Posts Tagged ‘souvenir’

Steve
Steve

Uncommon Buy: Le Bois Lélé, the Authentic Caribbean Swizzle Stick

MMM/SBPR

Ask any bartender worth a damn (here’s one!) and he/she will surely tell you that there are several essential tools that no bar worth a damn should ever be without. I mean, you wouldn’t try to cut a 2×4 with a steak knife, would you? Similarly, you really shouldn’t try to tackle this or this or this without a few of these basic tools.
Now, if you want to kick the fancy factor up a notch or two, while also adding an authentic Caribbean touch to your home bar, then you’ll want to get your hands on the skinny spindly sticks pictured above.

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Jun. 21st, 2011 | Tags: , , , | 1 Comment »
Steve
Steve

Uncommon Buy: Get Your Very Own Barrel of Rum at Habitation Clément

Fût en chêne Clément/SBPR

No visit to Martinique would be complete without a stop at Habitation Clément. Even if you’re not a rum-lover like me, there are plenty of other interesting reasons to check the place out. If you’re into fine art, there’s La Case à Léo. If history’s more your thing, La Case des Presidents, the majestic Clément Mansion, or the inner-workings of the old distillery will keep you entertained for hours.
No matter what draws you here, it’s likely your experience will be so special that you’ll want to take away a keepsake to remind you of your visit. Thankfully, there’s a very classy gift boutique on-site carrying every variety of Rhum Clément (even this rare beauty), as well as books, paintings, shirts and other common souvenirs.

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Apr. 12th, 2011 | Tags: , , , | 3 Comments »
Steve
Steve

Uncommon Buy: Naturally & Philosophically Sweet Honey

Miel Local, Martinique /SBPR

Rum definitely tops my list of souvenirs from the Caribbean, especially when the bottles are as distinctive as this one, or this one, but on my last trip to Martinique earlier this year I picked up another sweet, bottled island creation that came as a bit of a surprise to me.
You don’t really think of honey as being a big product of the Caribbean. At least I never did, but maybe that’s because while growing up in the U.S. Virgin Islands we had the same Sue Bee and Bee Maid brands that prevail along grocery shelves in the mainland U.S.

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Nov. 10th, 2010 | Tags: | 1 Comment »
Steve
Steve

Uncommon Buy: Kennedy Tyrell’s Remarkable Wooden Handicrafts

Kennedy Tyrell handicrafts

Shopping is not a main draw in Nevis, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a special souvenir or two to commemorate your trip to this very special place. While wandering around the island back in June, we happened upon this humble handicrafts store with just the type of souvenirs I’m talking about…and a truly remarkable story.
As elsewhere in Nevis, and the Caribbean for that matter, you can buy hand-carved wooden wall hangings and small statuettes here, no two exactly alike. The items reflect the charm and personality of the island with detailed carvings of native plants, birds, and of course the ever-popular monkeys, fashioned from local wood, polished to a shine, and available for sale at reasonable prices.

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Aug. 31st, 2010 | Tags: , , | 1 Comment »
Steve
Steve

Friday Happy Hour: Rhum Neisson

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

A bottle of rum is a great souvenir of any trip to the Caribbean, every sip providing vivid reminders of sunny, carefree days, endless relaxation, and uniquely exotic adventures.
The bottles pictured here, of course, offer a little bit more.
I found these at the Rhum Neisson distillery in Martinique. The colorful hand-painted labels on each bottle, no two exactly alike, make these bottles a nice piece of artwork as well. Neisson rums also have regular labels, of course, but these are really special mementos that will still look good on your shelf long after they’re empty.
You shouldn’t sleep on what’s inside, though… These bottles are considerably more than just a pretty face.

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Jun. 25th, 2010 | Tags: , , , , | 3 Comments »