Oh, and if you ever decide to visit The Caves (and you should if you have the means and wanna treat yourselves), please make sure to tell them that Jaycee sent you, and says, “One Love.”

Chris Blackwell, founder of #Island Records, creator of resort company Island Outpost, and the creative vision behind an esoteric but culture-changing range of musical, film and resort projects, started out on a very different path from that which led to the empire he ultimately created. Born in London in 1937, he spent the majority of his childhood in #Jamaica, finished his education in England, and returned to take what he thought would be the reins of his family’s company – Jamaica’s best-known rum distillery since the 17^th century. With the family’s earlier-than-expected sale of the business, he began a period of self-discovery and travel.

When he returned to Jamaica, he heard an ensemble led by blind pianist Lance Hayward at the Half Moon Hotel in Montego Bay. Blackwell asked Mr. Hayward if he could record him, and borrowing the name from Alec Waugh’s novel, Island in the Sun, he founded Island Records. The new company opened an office in Kingston, and a series of local hit singles soon followed. The growing Jamaican diaspora in England purchased the majority of Island’s vinyl records. Finding that he was selling more records in England than in Jamaica, Blackwell moved Island’s headquarters to London in 1962, where he produced the single of a 15-year-old Jamaican girl named Millie. “My Boy Lollipop” sold more than seven million copies, becoming the worldwide hit that launched Island’s global fortunes.

Blackwell’s most lasting influence on modern popular music was his introduction of  #Reggae music to the world stage, signing #Bob Marley and The Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, Toots and the Maytals, Burning Spear, Third World and Black Uhuru. Island Records also introduced artists such as U2, Melissa Etheridge, Cat Stevens, Traffic Grace Jones and Steve Winwood. He backed his first film project in 1971 – The Harder They Come, starring singer Jimmy Cliff. He formed Island Alive, his film production and distribution company, in 1983, releasing such films as Kiss of the Spiderwoman, The Trip to Bountiful and Jimmy Reardon, among others.

In the early ‘90s, Blackwell created Island Outpost, his hotel and resort company. The debut of the renowned Marlin Hotel in Miami’s South Beach in November 1991, as well as The Tides and The Kent, other Blackwell-owned hotels, has been credited for prompting the resurgence of South Beach. His vision of opening unique hotels and resorts in exquisite locations later expanded as far as Utah and the Bahamas. But it is Blackwell’s love of Jamaica that has trained his focus on the current Island Outpost collection. Strawberry Hill, nestled in the Blue Mountains above Kingston opened in November 1994; The Caves, an exceptional property on the cliffs in Negril, in 1997; and Goldeneye, the house built by Ian Fleming where he wrote all of the James Bond books opened in 1998. Each hotel is active in its community, participating in local social, economic, environmental, and educational sectors. Island Outpost initiatives under Blackwell’s #Oracabessa Foundation range from coral restoration to local sports programming to hospitality training and education. In 2004, the Order of Jamaica was bestowed upon Blackwell for philanthropy and outstanding contribution to the entertainment industry.

It’s been said that Jamaica’s most endangered natural resource is “brain drain,” the flight of talented individuals leaving the country to find economic opportunity elsewhere. This is why Blackwell actively recruits Jamaican ex-patriots for leadership positions. Having brought the best of Jamaica to the world through music, Blackwell is now working to bring the best of the world to Jamaica through travel. More than a business, Island Outpost is Chris Blackwell’s way of reawakening the sophisticated and responsible traveler to the beauty and vibe of Jamaica today.

Chris Blackwell

Beach lovers may be disappointed that there isn’t actually one here, but when you’re able to climb down into waters like this, a stretch of sand ceases to be a big deal.

A truly dazzling setting for waterfront accommodation.

All cottages are furnished with handcrafted wood furnishings and coverings displaying funky tropical motifs. The palette comprises every colour of the ocean: from sea green to ultramarine blue.

This was the heart-stopping view from my bedroom window.

What I properly love about The Caves is that it’s the kind of property that is as equally  romantic both day and night. In the evening, you’re given complete carte blanche and can choose where you wish to dine: an oceanfront gazebo, or perhaps a hand-crafted stone table under the stars at the cliff’s edge, or you may wish to reserve your own private dining cave, strewn with fresh bougainvillea petals and lit by candlelight.

The Blackwell Rum Bar is a dramatic and enchanting space, created from two of the many limestone grottos; the cave has a full open bar, furnished with cut stone tables and benches made by local stone masons, where you can enjoy pre or post dinner drinks. A must is a cocktail made with original Blackwell Rum. Music producer, Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records and Island Outpost, hails from one of Jamaica’s oldest merchant families: the Lindo family, who first came to the island in 1625. His grandfather owned J. Wray & Nephew; renowned for distilling the best rum in Jamaica. Chris continued the family tradition with the introduction of Blackwell Fine Jamaican Rum, developed from his own secret recipe. I can vouch that this special (not to mention extremely potent!) reserve is best teamed with coke and a slice of lime (the Black Eye) or blended with orange and pineapple juices and crushed ice (the Goldeneye). The bar is open from Wednesday to Saturday, 6.00pm to midnight, weather permitting.

On site, there’s also a beautiful Aveda Spa, and not surprisingly, one of the best places to have a massage is inside a candlelit cave, backed by the soothing sounds of the ocean lapping the cave wall, just yards away.

For further information please visit: http://www.islandoutpost.com/the_caves/

Images by Julie Eagleton and Island Outpost.

Julie was a guest of The Caves.

If you do opt for the drive, be sure to stop off at Cafe Blue to stock up on Blue Mountain coffee (I purchased a three-month supply!). Coffee aside, it really is worth navigating the steep cliffs; on the summit is nothing short of a self-contained mountaintop paradise. Strawberry Hill’s main house is surrounded by twelve handcrafted Georgian style cottages, complete with awnings and verandas dotted with bird feeders to attract the resident Vervain hummingbirds. All cottages have their own pretty gardens nestled in the shade of Locust, Mango and Trumpet trees, and the interiors are filled with  beautiful island antiques, including the solid colonial comfort of a mahogany four-poster bed.

Unfortunately I didn’t experience the best weather during my stay, but when the mist cleared, this was a typical view from my cottage:

Strawberry Hill is one of Chris Blackwell’s Island Outpost properties. And as with its sister Jamaican hotels: The Caves, Goldeneye and Geejam, Blackwell, the founder of Island Records, has created a boutique hotel and spa that reflects his own laid back easy charm. The service is unique and very personal and as can be expected, the magic of music is prevalent. From the melodious birds, to Blackwell’s own personal collection of Island Record gold and platinum discs.

Strawberry Hill was originally an 18th century coffee plantation owned by the British Royal Family. In 1972 it was purchased by Chris Blackwell, then famous for launching the career of Bob Marley. In fact when Marley was shot in 1976, he came to Strawberry Hill to recover.

Here’s the lovely infinity pool at dusk, overlooking the twinkling lights of Kingston bay.

The Living Spa, one of the highlights of the property, specializes in stress relief and organic healing based on the five elements practiced in Ayurvedic philosophies. The spa offers five treatment rooms, including a specialized hydrotherapy room as well as a deck for yoga.

The food is outstanding. The chefs combine traditional Jamaican dishes and spices with international recipes to create their very own ‘New Jamaican Cuisine’. Which basically translates to a fusion of tanginess, hot pepper, rich sauces, the flavourful spice of curries, and the cool sweetness of tropical fruits.

I’ve been fortunate enough to visit all of the Jamaican Island Outpost properties, and whilst there, I’ve never once felt that I was staying in a hotel; rather as the house guest of a very cool friend, with an innate sense of beauty, fun and style.

For further information please visit: www.islandoutpost.com/strawberry_hill

All images by Julie Eagleton

Julie was a guest of Strawberry Hill.

adventure-journal.com

I’ve started collecting cabins – well pictures of. If I come across ones I save them to ogle over in the evenings.

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But this is an all time ‘wow’ – found via saffronbunny

Photo credit Island Outpost

Eventually, the world stop spinning and we were at Strawberry Hill, the small hotel where we’d be staying for a couple of days. Owned by Island Records’ Chris Blackwell, it’s made up of 12 Georgian cottages, a main house, coffee farm and general, all around loveliness in the form of humming birds, grapefruits, raspberries, bananas, soursop, and june plum trees.  From the 18th century when it was deeded to Horace Walpole, Earl of Oxford becoming a a meeting place for artists, musicians and aristocracy to the 1940′s when it became known for peaches, spring pea flowers, and afternoon tea, activity centered on the Great House until Hurricane Gilbert destroyed it in 1986. Blackwell brought on Jamaican architect Ann Hodges to help rebuild and design a cottage for him on the property, not only in the 19th century style, but using traditional techniques. Once that was completed, they just kept going.

More retreat than resort, the clapboard and shingle roofed villas she created are positioned so that even when you’re in sight of the other buildings you feel that you have the mountain to yourself.  Stepping on the wrap around veranda for the first time was overwhelming – it wasn’t just the sky, it was the clouds rolling down the peaks, it wasn’t just quiet, it was the roosters piercing the silence, it wasn’t just the air, it was the heady scent of everything growing around us. Clicking away at the view like frantic paparazzi, we always fell short of the perfect shot, facing the mountain with only cameras in our hands, the mountain won.

After an amazing dinner at the new Jamaican restaurant, the next morning we met Paula Surtees, owner of Island Coffees, which manages the cultivation and distribution of Strawberry Hill’s Blue Mountain coffee. We’d missed an earlier hike but she took us us to the top of the plantation to see the coffee plants, trekking along a shady path that ran past Gong House, the villa built in honor of Bob Marley who’d famously spent time in Strawberry Hill when he was recovering from gunshot wounds in 1976.

As they did in planning the cottages, the process for cultivating the coffee harmonizes with the quality their trying to achieve.  To be considered Blue Mountain, the beans must be cultivated between 3000-5400 ft, the higher altitude allowing them to ripen slowly which deepens the flavor. The fruit trees are pretty with a purpose, providing cover for the coffee plants and attracting birds which in turn help control potentially harmful insects. Berry borers are a constant threat but rather than apply insecticides directly to the plants, traps are set to attract them away from the beans. Fertilizers are sprayed manually instead of directly to the soil, inhibiting excess use (which is what Andrew pictured below was doing when we crossed paths).

I still find grinding my own coffee a thrill so it was a special experience when Paula let us pick some beans.  Really, it’s more of a twist and pull done by hand to pull away the ripe red coffee “cherries” from the green ones left on the vine to ripen. Once the beans are collected, they’re floated in water. Any beans that rise to the top have been likely hollowed out by pests so they can be either re-purposed or discarded. According to Paula, they’re able to use approximately 95% of their yield.

Still feeling dreamy, we decided to break up the drive back to Kingston with lunch at the Crystal Edge Restaurant. Though not very big, they share a terrace with Cafe Blue perched on top of a slope over-looking a valley – small but expansive. That day they were serving fresh sorrel juice, creamy janga with a pumpkin base (featuring the crayfish that didn’t get away), fried chicken, and braised oxtail with rice and peas. Though I’d had oxtail just the day before, I was making up for years without and ordered it again. When I looked down at the end of the meal and the job I’d done eating it, I was equal parts appalled and proud of myself (seriously the bones looked like they’d been boiled).  Of course, we had to end with coffee (and rum cake not shown but eaten nonetheless).  They carried the same Blue Mountain brands we’d seen all over Jamaica and it’s probably the same coffee I’d be able to find in and coffee emporium or high-end grocery store in the States, but we definitely had a new appreciation.

You put the lime in the coconut and shake it all up.

They’re also some of the coolest people we know, and they are very kind to bring us back delightful bottles of this and that on their travels. This time they brought back some Blackwell rum.

Why Blackwell, you ask? Well, the trip to Jamaica was to photograph Chris Blackwell’s hotels on the island. You mean, Chris “Island Records” Blackwell? Yep, that’s the one. (Please note: our friend’s photos aren’t on that site for the link above…yet!)

Before this trip, they hadn’t been fans of Jamaica. But the resorts by Chris Blackwell must have changed their minds, because now they’re big fans, like me. Can’t wait to take The Husband there! How can you go wrong with rum, sun, jerk pork, Scotch bonnet peppers and rum? Oops, did I say rum twice?

The label looks straight after you've had a few swigs from the bottle...

The Husband is, frankly, a cocktail-making genius. He can take almost anything in the fridge and turn it into a delightful libation. And he did it again a few weeks ago. He pulled out the Blackwell’s rum and a few other bits and pieces from the top shelf and all of a sudden, it was like a party in a glass.

Plus, the addition of coconut water this makes it practically a heath drink!

We’ve got a bit of an Indian Summer this weekend, so enjoy…

Rum Coco

Get a lowball glass out and add some ice.

Pour in a generous amount of dark rum (we used Blackwell), followed by:
The juice of half a lime
2 measures of coconut water
A splash of pineapple juice
Top up with soda water
Garnish with a lime wedge

Umbrella optional. Now, The Husband likes to mix his cocktails in a shaker and then pour them over ice, but I usually just stay out of his way and drink anything he hands me. So keep experimenting until you get it tasting to your liking.

Welcome to Goldeneye.

This is a place so special, so secluded, and so in touch with its surroundings that you cannot help but feel the same. From the rustic bamboo gated entrances to each of the 5 villas (one of them being the original Fleming house itself), to their Balinese and rattan furnishings, to the outdoor showers, Batik fabrics, and the exquisitely, if rustically appointed bedrooms (complete with a mosquito-netted bed that afforded me the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had in the islands)… Everything is so carefully designed and arranged as to appear seamlessly like this place has always been here. The end result of this timeless and meticulous sense of design is that you feel like you’ve been there forever, too.

The flagship of Chris Blackwell’s Island Outpost properties, this place delivers… But only if you have a taste for the Bohemian-Luxe lifestyle and the Goldeneye aesthetic. If you are here for action, activity, or modernity, both the place and its design will not suit you.

There is a reason Mr. Fleming wrote every one of his 13 Jame Bond novels right here.

Probably the same reason that the Prime Minister of England, after the debacle at Suez, chose to vacation with Fleming in order to decompress. And most likely the same reason that celebrities from Fleming’s time (Graham Greene, Elizabeth Taylor) and from our own (Harrison Ford, Johnny Depp, Pierce Brosnan) have sought this place out to retreat from the world and re-charge their batteries.

The creation of such a world-class environment is no mean feat, but to make it so unique is truly an accomplishment. Of course, Mr. Blackwell was helped along by Goldeneye’s storied past and its exquisite environs. Even if this is the case, and even if Blackwell does fulfill on his plan to turn the place into an elite development of 80+ villas in June, 2007 (my wife and I were privileged to be among the very last guests to enjoy this paradise as its designers originally intended), his accomplishment here cannot be diminished in the slightest.

Goldeneye will forever remain a model for a unique brand of luxury built around design and an environment so seamlessly integrated that they truly become one… And you with them! Enjoy…

Take, for example, Island Records impresario Chris Blackwell’s collection of Island Outpost hotel properties scattered throughout Jamaica and the Bahamas. Specifically, the unique design of The Caves Resort and Spa in Negril.

Built directly on top of a magnificent stretch of cave-speckled cliff-side, this unique resort and spa helps define itself through its unique use of an abundance of natural cliff- and cave-space. In lieu of beaches, for example, ultra-private platforms jut out into the Caribbean, ready for sunning and cliff-diving.

The actual caves themselves also provide unique opportunities for the hotelier. One cave, facing the sunset and high above sea level, houses the most romantic hot tub I’ve yet seen. Two other caves, accessible from the resort above, can be reserved for private candlelit dinners. Accessible from the sea below, and interconnected by sub-surface tunnels, the caves provide unique opportunities for swimming and snorkeling, given the fossilized marine life clearly visible on their walls.

The above image, shot from within dining cave #2 and facing out to its attendant sun-deck (left) and sea-level cave mouth (right), perfectly illustrates the architect’s intent to merge all the desired aspects of resort life with the surrounding environment… And doing it in a way no one is likely to see anywhere else, ensuring the unique nature of your stay.

The design of The Caves Resort & Spa makes for a truly beautiful and memorable destination, made all the more so given the designer’s brilliantly creative use of the property, and through the meticulous attention paid to the union of recreation and environment.