Rum Cake Lane has extra attraction
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from April 1999.
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Rum Cake Lane and Tortuga Rum Avenue are the signposts leading to one of Grand Cayman's newest attractions, Tortuga Rum Cake. Inside, you'll be tempted by the irresistible aroma of freshly-baked Tortuga Rum Cakes and free samples of both the original golden and rich chocolate varieties.
Introduced in 1987, today this seductive sweet stands out as Cayman's culinary signature.
While the recipe remains a family secret, the Tortuga Rum Cake is now known over the world. Last December, it was the only Caribbean product featured in a special NBC-TV TODAY Show segment on holiday gourmet gifts. Prior to that, Travel Weekly, the US authority on international travel industry news, called the Tortuga Rum Cake "Cayman's number one souvenir” and highlighted it as the country's top selling export item. It also labelled the confection “a popular tourist attraction – along with glorious Seven Mile Beach, wall diving, the Atlantis Submarine and the Cayman Turtle Farm.”
Every week, thousands of cakes are sold locally and air lifted by Cayman Airways to Miami for world-wide distribution.
New facilities
Founded in Grand Cayman in 1984, the Tortuga Rum Company is celebrating its 15th year with the opening of this attractive new facility a must-see for any island tour. It's a perfect photo stop, with ornate wrought iron gates opening into landscaped grounds decorated with cannons and rum industry artifacts. A small aviary houses tropical birds including Tortuga's pet scarlet macaw "Captain Tortuga". A spacious paved parking lot offers convenient access for tour buses and rental cars.
Tortuga's 10,000 square foot building is framed in native coral stone and painted the company colours of gold and crimson, with windows trimmed with bright blue and white striped awnings. Inside is Tortuga's busy 2500 square foot bakery where up to 5000 Tortuga Rum Cakes are baked every day, states a press release. The secret: each is made with oak-barrel aged private label Tortuga Gold rum, which is not sold to the public.
The unique interior design features large viewing windows where visitors can watch Tortuga Rum Cakes being baked and vacuum-packed daily. Trays of freshly baked rum cake morsels tempt visitors with free samples, while the snack counter also sells spicy Jamaica Tastee patties, 21 flavours of Jamaica's decadently rich Devon House Ice Cream; Haagen Dazs frozen confections, ginger beer and cold soft drinks. After a snack, enjoy Tortuga's “one stop Caribbean shopping spree” including the exclusive Taste of the Caribbean gourmet section (a feature of all 17 Tortuga retail and duty-free stores) offering Cayman's finest selection of Caribbean seasonings, sauces, coffees, and other gourmet items.
In addition to being the largest retail and duty-free liquor business in the Cayman Islands, the Tortuga Rum Company has a growing line of private label gourmet products, led by its world famous Tortuga Rum Cake which is now available in three sizes. The company's line of private label Tortuga Rum has grown to include 10 high quality registered blends: Tortuga Light, Gold Dark, 151 Proof, Rum Cream, Rum Liqueur, Coconut, Banana, and Spiced rums and Tortuga Coffee Liqueur.
In 1999, at the Caribbean Rum Tasting Competition, Tortuga Banana Rum placed second. The winner
Award-winning Tortuga Dark Rum, a very smooth, rich-flavoured rum, is used to create Tortuga's gourmet products including three varieties of Tortuga Rum Flavoured Coffee. Other temptations include Tortuga Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles; three varieties of Tortuga Rum Flavoured chocolate fudge; Tortuga Run Balls; and chocolate rum mints. Savory and spicy selections include Tortuga Rum Flavoured BBQ sauce; Tortuga Steak Sauce and Tortuga Hell Fire Hot Pepper Sauce.
These items are regular features of the Taste of the Caribbean section, where you'll also find the island's largest variety of Jamaica' famous Walkers Wood line of Caribbean seasonings and sauces; Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee (only US$22 for 12 oz.), acclaimed Royal Jamaica cigars and a fine selection of genuine Cuban cigars.
Cruise ship passengers can place orders for duty-free liquor, choosing from great buys including Tortuga's selection of 10 fine blended rums; other name brand liquors, fine champagnes, Cayman's own Stingray Beer and Jamaica's Red Stripe by the case. Order as much as you like; all orders will be returned in bond to your cabin.
You'll also find bargains on dozens of unusual T-shirt designs, Cayman souvenirs and the hottest island CDs and tapes in the Caribbean Rhythms music section. New liqueur store
Tortuga Rum Company recently opened its 17th retail outlet on Grand Cayman on West Bay Road. The newest store is located in Regency Court just south of the Hyatt, within easy walking distance from Seven Mile Beach resorts and condos. Open from 10am until 7pm daily except Sunday.
Tortuga's Regency Court outlet includes a retail liquor store and Taste of the Caribbean section well-stocked with Tortuga's own gourmet gift products. A unique feature of this store is its exclusive selection of fine international wines and cigars.
You'll also find a complete selection of soft drinks, beer, mixers and snacks, as well as free Tortuga Rum Cake samples, a standard attraction of all Tortuga stores. Now a global name
Tortuga Rum Company's office in Miami, Tortuga Imports Inc., handles the constantly growing year-round mail order business and services thousands of repeat customers world-wide. The office also overseas marketing of the products in North America and distributorship of Tortuga products throughout the Caribbean.
Today, the Tortuga Rum Cake is carried onboard many luxury cruise ships including Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises. In addition, Tortuga Rum Cakes are now available throughout the Caribbean and Mexico at leading retail shops in Antigua, Aruba, Tortola, St. Martin/Saint Maarten, Puerto Rico, Cozumel, Cancun, and Mexico City, St, Thomas, Nevis (in the exclusive Four Seasons) and St. Barts.
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You'll also find Tortuga Rum Cakes at shops in San Juan, Puerto Rico's Luis Munoz Marin International Airport and at Houston International Airport. The company also has franchises in the Bahamas, Jamaica and Barbados, where the Tortuga Rum Cake is sold as the Tortuga Caribbean Rum Cake.
Tortuga Rum Company products can be ordered from Tortuga Imports Inc./Tortuga Rum Cake Company, located at 8781 SW 131st St. Miami, FL 33176, The toll free order numbers for North America are: phone (800) 444-0625: Fax (888) 440-2253; in Miami (305) 378-6668 and fax: (305) 378-0990. E-mail: rumcakes@aol.com or visit the home page on the worldwideweb at hp://ww.caribplace/com/foods/tortuga/htm. In Grand Cayman, (345) 949-7701/949-7867; fax: (345) 949-6322 or e-mail tortuga@candw.ky. To ship worldwide call 949-CAKE.
