Painkiller Archives | Rum Therapy

August 16, 2013August 16, 2013

National Rum Day

Today is National Rum Day. Rum. That’s right, Rum has it’s own day.

When we started the company Rum Therapy in 2010, we knew little more about rum than it was an ingredient in some of our favorite island cocktails; piña coladas, rum punch and painkillers, oh and bushwackers – can’t forget bushwackers… And that rum appeared in the lyrics of many Kenny Chesney and Jimmy Buffett songs. And that wherever you go in the islands, there’s rum.
That’s it.

Painkillers at the Soggy Dollar, Jost Van Dyke

See our list (and recipes!) of the 10 Best Tropical Rum Drinks

Since then, we’ve learned a lot more. I mean, when you start with virtually no knowledge of a subject, you’ve got a ways to go. We’re not experts by any means, like our friend Dave Russell of Rum Gallery, but we’ve learned more about how rum is distilled and different types of rum and what rums are good for sipping or mixing in cocktails and although it’s not our goal to become rum experts, we’re certainly up for the challenge of learning more about this spirit with a long and storied history.

Rum Punch at Happy Island, The Grenadines

So, we’ll continue to do the research (best done in the islands on beautiful beach or at a great beach bar or on a boat, don’t you think?) with the hope of continuing to provide the best rum experiences possible (cocktail recipes, best beach bars, best locations to sip tropical libations, distillery tours, etc., etc., etc.)

In the meantime, be sure to check out the plethora of rum recipes available on our website either by category or by picture (prepare to drool just a little):

Rum Recipes by Category

Rum Recipe Picture Directory

So today, let’s lift our glasses (of rum) to Rum.
Cheers Rum!

Rum Drinks at Hog Heaven, Virgin Gorda

March 21, 2013October 29, 2020

10 Best Tropical Rum Drinks

Why is it that the taste of a tropical rum drink can sometimes transport us right back to a hammock on a beautiful beach or a great time with friends at one of our favorite beach bars? Still, whenever I taste a Piña Colada, I can close my eyes and almost feel a light sea breeze blowing while lounging on our boat in the evening during our first BVI sail….

We’ve put together a list of 10 Best Tropical Rum Drinks – those that we remember fondly from our past vacations in the sun. What tropical rum drinks would make your list?

1. Piña Colada

Can’t remember the first one I tried, but this is one frozen concoction of pineapple, coconut and rum is one that brings us right back to the islands…This one was enjoyed at The Top Of The Baths, Virgin Gorda.
Piña Colada Recipe
You may also like: The Best Piña Colada Recipe

2. The Painkiller

We sampled out first Painkiller when there was a Pusser’s in Cruz Bay on St. John many years ago… It has become one of our favorites and is available nearly everywhere in the Caribbean now – especially anywhere in the Virgin Islands. And it has a pretty tasty cousin too – The Nilla Killa!
Painkiller Recipe

3. Caribbean Rum Punch

We’ve enjoyed SO many rum punches from tropical locales far and wide that we should be some kind of Rum Punch experts by now. Every place seems to have their own “secret” recipe, but can’t seem to find too many we don’t care for. The difference? The type of rum used and the different fruit juices. One word? YUM!
Caribbean Rum Punch Recipe

4. Frozen Rum Runners

Just plain awesome. Nothing quite cools ya off as well as a Frozen Rum Runner on a hot tropical day. The non frozen variety are great as well, but the frozen ones, well, they’re kinda like a slushee with a REALLY good kick!
Frozen Rum Runners Recipe

5. Bushwhacker

Bushwackers’s. Oh. my. I got a taste of my first Bushwacker atop Paradise Point in St. Thomas many, many years ago and was pretty much hooked. I mean, who wouldn’t be? Chocolate, rum and the amazing overlook of Charlotte Amalie – wow, paradise.
Bushwacker Recipe

6. Bahama Mama

Pretty much tastes like a tropical paradise! Rum, rum and more rum, lemon juice, pineapple juice AND Kahlua. Careful – this one packs one large tropical kick!
Bahama Mama Recipe

7. Mojito

Well, if you’ve been following us long, you already know that we are nuts for mojitos. Pictured here is the Perfect Mojito (our favorite) although we’ve posted a ton of fruity variations that are all quite tasty! Check our post: 10 Mojito Variations for other delicious Mojito Recipes!
Perfect Mojito Recipe

8. Banana Daiquiri

Creamy banana goodness mixed with rum? Ahhh… yes. Here’s one that we really enjoyed at Saba Rock Resort in the BVI (pre-Irma). Maybe the great view had something to do with it??
Banana Daiquiri Recipe

9. Mai Tai

Aloha! First enjoyed on a dinner cruise in Hawaii, this wonderful concoction brings back memories of swaying palm trees and the sound of the ukelele … Requires a few more ingredients than some of the other tropical rum drinks listed, but well worth it!
Mai Tai Recipe

10. Dirty Banana

One of the most searched for recipes on our website, this Jamaican delight must be a favorite with many of you. Dark rum, Tia Maria and rum cream liqueur all mixed in with a tasty banana. Ya mon!
Dirty Banana Recipe

Cheers!

Find more rum recipes here:

Rum Recipe Picture Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

January 5, 2012September 25, 2019

The Soggy Dollar Bar

Our first visit to Jost Van Dyke was in 2010 on a BVI sail trip. We’d come close to landing on her shores in 2006 during another sail trip, but the seas were rough that trip and the Captain elected to head toward Tortola instead – so it remained on our “places to see” list.

During the 2010 sail, we made it to Jost for the first time. Sailing in to White Bay, our jaws dropped – the combination of spectacular white sand against some of the clearest blue water we’d seen…wow!In keeping with the Soggy Dollar tradition, we jumped in the water with drinking dollars in our pockets (hence soggy dollars) and swam ashore.

During a recent 8 day stay on Jost Van Dyke we had the opportunity to spend a lot more time, drink a lot more Painkillers and take a lot more pictures at the Soggy Dollar Bar.

You’d think we’d have our fill of it by now, but instead find ourselves thinking about going back time and time again to say hi to the good folks at Soggy Dollar and enjoy lazy afternoons of extreme Rum Therapy in the beautiful water, sand and sun of White Bay…The infamous Painkiller. Love the Nilla Killa’s too.

Mic doing his magic.

Owner Jerry O’Connell demonstrating the proper Ring Game technique.

White Bay filling up with boats of thirsty partiers in the afternoon.

In the evening, the crowds thin and the real relaxation begins…

Quiet morning at the Soggy.

To find out more about the Soggy Dollar Bar,
Check out the Soggy Dollar website
and Facebook page:
Soggy Dollar Bar

To see more posts on Jost Van Dyke and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC. All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

March 22, 2011June 24, 2021

Painkiller

We took our very first trip to St. John in the mid 90′s and knew nothing about the island before we went. Little did we know that it would become one of our very favorite destinations in the Caribbean!
(Jump to Recipe)

We were traveling to the Virgin Islands for the first time via a cruise ship and wanted to see everything we could. Our first stop was in St. Thomas and we had heard that we should try to get to St. John. We were sure to ask around to find out what to see and do while on the island and most suggested spending time on one of St. John’s beautiful beaches. One person, however, recommended making a stop at Pusser’s before catching the ferry in Cruz Bay, to try a Painkiller. The Pusser’s Bar is no longer on St. John, but we’ll always have fond memories of our first Painkiller experience.

Our waiter that day eagerly obliged when we ordered our first Painkiller and asked if we wanted that with 2, 3 or 4 shots of rum. What – 4 shots of rum??? In each drink??? We wussed out and ordered our Painkillers with a measly 2 shots each (hee, hee) knowing that we had to be able to find our way back to the ship or else risk being stranded on this beautiful piece of paradise – Hmmm. No – we really had to get back to the ship….

One taste and voilà! We were hooked! These things truly could kill the pain! Slightly sunburned and in no pain at all, we caught the ferry back to St. Thomas just in time to catch our ship. We knew we’d be back to St. John someday and knew that the “Painkiller” had become one of our new favorite rum drinks!

Since that day we’ve enjoyed a few Painkillers (and it’s cousin the “Nilla Killa”) in Paradise – most notably on Jost Van Dyke at the Soggy Dollar Bar – not that you really need to kill much pain in a paradise like White Bay…

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Print Recipe

Painkiller

By far one of the most popular rum drinks in the Virgin Islands, this delicious concoction will put you in the "island" state of mind.

Course: Drinks

Servings:

Author: Rum Therapy

Ingredients

4 oz. pineapple juice
1 oz. orange juice
1 oz. coconut cream
2,3,4 oz. rum (depending upon your level of pain!)
Sprinkle freshly grated nutmeg

Instructions

Shake or stir all ingredients (except for the nutmeg) and pour over ice in a tall glass.
Sprinkle with freshly grated nutmeg.
Put your feet up and enjoy the taste of paradise!