San Juan, Puerto Rico’s La Factoría is among the bars writing the next chapter of Caribbean cocktail history.
La Factoría
It’s time to raise a toast to the caribbean, the region to which modern cocktail culture owes arguably its greatest debt. from the original Piña colada created at the Caribe Hilton,to the Daiquiri,Mojito,Painkiller and Mudslide,some of the world’s most important and trend-defying drinks got their start in the islands of the Caribbean.
But cocktail bars carrying that legacy forward in a modern context? They’re harder to find-or at least, they have been. Now, with a handful of visionary bars like La Factoría, Library by the Sea and Bon Vivants leading the charge, a new Caribbean cocktail culture is taking shape. At last, it seems, the Caribbean is reclaiming its place at the center of the global cocktail conversation.
Bon Vivants is the first craft cocktail bar in the Bahamas.
Bon Vivants
It’s a story that starts in 2013, when La Factoría opened its doors inside a historic building in the heart of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, quickly establishing itself as one of the Caribbean’s earliest outposts of high-level mixology. co-founders Leslie Cofresi and Roberto Berdecia drew on both the island’s rich rum-producing history and deep international influences to create a destination designed to be as fun as it was forward-thinking. It reshaped and kick-started a now vibrant cocktail culture in Puerto rico.
La factoría emerged into an surroundings that, in many ways, was perfectly positioned for a cocktail movement.Unlike many of its Caribbean neighbors, Puerto Rico has rich and uniquely island-specific culinary scene rooted in local innovation. By contrast, nearby islands peppered with all-inclusive resorts tend not to see as much gastronomic diversity and growth.
this appetite for innovative and highly sensorial culinary experiences translates naturally to mixology, so when La Factoría paired it with the feel of Old San Juan’s already thriving nightlife
Library by the sea at Kimpton Seafire Resort + spa: A Curated Cocktail Experience
Table of Contents
The Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa in Grand Cayman features “Library by the sea,” a cocktail bar designed around the concept of a curated collection, extending beyond conventional literature to encompass a range of experiences. The bar draws inspiration from its location within the resort and offers a menu of unique, experience-driven cocktails.
Concept and Inspiration
Library by the Sea defines a ”library” not solely as a repository of books, but as a carefully selected collection of experiences. This broadened concept informs the bar’s design and cocktail offerings. The resort’s location at the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa directly influenced the bar’s aesthetic and menu progress.
The cocktail menu features unique creations, with current favorites including the Viva la Vida, a Frida Kahlo-inspired drink. This cocktail combines Fortaleza Tequila and Siete Misterios Mezcal with coconut, watermelon, and Cocchi Rosa, served with floral ice. the bar’s approach emphasizes crafting cocktails as curated experiences, rather than simply serving alcoholic beverages.
Design Beliefs
The bar’s creators acknowledged the existence of other hotel lobby library bars but differentiated Library by the Sea through its emphasis on curation. According to the bar’s concept, curation extends beyond books to encompass a broader range of experiences. This philosophy is reflected in the bar’s ambiance and the thoughtful selection of ingredients and presentation for each cocktail.
