Move over gin, the rum and tonic has arrived, and it’s just in time for national rum day.
The nation has been in a long-term relationship with the glorious gin and tonic for…well a long time, but this National Rum Day, Turtle Bay in the Northern Quarter is introducing something that they think could turn our collective head.
The Carribean themed bar and restaurant has added six new rum and tonic pairings to its menu which promise to marry the flavours of each rum with a perfectly paired tonic.
The new Rum ‘n’ Tonic menu features six specially selected rums – a taster of the 40 Caribbean varieties that are available at Turtle Bay. The spirits are each served with a Double Dutch tonic and cost £4.95. For a stronger drink, another shot of rum can be added for an extra £2.
The tonics have been carefully selected to perfectly complement, but not overpower, the flavours of each rum to create six distinctive Rum n Tonics. The three tonics on the Rum ‘n’ Tonic menu are a classic Indian tonic, Cucumber and Watermelon tonic and Cranberry and Ginger tonic.
Silvia Aliprandi, Turtle Bay’s resident rum expert and creator the Rum ‘N’ Tonics menu, said:
“We’re very proud of the new Rum ‘n’ Tonics menu at Turtle Bay! Rum is becoming more and more popular and that looks set to continue over the next few years. We wanted to create a new selection of drinks that showcased some of the amazing 40 rums on offer here at Turtle Bay and give rum lovers a magical new drinking experience.”
The Indian tonic has been paired with Angostura 1919 and Mezan Jamaica XO, two rums with caramel and spicy notes, which promise to shine through the subtle flavours of the tonic. These cocktails are garnished with fresh mint and lime – the perfect drink for the seasoned gin and tonic lover, who wants something more familiar but with a Caribbean twist!
The Cucumber and Watermelon tonic is slightly sweeter, making it the perfect accompaniment for lighter rums. El Dorado 3, a bright, clean white rum from Guyana with coconut and vanilla notes, and Mount Gay Black Barrel, a Bajan gold rum with warm toasty notes, are perfect partners for this tonic. These drinks are garnished with a fresh watermelon wedge and slices of cucumber.
Finally, the Cranberry and Ginger tonic works well with spicy rums. The two rums paired with this tonic are Foursquare Spiced, a Bajan rum with spicy and sweet notes of nutmeg and gingerbread, and Gosling’s Black Seal, a rich and well-balanced dark rum from Bermuda with notes of butterscotch, vanilla and caramel. These drinks are garnished with dried cranberries and the marriage of Cranberry and the cinnamon notes in these rums are perfectly combined to bring a delicious experience which rum lovers across the board will enjoy.
The Rum ‘n’ Tonic menu is available from today for more information visit the Turtle Bay website.