Turtle Bay Exeter manager's top 10 rums
Turtle Bay is set to open its doors to Exeter on 23rd August, bringing a new, vibrant, Caribbean dining and drinking experience to the town for the very first time.
The 215 seat, £800K, 4015 sqft Exeter restaurant will be located in the new Queen Street Dining Quarter development in the Guildhall Shopping Centre.
As well as serving up blissful Caribbean food in the restaurant, the venue also features a stunning rum cocktail menu, which is the product of a rum collection that includes no less than 40 different varieties.
The range takes in the full breadth of the Caribbean - from Mount Gay’s Bajan to Appleton Estate’s Jamaican rum, and everything in between, all at the same price! The resulting cocktail list is therefore as cool and credible as you’d expect from a culture that brought us Bob Marley.
With such a mind-boggling array of rums to choose from, Turtle Bay Exeter’s General Manager, Sami Al-Huwaidi has curated his own personal Top 10 rums to guide thirsty Essex residents through the rum bonanza to come!
The Manager’s ‘Inside Scoop’ - Exeter’s Rum Lovers Guide to Turtle Bay Rum:
1. Pyrat xo
ABV - 40% 75cl
Citrus twist.
A very special amber Caribbean blended rum from Anguilla Rums Ltd in the West Indies. A real connoisseur's rum, with a sublimely orangey, spicy flavour and nuanced finish.
2. Mount Gay Black Barrel
ABV - 43% 70cl
Rich and spicy.
A 2014 release, Mount Gay Black Barrel is a blend of rums produced in both pot and column stills. Finished in deeply charred bourbon barrels.
3. El Dorado 8
ABV - 40% 70cl
A terrific all-rounder.
A recent addition to the El Dorado range of splendid golden Demerara rums from Guyana, this brilliantly versatile rum works well in a luxury Mojito or Rum Old-Fashioned, but is also delicious on the rocks or sipped slowly.
4. Appleton 12
ABV - 43% 70cl
Rich and complex…
Rare Blend is the new name for Appleton 12 Year Old Extra. Distilled in traditional copper pot stills, Rare Blend is a superb blend of rums, many of which have been aged for at least 12 years.
5. Santa Teresa Orange
ABV - 43% 50cl
Orange power!
A sumptuous orange rum liqueur from Venezuelan maestros Santa Teresa, offering depth and sweetness without being too sickly. Decadent and extremely drinkable.
6. Pussers Gunpowder
ABV - 54.5% 70cl
Full bodied kick!
Pusser's Gunpowder Proof is a classic British Navy style rum, inspired by the recipe used to produce the tot given to sailors as their daily ration until Black Tot Day, 31 July 1970.
7. Kraken
ABV - 40% 70cl
The spice of life!
A dark spiced Caribbean rum introduced to the UK in Spring 2010, Kraken's old-style bottle and superlative packaging seem to earmark it out for greatness!
8. Angostura 7
ABV - 40% 70cl
Silky smooth!
A blend of light and heavy rums distilled in Angostura's five-column continuous still. The rum is aged in American Oak Bourbon barrels for between seven and ten years to give it it’s unique texture and taste – just beautiful!
9. Duppy share
ABV - 40% 70cl
Tropical and fruity.
The Duppy Share Rum is a blend of three-year-old Jamaican rum and five-year-old Bajan rum, which is aged in ex-bourbon barrels. A tasty mix of tropical fruit and subtle oak flavours – a real corker.
10. Wray and Nephews Overproof
ABV - 63% 70cl
Best seller!
The world's top-selling overproof white rum, the legendary Wray's dominates the Jamaican rum scene, accounting for over 90% of all rum sold. At Turtle Bay it is legendary already and their Rum and Ting drinks are a simple, refreshing way to enjoy the house liquor.
GM, Sami said:
“As this list highlights, Turtle Bay’s rum collection offers the chance to taste some of the most complex and exciting rum drinking experiences out there – where else are you going to find 40 different Caribbean rums under one roof? Our mixologists are constantly honing and crafting our cocktail menu so there’s a wonderful array of stunning flavours to try. Or customers can simply appreciate the rum itself with one of our rum boards! I can’t wait to bring this experience to Exeter!”
All of Turtle Bay’s 40 rums are served up alongside their Signature Carribean soul-food, including their famous Jerk Chicken and Curry Goat. Dishes are brimming with zesty flavours and spicy hues – there’s plenty to share or dig into alone. Turtle Bay’s mission is to capture the spirit of celebration that the Caribbean is famed for around the globe - making customers happy by delivering a hedonistic combination of joyous food, wicked drinks and a fun, laidback atmosphere…
The restaurant and bar’s happy hour lasts from 11.30am – 7pm and then starts up again at 10pm! This makes it the happiest happy hour in town with ALL of their cocktails available at 241 during that time – it’s a must for cocktail lovers and rum enthusiasts all week long.
Turtle Bay Exeter opens on 23rd August. Full imagery will be available upon launch and more details will be announced during the lead up to the opening.
