The Hunt for the Ultimate Cocktail: Category 5 Plus: Hundreds of smashed bottles of the finest liquors and only a few intact ones left... our resident mixologists had to be truly creative during the first days after Hurricane Irma hit the island this past September. They had to come up with some new cocktails with very limited resources.
Who could blame the bartenders for naming their concoctions 'Category Five Plus' or 'Irma Special'? Suddenly we have a few Cat 5s too many around and need to find out which one deserves the name. Category 5+ Hurricane Irma is part of our history, we made it through and we don't mind vicious Irma to be remembered as a drink causing a serious hang-over.
Now is the time to put St. Maarten on the map with our very own international cocktail and this is why St-Maarten.com - with the support of our friends from Island 92 radio - is launching the official Category 5 Plus Cocktail Contest. We invite all St. Maarten/St-Martin mixologists, ambitious bar tenders and bar owners to participate. (Contact Roy at
In a few days, we will publish a list of participating bars and restaurants!
If you are a hardcore bar hopper or only occasional aficionado of fine spirits: the ball is in your court! Visit bar after bar, ask for their version of the Category 5 Plus special cocktail. And vote by clicking on the button below.
Here is how it works:
Go on a bar crawl and visit the participating bars and restaurants from all around the island and order different versions of Category Five Plus (or 'Irma Special or 'Hurricane Special'). And please make sure that you have a designated driver for the occasion!
THE BOON BEACH BAR - Simpson Bay
Located on the most gorgeous stretch of white sand on Simpson Bay Beach, The Boon lets you test their Cat 5 cocktail while enjoying the view over the turquoise waters of the Caribbean sea.
BUFFALO WINGS - Simpson Bay/Cole Bay
Famous for chicken wings and as a comfy sports bar, Buffalo Wings came up with a cocktail which has a spicy surprise.
DRIFTWOOD BOAT BAR - Maho Beach
Not only is this beach bar a plane spotter's paradise, but also some of the island's best punches are offered here, using up to seven different brands of rum.
JIMBO'S ROCK AND BLUES CAFE - Simpson Bay Yacht Club
Even though Jimbo's serves Carib-Tex fare, his cocktail creation doesn't have to be a Margarita derivative - it just most likely is.
LAGOONIES - Cole Bay
This famous waterfront sailor's bar not only offers fantastic food and live entertainment, they are also in competing in our cocktail contest. Keep in mind that sailors have a very special relationship to storms!
OCEAN LOUNGE - Philipsburg
This elegant beachfront restaurant and bar at the Holland House Hotel will be a tough contender, considering how ambitiour their resident mixologist is!
NOWHERE SPECIAL - Simpson Bay
This is one bar which doesn't plan to live up to its name...We are certain that they will create an exciting Category 5 Special.
THE RED PIANO - Pelican
Arguably the most completely stocked bar on the island, test their cocktail while listening to live entertainment until late.
RENDEZ-VOUS LOUNGE - Porto Cupecoy
Rendez-Vous Lounge in Porto Cupecoy created a special drink and mixed it live during a radio show on Island 92.
TOPPER'S BAR AND RESTAURANT - Simpson Bay
Topper's Bar and Restaurant might have an unfair advantage; after all, they also are the producers of the highly acclaimed Topper's Rhum, just winning honors in a prestigious international context. Let's see what exciting cocktail they are presenting by using some of their rhum's exotic flavors.
WASABI CHARLIE - Simpson Bay/Cole Bay
This popular Sushi restaurant next to the landmark Pineapple Pete will offer a cocktail with a very unusual twist.
