Just a Little Something for Review

It was surly a blast for all of us involved from the Start of Goombay to the Fat Lady Sang at La Te Da last night.     It was a great party that took the stuffing out of most of us that were involved, but worth every minute that we spent out and about in the sunshine and the rain.     Thanks for all the memories.     ;o)

The Party has Finally Come to an End

     Last night brought the 2011 Fantasyfest to an end here in Key West with a incredible parade and day of street frolic.     The 2011 Fantasy fest showed little of the tight economy, but rather the need for people to shake the bonds of stress and gloom and party until you can't party anymore.
Most of us have been partying for a little over a week know and the toll is starting to show.   The parade and it's fabulous floats and all of the people that are manning them make this one of the most fun parades that you can attend anywhere.     Yes it is a bit risque, but good fun and well liked by all of us down here in Key West.     Remember we are just a little bit different down here. 

     No matter what you fantasy, you could have lived it this past week here in Key West, and I'm looking to see what next year's Fantasyfest will bring to light again.    So long from Fantasyfest 2001.   ;o)

Today is the Big Day of Fantasyfest 2011

     Tonight is the Captain Morgan Fantasyfest Parade here in Key West.   The week of craziness and debauchery is coming to an end at last.    Don't know how much more of the insanity the people down here can handle.     So far it has been a wild week  with everyone having a great time running from party to party and just hanging in the streets.     Yesterday the People's Parade brought a large number of costumed people into the street for a march from the cemetery to the downtown area.

      The costumes following the theme of "Aquatic-a-Frolic" have produced some fantastically creative ideas and designs.     Tonight the parade promises to be equally as exciting and creative.    There is a lot of excitement among the participants and the tourists for tonight's parade and the frolicking good time that always goes along with the parade.

     Today and tonight the Rum Bar like most of the other bars up and down Duval Street will be having the annual parties that make the parade so much fun.    There are also many private parties from the upper story residents along the parade route that go on and on and on into the wee hours of the morning.     No matter where you are for this event, whether it be sitting on the curb, up in a suite on on the balcony, this event is one you won't quickly forget.    Be Safe, and have a great time tonight all.     ;o)

Seems Like the Party will Never End

     This is the party time here in Key West, and today starts the Street Fair night and tomorrow is the Captain Morgan Parade.    These are the climax of Fantasyfest in my mind.    I totally enjoy wandering through the streets taking pictures of all of the antics that go on here each year.     I really get into this every year and working behind the bar, I find myself getting into all the fun at the same time.    This is true adult party time fun that is a shame to miss.     It is my experience that if you stay into the scene of what ever is going on down here in Key West you will find yourself feeling younger and more alive than ever.

     There are a couple of Rum Events happening next week that I need to let you know about.   First, next Thursday there is a Denizen Rum Cocktail Special event at the Rum Bar at 1117 Duval Street from 1 til 5pm.     There is a Ron Centenario Event also at the Rum Bar on Friday from 1 til 5pm.     Both of these event sill feature special cocktails made with these very fine rums and all of them will be sold for only $5 each.     I'll be behind the bar mixing you special Rum Lab created cocktails for you, so make sure that you get by to see us while you are out and about for the Meeting of the Minds events.

     Big happenings all over Key West for the next 2 weeks, so make sure that you get down here and join in all of the fun we seem to be having on a regular basis.    I'll be posting some coverage of the events tomorrow and some more information on the Denizen and the Ron Centenario Rum events at the Rum Bar as well.     ;o)

Fill You in Tomorrow

   There have been computer problems all morning, but I'll get you caught up on all the activities going on here in Key West with Fantasyfest in full swing.    Be patient, and it will all come to you in living color and all.
I can't even get a picture to load today, so sorry, I'll see if things are working better tomorrow.   ;o(

The Centenario Menu is Complete

     The Ron Centenario 7 Year Old Rum Menu is now set for the up and coming promotions to be held at the Rum Bar in Key West on the 4th of November, 2011.     This is going to be a very special event featuring the Ron Centenario  line of fine rums, plus a menu of $5.00 cocktails featuring Ron Centenario 7 Year Old Rum.      These are all new Bahama Bob Cocktails that were created just for this Ron Centenario event following a couple of days of research in the Rum Lab .     The best and the worst part of this is that it took some real work to come up with 5 cocktails of this caliber because the rum is so good and delicate on it's own.   Many of the recipe ideas buried the fine flavor of this very special rum in the mix, loosing the special flavor of the rum.     The good part is that when we got it right, it was really right, and these cocktails are really something special.

Ginger Snaps

• 1 1/2 oz. Ron Centenario 7 Year Old Rum 
• 1/2 oz. Siesta Key Spiced Rum
• 1 oz. Pineapple Juice
• 1 1/2 oz. Barrett's Ginger Beer.

Place all the ingredients except the ginger beer in a shaker with ice and shake until chilled.    Strain into a cocktail Glass filled with ice and top up with the Ginger Beer.     Garnish with a sprig of mint.

Centenario Dream

• 1 1/2 oz. Ron Centenario 7 Year Old Rum
• 1 1/2 oz. White Creme de Cocoa
• 2 oz. Orange Juice
• 2 oz. Half and Half
• Squeeze of Lime Juice

Place all ingredients into a Shaker and shake until chilled.    Strain into a Cocktail Glass and top with fresh ground nutmeg.    Garnish with an orange wheel.

Centenario de Light

• 2 oz. Ron Centenario 7 Year Old Rum
• 1 oz. Amaretto
• 1/2 oz. Vanilla Rum
• 2 oz. Barrett's Ginger Beer

Place all the ingredients except the ginger beer into a shaker and shake until chilled.     Strain into a pint glass filled with ice and garnish with a lime

Costa Rican Punch

• 1 1/2 oz Ron Centenario 7 Year Old Rum
• 1/2 oz. Aguardiente
• 1/2 oz. Falernum
• 1 oz. Pineapple Juice
• 1/2 oz. Grapefruit Juice
• 3/4 oz. Orange Juice
• Dash of Bitters

Combine all the ingredients into a shaker filled with ice and pour int a pint glass.    Garnish with with an orange and cherry.

Costa Rican Espresso

• 1 1/2 oz. Ron Centenario 7 Year Old Rum
• 1 oz. Brinley Gold Coffee Rum
• 3/4 oz. Amaretto
• 1/2 oz. Dark Creme de Cocoa
• 2 oz. Half and Half

Place all the ingredients in a shaker and shake until chilled, pour int a highball glass and top with fresh ground nutmeg.     Garnish with a mint sprig.

No matter how you enjoy this wonderful Ron Centenario 7 Year Old Rum, it is a winner.      Enjoy these cocktail ideas and we will see you on the 4th of November at the Rum Bar in Key West for this special event for Ron Centenario.     ;o)

Fantasyfest is in Full Swing in Key West

     The weekend of Goombay has officially kicked off Fantasyfest for 2011.     Tonight is the 12th Annual Kelly's Kinky Karnival, with the Finnegan's Wake Green Party and Captain Tony's Party in Plaid tomorrow night.     This is only the start of this week of complete debauchery and drunkenness on and around Old Town Key West.

     This is an annual event that has drawn the a very diverse crowd that really enjoys what Fantasyfest is about.     The party starts at 9pm and runs til closing with the crowd dancing to the DJ and drinking and having a frolicking good time.   Kelly's Kinky Karnival is one of the most infamous events of Fantasyfest, and it is not even on the Fantasyfest schedule.     To be allowed admission you have to be dressed in fetish attire.     Buy your tickets during the day today or be there early because it will sell out quickly.     Once your in just have fun with the S & M demonstrations and the raunchiest great time that is spread out on both floors and  the tropical garden.     This party has something for every one.

     Tuesday brings the Captain Tony's Party in Plaid and Finnegan's Wake Green Party to the forefront of the nights events.    Captain Tony's Party in Plaid is a party you can pay the cover and go inside or just hang out on the street and have a great time as well.     Make sure that you wear plaid to stay in the spirit of the party,  then you can really become a part of the fun and frolic.     The other big party is of course, Finnegan's Wake Green Party.    The dress is green and the rest is up to you and you imagination.   They have a contest for the best "Eco Green Wear"

     No matter what events you attend during the week, Fantasyfest is a great adults party that you need to attend .     ;o)

Sunday Morning Beach

Oh the peace and serenity of the beach on a Sunday morning.   ;o)

Pirate Rum Party. What a Concept.

     The idea of a Pirate Rum Party this time of year is one that really can't be beat.     The weather is getting cool, Halloween is just over the horizon and it is time for the first real party of the fall season.     Pirate Rum Party's have all the potential for a great fun night or afternoon.     Take a group of friends dressed in pirate garb, punch bowl full of rum punch of some sort, great pirate games, and it is underway.

     The games can include thing like rope the Wench or Cabin boy, Liar's Dice, or even original costume contests.   All can make for a fun night of revelry.    If you have a charity in mind for your party a Wench and or Cabin Boy Auction is always  a great event.

     The center of a Pirate Rum Party is the Rum Punch and a great rum punch can make the party something very special.     Rum Bumbo or Bumboo , a popular drink in the Caribbean during the era of piracy, primarily because it was better tasting than the Royal Naval Grog.    Because the pirates short-haul merchant men didn't suffer from scurvy as often as the British Sailors did, meant they could drop the citrus from the grog and be replaced with sugar and nutmeg to sweeten the mix.     Bumbo was often used in the election campaigns in Colonial British America , this tradition was know as "Swilling the Planters with Bumbo".     George Washington in his papers stated that he had used some 160 gallons of rum to treat some 371 voters while campaigning for the Virginia House of Burgess in July of 1758.

Rum Bumbo

• 1 Liter of Naval Rum
• 1/2 Liter of Chilled Water
• 1 Cup of Sugar in the Raw
• Fresh Ground Cinnamon and Nutmeg to taste

Mix all the ingredients in a large punch bowl , place a large block of ice in the bowl.    Sticks of cinnamon and the Nutmeg nuts that you ground on can be floated in the punch bowl along with slices of tropical fruits.

     Now you have the concept it is time for you to put the plan into action for the Halloween season.     This is always a fun and successful event when it is put together with zeal and enthusiasm.     ;o)

Fantasyfest Starts Tomorrow!!!!!

     It has finally arrived, the biggest, wildest, and most outrageous week of fun and debauchery anywhere.     Fantasyfest opens with Goombay in Bahama Village and the Royal Coronation Ball today and a week of outrageous events that follows to the grand finale, The Captain Morgan Fantasyfest Parade a week from Saturday night.   The complete schedule is on line at http://www.fantasyfest.net/ . 

     This is a yearly event that brings out the best in everyone and provides the visitors to Key West with the opportunity to party and act really crazy.    As though the visitors really need an excuse.     There are so many partys that you just can not begin to attend them all, and the streets are filled with revelers just having too much fun.   Body Painting, and an ocean of people just having a great time with and in the spirits of the party.   

    Behind the bar this week is just plain a fun and busy busy time with people that know how to party and have a good time.     ;o)   

News of the Day

    The Golden Rum Barrel awards from the London Rum Festival have been made official and our own Key West Blogger Mike Streeter has won the "Best American Blog" Golden Rum Barrel Award.   The other awards and the full story can be seen from http://rumconnection.com/uncategorized/golden-rum-barrel-awards/  with the complete story.      This is big news for Key Wester's because this makes 2 major awards for Key West Rumstylers this year.

     The day in the Rum Lab yesterday was another challenging one working with the Licorice flavored Aguardiente as the subject of the day.    As expected this one was difficult to make things work, few things seem to work with the licorice in Aguardiente.    We were triumphant though in coming up with several really tasty cocktails from this interesting "rum".

Aguardiente Sazarac

• 1/2 oz. Aguardiente
• 12 oz. Appleton VX Rum
• 1/2 oz. Cane Syrup
• 1/2 oz. Water
• 2 Dashes of Bitters

Place all the ingredients except the Bitters in a shaker with ice and shake until chilled.   Put the bitters in the rocks glass and swirl around and dump them out.    fill the glass with ice and strain the shaker into the glass and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Venezuela Hybrid

• 1/2 oz Aguardiente
• 1 1/2 oz. Mount Gay Black Rum
• 1/2 oz. Cane Syrup
• Splash of Orange Juice
• Splash of Tonic Water
• Dash of Bitters

Place all the ingredients in a shaker and shake until chilled and strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice.   Garnish with an orange wheel.

For a rainy day it was a fun one in the Rum Lab and getting out on the water for and adventuresome trip to the Hurricane Hole for a few after lab cocktails with our bartender friends Nicole and Paul.     The weather "forced us to stay a bit longer than we planed, but it lifted just in time and we scurried back home for some much needed dinner and rest from the day.     By the way it is still raining for the fourth day in a fow here in Key West this morning.   Blaaaaaaaaaaaaah.      ;o)

Cloudy Day in Key West - Three in a Row - RUM LAB !!!!

    After three days of rain and clouds it is time to snap out of this blah I'm in.      Today is going to be a sunny day even if I have to create the sunshine myself.     Last night my local hangout the Hurricane Hole even slammed it's doors and didn't open, so the gang of us went to the Hogfish Bar and Grill, another local seaport bar and grill for our evening out.    This is a great place to hang out, but because I can not dinghy over to the bar it seriously limits the enjoyment of any more than one cocktail.    The food at the Hogfish is fabulous, the house specialty, the "Killer Hogfish Sandwich", which is truly a delicacy on a roll.    Hogfish is a unique fish that has flavors that are heavenly to the palate.    This is a great location and is the true picture of eclectic Old Key West.   It's waterfront location across the harbor from the shrimp boats makes it an ideal location for lunch or dinner with pure atmosphere.

Today I've decided to go ahead and have another Rum Lab, manufactured sunshine, plus some fun with a good group of Lab Mice.     At this time I'm not sure of what we will be working with, but some of the cocktails from last week used Aguardiente, an anise flavored "rum" from Columbia, although it is produced is many areas of Central and South America, it is one of the things that I would like to try as an additional "rum" to a few of my existing cocktails.   I will be curious as to how the responses of the Lab Mice will be to this.

     This Rum is made by the fermentation of a combination of one or more of the following, Sugar cane, sugared musts (orange or banana), aniseed, or vegetable maceration ( beet or potato).    The most popular of these is one made in the Adean region of Columbia.   Aguardiente is similar to Cachaca, which is sweeter and does not contain anything other than sugar cane syrup.   The flavor of the Aguardiente varies with the country and region in which it is produced.     Some is fruitier, and from Brazil it has more of a rum flavor, depending on which ingredients were placed in the fermentation tank.

     They say that it is generally served chilled or on the rocks as an aperitif or a digestif, but we will try to put it to work as a mixer to bring some life into other cocktails.   I feel that it will only take a small amount of this to alter the flavor profile of these cocktails.   The very strong flavor of the anise can over power a cocktail in short order, and it will take a careful balance to prevent this from happening.

    I'll let you know tomorrow how this has all worked out.     ;o)

Ron Centenario 7 Year Old

     The day spent with the Ron Centenario 7 Year Old in the Rum Lab was very productive.     This is a great sipping and affordable enough to be a mixing rum that brings cocktails to life.     We tried 21 different recipes and only 4 did the rum clash with what we were mixing it with.    This lab yielded some excellent recipes that take the taste buds to new and very exciting places.

•      We found that the rum does not do well with clover honey, does not mix in very well and the honey just sits on the bottom of the glass.     Apricot Brandy, Apple Juice, and overproof rums all seem to clash with the flavor of the Ron Centenario 7 Year Old Rum.     Other than these ingredients, everything else that we threw at it melted together to yield some really fine cocktails.

Spicy Senorita

• 1 1/2 oz. Ron Centenario 7 Year Old Rum
• 1 oz. Spiced Rum
• 1/2 oz. Pomegranate Liqueur
• 1 1/2 oz. Pineapple Juice
• 1/2 oz. Cane Syrup
• 1/2 oz. Lime Juice

Put all ingredients except the Pomegranate Liqueur in a shaker with ice and shake until chilled.    Strain into a highball glass filled with ice and float the Pomegranate Liqueur on and garnish with an orange and cherry.

Costa Rican Expresso

• 1 1/2 oz. Ron Centenario 7 Year Old Rum
• 1 oz. Coffee Rum
• 1 oz. Amaretto
• 1/2 oz. Dark Creme de Cocoa
• 2 oz. Half and Half

Put all the ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake until chilled.    Strain into a cocktail glass filled with ice.     Garnish with a sprig of fresh slapped mint.

Ginger Snaps

• 1 1/2 oz. Ron Centenario 7 Year Old Rum
• 3/4 oz Siesta Key Spiced Rum
• 1 oz. Pineapple Juice
• Top up with Barrett's Ginger Beer

Place all the ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake until chilled, strain into a highball glass filled with ice.    Top up the glass with Barrett's Ginger Beer.      Garnish with a thin slice of ginger and a lime.

    
Costa Rican Punch

• 1 1/2 oz. Ron Centenario 7 Year Old Rum
• 1/2 oz. Aguadiente ( Anise Rum)
• 1/2 oz. Falernum
• 1 oz. Pineapple Juice
• 3/4 oz. Orange Juice
• 1/2 oz. Grapefruit Juice
• Dash of Bitters

Place all the ingredients in a Shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice and garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.

     These are three of the wide variety of cocktails we came up with and a wide variety of ingredients that worked very well with this fine rum.     We have another bottle of this rum in the lab and I feel that we can further test the waters of the compatibility of  Ron Centenario 7 Year Old rum with many many more ingredients.      Lets just wait and see what tomorrow brings.      This is one of the better rums for a consistent result that we have used in the Rum Lab to date and I will have to say that I wound recommend it as a great all around sipping and mixing rum.         ;o)  


     

Rum Lab Results on Monday

Great Rum Lab Results on Friday, full report on Monday.

Ron Centenario 7 Year Visits Rum Lab Today

    

This is going to be one of the really interesting Rum Lab research Days in some time.     It is unusual for the rum lab to be working with such an aged and balanced rum.     Today is also going to be one of the more challenging to prepare new cocktails that will enhance the flavor instead of hiding the flavor of this fine rum.    The lab mice have been chosen and the cocktail ideas are being formulated, so in a few hours it is into the Rum Lab for some serious research.   

     Looking forward to the Return of Mike Streeter of the Rum Connection next week to give us samples of the many new rums that are being showcased in London this week.     ;o)

Jack Terry Wins Rumologist Search and other Thursday Tidbits

Jack Terry,  bartender at Bagatelle was announced the winner of the Tommy Bahama Rumologist Search .     See the complete story of this three month competition at http://rumconnection.com/uncategorized/winner-5/ .        Congratulations to Jack Terry for his tremendous effort and I hope he enjoys his year in the limelight.

     Ron Centenario in conjunction with International Wine and Spirits has agreed to do 6 Rum Tastings in conjunction with Bahama Street Promotions of Key West.    The First of these will be held at The Rum Bar on Duval Street on November 4, 2011 from 1 til 5 pm.     There will be new cocktails that will be developed in this weeks Rum Lab especially for the Ron Centenario 7 Year Old Rum.     The best 5 will be featured at the tasting.    This rum is a combination of the expertise of blending and aging in oak to produce such a rum with such body, texture, color and taste.    This well balanced smooth rum will be a pleasure to work with in the Rum Lab tomorrow.

     My friends are having a great time in London tasting new rums from Diplomatico and other distilleries at the "Rum Frat House", along with the usual rowdiness that always ensues at these gatherings.    Looking forward to their return in order to sample some of these new spirits.    Have fun for the rest of  rum fun in London.

     I guess that is just about all of the news for today and Tomorrow is the Ron Centenario 7 Year Rum day in the Rum Lab.     See the results on Monday of our research on Friday.     ;o)

Cruzin the Historic Waterfront of Key West

     Yesterday was a day off, and it was my pleasure to jump into the dinghy on such a beautiful day and just roam the water ways to see what was going on.     I found my way into the Key West Bight and found some beautiful and scenic images of boats and people and buildings as I roamed around.     The bight is filled with very colorful and impressive boats to see, as well as people and buildings.    The dinghy is the perfect vessel to wander through these harbor waterways, because you are low and small and can get in and out of all of the nooks and crannies easily to take the pictures and see what is happening.

     The Waterfront is dotted with all kinds of sights to rouse your interest, from waterfalls and art to the fantastic yachts you can see there.   You never seem to be lacking for something to see or do there.    If it is food you are looking for there are sophisticated to the funky little places that all present you palate with great culinary delights.     Whether it is swimming, fishing, parasailing, dining, drinking and music, you can find it in the area in and around the Key West Historic Seaport.   

      Historic is the best word to describe what this port has seen in it's history and today is no exception.    You to can be a part of the old history when you sail on the one of the historic old schooners or party at Schooner Wharf.

     Next time you are in Key West it is time well spent wandering through and enjoying the sights and trying out all of the things that happen at the Historic Seaport.    See you on the water there.   ;o)

Rum Wars & Rum Diary's

New Diageo Corporation  St. Croix Distillery

     The up and coming Johnny Depp movie "The Rum Diary" and the ongoing "Rum Wars" are bringing a lot of attention to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.    This war seemed to start when St. Croix offered Diageo Corporation some 2.7 Billion Dollars of incentives over thirty years to move the lucrative Captain Morgan Contract from Serrales Distillery in Ponce, Puerto Rico to St. Croix.     This money comes from the rebate of rum import taxes collected in the United States.    It seems that this move is costing the Puerto Ricans billions in revenue loss from the rum import refunds.

Donna Christensen

Pedro Pierluisi

     It seems that the wars are heating up again with the introduction of the "Investing in U.S. Territories, Not Corporations Act of 2011" introduced in the House by Puerto Rico's Pedro Pierluisi. and a parallel Senate Bill by Robert Menendez a Democrat from New Jersey.   Virgin Islands Delegate Donna Christensen that she had been expecting this bill for weeks.   Christensen said the bill was similar to one rejected a year ago , but this one contains points that are even more objectionable.      These bills are trying to limit the way the "Rum Cover Program refund monies are to be spent.     Christensen says the "While we are still evaluating the ramifications of this proposal, I can say on first review that it still is an attempt of one territory to dictate how the other achieves economic development and utilizes it own funding."

     This seems to be as really bitter battle between the territories and one that doesn't look like it is going to be resolved without some bruised feelings and pocketbooks.

Johnny Depp in "The Rum Diary"

     Meanwhile there is a new movie starring Johnny Depp, called " The Rum Diary", based on a novel by Hunter S. Thompson.    The story is based in Puerto Rico and is the story of a 1950's ex patriot American newspaperman who is down and out, working for a small-time Caribbean newspaper.

       

Cocktail Week in London

http://rumconnection.com/uncategorized/london-cocktail-week/comment-page-1/#comment-9554 .     This is a great article about the fun and rum in Londown this week courtesy of the Rum Connection.

Serenity at Sea

Serenity and good winds are what keep the world moving as you sail through life.   ;o)

Spooky Rum Lab

Just for fun we had a spooky day yesterday in the Rum Lab.    We tried to create some  new cocktails for the up and coming Halloween Parties.    We took a look at several of the more traditional cocktails of the season, most of which are vodka based and went "rummy" with some new twists to the ideas.
Most of the cocktails were ugly and seemed to be a study in "gross out" rather than in good mixocology.    We took some time to create some cocktails to fit the season, taste good, and could be garnished to your Halloween theme.

The Devil's Workshop

• 1 1/2 oz Brinley Coffee Rum
• 1 oz Creme de Banana
• 3/4 oz. Plantation Overproof Rum
• 1 oz. Half and Half

Place all the ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake until chilled strain into a Martini glass and grind some fresh nutmeg on top.     Garnish with your favorite Halloween do-dads.

Robert's Tea Party

• 1 1/2 oz. Plantation Guyana Rum
• 3/4 oz. Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz/ Cane Syrup or Clover Honey
• 2 oz. Green Tea (Semi-Sweet)
• 2 oz. Barrett's Ginger Beer

Place all the ingredients except the Barrett's Ginger beer into a shaker with ice and shake until chilled.     Pour into a pint glass and top with Barrett's Ginger Beer.     Garnish with your favorite Halloween do-dads.

Hallucinations

• 1 oz. Coconut Rum
• 1 oz. White Rum
• 1 oz. Melon Liqueur
• 1 oz. Galliano
• 1/4 Tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

Place all the ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake until chilled, strain into a Martini glass and garnish with your favorite Halloween do-dads.

     These are a couple of the really fun ungross cocktails that we were able to come up with, hope you can have some fun with them at your Halloween Party.   Happy Halloween to all   ;o)