by Marlon Madden
One entrepreneur is about to mix things up in the rum shop business in Barbados. Award-winning mixologist Chester Browne, 51, is the owner of The Thirsty Lizard, one of Barbados’ newest restaurant and bar. However, The Thirsty Lizard is not your typical watering hole.
Described as “an upscale rum shop” by Browne, it is also a place for learning more about the world renowned Barbados rum and its versatility. “Owning something like this was always in my DNA,” said Browne.
While the Bridgefield, St Thomas establishment will have some elements of the traditional rum shop where people come and have a drink and discussions, it will also be a place for families to have an enjoyable meal and for rum lovers and just about anyone to learn more about the local spirit.
“I still want the rum shop feel where you can buy your bottles and have your ice bowl and you have the vibe, but with a clean version than to what you would hear in the all out traditional rum shop . . . I want the true rum shop man to be here and I want to have the Prime Minister here sharing and enjoying together,” said the father of five.
“I want this place to not only be a bar and kitchen, I want it to be an educational point to educate people on what rum means to Barbados.
“This outlet is going to be a place where I can showcase and educate people, especially local people on rum. This is one of the real factors of owning a rum bar. I want to educate local people on rum because they tend to gravitate towards anything as long it is imported. I want to be able to do rum seminars here and rum flights.
“I want people to be able to come and have a nice dinner and pair it with rum and understand you don’t always have to pair your meal with wine,” said Browne.
Browne said he supported a geographical Indication for “true” Barbados-produced rum, adding that the industry had come a long way in ensuring adequate warning labels are on their products. He is of the view that Barbados produces some of the best rum there is globally, and he insisted that the awareness campaign should be ramped up.
“Barbados is the birthplace of rum and I believe every Barbadian should be able to stand up and talk about rum. So I want this location to be a place where the general public can come and have a nice meal, a fantastic cocktail, but the Bartenders here will be educated enough to be able to stand up and talk rum.
That is pretty much what we want to do here. It is also a way of giving back to the locals,” he further explained.
Browne said he was not prepared to allow the ongoing pandemic to stop him from realising his lifelong dream, which he had been working on for the past two years.
“It was something I have always wanted to do and I was waiting for the right opportunity. Nothing happens before its time. I think this is the right time to showcase something like this,” he said.
“I know this place is going to open back, and I know we are going to have the tourists back in. what I really want to see is that all Barbadians are able to stand and talk to tourists about what we have, about rum. I want to see taxi drivers educated enough so they can speak to tourists as they take them around the island,” he added.
The International Brand Ambassador for Mount Gay Rum Distilleries Ltd. said he believed “a lot of people are now coming to appreciate a better style of rum”, but insisted that more education was needed.
The passionate rum connoisseur told Today’s BUSINESS that while he always had a liking for rum in his young adult years, his passion for the beverage skyrocketed when he joined the Mount Gay Distilleries 28 years ago as a bar tender.
After the first few weeks of learning the basics about rum and being able to share that knowledge with visitors, his interest in the spirit peaked even further. “I started going and studying about rum – I read books, I started meeting with the master blenders and master distillers and going into the factory and seeing the stills and how the barrels are done and learning the importance and the true rum history,” he recalled.
Browne was promoted over the years, moving on to become the International Brand Ambassador for Mount Gay Distilleries and winning various accolades. The St Thomas resident, who said a lot of people were skeptical about his timing for opening The Thirsty Lizard, said he has a lot of confidence that the Barbados economy will bounce back soon.
And he is advising anyone with a business idea to take the plunge, but do it one step at a time.
“I would advise anyone this is the time, if you are going to do anything right now, don’t want until things are happening and everything is opened up fully. Do like me and take a little piece at a time and work and build. That is what I did to get this place to where it is,” said Browne.
The businessman said while he experienced several challenges along the way he simply looked at them as “stepping stones”. The Thirsty Lizard employs five people.
marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb
