We were invited to test out Turtle Bay’s brand-new Rum Masterclass, which they are looking to bring back due to popular demand. With a massive selection of rums and an extensive food menu bursting with vibrant Caribbean delights, we were more than happy to dive in. #BestOfPlymouth | #PRVisit
Our fantastic host for the evening, Reece, kicked things off by serving up a delicious spread of sharing dishes to line our stomachs.
The food at Turtle Bay is a soulful, aromatic celebration of classic Caribbean flavours, designed to bring the heat and comfort of the islands straight to your plate. There’s plenty to choose from! But no doubt you are here to hear about the rum, so moving on to the main event: the Rum Masterclass!
Reece took us on a sensory journey across the Caribbean, sharing the incredible history, unique origins, and tasting notes of each bottle before bringing us right back home with a phenomenal local spirit.
Here is the impressive lineup we tasted:
- Mount Gay (Barbados): Hailing from the world’s oldest running rum distillery (dating back to 1703!), this Bajan classic is rich and beautifully balanced, offering smooth notes of ripe banana, toasted oak, vanilla, and warm pastry spices.
- Pusser’s Rum (Guyana / British Virgin Islands): Rich in naval history, this is the original liquid recipe of the British Royal Navy’s daily “tot” ration. It’s a heavy, full-bodied, and deeply aromatic rum bursting with dark brown sugar, molasses, dried fruits, and a robust ginger-spiced finish.
- The Duppy Share XO (Jamaica & Barbados): A premium, velvety blend of smooth, five-year-old Bajan column-still rum mixed with a fiery, three-year-old Jamaican pot-still rum. It treats the palate to a luxurious mix of tropical tamarind, toasted coconut, roasted pineapple, and a smooth, oaky finish.
- Hawksbill Spiced Rum (Caribbean Blend): Not only does this spiced rum taste incredible with its vibrant notes of sweet vanilla, toasted nutmeg, cinnamon, and bright orange peel, but it also does good—10% of the profits from every bottle go directly to marine conservation to help save sea turtles!
- Appleton Estate Signature (Jamaica): A classic, vibrant expression of traditional Jamaican pot-still rum. It is incredibly fruity and crisp, bringing forward bold flavors of dried apricot, fresh peach, sweet molasses, and orange peel.
- Appleton Estate 12-Year-Old Rare Casks (Jamaica): A beautifully sophisticated sipping rum. Having spent at least 12 years maturing in the tropical Jamaican climate, it delivers a complex and ultra-smooth profile of dark cacao, rich coffee, toasted oak, orange zest, and creamy vanilla.
- Vault 53 – Orange & Pineapple (Plymouth, UK): Our final stop brought us right back to the South West! Crafted right here in Plymouth inside a historic, subterranean Victorian bank vault on Mutley Plain, this small-batch artisan rum uses real, fresh fruit in the still during distillation. It delivers an incredibly fresh, zesty citrus kick and natural tropical sweetness without any added sugar.
A massive thank you to Reece and the Turtle Bay Plymouth team for an unforgettable evening.
If you love rum, culture, and amazing food without the rigid structure of an official class, where everything is designed to allow the group the freedom to move at their own pace, for these group masterclasses can be booked by contacting plymouth@turtlebay.co.uk
We found only one problem with the masterclass, the amount of ideas it puts in your head on pairing different rums! Luckily, the restaurant’s popular 2-for-1 cocktails offers a great opportunity to try them out
Combining this casual, communal dining with a self-guided rum flight transforms a simple night out into an engaging, flavour-packed celebration tailored exactly to your group’s vibe.
Photos by #OnePlymouth members Scott (Eddystone Media), Agata Kalend-Łuszczyńska (UpArt Photography) & Yasmin Thomas ACIM. Also joined by Adam Luszczynski and Paul Montgomery (Sir Fix-a-lock Ltd)
