Sunset on the Water

     There is nothing like getting off work, a glass of fine rum, and putting your feet up while waiting for the sun to put on her spectacular evening show.      Sunset from the aft deck of the boat while sipping a glass of Cockspur VXOR puts new meaning to this laid-back lifestyle.     This is a ritual that I try to enjoy as a part of daily life here in the Keys, I guess it is something that I have learned with age.       I've found that as I grow older while refusing to grow up that I cherish every day more and more and find myself exploring new things and savoring the beauty instead of blowing through it without ever seeing anything.

     Sunset time is a time to reflect on the day and the friends you have seen.   It is a time to remember old friends and rejoice with new ones.      As a bartender I have a unique opportunity that I revel in every day as I meet new friends and occasionally have old ones return to see me.      Having old friends walk in ans sit down to share what has happened since our last visit and what is in their future is a heart warming pleasure that I enjoy on a regular basis.     Saturday afternoon I met some new friends that came to Key West as a reunion of old friends that traveled in from all over the country to share experiences and drink Goombay Smashes.     As the day went on, the group of friends became my friends too and a real warm fun rumstylin' day was enjoyed by all.   

     Like all days though, this one must come to and end as the sun melts into the sea and darkness pulls it cover over us, I'll finish up the rum and go in and have a little supper.      Thanks for all of my friends and friendships that keep me smiling at the end of the day.    ;o)          

Rumstylin' the Virgin Islands

     The Virgin Islands offer many a fine chance  for the rumstylers, there are excursions to many destinations and bars that offer their own unique entertainment.       We can start out with a day trip from St. Thomas on the "Morning Star" sail boat to Honeymoon Bay on St. Johns to have a great lunch, cocktails on the beach, snorkeling, and be back to Fungi's by 4:30 for cocktail hour on the dock.      These spectacular blue waters and the wind in the sails makes for a really relaxing voyage to St. Johns.     Followed by a fabulous lunch prepared by the crew while we bask on the beach sipping cocktails and swimming.      The return trip is as peaceful and relaxed sipping cocktails and enjoying the quiet of the wind and the hull sliding through the waters.    



The Baths on Virgin Gorda



     The next day was spent in a power boat rented from Naughty Nymphs in Red Hook.      This is a long range trip from St. Thomas all the way to the Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda in the BVI.       En route to Virgin Gorda we had to stop at Pussers in Roadtown Harbour, Tortola, BVI.     Roadtown is the big harbour in the BVI and it is full of cruise ships and every other type of vessel you can imagine.     Pusser's is a pub on the  water's edge that is a very good place to sample their own special kind of 'Painkiller".     Virgin Gorda's south side offers a  very beautiful stop at the Baths, an incredible granite outcropping the offers one of the most popular anchorages in the BVI.  It also offers an exciting trail through the grotto's if you will and out to a beautiful beach.       Around to the eastern side  of Virgin Gorda in Mosquito Bay is a watering hole called Saba Rock where you boat up to the dock tie-up and go in for a cocktail of your choosing "Painkillers" are always a good choice, and have lunch that is fit for a king or a rumstyler.    

As you return to from Virgin Gorda back toward St. Johns to check back into the USVI Customs Station, you must stop at Norman Island and visit the "Willie T. "     This floating bar and restaurant in legendary in the Virgin Islands for it food and beverages alike.     The open invitation to jump from her top deck naked into the beautiful blue waters will earn you a "Willie T"  T shirt

The Willie T

 for your efforts.     This venerable old power sailor has been a part of the Norman Island scene for many years and is always a must stop when sailing the Sir Francis Drake Channel.    



    



Callwood's Distillery



      Just as a side note around the northwest side of Tortolla is Cane Garden Bay, one of the more famous anchorages and a fabulous place to hang out for a day.    While you are there there are literally miles of beaches and little shops and restaurants.     For a rumstyler, the oldest continuously operating rum distillery in the world.     Callwood's Distillery lies just beyond the beach in a little hollow off the road.     They have tours and will show you their historic and active pot stills as well as let you sample and purchase some of their "Moonshine" rum.     The sell a 80 proof  version of the overproof that you get to sample at the distillery and a great look into the historic rum methods in action.

     The return to St. Johns and Cruz Bay to check back into the USVI only takes a few minutes and it's back to Red Hook ending today trip.     The great thing about St. Thomas is the small local establishment s that you find in the small marinas and just lying at the water's edge.       You can spend years in the Virgin Islands and never begin to touch all of the really fun places the islands have to offer.     ;o)  



A Rumstyler in need of a Painkiller

     Talking about the Root Juice, reminds me of renting a nice little boat at Red Hook, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands and heading up the Sir Francis Drake Channel to the BVI for some fun and rumstylin'.     One of my favorite islands is Jost Van Dyke, Home of the Soggy Dollar Bar.     This little sandcastle is located on the edge of White Bay and is one of the best beach bars in the world.     Accessible only from the water and usually means anchoring and swimming from your boat to the beach, there are no docks.     The "Sandcastle got it's name from the soggy condition of the dollar bills from sailors who swam ashore.     Now you know where the name came from.

     This quaint little bar is responsible for the creation of the "Painkiller" cocktail.     A delicious combination of dark rum, coconut, pineapple juice, and orange juice that is topped with fresh ground nutmeg.     There are several versions of this wonderful cocktail, but the original recipe of the Soggy Dollar is a closely guarded secret.    By the way the Food at the Soggy Dollar is also incredibly delicious.         There are also Banana, Mango, Vanilla, and  many other flavored versions of this devilishly alluring drink.     They say it is "Illegal in the BVI not to try this most famous drink.

     Whether you are in the BVI, the USVI, or in Key West you will be a sorry rumstyler if you don't try the painkiller.      For those of us who have tried them we just can't stop drinking them, they draw you in like a moth to fire.      For those   who are already avid fans of the Painkiller, you can join the Painkiller Club at www.soggydollar.com/painkillerclub/ and apply for membership.    The slogan for the Painkiller really sums the whole thing up, "A Sunny Drink for Shady People".    ;o)

Bahama Bob's Root Juice

     There have been several requests for the recipe for my Root Juice in the past few weeks, so I guess that I need to talk a little about this marvelous concoction.     The idea came from a little bar called Fungi's at the foot of the Point Pleasant Resort in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.     About a year ago I had the pleasure of staying there and spending a number of really enjoyable evenings tasting some of my favorite rums and dining at their dockside restaurant.  The food there is absolutely wonderful and unique.    They had this bottle on the bar that was stuffed with branches, and assorted other things and filled with 151 rum.     What a concept, so I searched the Island and was able to purchase some really huge Cinnamon sticks and some Agave root.    These treasures were tucked away into my suit case and brought back here to Key West where I thought about how I was going to find branches etc. that were not poison or cause some other problem that I would be liable for.    Not being able to get enough information on stuff in the wild I packed up for a exploratory journey to my local Publix and started the search for all of the necessary ingredients to create this "masterpiece".  

     First thing I found was Bean Sprouts, they just make it look more evil, then comes dried shrimp for the same reason.     Searching further down the aisle I found chamomile, star anise, and eucalyptus, these had medicinal value.     Heading down to the produce area I came across a rack of raw nuts, what a concept nuts that have only been removed from the shells and placed in a bag.    Anyway I got Brazil nuts, pecans, cashews, and almonds  I felt a nutty taste would add to the overall flavor of the mix.     Now that I have finally arrived in the produce area I saw the ginger roots  and the yucca roots which I knew would add more to the medicinal vale to the concoction.     Upon arriving back home I found an old wine bottle ($2.50 a half gallon variety) cleared off the label and fill it with all of my collected treasures and topped it off with a fine bottle of 151 rum.     Capped the bottle and let it sit on my counter for 2 weeks and brought it down to the Rum Bar where the final ingredient nutmeg was added.    We use the whole nutmeg for our Painkillers, and the small leftover pieces added another flavor and some more medicinal quality to the blend.      We have put as of yesterday 81 fifths of 151 rum through these roots and the flavor is still very good and hasn't lost any of its fine flavor.     I can's say for sure how long the roots will be producing good flavor , but it has been 13 months now and going strong.

     This is an open invitation to make your own and don't be afraid to add things that makes your special.     If the mix is too strong you can cut it with a nice 80 proof gold or white rum to get the level you desire.     Just have fun and drink it with pleasure and responsible as all good rumstylers do.   ;o)

How Does a Rumstyler get to Know about Rums?

     Where do I get these rums?     How do I find out that they exist?     These are often asked questions that I receive in my capacity as a bartender in a rum bar with over 200 rums to choose from.     One of the best resources that come to mind is a great little booklet by Robert Burr called "Robert Burr's Gifted Rums Guide".     This little 50 page booklet packs a ton of information in a small space that's critical to the serious and novice rumstyler.     You can visit distilleries, learn new cocktail recipes, look into some of the history of cane spirits, plus being able to read descriptions of many of the worlds finest rums.

     You just choose the type of rum that suits your palliate and  start leafing through the list until something strikes your fancy.      It's easy to follow format takes you first to the type of rums and then you will find listed many of the rums of that category listed in alphabetical order to explore and make your choice.     Lets look for instance at  Abuelo 12 Anos Gran Reserva for example.  First look under "Premium Aged Rum" to find Abuelo 12 Anos Gran Reserva and simply read the discussion of the rum.      This clean format provides you with a simple and concise information center for all of these "Gifted Rums".

     If you can't find the book in your area it is also available in line at http://www.giftedrums.com/ .     You can also contact Robert A. or his son Robert V. via E-mail with your rum questions.     They are very happy to discuss rumstylin' or talk about most any rum with you.

    The Burr's are a very big part of my Rumstyling  and they are people who have all the passion for rumstylin' and literally go to the ends of the earth to seek out and disseminate the virtues of "Gifted Rums".     ;o)

Rumstylin in Key West



Sloppy Joe's

      This is probably the most densely bar populated piece of land in the world (1 1/2 X 4 1/2 mile island with 255 bars.) and a rumstyler's dream.    If you are a fan of the old traditional bars like Sloppy Joe's, Captain Tony's or Schooner Wharf Bar with the atmosphere of a wild party and loud music Duval Street is the place you want to be.     This is a party that runs nightly deep into the AM.     The music, the warm weather,  the crowd, and the rum make this a party capitol year round.     There is a reason that the spring breakers, New Years Revelers,  and of course Fantasyfest goers flock to Key West and Duval Street.





Speakeasy Inn & Rum Bar

      For those who like it a bit quieter, there is the quiet end of Duval Street where you can find places like La Ti Da, The Rum Bar, and the Southernmost Beach Cafe.     These are places that have a strong local eclectic atmosphere that make it a great stop for the locals and the tourists.    

For those of you that are new to town and want to have a better feel for the more popular bars, check the bars for a copy of  Drink Key West, a guide to the "dizzying array of unique drinking establishments in the little town".     The guide takes you from the Oldest Bar in Key West ( The Green Parrot) to Dinner house bars ( Kelly's Caribbean or the Conch Republic Seafood Company) to strip joints.    There are those on the next the island ( Stock Island) like the Hurricane Hole and The Hogfish that give the fisherman and seafood lovers a taste of old Key West.     Back on the Island for those who prefer the waterfront there are great venues like Schooner Wharf, The Beach Bar at the Pier House, Louie's Backyard After deck, and Dante's.     If there is an atmosphere to suit your mood or party then, you can find it in Key West.

Sailing into the Night

   As the sun begins to set the bars and tourist become mariners and hit the water for the sunset sailing parties that fill the waters of Key West Harbor.     There are power and sail boats ass well as historic schooners to take you out on there rumstylers adventures.    Feel like a pirate on this historic old island  some time this year you won't be sorry.    ;o)

Barbados, a Real Rumstylin Destination



Sugar Museum



     Barbados is a mecca for the rumstyler, 3 major distilleries, St. Nicolas Abbey, and a Sugar Museum.     Often called the birthplace of Rum Barbados offers some of the finest tasting and innovative blenders it has been my experience to meet.     The Sugar Museum takes you through the history of the sugar cane, it's processing, and how the process has changed throughout the years to how it is done now.





Larry and his Still



     St. Nicolas Abbey is another of the historic sites that is absolutely amazing.     Larry and his family have taken on a monumental task of restoring the historic sugar plantation and add the mystique of making a modern day high quality rum from the same location.     They have restored the residence, the steam powered sugar cane press, and are currently working on restoring the wind  driven sugar cane press.     Larry has produced a very nice rum that is available only in Barbados at the   abbey and in the duty-free shops at the airport.



R.L. Seale's  Foursquare Rum Distillery



     The commercial distilleries include R.L. Seale's Foursquare Distillery, Mount Gay Distillery, and the West Indies Rum Distillery.     All three of these distilleries are a very important link in the rum production around the world.     Mount Gay distillery produces the lines of Mount Gay rums that are distributed around the world.     West Indies Rum Distillery produces the Cockspur Brand and sells 90% of the rum produced to other rum producers that blend and bottle under their own brand names.      The fermentation process here is a unique "continuous fermentation" that gives the distillery it's high volume and high quality capabilities.      R.L. Seale's Foursquare Distillery produces, ages, blends, and bottles all of the product that is produced at his distillery.     He demands to have absolute control of the product from sugar to finished rum.    Richard is a very innovative man  that has created new methods of distillation that give his rums that high quality reputation. 



Continuous Fermentation Tanks at West Indies Rum Distillery



Mount Gay Rum Distillery



     A trip to Barbados is a must for a serious rumstyler.     The history of the sugar cane, slaves for sugar, and the rum, are only the beginning of a wonderful experience on this Caribbean Island.     The facilities and the resorts are all top notch including the airport and the transportation systems on the island.    You really need to put Barbados on your must see list.     Oh the annual Rum Festival in November is a great time to visit the island as well.     ;o)

More on the Home Rumstyler Bar

     There seems to be a lot of interest in the rumstyler's home bar so lets explore it some more.     I got a note from Dave Florek today and a couple of pictures of his rumstylers bar in New Jersey.      As you can see this is a really first class  and well equipped bar.     The real fun begins when you start collecting the decorations and the liquors that really shows off your personal rumstyle.    

     Dave also sent me another picture that shows you don't have to be in the Caribbean to be a rumstyler.   BRRRRRRRRRRR!     I see that Dave is a Buffett fan by the Margaritaville sigh and one of the very hard to get Landshark surfboards.      This is a bar that I could hang in especially this time of year if I were in New Jersey.      I guess that Dave hangs on the patio this time of year also based on the size of that heater just outside the door.     Dave can open the bar up to the warm summertime as well and you have the indoor/outdoor feel as well.

     Many of my friends have their own Rumstyler's bars all over the country, and I love to stop by and enjoy a fine rum there and just kick back and share some quality time with them at their bar.     If you want me to cover your home bar please send me a picture or two and a little note about it so I can share your ideas with the rest of us.      Enjoy and keep on Rumstylin, it's a great way of life.   ;o)

Rumstylin with Pusser's Original Navy Rum

     Pusser's in 1979,  9 years after Black Tot Day if you will, began to reproduce the famous navy rum in tradition of the times of Trafalgar in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.     The rum is distilled in traditional wooden pot stills and still retains the intense flavors only this method of distillation can produce.     This is a heavy dark amber rum that bold aromas that are apparent even at a distance when the bottle is uncorked.     The flavors are bold and the finish is on the sweet side.      This is the same blend of 84 proof rum that was issued by the British Admiralty from  1655 after the British too control of Jamaica til July 31, 1970, Black Tot Day.   

     Today this is the basis for one of the most famous of the cocktails that come from the British Virgin Islands, the Painkiller.     This is the cocktail that was created at the Soddy Dollar Bar located in White Bay on Jost Van Dyke.     This cocktail was perfected at "Sandcastle's Soggy Dollar Bar in the 70's and is an absolute staple of the US and British Virgin Islands.     The Soggy Dollar derived it's name from the fact  that boaters upon arriving in White Bay and to anchor off shore and swim to the beach and the bar, often paying their tabs with soggy wet dollars.     There was a clothes line that you could hang your paper currency to dry , adding to the unique experience of the venue.
     I'm still serving this cocktail in it's original form at the Rum Bar in Key West.     We have kept the drink 's standards high using the Pusser's Navy Rum and all the best of ingredients right down to the fresh ground nutmeg topping.     Should you be in the Virgin Islands or Key West you would be remiss in your rumstylin' if you don't have one of these wonderful cocktails made with this traditional rum.     ;o)

Rumstylin Birthday Party's

     Having just gone through another milestone of age here recently, it reminds me of how much fun a rumstyler's birthday party can be.     In the case of Vicky, a lady friend of mine, it meant going out on a dinner cruise with a great group of her friends.     For George, another friend, it meant renting a hall above the spa in his condos.    For me it was a dock and boat party with a like-thinking group of friends that really enjoyed the fine cuisine( munchies, chips, and other finger foods) and a wee amount of the great beverage we call rum.

     Hey George, Keep on Keepin' on and the party just seems to keep goin' on.    The music, the rum, and the attitude just makes this happen.     George is one of my favorite rumstylers, he is just the happiest guy you ever want to meet, and he really enjoys the party.     His style being the great chef that he is is to have fine food and fine rum and the party is on for him and his friends.     As the night goes on many of the guests end up in the swimming pool, but a great time is always had by all that attend.

     Vicky on the other hand enjoys a cruise that includes a few of her closes friends and a little bit of wine with dinner and the rumstylin' takes over as the sun sets in the west.     These sunset dinner cruises are  really nice and the chefs are without question some of the finest around.     The more dressy  atmosphere of her birthday is another side of rumstylin that is wonderful and fun.

     On the third hand was my birthday.     This a loosely organized musical fun night in December between the dock and the boat  with a whole lot of friends.     This is more me, good rum (and a few other beverages), good friends and good music.      Friends laughing and having a great evening in the marina is my idea of a really fun way to add a year to my life.     It goes along with the idea of grow a bit older, but living the Peter Pan lifestyle of never growing up.      Growing up in the 60's of San Francisco the idea that you can't trust anyone over 30 just give credence the 35 anniversary of my 29th birthday.    

     No matter how you celebrate a rumstyler's birthday, you just have to have a positive outlook on what you are and what you want out of this life.   Then throw a party and carry on in the true rumstyler's tradition.   ;o)

Plantation from a Rumstyler's Point of View

     Today we start talking about some specific rums.     The subject for today is Plantation.     The thing about Plantation that makes it interesting to me is the fact that they don't actually make rum, but rather finish and bottle rum.     Pierre Ferrnad of Cognac, France, buys up fine rums from several different rum producing superstars that have rested for a short period of time and then brings to his chateau in Cognac.     The rums are then finished , and aged in a variety of barrels and casks tat rested bourbon,scotch,cognac, and sherry.     This gives the Plantation a very special place in the rum world.

     One of my favorite Plantation Rums that are currently available is the Plantation Trinidad 2000.     This is a very light and delicate rum that has been rested in scotch barrels and  has a sweet and delicately spicy  and finishes with a smooth dry spicy flavor.      There are three fine rums from Barbados that also qualify as favorites.     Barbados Grande Reserve 5 year old, Barbados 1999 or 2000, and the real champion of the Barbados group is the 20th Anniversary Extra Old Barbados Rum.      This is a fine Barbados Rum that benefits from the expertise of Alexandre Gabriel's team at Cognag Ferrnad.     This combination unites two special groups of very talented people in order for you to enjoy such exquisite results.     This is one of those rums that blends a complex of vanilla, chocolate, banana, and coconut flavors that still  allows you to taste the sugar cane.     The great thing about Plantation is the variertyof  rums that they have finished and made available to the palliate of the rumstylers.     There are also rums from Guyana, Jamaica, Grenada, Nicaragua, Panama, St. Lucia, and Venezuela.   This is one this rumstyler's dream team of rums.

     As the weeks go by I will be able to spend some more time with my favorite rums and hopefully be able to introduce you to some of these fine sipping rums.     Til next time.  ;o)

Thinking About a Home Rum Bar

     I was sitting back last night on the boat last night thinking about life back on Lake Norman and the rum bar in my house, wondering what was necessary to have a fun place to rumstyle at home.      I remember collecting rums at the various ABC liquor stores and as I traveled around to the Bahamas, Key West, and Puerto Rico  searching for that special rum that I couldn't get at home.     It was and still is one of the greatest feeling when you locate an unusual and great rum to bring back and share with your friends.      We use to have friends by on a regular basis to create new concoctions and enjoy those special rums.      I also remember the Tuesday night get togethers on the water where I'd bring a gallon of "Hurricane Bob" and the "Guys" would cruise from one resort to another just enjoying the drink and friends.

     I feel this rumstylin' is as much about doing something different and sharing with your friends as it is about the rums and   getting a buzz.    Today I hang out at the Hurricane Hole here in Key West, after work to share the days news and have some fun.   This provides me with the same enjoyment as it did up on the lake before I moved down here.     I still have a nice little rum bar on the boat in which I still have friends over to enjoy the fine rums I have collected  during my travels.   

     I guess that it doesn't matter where you are you can be a true rumstyler is that is the person you really are.      The more I travel around and the more people that I meet, I come to realize that it is the loose knit friendships forged over a rum cocktail at anyplace you happen to be are the friends that seem to  keep crossing your mind year in and year out.     Thank You to all my wonderful rumstylin' friends and hope I get to see them again soon.    ;o)

What Would Rumstylin' be Without Rum???

     The history of rum goes back a thousand years or more and was present during many of the famous events of our country's history.     Paul Revere was said to have downed a mug of Rum before his famous ride, George Washington, a tea totaller had a barrel of Barbados Rum at his Inauguration, and Ben Franklin Invented the Rum Flip, our founding fathers and Rum are both a integral part of our history.     Prohibition, the Rum line, rum runners and of course the speakeasy all part of this country's rum history.     Today the rum is rapidly overtaking vodka as the number one cocktail mixer.    

     The majority of the rum we enjoy today come from around the Caribbean.     Countries like Barbados. Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Central and South Americas are blessed with some of the best rum distilleries.     My trip to Barbados last November for the the Caribbean Rum Festival gave me an unusual opportunity to visit some of the more outstanding distilleries of the Caribbean.     The thing that impressed me is the dedication to making rum better through innovation and more sophisticated blending and aging.     It was my pleasure to sample many of the new and still experimental rums that have not been put out on the market.     The trip has shown me that this industry is continuously evolving and making better and better rums to sip or mix. 

     To be a good rumstyler you must be ever vigilant in you visits to bars and liquor stores for the new rums and upgraded versions of your old favorites.     While in Mexico last month I ran across three new rums that turned out to be very fine flavored rums in a country that  is famous for Tequila.    The point is that I'm trying to make is you can fund great rums anywhere if you keep your eyes open  for them.      By the Way I'm headed for Panama in Mid February to visit the Rum Distilleries of that country and I will have a full report as I travel through them.     Keep your eyes open for them.  ;o)    

Rumstylin' Music

     When I think of ruymstylin' music, my mind goes to a little cay in the Bahamas called Great Guana Cay.     There is a little bar there called Nipper's that holds a warm spot in my heart.     On any given Sunday there is a pig roast and some really great island music that keeps you feet moving and you drink down one after another of the Nipper's punches.     This is a bar that is placed on top of a sand dune and there is a winding stair way down to the beach and the third largest barrier reef in the world.

     Once a year in March usually there place is completely overrun with rumstylers and music fans that have to come and see George the Barefoot Man from Grand Cayman.      George has a collection of original songs that tell stories of fun in the tropical world that he has traveled, fished and caroused in.     This is the fun music singing about being conched out at The Conch Inn, or dealing with hurricanes, or even slipping away on a boat and living off of the water, diving up lobsters and drinking fine rum.     This is the music of the Rumstyler!    

     Where ever the Barefoot Man travels he draws a large fun loving group that will party til the "cows come home" or when the boat leaves for Marsh Harbour, which ever comes first.     There was a time I decided to hire a charter captain to pick us up at Great Guana Cay Pier at 1 in the morning that didn't show up.     This lead to a group of 6 of us sleeping on the dock with the no-see-ems nibbling on us.     All this was taken in step because we were partying in the true rumstyle's tradition and nothing will derail us from our mission.

     The music is a very important part of rumstylin' and your choice is your own and what ever it is enjoy it to the max.    Most important is do it with your friends and do it often.     ;o)   

Watching the Weather?

     Today it is a beautiful clear 75 degrees here in Key West, listing to all my friends that are buried in snow in the Charlotte area of North Carolina reminds me of why I chose this island life and my rumstylin' ways.     Today I'll jump in my dinghy and head out (my day off to boot) to one of the uninhabited keys with a nice bottle of El Dorado 15 year old rum, a bottle of #30 sun block,  and just hang out and watch the marine and bird life as it passes by on this lovely day.      Hopefully there will be a few like minded adventurers out there that I can share my grog if you will and carry on some a layed-back conversation with.    
     These trips also remind me of what some people go through to get to this place that I find so wonderful tin which to live.      I often find "chugs" ( Cuban refugee vessels) stewn along the beaches on these keys, and it makes me think of what it means to people who weren't born here to be here.     It is food for thought and if they are willing to travel in an unpredictable sea in a rickety 15 to 20 foot craft thrown together from sheet metal and scrap materials, how well off are we?     

     Anyway, still find it a wonderful place to wander and explore these keys and see what I can find as I wander the beaches and the mangroves searching for treasures.    It is also fun to set your imagination loose and wonder what has taken place in this area with all the ships that have run aground and sunk around the Key West area.     As we search theses key for treasures it is not unusual for us to find beautiful shells, stuff left behind by the refugees that were picked up by the Coast Guard, old bottles and an occasional artillery shell.   

After a good day of treasure hunting and exploring it is fun to break open a nice rum and marvel in your new found treasures.      Then as the day draws to a close it is back to the sea and take our leisurely voyage back home.      Ain't life great?     It is when you look at it through a tropical rumstylin' perspective and just make the most out of where ever you are today.   ;o) 

Today is Mojito Day

Probably one of the most refreshing cocktails a rumstyler can order or make is a Mojito.     It has been bent and doctored into more versions that almost any other drink I have run across.     The original Cuban version is the cleanest and in my opinion the tastiest of all.     Being a purest at heart, I tend to stay with the original recipe for the most part, but according to the Cuban bartender that showed me how to make one of these fine drinks you can vary the rum to your taste and still be in the true spirit of the Mojito.   

     I have done some playing with my recipe over the past two years and have come up with some interesting versions of my own.     My basic recipe is a traditional white rum, lime juice, cane syrup, and a splash of club soda.     However, the use of a dark rum adds a richness to the flavor without compromising the original recipe.     I have also played with a pure sugar cane syrup from the Saint Nicolas Abbey in Barbados and used their fine rum in the recipe also.    The results were very good because you pick up some of the molasses flavors of the fresh cane and the full flavor of the rum makes for a very nice mojito.     I have also used a Mammajuana Rum from the Dominican Republic, a dark Cuba Libre Rum from Guyana, and one of my favorites a 5 Year old Plantation Barbados Rum.     The choice is a large one for the rum, but as long as you keep the basic recipe in tact and just vary the rum within limits you will have a very nice traditional mojito you can really sit back rumstylin and enjoy. 

     There are other variations I have run across from behind the bar at customer requests including making it with Vodka, use of flavored and spiced rums, and even a "Lo-cal" version made with Splenda simple syrup.     No matter how you like your Mojito it is a rumstylers front-line staple in you recipe book.  ;o)

We're Talking about the Rum in Rumstylin'

     We've been talking about everything in rumstylin' for the past few days , but the RUM!!!    Today we will change all that and talk a little about the rums that make rumstylin happen.     I tend to follow both ends of the rums for my personal palliate, I like the well rums with tonic and a lime for my bar hopping time and a fine sipping rum like 20th Anniversary Plantation Barbados while relaxing on the aft deck of the boat.     Several other situations come to mind when I think about the rums, if a hurricane is eminent, I mix up a 2 gallon batch of "Hurricane Bob" and all of the marina residents sit on the dock and drink in defiance to scare the storm away ( by the way it has not failed us yet).     If I feel a cold coming on there is always "Bahama Bob's Root Juice" to make me fell better and ready to face the world.    On a rare cold night down here there is always hot coffee with rum and cream add to chase away the cold.   As you are beginning to see the is a rum for all occasions and situations.

     What make rum this magic elixir??????     Could it be it starts life as a sweet molasses or a sweet stalk of sugar cane.    Maybe it's the fact that seafarin' pirates drew us into their magical world of swashbuckling and wenches.     Don't forget the "rum runnin'" days of Prohibition and all the excitement of smuggling of the elixir to the speakeasy's in the United States.     Yes, and  the excitement of drinking behind closed doors.
What ever the reason it has become the drink of the 2000's.    No matter what the reason it offers a taste for every palliate, it is that no two rums taste the same, and this makes it an adventure to find your "personal best" rum and then come the excitement of making sure you can get it again after you return home from your  quest of fine rum around the world.

     No matter how you acquire your rum it is the fun you have with your friends and relaxing in your own special way that makes rumstylin' really work.     Keep the Quest Alive, Chase Rum.  ;o)

Keeping with the Water Party

     Partys on the water are a great thing that never fails to peak the interest of the rumstylers.     Dead of winter or the heat of summer the true rumstylin boater is on the water and having a party of some sort.     I remember from my days on Lake Norman in North Carolina having the first "Raft-up" of the season on January 1.    There were several of the locals there and we all had a great time keeping warm, swapping lies and drinking rum to keep warm.     It is the friendship and the pure fun of living and playing on the water that makes the "Aqua-rumstyler" a special breed.
    

     In the summer or in the tropics the Aqua-rumstyler takes on a different garb.    Dropping the parkas of the northern lakes and dawning the t-shirts and shorts of the tropics.    The hot rum drinks are traded for fruity cool rum drinks, but the results are the same, rumstylers having a party for no apparent reason.     These impromptu parties usually lead to new friends and bigger raft-ups as the winter moves to summer til you end up with the World's largest raft-up (Lake Norman, North Carolina. over 1000 boats rafted together for a great rumstyler's event)    

     Whether you party in a mega yacht, a dinghy, or something in between, "aqua-rumstylers" just know how to have a really fun day on the water.     If you haven't tried it yet it is time for you to pack up your friends and all their crafts and get out for a little "aqua-rumstylin".    Have fun, be safe and carry all your trash back to the dock and dispose of it in a proper manner.   Remember that true rumstylers are responsible for their actions.    Have a an aqua-blast soon.   ;o)

Rumstyling by Boat

     Today lets talk about the fun of heading out on your boat to a island or beach somewhere with a small collection of friends.     The possibilities are endless as what you can do to make this a really fun outing.     One of my favorites is to take the boat out to the Marquesas Keys for a day of beach snorkel and good rum.
the advantage of a bigger boat is that you can take a lot of your friends and really have a floating party.     The dinghy provides the shuttle from the "mothership" to the beach and back and there is always the snorkeling from the swim deck and don't forget the bar is really stocked with some of my favorite rums and mixes.     Some of us are "treasure hunters" and some of us are "sun worshipers" and some of us are just plain relaxers that swim, have a cocktail or two, and chill for the day.   

     These days out on the water are a great part of my rumstyle and I wouldn't trade a single day out for any amount of money.     This is a nirvana if you will that few have learned to achieve.     The time spent with friends in a layed-back environment is just plain the best.      Some times we can get a group of other boaters to meet out there on the water and raft-up to form a rather neat and large flotilla.     This leads to even more fun because of the diversity of the boats and the people they bring to the party.    Some times out a one of the local sandbars you can find 20  to 50 boats anchor off and all hanging out on the sandbar sharing their experiences and their cocktails.     The friendships that are made at the raft-ups and sandbar get togethers usually lasting ones and one that are not easily forgotten.

     Rumstylin',not a bad thing that is not just about drinking, carousing, or even getting drunk.    It is rather an attitude of friendship and fun that is growing bigger all the time  among like-thinking people who have learned to step away from the hum-drum of every day working world and relax.    Just throw in some sunshine and beautiful blue and teal water and you have all the ingredients for a great experience.

     As we sail into the sunset on our return to the marina happy rumstylin' to you and hope you develop a great style of your own.

   

What Makes a Good Rum Bar?

     A Rum Bar unlike many other types of bars is a connecting point between great rums and people who's interest and desires for a quality cocktail come together.     As a bartender at the Rum Bar on Duval Street in Key West, where I get a unique prospective on what people are looking for when they come in.     Going back to the premise that rumstylers are of the fun loving nature, the atmosphere must be of a light hearted and personal nature.     The selection of rums must be as large as possible and the quality of the rums must be maintained.     The bartenders must have a love for rum, be knowledgeable about the rums, and have an outgoing personality that can communicate with the customers.     The ability of the bartender to sense the needs and tastes of the patrons from conversation is also a very large plus.    Most of the successful rum bars are smaller in size and tend to be more personal and warm with a lot of conversation between the patrons and the patrons and the bartender.  

     What is offered by the bar is as important as the atmosphere.     A good rum bar has a large (in our case 2090) selection of quality rums.    This means not just bottles, but selection within a brand, and within the category of rums.     Much like the judging of rum, you have to be able to select between spiced rums for example or between 10 to 15 year old rums to get a true comparison, if the patron is to have an expanded palliate from which to choose in the future.    This is the job of the rum bar to get people into new categories and brands that they haven't tried before in order to find a new favorite rum.
     I'm asked often what is the best rum, the most expensive rum, and quite often what is my favorite rum.    These are most often answered by saying I have dozens of favorite rums, but the mood,the people I'm with, and the overall atmosphere make that decision at any given moment.    Often times the most expensive isn't the best tasting to the parton, many a time the less expensive rums appeal to individuals more than the higher priced one.

To say the least a good rum bar is a complex concept that has to fit your own needs and personality, just go out and find one that is near to you or head south to the islands and bring back a taste for these wonderful nectars and teach your bar the importance of being a good rum bar.