Here at leedsfoodie.co.uk, we’ve really enjoyed the Caribbean vibe that Turtle Bay has brought to Leeds. Having the chance to try out their food was a pleasure (you can read more about that here), but of course food is not the only thing that makes Turtle Bay awesome: the rum factor is pretty decent too!

With this in mind, when we were invited down to a cocktail masterclass from the rum experts at Turtle Bay, we couldn’t say no.

The masterclass was split into two different segments: rum tasting and then cocktail creating. During the rum tasting, we learned a hell of a lot about the spirit, and then tasted a few. The white Overproof Wray & Nephew rum contrasted nicely with the Koko Kanu rum when we tried one after the other, the latter providing a sweet hit with a sugary finish, and the former leaving you with that alcohol burn in the mouth sensation!

We developed an understanding of how the different rums work in cocktails, and we turned our hand to making some after watching the experts do it. We enjoyed making a range of different cocktails using the various rums as a base for the drink, with favourites including the Bahama Mama and the Marley Mojito (which we had the pleasure of attempting to make in front of the group)!

With Turtle Bay offering 2 for 1 cocktails all day (except between 7pm and 10pm) and the restaurant treating the rum as seriously as they do the food, this really is the perfect location to pop in for a cocktail and then sit down and relax for a Caribbean taste extravaganza.