Bajo El Sol Gallery & Art Bar
Never mind the little bottles on the airplane. If you want to take a flight, try Bajo El Sol Gallery & Art Bar, a hybrid art gallery, bookstore, café, and rum & cocktail bar. Nestled among the shops at Mongoose Junction is a refined getaway that will give you a taste of rum — the Rum Room on St. John, USVI, where you can try sips to your heart’s content. Offering the largest selection of aged rums in Cruz Bay, it is tucked into the corner of an art gallery.
I happened upon the store on a recent visit to St. John as we walked down from the ferry dock. A few minutes later, we were browsing the souvenirs among the cobbled steps. This is a small three-story mall. It was a welcome relief from the boutiques to find this interactive spirits bar.
Good Spirits
The menu of rums is daunting. Curator Priscilla Hintz Rivera has put together a collection of rum flights to make selections easier. After reviewing the colorful descriptions, I chose “Guardians of Rum.”
The Guardians of Rum is a movement committed to preserving a place in today’s rum world for pure rum and traditional methods, as well as promoting pure rum over doctored rum (added wine and flavorings).
Rum Stories
After pouring the flight, delivered in deep goblets, Ms. Rivera proceeded to describe each rum and the history and importance of the Guardians. Before taking the initial sip of each, she would highlight the bouquet and flavor notes that I should discover.
Not only was this a pleasant imbibing, but it filled my imagination with pirates, sugar cane plantations, windmills, and oak barrels, merging all the ingredients needed to distill a nuanced, historically accurate rum.
Instead of the usual island calypso music blaring from the speakers, a mix of light jazz filled the room. I was able to sit and sip, lost in island time.
Something to eat
You’ll also find Puerto Rican espresso coffee, chocolates, wine, craft cocktails, light savory bites, and locally made pastries at the Art Bar. This provided just the antidote for the “swirlies” after three pours.
The Art
It’s easy to forget that this location also offers a fine selection of art in all media so be sure to admire the pottery, sculptures, and paintings before leaving. The gallery features a variety of local artists in many media and styles.
Visiting the Rum Room was the perfect way to begin our exploration of St. John. It is an experience I would highly recommend if your travels take you to this beautiful U.S. Virgin Island.
