Mount Gay Black 100 Proof: The Rum Lab is reopening to explore this one!

Rum Wreck Bar Photo

     I've been having some renewed interest in the newer and traditional overproof rums here lately.     The introduction of Mount Gay's new Black 100 Proof has given me some ideas that I'll be exploring tomorrow in the "Rum Lab".     I feel that with a little bit of work, this rum might just "Swizzle" it's way into you heart, but will probably kick like a 'Mule".       I'll let you know as soon as I can rectify my notes and tell you about some new Key West concoction.    

     The Barbados based Mount Gay Eclipse Black is a blend of a couple of seven year old rums.     It has an amber color with a stronger and more complex flavor that the traditional Eclipse, and carries a more pleasing aroma of smoke, fruit and spices.     This rum is more like the Mount Gay Extra Old, but with a 100 proof intensity.    This is classic Bajan Rum from the eldest rum distillery in the world and warrants the "Rum Lab" experimentation for a new Key West cocktail from this new rum.     ;o)

Smith &Cross Traditional Jamaican Rum

     Smith & Cross Traditional Jamaican Rum is one of the bold rums that was around in the early 20th century.     This is a blend of heavy and medium bodied pot-still rums and presented at 57% or Navy Strength.     Where the modern Jamaican rums are for the sippers, this bold style rum works best in a bold cocktail.    

      The aroma is strong with alcohol, but packed with very complex and strong flavors, with a warm and strong finish.     The rum is best used in traditional Jamaican cocktails such as the daiquiri, or a Jamaican Mule.     This blend of unaged Wedderburn rum and 1 1/2 to 3 year old Plummer rums really does not lend itself to further aging, because the wood will tend t dominate the fruits and spices that are so prevalent now, and further mute the aromas.

     Smith & Cross lends itself to some bold cocktails:

     Smith & Cross Punch

• 2 oz Smith & Cross Traditional Jamaican Rum
• 1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz Cane syrup
• 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters.

Shake over Ice and strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice and garnish with fresh ground nutmeg.

     Smith & Cross Swizzle

• 1 oz Smith & Cross Traditional Jamaican Rum
• 1/4 oz Falernum
• 1 1/2 oz Pineapple Juice
• 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Add all ingredients to a glass full of crushed ice and swizzle until the glass frosts on the outside.
garnish with a sprig of mint.

     Try any of these traditional cocktails or try replacing any darker rum with Smith & Cross Traditional Jamaican Rum and watch the cocktail come to life.     ;o)

Happy Fourth of July

     Key West is like most every other city n America on the Fourth of July,in that we have a grand fireworks display, flags and banners, and parades.     This is the one time of the year wen we are a bit more "conventional" in how we celebrate.       Some people get up early and run the 5 mile race called "Run Like a Conch", while others join the "Historic Seaport Bar Stroll".     In the evening all are involved in the fireworks display in some way or another.     Some take their own boats out on the south side of the island, while others sit on the beaches or in the beach bars where they will all will be able to see the fireworks.     Still others will get on some of the charter cruise boats and party on from sunset til the wee hours of the morning and the boats get back to the harbor.    No matter how the celebration is conducted, it is a celebration of America's Birthday and we are proud to be a part of this country and the party that celebrates it.     ;o)

   

Isn't Sunday a Beautiful Thing?

We are back to Sunday again, but this one is a beautiful thing because tomorrow is a holiday and we don't have to return to work until Tuesday.     Enjoy your 4th of July Sunday.     ;o)

Key West Outdoor Art

Key West has some really interesting people and the artists are no exception .    The is a variety of outdoor art that is visible as you move around this island.     Many of these are of a personal nature and others are just unique art works that tell you something about this island.     Hope you have some time when you are here to visit these wonderful examples that can be found all over the island.

Remember there is art beyond the regular gallery's here in Key West and some pretty interesting art at that.     Go beyond Old Town and you'll find a lot of what Key West is really all about.     ;o)

Today's Cocktail: Jamaican Mule

Moscow Mule

     The Jamaican Mule is a variant of the old Moscow Mule first created in 1941 by John G. Martin and John "Jack" Morgan.    It was born in Manhattan, at the Chatham Hotel, but stalled out there.     Jack Martin owner of the Cock 'n Bull Tavern on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles really got it rolling on the West Coast.      By 1943 it was climbing up the chart of "most popular cocktails".      It was served in a copper mug as part of the marketing ploy to raise the popularity.

     The difference between the "Moscow Mule" and the "Jamaican
Mule" is they substitution of vodka for rum in the recipe.     It is believed that someone from Appleton was the first to create this cocktail, but again, the real truth is hidden by time.     Most of the early recipes for the "Jamaican Mule" call for Appleton Extra Estate Rum.

     Early Jamaican Mule

Jamaican Mule

• 1 1/2 oz Appleton Extra Estate Rum
• 1 1/2 oz Lime Juice
• 4 1/2 oz Ginger Beer

Mix all ingredients over ice and serve.

Some of the more modern versions has substituted a spiced rum, light, gold  & dark rums and a mess of other ideas to "enhance" the cocktail, but most of them become too complex and loose the integrity of the drink.

I have compromised a bit with my recipe, but I have stuck with the original and  gave it a little bit of added taste.

     Bahama Bob's Key West Mule

• 2 oz Appleton Extra Estate Rum
• 1 oz Falernum
• 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 4 oz Barrett's Ginger Beer.

Mix all the ingredients except the ginger beer and shake over ice. Strain into a cocktail glass with crushed ice and top up with the Ginger Beer.

No matter which mule becomes your favorite, the mules will "pull you through the evening with a bit of fun.     ;o)

The Bahama Mama

     This is a favorite cocktail in the Bahama's, but with no real history as to it's origin.   There are as many recipes for the Bahama Mama as there are bartenders in the Bahama's. but it is still a large amount of rum and a variety of fruit juices.

Basic Bahama Mama

• 1 1/2 oz Light Rum
• 1 1/2 oz Gold Rum
• 1 1/2 oz Dark Rum
• 2 oz Sour Mix
• 2 oz Pineapple Juice
• 2 1/2 oz Orange Juice
• Dash of Grenadine

Place all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake til thoroughly mixed and pour into a tall glass and garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.

  What has been called the "Original Recipe" is significantly different from the more modern recipes.
     "Original" Bahama Mama

• 1/4 oz 151 Rum
• 1/4 oz Coffee Liqueur
• 1/2 oz Dark Rum
• 1/2 oz Coconut Rum
• 4 oz Pineapple Juice
• Juice of 1/2 Lemon

Shake all ingredients and strain into a chilled tumble with ice.   Garnish with a strawberry and cherry.

My own version takes from several of the recipes that I have seen in the past.
     Bahama Bob's Bahama Mama

• 1 oz Light Rum
• 1 oz Dark Rum
• 1 oz Overproof Rum
• 1 oz Nassau Royale
• 2 oz Pineapple Juice
• 1 oz Sour Mix
• 1 oz Cranberry Juice

Shake all of the ingredients over ice and strain into a tall glass filled with ice.   Garnish with Orange Slice and a cherry.

     As you can see there are a great number of recipes for this great Bahama's cocktail that are all fitting to the palate of a huge number of tropical rumstylers.     ;o)

Por Cuba Libre: Free Cuba or a Great Cocktail?

    The Cuba Libre's origin is as varied as many other cocktails of the period, but the one sure thing is that was originally concocted by U.S. Soldiers while in Cuba.     There are stories if the cocktail appearing in 1898 at a party to celebrate the Independence of Cuba from Spain.    "Cuba Libre" was the battle cry of the Cuban Liberation Army during the Cuban War for Independence that ended in 1898 The story of the off duty soldiers in 1898 has some holes in it being that there was no Coca-Cola in Cuba until 1900.     According to a deposition by Fausto Rodriguez, it wasn't until August of 1900 that the Cuba-Libre was first mixed in a Havana bar.     The story has it that a member of the U.S. Signal Corps was the first to mix the cocktail, and he is only known as "John Doe".    It seems that only Cuba has the real story of how this cocktail emerged into the populous.

     It took the "Tiki Pop Culture" growth in the United States for the popularity of the cocktail to really take off.     In 1945, the Andrews Sisters recorded a song named for in ingredients that made up the cocktail.     "Rum and Coca-Cola" as a song and as a cocktail swept the country.    Both of the ingredients is the post -war era were cheap and this didn't hurt the growth in popularity of the cocktail.     Today this is still one of the more popular cocktails here in America.

     Cuba Libre

• 2 oz. of Blanco or Gold Rum
• Juice of 1/2 Lime
• 4 oz. Coca-Cola

Place all ingredients in a "Collins glass" with ice and garnish with a lime.
    
     If you talk to the Bacardi folks, it was originated with "Bacardi Gold Rum", if you talk to the Havana Club , it was made with "Havana Club Light Rum", thus the mystery  continues.    Like all good cocktails everyone wants to be the originator, and as a result the story becomes so murky that the truth will probably will never be known.

     Modern Day "Rum and Coke"

• 2 oz Light Rum
• 2 oz Cola
• 2 drops of Bitters (Optional)
• Lime Wedge

Mix all the ingredients in a "Collins glass" and garnish with the lime wedge.

      No matter what you call it or how you mix it, this is one of the true classic cocktails and a great "go to" cocktail for anyone wanting a refreshing drink.     ;o)





   

Pat O'Brien and his Hurricane

     The Hurricane Cocktail was first made by Pat O'Brien in the 1940'sa as a means to dispose of an inventory of rum that wasn't selling very well in those days.    Whiskey and Scotch were the liquors of choice in those days and a cocktail that used rum in large quantities was the answer to the problem.     In the days after prohibition there was little whiskey available for the bars, and if you wanted a bottle of whiskey, you had to buy a case of rum at the same time.   It seems that where there is a need to reduce the inventory of a particular liquor, a creative drink innovator pops up and creates a cocktail to solve the problem.     I remember the "Rumrunner" as another example of a cocktail emerging from a similar problem.

     The original recipe is said to have put 4 ounces of rum with 2 ounces of  passion fruit syrup and s2 ounces of lemon juice.    The concoction was then placed in a glass shaped like a hurricane lantern and thus the name for the cocktail.       Unfortunately the original cocktail seems to have been lost in the shuffle of time and mixocology.     Today there are as many recipes for this famous cocktail as there are bartender's mixing them.
      
      Patty O'Brien's Hurricane

• 4 oz. Dark Rum
• 2 oz. Passion Fruit Syrup
• 2 oz. Lemon Juice

Shake with ice and strain into a Hurricane Glass half filled with ice.  Garnish with orange slice and a cherry.

In 1944 Pat O;Brien  trademarked his "Hurricane Mix in packets that you could as the story goes just add a bit of rum to and you would have a "Hurricane Cocktail" at home.    The real problem lies in that you cant even get an "Authentic Hurricane" even at it place of origin.    

     There is "Hurricane " in the Bahama's that is a different cocktail made from 151 rum, Irish Cream, and Grand Mariner, that is commonly found in many bars in Nassau.     There are several variations of this cocktail also as you travel around the Bahamas.

     Bahama Bob's Hurricane

• 1 oz. Wray & Nephew Overproof Rum
• 1 oz. Dark Rum
• 1 oz. White Rum
• 1 oz. Amaretto
• 1/2 oz. Orange Juice
• 1/2 oz. Pineapple Juice
• 1 oz. Cranberry Juice

Shake all ingredients over ice and strain into a pint glass filled with ice.    Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.

     This is only one of the thousands of recipes fora "Hurricane" today, but you will find the spirit of Patty O'Brien in all of them you get to experience today.     ;o)

The Conch Republic: Tee-Hee-Hee

     The Conch Republic is if you will pardon the expression a "micronation" that was formed as a "tongue-in-cheek secession by the City of Key West on April23, 1982.     Though it is said to have been a "tongue-in-cheek" secession, there were very serious issues that motivated the action.     It was originally motivated by a roadblock setup by the U.S. Border Patrol at the "Last Chance Saloon"in Florida City that was a major inconvenience  to the residents and definitely driving the tourists away.     The tourists and residents alike were very frustrated as the Border patrolmen would search under seats, in trunks, and glove boxes fro"illegal aliens".     This roadblock caused a 17 mile traffic back-up and had the Keys paralyzed.     The media started a series of stories about this unpresidented action by the Border Patrol within the United States.

     The Owner of the Last Chance Saloon, Skeeter Davis call his friend Mayor Dennis Wardlow of Key West to let him know what was going on there in Florida City.     The community leaders gathered around the Mayor to discuss what could be done to solve the problem that was chocking the life out of an infant tourism industry in Key West.     As a result of the meeting the "legal" route was chosen to solve the problem.   They, Mayor Wardlow, Dave Horan, and Ed Swift got aboard Dave Horan's plane and flew to Miami Federal Court.     The Federal Court refused to enjoin the Border Patrol's from treating the Keys "like a foreign country".    Upon leaving the court room they were met a a mass of media that were screaming at the Mayor " what are you going to do"?    Ed Swift leaned over to Mayor Dennis Wardlow and told him to "tell them "We are going to go home and Secede" and that is exactly what Mayor Wardlow told the press.

    The press followed Dennis and his entourage back to Key West as the news of the Mayor's intentions hit the papers, and the broadcast media.   There was a rumor that the American Flag had been lowered and the Conch Republic Flag raised in ti's place, there were a goodly number of people that were very upset by the events.    After a load of calls had pour into the Mayor's office, a compromise was reached  that the Conch Republic Flag would be flown below the American Flag.

     With the city filled with Federal Agents, Mayor Dennis Wardlow climbed aboard the back of a flatbed truck in front of the Old Customs Building in Clinton Square and delivered the Proclamation to the crowd that had gathered.

Mayor Wardlow's Proclamation

  

     After the reading of the Proclamation, the new "Prime Minister" declared war on the United States and members of the new government "beat" the federal agents in attendance with stale Cuban bread loaves, then surrendered and demanded foreign aid from the United States.     The Conch Republic is still waiting for the foreign aid, but the roadblock was immediately removed, but the United States Government never bothered to react to the secession.    

     To this day the Conch Republic still celebrates it's independence every year with flags, passports, driver's license's and reenactments of the battles.     In 1990, members of the Tourism Board declared April 24th be Conch Republic Days.     Where else but in Key West could this have really happened?

Sunday Morning Rising Up

Getting up early Sundays to get everything done has some real advantages once in a while when you get one of those spectacular sunrise we get here in Key West.     This makes it easy to get going and tends to make me smile on a working day.     ;o)

Caipirinha (Kie-purr-REEN-yah)

Cachaca in Storage

Cachaca Pot Stills

    The Brazilian National Drink and a long time well kept secret is now becoming very popular through out the United States and Europe.     The Caipirinha is made with Cachaca (Ka-sha-sa)  a liquor that is produced for the most part in Brazil.     Of the 394 million or so gallons of cachaca that are produced annually, 390 million gallons are consumed in Brazil.    

     What is the difference between Cachaca and rum?      Cachaca is made from sugarcane juice that is fermented and then distilled.         Most Rum is made from molasses, a by product of sugar production.     This is similar to the Seco Hererrano made in Panama as far as the ingredients and methods from which it is made.     There seem to be several other cane spirits in the South and Central Americas that are very similar and equally as popular in those areas.      One of the restrictions to the Caipirinha's growth is the fact that Cachaca has to be imported as rum.     This is because of the current U.S. importation laws and has caused a number of protests and the Cachaca being imported as "Brazilian Rum".

     Enough of the history and the primary ingredient, lets talk about the Caipirinha itself.    The name means "country bumpkin or hillbilly".    This cocktail is very popular among the Brazilians and one of their best kept secrets for a long time.     A very simple cocktail to make,  and fast growing out side of Brazil these days.

Caipirinha

• 1 2/3 oz Cachaca
• Quartered  lime
• 2 teaspoons crystal sugar

Place the lime and the sugar in an "Old Fashion Glass" and muddle.   Fill the glass with crushed Ice and add Cachaca.  Garnish with a lemon.     Vodka can be substituted in place of the Cachaca, make it a "Caipiroska".

     I know that I make a couple of substitutions at the Rum Bar in our recipe for Caipirinha.
Rum Bar Caipirinha

Caipirinha Cocktail

• 1 1/2 oz Cachaca
• Juice of 1/2 lime
• 1 oz cane syrup

Place lime and cane syrup in a "cocktail glass" and fill with ice, add cachaca and shake.    Rim the glass with "sugar in the raw" and garnish with a lemon slice.

     No matter how you make it this is one of those really refreshing drinks for a hot day that isn't overly sweet.     Find a good bar that knows how to make this cocktail and get out and enjoy it.

Friday

     This is one of those days that seems to speak for itself.     For most folks it marks the end of the week, for others like myself it's the middle of the week, but it seems to bring some excitement to everyone's minds.     Even though it is my midweek marker, it means that the bar will be coming to life this afternoon and happy peeps from all over.     They will be arriving in Key West to have a crazy weekend of fun and frolic.      It always amazes me where people arrive here from, and how new ones seem to keep coming week after week, and  from so many different places.    

     Standing behind the bar in Key West is a wonderful place to get to meet and carry on conversations with so many really colorful people.     The funny thing is you never know who you're going to have walk through the door from on day today, or even from one minute to another.     On the day of the "Rapture ", Jesus came in saying "Dad we're running a little late", on another day a pair of fully outfitted "Punkers" dropped by to visit us.     Colorful is the name of the game down here and very much a part of why I really like Key West so much.     It seems that when you think it couldn't get any farther over the top, something pops up that proves you wrong again and your smiles grow larger.    It seems that Friday's are great days to expect the unexpected.

     No matter where you are today, make sure if today really is your "Friday,"get out and have some fun this afternoon or evening, make sure to let off the steam from your long week.     Be a good rumstyler and do it safely so you can be here on Saturday.     ;o)

Laid Back Summer Days: Second Attempt

     The summer in Key West is a wonderful time to just do as little as possible and get yourself evened out from the hectic season just completed.     There are things that need doing that you couldn't get to during season that you have time to do now.     The real problem is that you've gotten yourself into that laid-back summer mode and you really don't what to do it now.     It will still be there tomorrow, and you really have 3 months to get it all done, so why be in a rush.      I guess that the Blog Site has gone in to the same mode, as it is not allowing me to put pictures up on the blog today.   

     Tomorrow is here and the site is up and running again an I'm able to put up pictures from down here under the Banyan tree.     Don't get me wrong, I like the laid back relaxation of the summer as much as anyone, but the slow down takes time to get use to.      As I wander through Old Town Key West, it is clear that most of the people have gone and the pace is really much slower.    The hard part of this is to get motivated to get the things done that really need doing before they become a real issue.     I guess that is just part of the nature of summer with the higher heat and humidity.      Today I am up early so I can get a couple of projects completed before it gets too warm and my motivation wanes.      This feels good to me because when I get behind, I get frustrated and it seems that the hurrieder I get the behinder I become.      So I'll just get out and do the things that have to be done today and take the afternoon to have some fun at the Rum Bar with all my customers. 

     Here's to a safe and easy going summer and a bit of rumstylin' in Key West this year.     Hope to see all of you here at sometime very soon to have some laid back Key West summer fun.     ;o)
      

The Season is Ending and the Dog Days are Arriving

Hello, I'm Nigel

     Key West is headed into that annual transition from season to summer.     A lot of things are happening during this time of year.     Tourists start to disappear as the weather up North starts to warm up and they can play at their own favorite summer spots.     Hurricane season is underway and many of the winter residents have boarded up their places and gone off to their summer places elsewhere.     The nautical group that has insurance that does not allow them to be below the 24th parallel during hurricane season have gone away also.      Basically Key West has been left to the dogs to keep things going during this time of year.



 a great day for a cruise



Way to hot out there today

     Welcome to Nigel's life here in Key West as the summer comes upon him.     He spends his time waiting for the right weather to come out of the air conditioned cabin of his boat so he can play along  the docks.      Today might be my day to take the boat out and head for the Marquesas Keys for a day of sun and beaches.      This dog's life is too hard for me so many decisions to be made and these dog days never seem to last long enough for me to enjoy.      Maybe next week, I'll bet that I can get some friends together and make a real party of it then.      That seems like a better idea.



Hey John, what's happenin'

      I guess that I'll be more practical and hang out with my friends on the back of the boat  and share some stories  with my friends, maybe have a cocktail or something.      Hey John, looks like you just got your hair cut, what else has been happening  in your world.     This life is just what the vet ordered for me, cool breezes, friends and a comfortable place to rest my weary body.    There is so much peace and quiet around here this time of year that it begins to wear on me a bit, but my dog days will to soon be over and the rat race will get started again.   I got to be careful of what I wish for, time to settle back and chill.



Nothing like a rum and tonic and friends



This is what I mean now



     I guess that it is time to get out and see if anyone is over at the Hurricane Hole, it's just about happy hour and most of my friends that staying here this summer should be there by now.      I can't wait to belly up to the bar and spin some yarns with everyone, there might even be a couple of nice lady dogs that I can chat with.         With my luck this time of year it will just be a bunch of guys telling their fishing stories and tossing back a bunch of cold brewsky's.   That can be fun as well, no matter who is there I'm going to have a great evening with my friends.

     How in the world can I ever stand three more months of this before things start picking up again and I have to party hardy again with all of the tourists and snowbirds.     I guess that it is just a dog's life and the role I was destine to play.     I'll just hang and make the best of it.     Happy summer for all of us that get to stay here and play.     ;o)