seed inside and you could break your teeth”.
I couldn’t let the kid down, so I cracked the skin on one of the ackee’s with my teeth, it opened up real easy. I then with some apprehension started sucking on that ackee, it tasted real sweet and delicious. The only bad thing was that the seed takes up most of the volume of the fruit.
Further along the road we caught up with the 2 young children that had been selling them door to door, I couldn’t resist I bought 3 fairly big bunches for $6, which is a bargain. I just cant believe that I have left it such a long time to finally taste ackee’s and that I actually love them.
I bought 3 bunches, but they didn’t last long in our house hold, when I went into the fridge to have some for breakfast the next morning, there were only about 6 left. There is clearly some other secret lovers of ackee’s in our household in Barbados.
I have even heard it said that Bajan ackee’s not only taste delicious but they are seemingly an aphrodisiac that will do your libido the world of good. What can I say to that, apart from go buy some and find out for yourself.
I Sure Do Love Them Coconuts They Are Delicious!
Ever since my first visit to Barbados way back in 2005 I have loved the taste of coconuts, both the coconut water and the delicious jelly you get when you break it open.
When I was a coconut water drinking beginner I would use a straw to drink the delicious water that you find inside them. Since I have moved here on a permanent basis I have progressed to drinking the water directly from the coconut without the aid of a straw. I don’t even spill one drop on my chin or my clothes, now that is what I call progression.
I must admit I find it difficult to drive past a roadside coconut seller without at least buying one. You could say I have developed a bit of an addiction for them. I find it amazing that for only BDS$2.00 you get a delicious coconut.
Back home in Scotland if you get thirsty on the road, you have to find a shop and go and buy a drink. That doesn’t quite compare with buying a coconut at the side of the road in Barbados.
The great thing about a coconut is that you get two uses out of it for the price one, not only do you get the delicious water, you can eat the jelly inside it as well, which also tastes delicious. Opening up the coconut so that you can actually get to the jelly inside, can be a wee bit tricky. In fact it requires a wee bit of energy, to bust it open. A relative showed me how to open a coconut the other day, it involved bashing it against a rock until it splits open, what can I say apart from that this method works like a dream.
Because I have developed an obvious taste for the coconut I thought I better do a wee bit of research to make sure that it was good for me. I knew of one the benefit’s I got from drinking the water and that was a noticeable increase in my energy and libido; it was like being a teenager again! For those benefits I would recommend drinking the water from two fairly large coconuts. Seemingly there is an abundance of vitamins and minerals that can be found in a coconut that are good for you.
Some more of the known benefits of the coconut:
Coconut Water is more Nutritious than whole milk – Less fat and NO cholesterol.
Coconut Water is more Healthy than Orange Juice – Much lower calories.
Coconut Water is better than processed baby milk.
Coconut water is naturally sterile — Water permeates though the filtering husk.
Coconut water is a universal donor– Its identical to human blook plasma.
Coconut Water is a natural Isotonic Beverage – The same level we have in our blood.
Coconut water has saved lives in 3rd world countries thru Coconut IV.
Coconut water contains lauric acid, which is present in human mother’s milk.
My mind was most definitely put at ease upon finding out all the goodness that comes from a humble coconut. A coconut really is an amazing gift from nature, which I’m going to continue to drink on a very regular basis.
I developed my own cocktail based upon the coconut, which I may add tastes absolutely delicious. It is called the Bajan Coconut Dream.
“Bajan Coconut Dream” Ingredients:
I large coconut, half full of it’s water
100ml of Mount Gay Rum
2 shots of white rum
50ml 100% pineapple juice
Juice from half a squeezed lime
Around 8 Ice cubes
Instructions:
Everything goes into the coconut and you stir if for a few minutes and wolla you have a delicious cocktail, you have the Bajan Coconut Dream.
I would advise using a straw to drink it, and because it is quite a large drink why not get two straws and share it with a loved one.
Nothing Beats a Glass of Mount Gay Rum To End the Day
Ever since I tasted my first wee glass of Mount Gay Rum, especially the Sugar Cane Brandy version, I have been hooked. It must be one of the most delicious alcoholic spirits that I have ever tasted.
Prior to my first trip to Barbados in 2005 I couldn’t even stand the taste of rum and my favourite tipple was Single Malt Scottish Whisky.
Mount Gay Rum is seemingly the oldest rum maker, not only in Barbados but also in the world. There is actual surviving written documentation dated 20th of February 1703 that proves that rum was being produced on the Mount Gay estate from at least this period in time. I haven’t had the opportunity to enjoy the tour yet, but I will in the near future.
Being a Scottish born and bred loon and having lived in Scotland for most of my life so far, my favourite alcoholic spirit was of course Scottish whisky. Not any old Scottish whisky, I must admit I didn’t care too much for blended whisky. My whisky of choice would have been a good bottle of Single Malt such as Macallan 10 year old, Glenmorangie 10 year old or Dalwhinnie 15 year old. Each of those whiskies’s taste real smooth and I would periodically enjoy a wee glass or two of Scotland’s finest firewater.
When I was living in Scotland I suppose there wasn’t really a great choice of rums to choose from, I had tasted rums such as Morgans Spiced Rum, Captains Morgan and Havana Club all of which I didn’t really rate that highly. There was no way I would have ever had a glass of one of those feeble rums, instead of one of my favourite whiskies.
My viewpoint on rum changed forever when I visited Barbados for the first time during the summer of 2005. As usual when I go on holiday I try to immerse myself into the local culture of the country I’m visiting, I will taste as many local foods and drinks as I can. I can even remember the first time I tasted Mount Gay Rum. I had been taken out for drive up to St Lucy, by soon to become family members and was in a local rum shop, when I had my first glass of Mount Gay rum mixed with Sprite. I must admit I only accepted the drink out of politeness and I wasn’t expecting it to taste too good.
I was wrong, my first glass of Mount Gay rum totally changed my perception of rum, it was unbelievable sweet and smooth. I couldn’t believe I had never before tasted this rum, I thought it was one of the most delicious beverages known to mankind. The 4 of us soon polished off the first bottle of rum and another one was swiftly purchased. The best thing of all for me was that I woke up the next morning without a headache, which was a miracle considering how much rum I had consumed. I tell you I will never drink more than 3 or 4 nips of whisky in the same evening, because I know I will wake up the next day with a real bad headache.
I find it amazing that Mount Gay Rum is made from only, sugar canes and coral filtered water; the ingredients are of course then blended and aged to create an amazingly delicious beverage.
I have sampled Mount Gay Rum with sprite, coke and even Suplegen, and the other night I drank it with some fizzy lemon and limejuice. What can I say, apart from that Mount Gay rum tastes unbelievable good no matter what I drink it with. I’m just wondering how good it would taste if I poured some into a coconut and mixed it with the water that is something for me to try out sometime.
I have found since I moved to Barbados that a wee glass of rum and something is a great way to end another day in paradise, it sure helps to send me to sleep. The best thing of all is that a bottle of Mount Gay Rum, Sugar Cane Brandy only costs about $21, it would cost me around 3 or 4 times that to buy a bottle of one of my favourite whiskies back home in Scotland.
Mango Fruit Shake, Barbados Style
It’s another real hot day in Barbados and all this heat gives me a raging thirst as soon as I wake up in the morning. In order to deal with my early morning thirst, I always like to start the day off with a delicious cold glass of fruit juice made by my own fair hands.
Living in Barbados is fantastic because all I have to do is walk into my garden and I have some trees with delicious local fruits on them. I have a mango tree, coconut tree and guavas.
So I suppose this delicious mango fruit shake recipe that I’m going to share with you, came about only because they were the fruits that I had available to me in my garden in Barbados.
Ingredients for Mango Fruit Shake Barbados Style:
1 cup chopped mango
½ cup chopped coconut Jelly
½ cup chopped guava
½ cup of 100% pure orange juice
½ a cup of natural yogurt
1-teaspoon angostura bitters
1 teaspoon of brown sugar (optional)
I cup of ice
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend for 2-3 minutes or so until smooth.
This will give you about 4 large glasses of delicious fruit juice.
Not only does my mango fruit shake taste absolutely delicious, it is extremely healthy for you, it is full of vitamins and fibre.
Nothing beats starting the day off with a large glass of healthy fruits blended together, it is a great way to give your energy levels a boost and get your day off to a great start.
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