If Creole is the premiere cuisine of the Caribbean, rum is definitely the drink. On the main islands of Basse-Terre and Grand-Terre in the island nation of Guadeloupe, you’ll find many rum distilleries. With the abundance and quality of Guadeloupe sugarcane, these distilleries are ranked among the best in the Caribbean. Damoiseau, in Grand-Terre, makes award-winning vintage, old, amber and white rums, while on Marie-Galante, Distillerie Bielle makes delicious chocolate and coconut varieties, among others.

Now that you know just how many types of rum you can get in Guadeloupe, it’s about time you find out what sort of delicious cocktails the locals are making with the stuff. Since it’s the style on Guadeloupe to age the rum a minimum of four years in re-charred bourbon casks (which I’m just going to assume means fancy rum box), many of these rums are best served neat or in simple cocktails to really take advantage of that island flavor. We love our fruity juices, but when the recommendation is to drink it neat, we go with it.

One classic and classy rum cocktail to enjoy is the Cre Old Fashioned. (It’s like if the Mad Men traded their suits for swim trunks). Find it here:

Ingredients
2 oz rum
¼ oz Clement Creole Shrubb
2 dashes orange or Angostura bitters
Garnish: orange wheel and brandied cherry

Make It
Pour rum, Creole Shrubb, and bitters into a cracked-ice filled glass and stir. Add garnish.