On the subject of regional spirits, rum and the Caribbean are probably the most distinguished representations of pour reflecting place. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman pays homage to this storied correlation with their newly launched custom-armoire, devoted to a group of the best and rarest rums from throughout the Caribbean.
The hardwood cupboard was created particularly for the Ritz-Carlton throughout final 12 months’s full renovation of public areas and visitor rooms, in partnership with Champalimaud Design. “A key ingredient of the design inspiration for the brand new areas was to include the spirit of the Cayman Islands and the Caribbean in addition to the wealthy tradition and heritage of the vacation spot,” Leandro Rattazzi, Director of Gross sales & Advertising and marketing, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, instructed Forbes.
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
Along with rum, the armoire encases craft cigars and candies, and lives within the Silver Palm Lounge–named after the Nationwide Tree of the Cayman Islands and an establishment for the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman since opening in 2006. The property enlisted two rum aficionados to guide the sourcing and collaborated with the meals and beverage staff to launch the Rum Ritual, a rum, cigar and cacao pairing expertise. “This was the proper alternative to attach our visitors to the center and soul of our islands, all of the whereas providing a novel expertise and the very best high quality of rums and cigars paired with the experience of our pastry staff, who’re those crafting the candies from Caribbean cacao,” mentioned Rattazzi.
Rattazzi additional defined that as a part of the sourcing, the rum aficionados reviewed international rum lists to decide on not solely award-winning rums, but additionally uncommon, historic rums which might be served up with a compelling backstory. This consists of Seven Fathoms rum, one of many Cayman Islands’ best rums and the one rum on the planet to be aged seven fathoms (ft) deep underneath water. Additionally from the Cayman Islands, The Oloroso Cask End Rum is the oldest providing from the Cayman Spirits Firm, produced in limited-release, single cask batches, which additionally makes it extremely wanted. Past the Cayman Islands, uncommon rums from Jamaica (Blackwell Rum 007), Haiti (Saint Benevolence Clairin), Barbados (Mount Homosexual 1703 Grasp Choose), Puerto Rico (Ron Barrilito 5 Star) and Guyana (Black Tot Rum 40-Yr-Outdated) are additionally featured.
“Rum is such a attribute spirit of the area and the expertise was meant to showcase the perfect of the perfect within the Caribbean,” shared Rattazzi on the celebrated assortment.
Additional drawing on the parallel between the property and their locale, the candies and cigars are served on Caymanite platters, a rock strata distinctive to the Cayman Islands, handmade by native craftswoman, Launa Inexperienced.
Beneath, Rattazzi shares extra about this latest addition to The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, in addition to what visitors can count on from the property’s ever-expanding spirits providing, together with the most important sake assortment within the Cayman.
Jillian Dara: Who did you’re employed with to create the armoire and the way did you determine on these key companions?
Leandro Rattazzi: We partnered with the wonderful designers at Champalimaud Design and native furnishings designer, John Hen. He custom-designed the piece and affectionately known as it “the completely happy field.” They spoke on a weekly foundation to make sure that [the cabinet] was performed to the very best aesthetic normal, whereas additionally being useful and purposeful. This shut collaboration paid off and the result’s a good-looking and commanding piece that captivates anybody who sees it—product of oak, slate, and glass it’s round 10 ft tall and 6 ft extensive.
The rum, cigar and cacao armoire lives within the property’s signature bar, Silver Palm Lounge
Dara: As a world resort, you can have chosen any spirit to gather–so, why rum?
Rattazzi: As connoisseurs of the great life, our hope is to share experiences that encourage curiosity, evoke pleasure, and feed the soul. A single sip of rum evokes nostalgia of palm timber, carefree days, and a glowing blue ocean; it comes as no shock that it’s the most consumed drink within the area. Because the seventeenth century, rum has performed a major half within the tradition and the id of the Caribbean, with many islands gaining recognition all over the world for his or her premium rum varieties.
Dara: How does the gathering of rums replicate the spirit of the resort and property?
Rattazzi: Much like the Neoclassical structure of our resort’s constructing and the newly redesigned areas that replicate the British-Caribbean residential type of the Nineteen Sixties, it pays tribute to a bygone period of magnificence and class. As well as, it displays the vigorous spirit of the brand new Silver Palm area, full with an electrifying inexperienced that bodily represents the underside of the Silver Thatch Palm leaf and in addition represents the joyful, vigorous spirit of the Cayman Islands and the Caribbean as an entire.
Dara: Are you able to share extra particulars about what visitors can count on with the Rum Ritual?
Rattazzi: The best way that we suggest pairing rum with cacao is by taking a small chew of chocolate first and letting it soften in your palate with the intention to savor the style and the perfume in your mouth. This taste explosion will tantalize your style buds. After this, take a sip of rum and expertise the transition of intense flavors. Proceed on this means till you end the chocolate and rum; these are moments of pure pleasure.
We additionally suggest pairing considered one of our hand-selected rums with an attractive cigar or a scrumptious cacao creation for an enhanced taste expertise. An expensive and stress-free pastime, there is no such thing as a set script for a way finest to get pleasure from rum with a cigar. All you need to do is sip and savor the flavors and spice of the rum. Then slowly smoke the cigar (with out inhaling) and easily relish the style and perfume.
The serving platters are designed of native Caymanite rock.
Dara: How else have your spirits choices modified within the final decade? What do you attribute to this?
Rattazzi: Now we have a signature assortment of effective wines and spirits at each considered one of our retailers, led by educated and gifted trade professionals that carry it to life via specially-crafted cocktails and beverage packages. Blue by Eric Ripert, our effective eating restaurant, hosts a group of over 700 of the best wines on the planet; Seven, our steakhouse, has a group of over 400. Taikun, our genuine Japanese restaurant, has the most important sake choice within the Cayman Islands and its personal sake sommelier for skilled pairings. Now we have a wine sommelier who oversees the wine packages at Blue, Seven and Andiamo and now, are proud to introduce our rum consultants via this new program at Silver Palm.
Dara: Do you see a shift in visitor’s demand in relation to your spirits choices?
Rattazzi: There’s undoubtedly a shift–when there’s a gorgeous story behind the choices, visitors can create a connection to the historical past, tradition and flavors of the wine and spirits choices. They’re at all times drawn to the standard craftsmanship of the spirits as properly, and we guarantee to supply the very best high quality via our bar choices and beverage packages.
This interview has been edited and condensed for readability.