Best Beer And Alcohol Shopping In Grand Cayman

If you're looking to buy beer and alcohol in Grand Cayman, there are plenty of options available. While alcohol is subject to heavy duty prices, there are still many liquor and wine stores to choose from. These include Blackbeard's, Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits, and Tortuga Fine Wines & Spirits, which have multiple locations across the island. You can also find beer and alcohol at sports bars and pubs, such as Fidel Murphy's Irish Pub & Restaurant, which offers a selection of draught Irish beers on tap. Additionally, there are some homegrown breweries, such as Cayman Islands Brewery Ltd., that offer locally crafted beers. Keep in mind that supermarkets in Cayman are not licensed to sell wines or spirits, so liquor stores are your best bet for purchasing alcohol.

Liquor stores in Grand Cayman

Grand Cayman has a diverse mix of liquor and wine stores that reflect the country's varied mix of nationalities and drinking cultures. While liquor carries a heavy duty in the Cayman Islands, there are plenty of options for purchasing alcohol. Here is a guide to liquor stores in Grand Cayman:

Blackbeard's Liquors

Blackbeard's is one of the major retailers of fine wines, beers, and spirits in the Cayman Islands. They have multiple locations across Grand Cayman, including:

• Camana Bay, located beside Foster's Supermarket
• Cayman Falls, on West Bay Road
• Grand Harbour, in the Shoppes at Grand Harbour, Red Bay
• Eastern Avenue, opposite Kirk Market
• Airport Centre
• Under XQ's, on West Bay Road

Jacques Scott Wine & Spirits

Jacques Scott is the leading wholesaler and retailer of premium wines, beers, and spirits in the Cayman Islands. They have several locations, including:

• Galleria Plaza, on West Bay Road
• Countryside Shopping Village, on Hirst Road
• Frank Sound
• Morritt's Plaza, on Queens Highway
• North Sound Road, at the junction of North Sound Road and Crewe Road
• West Bay, next to Foster's West Bay
• East End, opposite the Wyndham Reef Resort

Tortuga Fine Wines and Spirits

Tortuga Fine Wines and Spirits is a family-owned business with 10 duty-free liquor stores across Grand Cayman, including:

• North Sound Road
• 7 Mile Shops, West Bay Road
• West Shore Centre, off West Bay Road
• The Greenery Plaza, next to The Strand Plaza, off West Bay Road
• Governors Square, Lime Tree Avenue, Seven Mile Beach
• Shamrock Road, Red Bay

Other Options

In addition to these larger stores, there are several other liquor stores in Grand Cayman, such as:

• Vino Veritas: This store operates from a climate-controlled cellar and hand-picks wines from small vineyards worldwide, selling them by the case.
• Bayside Liquor Store: Located on Bodden Town Road.
• West Indies Wine Company: Located in Camana Bay.
• Bottle Stop Liquor Store: Located in the Eden Centre on Walkers Road.
• Meringue Town Liquor Store: Located off Boilers Road.

Drinking and Purchasing Alcohol in Grand Cayman

The legal drinking age in the Cayman Islands is 18 years old. Liquor stores in Grand Cayman offer a wide range of options, from top international brands to rare vintages and local craft beers. Keep in mind that supermarkets in the Cayman Islands are not licensed to sell wines or spirits.

Duty-free shops

Duty-free shopping is a major attraction for tourists visiting Grand Cayman. In fact, cruise ships often dock in George Town specifically so their guests can enjoy duty-free shopping on the island.

Duty-free shopping in Grand Cayman allows tourists to enjoy significant savings on items such as jewellery, perfume, watches, crystal, liquor, wine, clothing, and china. Certain luxury goods, such as jewellery, watches, alcohol, and clothing, are exempt from both import duty and sales tax, making them much cheaper to purchase in Grand Cayman than in the United States or Europe.

When it comes to alcohol, you can find good discounts on wine, beer, and rum, as well as specialty drinks, at most wholesale retailers and liquor stores. Some of the larger, more reputable stores may also offer attractive deals on rare wines and vintage champagnes.

• Kirk Freeport: This is a premier luxury retailer with 22 or 23 stores in Grand Cayman, including locations in George Town, The Strand, The Westin, and Owen Roberts International Airport. They offer a wide range of duty-free jewellery, watches, fragrances, leather goods, crystal, and china. They have one of the largest Rolex collections in the world and are the official Rolex Retailer of the Cayman Islands.
• Rocky's Diamond Gallery: Specialises in high-quality jewellery, including GIA-certified classical diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and tanzanite.
• Cathy Church's Photo Centre & Gallery: Offers great deals on cameras and underwater cameras from brands like Olympus, Nikon, SeaLife, and GoPro.
• Island Jewellers: Stocks an extensive collection of loose diamonds, diamond jewellery, gold, tanzanite, sapphires, and other gemstones, as well as jewellery brands such as Pandora, Hearts On Fire, and Swarovski.
• Kay's Fine Jewelry: Features a large selection of diamonds, gems, fancy gold, and the iconic Flexible Diamond Bangle, along with high-quality watches for men and women.
• Balaclava Jewellers: Renowned for its unique collection, including an exceptional assortment of jewellery such as rings, bracelets, and necklaces.

Remember that duty-free shopping can provide significant savings, especially on luxury items. For US citizens, the duty-free allowance is $800 worth of goods per person, and this can be combined with other family members. Local products like rum cake and arts and crafts are also duty-free, and there is no limit to how much you can bring back.

Sports bars and pubs

For sports enthusiasts, Grand Cayman's diverse population of over 137 nationalities ensures an exciting atmosphere at its sports bars. Popular spots to catch the game, fight, or race include Fidel's, Legendz, Craft, Coconut Joe's, Lone Star (all in SMB), and Salty's Sports Bar (GT). These bars offer a mix of international and local beers, with some hosting live music and specials nights.

If you're craving draught Irish beers, Fidel Murphy's Irish Pub & Restaurant is the place to go. For locally crafted beers, visit the Cayman Islands Brewery Ltd., which has a tap room where you can enjoy their year-round and seasonal beers while watching the brewers at work. 19-81 Brewing Co. is another excellent option, offering signature hand-crafted beers like Island Session, Cayman Blonde, and Tropical IPA. You can find their beers on tap at local bars and in cans at liquor stores.

When it comes to sports bars, PD's Sports Bar & Grill stands out with 15 TVs and 9 TV boxes, capable of showing almost any sport in the world live. They also have four separate sound zones and are known for their delicious wings, thanks to their self-trained head chef, Linford.

Local breweries

There are a few homegrown breweries in Grand Cayman that produce their own locally crafted beers.

Cayman Islands Brewery Ltd.

Cayman Islands Brewery Ltd. was launched in 2007 with a state-of-the-art, fully automated brewhouse and a commitment to environmentally friendly production and distribution. The company produces 11 beers year-round, as well as some seasonal beers. They also have a tap room on-site, so you can enjoy a beer while watching the brewers at work. The brewery is located at 366 Shamrock Road, George Town.

19-81 Brewing Co.

19-81 Brewing Co. specialises in creating premium-quality craft beers. They have three signature hand-crafted beers: Island Session, Cayman Blonde, and Tropical IPA. You can visit their dedicated tap room on Dorcy Drive, or find their beers on tap at many local bars and restaurants, and in cans at various liquor stores.

Craft Food & Beverage Co.

Boasting one of the largest selections of craft beers on the island, Craft Food & Beverage Co. offers a range of local and international beers, with over 10 beers on tap and many more cans to choose from.

The GT Outpost

Located on George Town's waterfront, The GT Outpost offers a unique selection of craft beers from around the world, showcased on their dedicated beer wall.

Liquor prices

When buying liquor in the Cayman Islands, you should be prepared to pay a heavy duty price. This is reflected in liquor store prices and the cost of drinks at bars and restaurants.

Duty on hard liquors like rum starts at CI$11.85 per litre. This means that over a third of the average retail price of CI$30.99 for a litre bottle of Appleton VX rum consists of duty. Duty on table wine is CI$3.60 per litre, dessert wine is CI$5.25, sparkling wine is CI$7.80, champagne is CI$10.80 per litre, overproof liquors are CI$15.98 per litre, liqueurs are CI$13.50 per litre, and duty on beer is CI$1.95 per litre.

Some travellers have noted that beer and liquor are extremely expensive in the Caymans, with one person saying their husband pays around $45 US for a case of Budweiser. However, others have said that in comparison to other Caribbean islands, liquor and beer prices in Grand Cayman are very reasonable.

If you are looking to save money, it may be worth bringing in the maximum allowance of alcohol into the Cayman Islands from your home country or from duty-free shops at the airport. Each visitor aged 18 or over is allowed to bring in one litre of spirits, four litres of wine, or one case of beer duty-free.

Frequently asked questions