Red Hook: Life Surrounded by Water

     Red Hook is one of St. Thomas's wonderland towns, located on the southeast corner of the island,  and full of wonder and surprises.     The Marina is the centerpiece of the town with the ferry that takes you to St. John, the restaurants, bars, and shopping, all in one spot.    The marina is filled with rental boats, privately owned yachts, live-aboard sail boats, and commercial vessels that haul everything from soup to trucks around the islands and ports.

     The colorful cocktail lounges and restaurants provide us with a great overlook  of the marina and a view outward to St. John.     It is easy to just sit and sip a fine rum and get lost in the moment, and stay for hours.     The view and the locals make this a very enjoyable afternoon hangout for the gang of four that just invaded the town.     Fellow rumstylers Mike Streeter (Rum Connection.com), Carl Grooms ( Coastlines and Tanlines.com), My wife Marta, and myself, seemed to be drawn to this place every afternoon.     Whether it be the Island  Time Bar, Duffy's Love Shack, or Molly Malone's, we seemed to manage to get to the docks and have our afternoon cocktails here with out fail.

     It really doesn't matter what you enjoy this place is a very relaxing and has a great vibe that makes you want to stay for hours, even though you know you should be heading back to the condo.

     Get away from the hustle-bustle of Charlotte Amalie and enjoy the laid back fun of Red Hook, you won't be sorry.   Great food, drink, and atmosphere, what more can you ask for?     ;o)

Bartender's Appreciation Day

Lauren at the Hurricane Hole

     All of us get to come in contact with a bartender some time, there are those that you always remember and those that you would love to forget.     Either way they all provide us with some very refreshing and enjoyable cocktails and good conversation from time to time.     Today is the day you get to say thank you for the services they provide you, today is Bartender Appreciation Day.

Paul at the Hurricane Hole

     Lauren, Nicole, Paul, and Nick at the Hurricane Hole here in Key West are the ones that take care of me and my friends on a regular basis and I truly do appreciate their service.     These are fun people that make the day fun for me whenever I arrive there in the evening. 

     Think about your bartender today and take the time to say thank you to them for all that they do for you and the  fun times they provide you when you go tho their bars.     ;o)  

City of Toronto: Caribbean Week December 5-10th

     City of Toronto has proclaimed the week of Dec 5th - 10th as Caribbean week, a week of celebration of the Caribbean's many distinctive sounds, sights, food, culture and rums.     This is an event that brings representatives from Toronto and the Caribbean together for the purpose of sharing their cultures and  promoting mutual tourism and travel.

     Rum and Rhythm is the part of the event dedicated to Caribbean Culture    One of the major plays in the event is Ed Hamilton of Ministry of Rum.     He will share his knowledge of the history and production of the Caribbean's most famous spirit.     Trevor Burnett will also be there to share his mixology techniques showcasing the Caribbean cocktails.     It is also a chance to experience some of the Caribbean's highly honored rums and enjoy some fine cocktails. 

     Sorry that I will not be able to attend this event this year, but it looks like one that would be something to look into for the future.     If you are able this would be a great experience.   ;o)

Great Final Rum Lab for the Book

     Eight of the 20 or so new cocktails worked out very well.     We had the largest turn out of lab mice ever, and all were very helpful in making the decisions for the final cocktails for the new up coming book.     This was a long afternoon into night, but we did finish up the list and enjoyed a Bahama Bob Zombie to celebrate the finishing of the cocktails for the book.    Special thanks to all who have been involved in the Rum Lab experiments during the past year or so, because without the help we would not have such a great list of rum cocktails to work from.

     Here are a couple of the final recipes that we enjoyed testing yesterday afternoon and evening.

     Nassau Cream

• 1/2 oz. Nassau Royal
• 1 oz. Coconut Rum
• 1 1/2 oz. Amaretto
• 1 oz. Creme de Cocoa
• 2 oz. Half and Half

Place all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously, pour into a Collins glass and garnish with fresh ground nutmeg and hard chocolate. 

    Boaters' Delight

• 1 oz. White Rum
• 1/2 oz. Peach Schnapps
• 1/2 oz. Banana Liqueur
• 1/2 oz. Banana Rum
• 2 oz. Pear Juice
• 2 oz. Pineapple Juice

Place all ingredients is a shaker filled with ice and shake lightly, strain into a pint glass filled with ice.   Garnish with a pineapple slice.

     These turned out to be exceptional cocktails in the opinion of the Lab Mice, and ones you might want to try.     Now it is time for me to sit down in front of the computer and get to work assembling and finish the writing of the book.    Still looking to have it on the shelves in March or April of 2012.     ;o)


    Just a short note to Remember today is the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.   
 

Final Rum Lab for the Book

     Today we are having the final Rum Lab for cocktails to put into the book.    We are pulling ideas that are a little off the wall, but lets just see what works and what is a big NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

     I promise a new recipe in the blog tomorrow.    Now it is time to do some recipe idea creation, and get the new ingredients.    Talk to You Tomorrow.  ;o)

The Boat Bar

     Just sitting here wondering what to write about today, a blank stare out over the gulf mostly, when an idea came into my head.     I have one of the better boat bars around,  so lets talk about a boat bar.     What are the real essentials of a good boat bar?    Refrigerator, ice maker, sink and faucet, blender, and a good place to store the spirits, glasses, and shakers.     Next the spirits, Rum, 100 or so will suffice, liqueurs, 20 is adequate, plus a good selection of mixers like fruit juices and sodas.     Throw in a few bar keep tools and you have the means  for a great boat party.

     That reminds me that tomorrow is Rum Lab on the boat, better start to think about who is going to be there and what we will be looking at this week.     Fortunately I'm getting close to having enough really good recipes to get the book put in to a first draft.

     All this talk about a party and a bar is making me thirsty,  so I guess it is time to quit talking about the boat bar and wander back down the dock to it and enjoy the rest of my afternoon off.      Thanks for stopping by, it's time for you to enjoy your time off as well.    Stop by for a cocktail and relax.   ;o)    

Sunday by the Sea

Sunday by the Sea is always a very calming and relaxing experience, enjoy.   ;o)

Sint. Maartin - St. Martin the Smallest Sea Island Divided by Two Nations

    Phillipsburg, St. Maartin ( Dutch Side) where we disembarked from the cruise ship, and started this adventure.     The Dutch side of the island is the more populated side, but the French side is larger in size.    The uneven division of the island according to folklore occurred because the French and the Dutch each chose a person to walk from one end of the island and where the two men met would be the dividing line.    It looks like the Frenchman was a faster walker.    On March 23, 1648 the French and the Dutch struck the Treaty of Concordia, dividing the island permanently.   This island of approximately 75,000 people relies on tourism as it's primary resource for income.    The Dutch through casino's, beaches, jewelery, and exotic drinks from the native Guavaberry Rum based Liquors.     The French side is known for nude beaches, clothes and shopping.   Oh and Princess Juliana International Airport where the planes land just over the head of the sun bathers in the beach.

     For us it was wandering through the narrow streets and down the beautiful beach just watching and enjoying the scenery.    A stop at the Guavaberry Rum Emporium and a tasting of the unusual flavored and aged rums was very enjoyable, but the time walking the town and riding the water taxis really was the fun point for us.

     The bay was filled with interesting vessels including some "America's Cup" sail boats that were available for rides.    The water taxi is a great way to get from the cruise ship port to the town of Phillipsburg, but there are also land taxi's for trips to the French side also. 

All in all a quaint little island that offers a lot of opportunity for fun and frolic.    It is said that the night life there is pretty lively, but when traveling by cruise ship, you are underway at 6 pm.     ;o)



  


    

Prohibition and "The Pelicans" in the Florida Keys

     Prohibition provided  the United States gave us a lot of gangland  names that have become synonymous with rum running, crime, and speakeasies.    Al Capone, Meyer Lansky, Frank Nitti, and Baby Face Nelson  just to name a few.    The Keys had the Pelicans, a group of looters who started out plundering the sailing sloops and launches that were anchored off of the southern coast of Key West.     They would boast that "no anchor was too large, or no fish hook too small to be carried off once they visited a boat."      The owners would return to find their motors and everything else missing.

     During Prohibition when the rum runners would drop their cargo in the shallow waters off the keys in the middle of the night until such time that they had it sold, then return for it at that time,     The Pelicans, a gang of men named for the flock of birds that frequent the shores in all hours of the day and night, would take their cargo and sell it them selves.      The Pelicans did show some honesty in their endeavors though with the rum runners and split the profits 50 - 50.   The hidden goods were divided equally between the raiding Pelicans and the smugglers,"they were entitled to that much the pelicans often boasted.

     Later on the rum runners, who now had began to fear the Pelicans more than the government officials found new hiding places away from the roving eyes of the Pelicans.     Times became hard for the Pelicans after the rum runners were finally able to hide from the Pelicans, members could no longer roll with large bankrolls partying like they were accustom to.

     The Pelicans turned to stealing batteries, tires, gasoline, and other automotive accessories to fill their coffers.    On a Monday night they hit the waterfront parking lot of the Key West Athletic Club basketball practice stealing tires, rims, batteries, tools and gasoline.     They had no respect for the law,  they stole the tires off of club manager Judge J. F. Busto's ford as well.

     The Pelicans for all of their bad traits did however show some compassion when they spotted a disabled picket boat.    They rescued three U.S. Customs agents that had been missing for five days off of Key West.    This picturesque gang of beachcombers and alleged rum smugglers remembered the law of the sea and notified the U.S. Coast Guard of their location saving their lives.    I guess that it is all a part of life in the prohibition era.    ;o)

Funny how the parties on a seclude beach today all seem to end up the same way as they did back then

St. Lucia: Rum and Fun

     The island of St. Lucia is one of the mountainous gems of the Caribbean, nestled between St. Vincent, Barbados and Martinique, this gem will take your breath away as you wind through her twisty mountain roads.     From the city of Castries all the way through the country and the banana plantations the eyes have a hard time keeping up with the ever changing scenery.

     We Traveled up the mountain and back down the other side on our way to the St. Lucia Distillery, but what we got to see in between was absolutely amazing.     They build the twistiest roads I've ever seen, but whatever it takes to get you over the top and down to the beautiful hurricane hole of Marigot Bay.

      Marigot Bay is a double bowled bay that provides a natural breakwater for protection  from the seas.     The mountains that surround the bay give protection from the winds as well.     The stop we made just above the bay gave us a vista of the entire bay and it's unique double bowl.

     From there it was down to the valley and the banana plantations  that fill the valley.    This is a different type of farming from the sugar cane plantations that we saw in Barbados, but the Trees are a thing of beauty that seem to fill this valley.

Like so many of these islands, I find it amazing the ever changing beauty as you traverse from city, seashore, forests, and back.    I guess that is why I try to cover so much ground when I am in these places.     I really don't want to miss anything.     ;o) 

The Walled City of Old San Juan

     One of the most beautiful historic cities that we visited on our recent Caribbean excursion was the Walled City of San Juan.    It's historic buildings and two forts that protected it makes this a city that has your head spinning with every step.      Walking the narrow streets and seeing the unique shops, restaurants, and bars took the better part of two days.      You cannot begin to see all of the sites even in a short visit.    It was fun sharing what we had found with our friends that went out independently in a different direction.  

San Cristobal

     The two forts that protected the city from all sides are amazing works that are perched on the cliffs always watchful to the sea.     El Morro and San Cristobal combined with the walls around the city made this an unpenatratable fortress from the late 1500's.   

El Morro

     The real beauty of the city is what is within the walls, great shops and great restaurants are all a part of this old historic district.      I spent two days riding around the town on the free trolley, just amazed by all the beautiful and interesting places that were there.     Lunch on a little patio cafe or sitting on the veranda of a bar sipping a great rum, just walk around and you will find something of interest every where you turn.     Don't just spend an hour or so here, plan to have at least 2 days and nights to really get the feel for this great historic place.     ;o)

Barbados: Sugar, Rum, Beaches, and Beauty

     The Bajan country side is a thing of beauty, every where you look all you see is historic and beautiful countryside.     Let me take you on a visual tour of the Bajan country side that we got to enjoy a couple of weeks ago.

The beaches, the countrysides, and the people of Barbados make this one of the really fun stops of the Rum Cruise.     Don't miss this marvelous island in any of your trips to the Caribbean.     The history and the way it has been preserved and is being restored makes you fell like you are living in the era of slaves, sugar, and rum.     ;o) 

"The Spirit of Miami": The Revival of a Family Rum

    Distileria Caneca, a family business located in the Wynwood neighborhood of Doral, will be offering the first bottles of rum for sale to the public on New Years Day.     Matt Malone found himself looking for a new way of making a living after an auto accident.    He was inspired by his wife's family history of rum making in Puerto Rico for five generations, he decided to try his hand at it.     Matt trained in Puerto Rico, then at Bavarian Brewing Technologies in order to learn the necessary skills to produce a good rum.

     It is said that he pipes samba music into his oak lined vats which rest the rum.     This causes a vibe that speeds the aging process a bit and giving the rum unique aging experience.    The rum is made from molasses that comes from South Florida's sugar industry.     The new rum will be named in December, and released in January for sale to the public.   

     I am looking forward to being able to try this new rum and potentially making it available at the Rum Bar here in Key West.     ;o)
       

The Freedom of Flight

The ability to just sit on the veranda of your condo overlooking Water Bay and watch the fabulous show of the birds as they fly and dive into the water.    I can do this for hours and never get tired of watching them.     A nice glass of one of my favorite rums makes this even better.   ;o)