Blue Cocktails, Island Bars, All the Rage
Tortola, British Virgin Islands (BVI) — It’s a place where endless blue skies hang over pristine beaches and turquoise waters lap up along island shores. The BVI’s are simply as good as it gets when a getaway demands a truly great escape. About 60 miles east of Puerto Rico, the BVI’s capture the definition of a tropical paradise — unhurried, naturally beautiful and the perfect backdrop to unwind with a cocktail in hand. And, it’s an aqua blue cocktail as breathtaking as the deep turquoise waters that’s getting noticed — even in the “rum-loving” BVI’s.
The BVI’s are the sailing mecca of the Caribbean. Many visitors choose to island hop aboard a private or chartered sailboat to experience various ports easily accessible in a day. Start your journey in Tortola, the largest island in the BVI chain, and head for the island’s capitol, Road Town, to board your vessel. With winds almost always out of the east/southeast, your yachting adventure awaits. First stop: Pull up a stool at Pirate’s Bight across the Sir Frances Drake Channel on Norman Island. It’s an open-air bar and restaurant right on the sand beach facing west, perfect for viewing the sunset while enjoying dinner. April, the lead bartender, whipped up one of her popular signature drinks – “Who’s Your Daddy?” made with HPNOTIQ, coconut rum and a splash of pineapple juice.
Norman Island was the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island and is surrounded by reefs and caves making it a prime snorkeling destination. Not to be missed while visiting Norman Island is the Willie Thornton (or Willie T’s as the locals call it). Floating in the harbor just off the island, the Willie T. is a dilapidated “schooner turned bar” where the scene can get wild. Simon, the bartender on deck, will pour his specialty the “Grass is Always Greener,” an island cocktail mixed with HPNOTIQ, Midori and orange juice while patrons jump off the boat’s upper deck into the water.
Jost Van Dyke, a picturesque island nearby in White Bay, is another lovely port you’ll sail by along the way. Many choose to swim ashore and enjoy the Soggy Dollar Bar. And finally, our last stop is a must. No BVI trip is complete without a trip to Foxy’s, where happy hour is always an event with local kingpin, Foxy, entertaining guests and playing guitar. So, whether it’s a beach in the islands or a beach paradise you’ll call home this summer — dig your toes in the sand, and head for that Tiki bar where a cool, blue summer sip awaits.
Who’s Your Daddy?
2 oz HPNOTIQ
1 oz coconut rum
½ oz pineapple juice
Blend with ice and serve.
Garnish with an orange and paper umbrella.
