L&L Rum Shop: Nevis' Rum Library on Upper Prince William Street
200+ rums, a homegrown Nevisian label, and a rum-obsessed owner happy to pour you a sample
Why Go
Tucked between the Digicel office and the Jewish Cemetery on Upper Prince William Street, L&L (Libations & Leaf) is the kind of shop rum geeks fly to the Caribbean for. Owner Mark Theron ΓÇö the same man behind Clifton Estate Rum, Nevis' first major locally produced rum ΓÇö has quietly turned a modest Charlestown storefront into the island's most serious spirits destination, with wall-to-wall bottles from Barbados, Jamaica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Venezuela, and even the outer edges of the rum world in Australia and South Africa.
The Experience
From the outside it looks unassuming, but step through the door and you're surrounded by roughly 200 rums stacked floor to ceiling — rhum agricole from the French islands, aged sipping rums from the English-speaking Caribbean, Diplomático from Venezuela, plus Cuban cigars, duty-free wines and whiskeys, and Theron's own island-made products. The vibe is more curated bottle library than corner liquor store: quiet, conversational, and generous. Ask a question about a bottle and you'll get a small pour, a producer story, and probably a recommendation for something you didn't know you wanted. It's a short, walkable stop from the ferry terminal that easily stretches into an hour once Mark or his staff start opening bottles.
What to Try
Start with Clifton Estate Rum, made right here on Nevis — the Spiced expression is the standout, layered with warming baking spices and a touch of honey. Follow it with a proper French-island rhum agricole (Rhum HSE or Rhum Neisson from Martinique) to taste the grassy, cane-juice side of Caribbean rum, then finish with a pour of Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva if you like your rum rich and dessert-like. Don't leave without eyeing the Nevis Dry Gin and NEVIQ Tropical Liqueur — both produced on-island — and a hand-rolled Cuban cigar if you're heading to a beach sunset.
Insider Tip
Parking is across the street behind a gate ΓÇö give a quick tap on the horn and someone will pop out to open it for you. And don't be shy about asking to sample: most bottles on the shelf are open for tasting, and the staff genuinely want you to buy something you love rather than something you regret. If you're arriving by ferry from St. Kitts, it's a four-minute walk uphill ΓÇö perfect as either your first Charlestown stop or your last one before the boat back.
The Practical Stuff
Location: Upper Prince William Street, Charlestown, Nevis, between the Digicel office and the Jewish Cemetery ΓÇö about a 4-minute walk from the Charlestown ferry terminal. Parking is available across the street (horn to open the gate). Contact: lnlrumshop@gmail.com. Duty-free pricing on many bottles; expect fair prices even on rarer spirits. Cash and cards generally accepted. Hours are shop-keeper hours, so it's worth calling or emailing ahead if you're making a special trip, especially on Sundays or public holidays.
Pair It With
- Charlestown Ferry Terminal — L&L is a four-minute uphill walk from the terminal, making it an easy first stop off the St. Kitts ferry or a last-minute bottle grab before boarding.
- Clifton Estate — Once you've tasted Clifton Estate Rum at L&L, it's worth visiting the estate itself to see where Nevis' first major rum is produced.
- Sunshine's Beach Bar (Pinney's Beach) — Pick up a cigar and a good sipping rum at L&L, then head to Pinney's for a Killer Bee and a Caribbean sunset ΓÇö the two experiences complete each other.
- Charlestown Saturday Market — Combine a morning wander through Charlestown's produce and craft stalls with a stop at L&L for takeaway bottles and gifts.