🍹 Sip the Islands: 5 Must-Try Virgin Islands Cocktails (and Where to Taste Them!)

Dreaming of turquoise waters and the perfect island drink in hand? Whether you're planning a cruise stop or a stay in St. Thomas, there’s one thing you simply can’t miss—a proper Caribbean cocktail made the Virgin Islands way.

From historic barrel houses to beachfront bars, these island classics have been perfected over generations using Caribbean-grown rums—and now, you can taste the very best of them at both the Rum Room inside the Cardow Building and the Emerald Beach Bar on one of St. Thomas’ most scenic shores.

🏝️ 1. The Painkiller – The Virgin Islands’ Signature Cocktail

Originally crafted in the 1970s at the Soggy Dollar Bar in nearby Jost Van Dyke, the Painkiller is an iconic Caribbean cocktail—and we proudly serve it with a Virgin Islands twist.

Traditional Ingredients:

• Pineapple juice

• Orange juice

• Cream of coconut

• Grated nutmeg

• Rum (typically Pusser’s… but we elevate it!)

Our Version: We use our Dark Navy Spiced Rum, rich with Caribbean spice, and top it with a floater of our EXTRA Virgin Aged Rum for added depth. Try this cocktail at our Rum Room or at the Emerald Beach Bar—where your feet can be in the sand while your drink is in hand.

🥥 2. Coconut Breeze – A Smooth, Tropical Dream

Light, breezy, and dangerously easy to sip, this cocktail stars our Virgin Islands Coconut Rum, crafted with pure tropical notes and a clean finish.

Ingredients:

• Coconut rum

• Club soda or coconut water

• Lime wedge or mint sprig

Best Served:At a beachside table under a palm tree at Emerald Beach Bar, with waves just steps away—or during our mixology class in the heart of Charlotte Amalie.

🍓 3. Guava Island Fizz – A VI Rum Tours \ Favorite

This one’s a crowd-pleaser at our mixology classes, featuring our signature EXTRA Virgin Guava Rum—a fruity, floral, and all-natural rum that captures the taste of the islands.

Ingredients:

• Guava rum

• Sparkling water

• Splash of lemon juice

• Crushed ice & fresh basil

🥃 4. The Barrel House Old Fashioned – Aged & Elegant

Prefer something smooth and spirit-forward? This island-style Old Fashioned is made with our EXTRA Virgin Aged Rum, a premium blend featuring Cruzan Rum aged to perfection.

Ingredients:

• Aged rum

• Demerara sugar

• Orange peel

• Island bitters

This one shines at our Rum Room inside the Cardow building, the first building on Main Street—once a warehouse for rum barrels and now a center for flavor and history.

🍊 5. The Spiced Sunset

Bold, fruity, and perfect for golden hour, this cocktail highlights our Dark Navy Spiced Rum with notes of cinnamon, clove, and burnt sugar.

Ingredients:

• Dark navy spiced rum

• Passion fruit juice

• Lime

• Splash of ginger beer

You’ll find it poured daily at the Emerald Beach Bar—a perfect pit stop for beachgoers, hotel guests, and cocktail lovers alike.

🌴 Where to Taste These Cocktails

Whether you’re in town for a tour or relaxing on the beach, you can enjoy our house-made rums and cocktails at:

• 🥃 The Rum Room at the Cardow Building – Book a tasting or mixology class at RumToursVI.com

• 🍹 Emerald Beach Bar at EmeraldBeach.com – Open daily for lunch, cocktails, and sunsets by the sea

🔗 Book Your Rum Experience

Want to learn the secrets of Caribbean cocktails, discover Virgin Islands history, and taste locally crafted rums you won’t find anywhere else?

➡️ Reserve your tasting or class now at www.RumToursVI.com➡️ Follow us on Instagram @RumToursVI for cocktail inspiration, behind-the-scenes fun, and island stories!