White sand beaches, turquoise seas and . . . nutmeg? Yes! With 20% of the world’s nutmeg supply coming from Grenada, it’s a key ingredient of this island. So key that there’s even a nutmeg on their national flag! And while tourism may be its biggest industry, the government of Grenada has recently put more focus on their agriculture, specifically on ramping up production of nutmeg.
You can’t miss the omnipresent groves of nutmeg trees bearing their apricot-sized fruit, which is split open to reveal the distinctive red mace covering the actual heart of the spice. What can you do with nutmeg? What can’t you do! Grenadians know there’s a whole lot more to it than just sprinkling it on eggnog. They make their precious resource into jam, jelly, preserves, syrup, liqueur, massage oils, soap, sexual stimulants, pain relievers, jewelry and mulch.
And, of course, cocktails. A local bartender by the name of Kendyson Thomas created the Nutmeg Creeper for a cocktail competition, so named because it goes down smooth but creeps up on you a little later. So – pace yourself!
Ingredients
2 oz orange juice
1 oz grapefruit juice
2 oz nutmeg preserves
1 oz superior light rum
1/2 oz La Grenade liqueur
1/2 oz nutmeg syrup
Dash of ground nutmeg and bitters
Make It
Muddle the ground nutmeg, syrup, liqueur, rum and preserves. Add the orange juice, grapefruit juice and some bitters, and shake. Strain into a small glass of ice and spice up your evening!