After introducing me to a 300-year-old mango tree and issuing an invitation to rub his lemongrass and give his pods a squeeze, Simon Morris offered me his Bwa Deb to smell.
His calabash gourds were off limits.
“We grow three varieties of West Indies Bay. ‘Anisette’ with its licorice flavour, Lemon Bay and the most famous ‘Bwa Den’ variety. Give it a sniff. You’ll be surprised at its complexity—a unique blend of clove & allspice. They go into our Signature Gin.”
Simon Morris lived in Eastbourne from birth until he was eleven. His father taught Biology at Eastbourne College. He was the housemaster of Pennell House.
Now Simon gives tours of paradise.
With his Californian wife, Amber, the freelance TV producer runs Sea Cliff Gin and Eco Cottages at Point Dubique, Calibashie on the north-east coast of Dominica in the Windward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, between Guadeloupe and Martinique. The family moved to Dominica in 2021. “The Island of Nature” gained independence in 1978. Columbus first saw it in 1493.
“We are the only gin distillery in the Caribbean which offers accommodation!” says Amber, who recently launched a ready-to-drink ‘garden to glass’ Butterfly Lime Gin Cocktail, made with local limes and the Butterfly Pea Flower (which turns the gin purple). Orders are pouring in. The Sea Cliff Micro Distillery is part of Sea Cliff Eco-Cottages, which offers five solar-powered ocean and mountain view self-catering cottages.
UK-born TV producer Simon Morris is the gardener and guide of it unique “Gin Botanicals Trail” tours. There are signs in Kwelol for ‘Citwonel’ (lemongrass), ‘Canne (sugar cane) and ‘Canel (cinnamon) all of which goes into Amber’s gin basket at the vapour infusion stage of distilling.
“You’re welcome to pick the leaves of the lemongrass and cinnamon and crush it to release its rich aromas” says Simon as we pass his ylang-ylang, drooping bamboos, cocoa and nutmeg grove, mature breadfruit, Soursop and Calabash trees, the gourds of which are used by the Kalinago indigenous population to carve decorative bowls.
Morris has worked on shows such as ‘American Gypsies’ for National Geographic, ‘Chef Roble’ for Bravo and ‘Too Cute’ for Animal Planet.
“We moved around with my parents’ jobs. To Llandudno in North Wales and Denstone College in Staffordshire (where my dad taught me Biology!). I went to Sixth form years at Monkton Combe School in Bath, to avoid my dad teaching me A level biology! In my gap year. I was drawn to hot places. Zambia, Thailand and Indonesia. The seeds were planted then of a future living in a tropical paradise, although I probably never dreamed it could actually happen!”
After studying English at Oriel College, Oxford and working in youth work in south London, his first job was with the children’s channel Nickelodeon, before becoming being a researcher then producer at MTV and the BBC, traveling back to east Africa—Malawi—to produce a Blue Peter Appeal special on children who lost their parents to HIV/AIDS. He met Amber from San Jose’s ay Area in London, when she was studying fashion at Central St. Martins.
They got married at the mansion used in the Atonement movie in Shropshire, near his parents’ house and lived in Hackney east Lomdon while Amber worked as a knitwear designer at conceptual fashion houses like Mark Fast and Bella Freud.
“Then the call of New York came, with the possibility of a green card for me through marriage!. We moved to a tiny apartment in the East Village,, Amber working for high-end designers like Zac Posen and later Club Monaco and Bonobos, and me as a freelance producer for shows on Bravo and Nat Geo and Animal Planet. We had two sons (who are now 10 and 12), moved to DUMBO then Greenpoint in Brooklyn.
“We read in a Lonely Planet book about this mysterious ‘nature island’ of the Caribbean, Dominica—which we’d never heard of—which was supposed to be lush and untouched, raw nature and we were intrigued. It was Covid times so we couldn’t island hop as much as we wanted and spent two months in Dominica. We stayed at Sea Cliff which was for sale. And we pivoted! The idea of a slower, simpler life after the busyness of a big city appealed to us, where we could be more present with our boys, surrounded by nature. We restored the cottages and Amber ordered the juniper berries!”
The Caribbean has many distillers. Mainly, rum ones.
But only one female gin distiller.
“We both love gin and hadn’t come across a Caribbean botanical variety before, and inspired by the ingredients in the amazing local ‘bush rums’ and bush teas, we ideated a unique Dominican gin. We imported a still from Canada, created a micro distillery space , and with the help of online classes, started crafting. Gin is traditionally drunk in Dominica , but of course rum is the star of the show, so much so that often all spirits are locally referred to as ‘rum’. So when one group of French yachters were brought by a local guide to our gin tour, after being told it was a ‘rum factory’, were a bit confused! And surprised when they were presented with a gin made by a woman in her back garden!!
Says Simon : “We love Dominica and are excited to be part of the amazing natural offerings to visitors here! We have nine volcanoes, 365 rivers, eighteen named waterfalls including our own Victoria Falls, our own Fountain of Youth- the Emerald Pool, one of the world’s longest cable car rides, a Valley of Desolation, a Hibiscus valley, Trafalgar Valley (as seen in The Pirates of the Caribbean : Dead Man’s Chest) a Champagne Beach and Reef (with bubbles!) at Soufriere, a Secret Beach only accessible by boat, black shingle and sand beaches ( in the north-east), sulphur springs and a Boiling Lake in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, Cabrit National Park, the longest hiking trail in the Caribbean ( you must do the shortish Segment 12 from Borne to Penville), a Botanical Garden and French Quarter ( in the capital, Roseau) and rainforest pool to jump into. And the island is only 29 miles long and sixteen wide. You might even see the rare “sisserou” Imperial Amazon and red-necked jaco parrot. As well as twenty species of whales.
“You can also see the EU from Dominica. With views of French Martinique and Guadeloupe.”
Dominica also has an annual World Creole Music Festival in October ( 24-6 2025), a Joune Chapo Pai Straw Hat Day( October 16th , Independence Day) and the Mas Domik Carnival (March 3-4th 2026).
Simon recommends a game of dominoes in Toto’s Bar and eating at the Nets of Reef, Sandbar Love At First Bite, the Island Twist Bar and Grill in Calibashie and, out west, at the Keepin’ It Real beach bar and restaurant in Toucari Bay. You also must see the view from Scott’s Head where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea. And book an Indian River boat trip. As well as watch the sunset at Toga and Caroll’s place.
Concludes Amber : “If you come to Dominica, you will discover that Portsmouth is a wonderfully colorful and friendly place. We even have a beach with its own chocolate factory! Pointe Baptiste.
“Ancient Wai’tu kubuli is full of surprises.
“Not just its gin.”
Sunvil ( www.sunvil.co.uk/ Tel.0208 7584774) offers for £1,859 per person based on 2 sharing. This price includes return flights with British Airways and Inter Caribbean (via Barbados), 23kg hold luggage per person, transfers on arrival and departure and 7 nights’ BB accommodation at Sea Cliff Eco Cottages (Garden – 1 Bedroom Cottage).