BACK in 1907, President Teddy Roosevelt coined the phrase “Good to the last drop”. Granted, he was referring to a good cup of coffee at that time, but over the years the phrase has been used to describe a good tipple, alcoholic or not. In this instance it was quite appropriate as the winners of the 2010 Scotia Private Client Group Jamaica Open were none other than Bin 26, named after their sponsor — a Kingston wine bar in Devon House, which is so much more than a mere wine bar. It is a wine connoisseur’s delight with a selection of 300-plus wines, champagnes and most notably, cigars from around the world.

As we all know, Imbibing and Polo go well together… for that matter it is a partnership which is without question, regardless of where polo is played around the world — so the compatibility between Bin 26 and the event was ideal. Apart from Bin, captained by Marc Melville (yes, girls, sexy and single), three other teams entered this tournament: Scotia Private Client Group, captained by the “Hollywood” Minister of Mines & Energy James Robertson — who were the victors last year, but the recipient of this year’s wooden spoon (the consolation prize); Strawberry Hill, captained by the ever-elegant Mitta Rousseau (the man with the best blow dry in Kingston); and the all-Jamaican Pegasus team, who were the hot favourites, but failed on match days to live up to their expected potential.

A bumper crowd turned out to support the players on the final day, and the elegance of the occasion was only surpassed by the presence of the Scotia Private Client Group VIP Lounge, created in the spirit of uber-chic Island Outpost hotel, Strawberry Hill, which also catered the traditional English high tea which was on offer to guests. Champagne and high tea along with some quality polo, it was the day’s hottest ticket.

This was the first year (we hope of many years) that Scotia Private Client Group sponsored the Jamaica Open, the flagship tournament of the Jamaica Polo Season. Now in its second year in its present format, it was formerly the Willie de Lisser Trophy for the Jamaica Open which was inaugurated in 1960, (Willie de Lisser was the “Custos” of Hanover, and one of Jamaica’s legendary four-goal players). This event was rebranded in 2009 as a 14-goal pro-am tournament, with two professionals and two amateurs on each team.

Scotia Private Client Group is the wealth management division of Scotiabank, one of North America’s leading financial institutions and Canada’s largest international bank for more than a century. The Scotia Private Client Group offers discreet private banking services, including innovative banking and borrowing solutions, professional advice for investments, trust and insurance services, and Professional Advisory Services. Scotiabank has been putting clients’ needs first in some 50 countries with their access to a wealth of knowledge in private banking, investments, trust and estate services, and international financial services. The synergy between Scotiabank and polo is unrivalled — the union of a first-class banking institution with a first-class sport. It was High Octane… High Energy and High Class all the way… And with a little help from our friends at Bin 26… Good To The Last Drop.

— Karen Kranenburg