having just returned from a fabulous holiday in barbados and jetting from la to london, i am feeling the full force of british weather. so what better way to cheer up a rainy day than with a tasty cocktail that reminds me of holiday… and it is so delicious i just had to share.

bajan rum punch, ju-ju’s, barbados

bajan rum punch is a staple drink for holidaymakers heading to the island. after falling out with malibu back in my teens i was rather reluctant to order anything with rum in it – but i am now a complete convert.

one afternoon we were faced with a tropical rainstorm leaving us huddled up at our favourite beach bar, ju-ju’s. the pouring rain gave us the perfect excuse to get a little tipsy and the house rum punch proved to be the catalyst for lots of sillyness and helped to make many fun memories. 

bajan rum punch recipe

1 measure of lime juice, freshly squeezed

2 measures of sugar

3 measures of dark caribbean rum

4 measures of water

dash of angostura bitters

freshly grated nutmeg sprinkled on top

serve with ice

heat the sugar in a saucepan with two measures of water and as the sugar dissolves it will turn into a syrup at this point and add in the lime juice. mix in the rum (the more the merrier) with the rest of the water and add a dash of angostura bitters. serve over ice and sprinkle with freshly grated nutmeg. it’s a pure holiday-feeling in a glass.

sampling the rum punch aboard cool runnings, barbados