Need a virtual escape to Barbados? Mount Gay Rum’s virtual Instagram experience offers the opportunity to explore a new destination from home.

While summer may feel different, with travel plans shifted and more time spent at home, Mount Gay Rum, the world’s oldest running rum distillery, is inviting consumers for a virtual escape to Barbados, the birthplace of rum. In celebration of National Rum Day on August 16, Mount Gay Rum unveils the Taste Your Escape Retreat, a unique virtual experience featuring a series of Barbadian-inspired activities that inspire you to explore a new destination and opportunities through rum and cocktails, movement and culinary.

From August 11 through August 14, Mount Gay will host a series of interactive and informational sessions curated with experts and tastemakers via Instagram Live on @MountGayRumUs. Consumers are invited to tune in at 6 p.m. EST daily to take part in the series, learn about Mount Gay Rum and its birthplace of Barbados and engage with the knowledgeable hosts. The schedule includes:

Rum Immersion – Tuesday, August 11

Join Master Blender Trudiann Branker for a taste of Barbados during this interactive tasting, along with digital creator Asiyami Gold

Movement and Seaside Flow – Wednesday, August 12

Escape to Island time with a surf-inspired yoga session with yoga and dance instructor Lulu Soni

Bajan Bites – Thursday, August 13

Excite your taste buds with a step-by-step culinary experience infused with local flavors by Javon Cummins, head Chef at Tapestry in Barbados. Chef Cummins has prepared a delicious spiced Mount Gay Eclipse Heritage Blend Chicken salad. Here is the recipe:

Spiced Mount Gay Eclipse Heritage Blend Chicken w/Pickled Avocado and Cucumber Salad

Chicken

1 Chicken breast

1tsp Garlic Powder

1tsp Cajun Spice

½ tsp cinnamon

½ tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tbsp honey

2 shots Mount Gay Rum (Eclipse Heritage Blend)

1 tbsp coconut oil

 

Pickle:

1 cucumber (peeled and sliced)

½ Avocado (diced)

1-2 tbsp Lime juice (freshly Squeezed)

1 tsp salt

2 tbsp water

1 tbsp chopped Parsley

¼ tsp hot pepper

Method:

Chicken

• Mix all dry ingredients together and rub over chicken.
• In a hot pan add coconut oil and sear Chicken over medium-high heat for around 5 minutes on each side and cook evenly.
• In a separate bowl mix honey, lemon juice and rum together.
• After cooking add rum mixture to chicken allow alcohol to burn off.
• Remove and allow to cool until ready to serve.

Pickle

• Mix all ingredients except Avocado and cucumber together.
• In a separate blow add the cucumber and avocado and pour mixture over them.
• Cover and place in fridge until ready to use.

Cocktail Crash Course – Friday, August 14

Learn how to mix the perfect cocktail at Happy Hour with an engaging cocktail course with Brand Ambassador, Darrio Prescod and digital creator Jovel Roystan.

Make your own Daiquiri:

• 2 oz Mount Gay Eclipse
• 1 oz Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
• 1 oz Simple Syrup (water:sugar)

Directions:

Pour all ingredients into a shaker with ice cubes. Shake well. Strain in a chilled cocktail glass.

For more information, follow @MountGayRumUs and for additional Mount Gay Recipes visit www.MountGayRum.com. Mount Gay Rum core products include Eclipse, Black Barrel, XO and 1703. Head over to Drizly.com to pick up your bottle ahead of National Rum Day on August 16.