By Rosemary Parkinson, Freelance Writer
I HAVE patiently monitored every brick, every board, every nail from afar. I have passed and peeped. I have asked questions. I have listened to rumours, seen groups of men chatting within, noticed sealed boxes being swallowed into the darkness. I have even watched a little garden grow.
Now, after months of speculation, the mystery is solved. Devon House on Hope Road, Kingston has a new shop -- a shop with a big difference.
Within a building that is steeped in history, the trio of Nicolas Feanny, Warren Burrows and Jimmy Joseph have opened a replica of their Ocho Rios store (including water wheel feature) right here in the capital city. A mere coincidence that the name and logo involves a three -- Rum, Roast and Royals -- it is no fluke that it encompasses the nature of the shop. Understanding the rum part is not difficult (it has all manner of liquors with Appleton Rum taking centre stage) but Roast and Royals?
Roast is all about coffee with Royals used as an umbrella to denote cigars (as in Royal Jamaican Cigars). I use 'umbrella' because a host of other cigars such as the famous Cuban Cohiba are included, neatly packed in the shops' large humidor. Kept air-conditioned 24 hours a day (not only with you and your smoke in mind) the wide-ranging stock of wines settle peacefully in this perfect cool-room temperature. Great news, as too often wines are wrongly stocked in the Caribbean, significantly altering their taste. No chance of that here.
RUM SAMPLING
A chatty morning with Jimmy Joseph -- sipping what he described as an excellent (coffee) brew -- brought the following information to the fore. Regular samplings of the shop's stock will take place. Paraphernalia (coffee plungers, cups, rum flasks, Zippo lighters and more) will be constantly added. A cigar with coffee can be enjoyed outside or indoors. "One can buy a bottle of Cognac and be served same with a good cigar," said Joseph with a wicked smile when asked about rumours surrounding a good old Jamaican Cigar Club ambience.
Further additions over the next three months will include a fine selection of cheeses, exotic Jamaican spices, Caribbean rums, home delivery, as well as e-mail lists of available rum, wine and cigar.
Once Rum, Roast & Royals is fully set up, I have accepted the challenge from Joseph to learn the joy of savouring an excellent cigar in surroundings that suit. That has the resonance of a Cigar Club eh?
The shop sells local rum, cigars (local and Cuban), wines, coffee as well as coffee sets, wine openers and other items. Here's a view of inside the cigar-wine room.
