Dreaming of 90 Miles South

Havana's "Central Park"

    I was sitting on the seawall at the Southernmost corner of Key West the other day dreaming about returning to Cuba.   It was a funny thing,I sit here just 90 miles away from Havana and I have to travel by car, airplane and car again for 10 or more hours to get to a place that is just 90 miles away.    I could be there in my boat in 10 hours, but the politics of five decades ago are still not allowing the people of America to see this absolutely fabulous place.

Colonial Patio right off the lobby

     There is a really cool historic hotel at the "central Park" of Old Havana called Hotel Telegrafo, one of the oldest and most modern in Havana.  This hotel first opened its doors in 1850 and moved to its current location in 1888.  it was one of the first to provide guests with international telephone service from the hotel rooms in or about 1911.  

    The hotel first opened on Amistad Street, but in 1888 it was moved to it's present location at the corner of Prado and Neptuno Streets.     Just seven years after the founding of the hotel, a merging of Don Guillermo del Toro and Dona Pilar Somoano, merchandisers from Havana turned the Telegrafo into one of the top 11 hotels in Latin America.   The Hotel Telegrafo had a fine reputation and many novel services that drew the clients from all over the world.   The Hotel Telegrafo boasted a blend of the classic with the most modern facilities in Havana.

Hotel Telegrafo Cocktail Lounge

     The hotel had its role in the politics of the nation as well.  In the beginning of the twentieth century, the Telegrafo served as the general barracks for the Liberty Party and center of the Election Campaign of the first decade of 1900.    At the beginning of the twenty-first century it was once again reverted back to a hotel.  The Telegrafo spent many year as the Office of the Historian of the City after the 1959 revolution.  In December of 2001 the Hotel Telegrafo reopened to its previous grandeur offering 9 junior suites, 63 rooms and a fine cocktail bar.

     Having spent 5 days there last September, I dream of the day when I can return to this marvelous old historic town and enjoy the amenities of the Hotel Telegrafo once again taking a short flight from Key West to Havana.   ;o)

    

   

Spring Break Week Two in Full Swing

   I took a walk on Smathers Beach yesterday to see how the spring breakers were doing.   I could hardly find a place to place my feet as I walked along the water's edge.   This is the most crowded that I have ever seen the beach.    It is clear that the beach is the place where the breakers are this year.   The tight economy is even effecting the way the young people are spending their spring break this year.   I have noticed that very few are down on Duval Street in the bars this year.   They seem happy  to be having their party on the beach.

     There aren't the masses of motor scooters with their horns blowing down Duval Street like in the past years.   This year they are getting to the beach and letting the party rip.    It is all about suntans, volleyball, and tossing a football this year.   This week the weather is co-operating with the party throng, temperatures in the mid to upper 70's and blue skies.    This is the perfect place for fun, and they seem to be following the Key West way of having fun without stepping on other's toes in the process.   This is a great group, they really know how to have fun.

     I see this week as a fun week that is truly reflecting the effects of the economy this year.   It is fun on a budget and still the emphasis is on the fun.   It is like the song says a "Red Solo Cup" beach party.   Like all of us when the budget effects the party we just make some adjustments and party on.  

    Next week is another party, though a traditionally smaller group than the first two weeks, but none the less a party for those released from the books for a week.  Let's see what it brings.  ;o)

Even a Powerboater can Enjoy This.

    It is no secret that I am very much a powerboater, but boating is truly what I love.    I got the opportunity to spend a really fun day on Morningstar, a 40 foot Choy Lee sailboat, while in the Virgin Islands.  This was an experience that was I won't forget soon or the experience the very peacefulness of the day.    This is a great way to see the Sir Francis Drake Channel while traveling over to St. John and Honeymoon Bay.   The two hour sail over to St. John from Water Bay on the east coast of St. Thomas, is just plain relaxing and the silence of the boat making way across the water is totally relaxing.    This is my idea of what sailing is really about, as a powerboater, when I want to travel somewhere it is time to start the diesels and get underway and head to the destination in a relatively straight line and getting there is the most important part of the trip.    Sailing is for excursions where the trip is the most important part of the experience.

     Two hours later we were anchored in Honeymoon Bay off of St. John and swimming in the azure blue waters.    It was beach time while the crew was cooking our lunch, grilled chicken and all of the island fixin's would be ready in about an hour.   Meanwhile, it was swimming and sun bathing under the beautiful sunny sky's of the midday on the white sand beach.   As usual I could not just sit there on the beach so I took my obligatory walk down the beach to see what things the beach had experienced in the time before I arrived.   This is something that I always enjoy, seeing what the sea and the lands meeting place could tell me about the past.

    The beach time had to quickly passed and we were swimming back to the boat to enjoy an impeccably prepared and served lunch.   There was a nice breeze that allowed the hull to slip through the water smoothly and quickly all of the way over.   We would be tacking back and forth on the way back to port.   So we finished up lunch and cleaned up the dishes, weighed anchor and got underway for home.

    The trip back took a bit longer than the trip over to St. John, but that was fine, after all what else was I going to do but relax and enjoy the moment.   As we approached the Water Bay, the rumble of the diesel motor was heard followed by the furling of the main sail and we were  headed for the mooring ball and the end of our journey for the day.   What a wonderful experience that I would not have missed for anything.   I don't care what people say about the difference between power and sail boaters, for me the boating is the most important part.  Being out on the water and enjoying the sun sea and land.   Don't worry about what you are getting out on the water aboard, just get out there and experience the thrill.

    The bar on the dock at the end of the day made a wonderful bushwhacker to conclude the day in a wooden chair and the failing light of the early evening.   ;o)

Daydreaming to St. Lucia

    This is the time of year that I keep yearning for a visit to an island for a few days of new experiences and sights.   This morning I was thinking about  St. Lucia, an island that I visited in 2011.   The beautiful blue waters and the warm and friendly people make for a wonderful daydream.   Today I'm dreaming of sitting at the top of the hill overlooking a hurricane hole marina on my way to the St. Lucia Distillers.    This was a great little wide spot in the road that offered a cool drink and a Popsicle to cool off from the bus trip to the distillery.  The scenery is just breath taking and always just leaves me in a really calm place.   I guess that is what make the writing about the trips so much fun.  I get to relive the trips as I write about them.

     The unique sights as you travel through the different islands is always fun.  Things like this "van conversion" into a vendor's cantina.    I am never surprised any more what might appear as I turn the next corner, but I am always ready to snap a picture of what I see.    St. Lucia is a combination of big city in the port area, agricultural in the valleys and a just plain beautiful place to wander around.

     There is a distillery that makes some of your favorite Chairman's Reserve Rums, just to name one of their products.   This is a fine distillery that has some very innovative ideas to produce their rums and other spirits.   All and all it is just a very diversified place to visit, whether you want city, rural or nautical atmosphere, quite the place to chill.   By the way, did I mention that they produce some very fine rums on this island as well.  

    This makes my Monday much more bearable, just putting myself into a different  tropical place on a weekday in the office.   I guess you need to daydream about somewhere else even when you live in a paradise like Key West.   Anyway enjoy your daydreaming trip on this Monday with me.  ;o)

   

The Empty Chair

     Sometimes more is said by the empty chairs sitting at the shoreline than when they are filled with the crowd.   The beach will call to you early in the morning before everyone else arrives.

Barbie First Appeared Today in 1959

   It was today in 1959 the Barbie Doll first went on display at the American Toy Fair in New York City.    What does this have to do with rum you ask?    A few weeks ago a group of ladies came into the bar with their Barbie Doll and  took pictures of her every where they went on their vacation, including at the "Rum Bar", tieing Barbie to rum.  

     Ruth Handler the co-founder of Mattel, Inc. was the force behind the doll, after realizing that her daughter would rather play with paper dolls of adult women rather than the "baby dolls" of the time.    She felt that a doll that would let little girls look into the future and fantasize how life could be for them.  Named after Ruth Handler's daughter, the doll was originally based upon a German model named Lilli.   Matel, Inc. bought the rights to Lilli in 1955, kicking off one of the biggest and longest lasting doll stories in history.

     Barbie generated huge sales and also some huge controversy.    Barbie and Matel, Inc sponsored the "Micky Mouse Club" in 1955 make it the first time that TV ads were directed straight at the children.   Barbie had a lot of different jobs as well, everything from an airline stewardess, astronaut, to a presidential candidate.   It was also felt that Barbie was to blame for a lot of the materialistic attitudes of the day because of the "dream houses, designer clothes, jewelery and cars.    The biggest controversy was over her tiny waist and huge bust line, estimated at 36-18-38, providing girls with an unhealthy and unattainable body image to achieve.

    Since 1959, there have been more than 800,000,000, that is million Barbie Dolls sold world wide.   This is one of the phenomena like the "pet rock", but this one is still happening today some 58 years later.   ;o)

First Week of Spring Break Comes to an End

     2013's first week of spring break was kind of a mixed bag.   The cold fronts that brought the students south followed them for several of the days.   Yesterday morning, I went down to Smather's beach to see what was happening there this year.  Usually the volleyball courts are full and there isn't a chair anywhere to be found.   With temperatures in the 60's, there weren't many sun worshipers out on the beach.    Tuesday and Wednesday there was a couple of warm days and I am sure the beaches were full on those days.

     It was sort of eerie to see so many empty chairs and endless stretches of empty sand.    I guess that I am feeling for the revelers, the cold is what they are escaping by coming south.  To find a week with a mixed bag of weather has to be disappointing.     Later yesterday ass I looked out the doorway of the Rum Bar on to Duval street, there was a stream of young people coming back from the beach.  Even though it really wasn't very warm, the sun was shining and that wasn't something that they were willing to miss.

     I think that I would be the same way given the same circumstances.   I do remember visiting the Virgin Islands and meeting a storm front head on, I know it didn't stop me from renting a boat and head on over to Jost Van Dyke in a storm.   So when I see people in their bikini's headed for the beach in 65 degree weather I shouldn't be surprised.    Talking with some of the breaker's that have stopped by to see me at the bar told me they are just happy to have the second quarter behind them and having some fun is what is on the agenda for this week.   

     There has been one big surprise for the 2013 first week spring breakers with the appearance of Kenny Chesney last Sunday at the Hog's Breath.   His impromptu concert drew most of the island to that end of Duval Street.   This was one of those real bonus things that you would only find in Key West.

     Let's see what next week will have in store for the next round of partiers down from the North to leave the rest of the world behind for a week before returning to the grind of the books, term papers and exams the following week.

Mount Gay Black Barrel: Just in at the Rum Bar

     Mount Gay's new Black Barrel is now available for your tasting at the Rum Bar in Key West.   This is the replacement for the Mount Gay Black 100 Proof that has been discontinued.


     Mount Gay is the oldest rum producer in the world.   Mount Gay Black Barrel is being introduced in conjunction with their 310th birthday.    Allen Smith, the master blender at Mount Gay is the one responsible for this new rum.    The rum is of a dark coppery color and has a somewhat viscous nature.  This is a blend of different aged rums from both pot still and column still origins.  Black Barrel is finished in charred oak bourbon barrels giving it the woody and peppery flavor on the palate.   This blend of various age rums combine to give you a very nice traditional bold rum with the aroma of fruit, vanilla, and wood.


     The Black Barrel has a completely unique to the brand packaging, Very stark and bold, it jumps off the shelf at you when it is placed among the other bottles.   It is being said that the rest of the line will be following soon with this new packaging concept.   This is a label that you would expect to find on an experimental bottle that you would get from a distillery for your evaluation or from a small batch operation.


     I like the innovation that Allen Smith has put into Mount Gay Black Barrel, and I fell that it will be well received in the market place.   I did enjoy my first taste.   You too will be happy to know that it is available at the Rum Bar in Key West.   ;o)

Venezuela: The Start of a New Era

    With the passing of Hugo Chavez, it will be interesting to see how things change as far as the relationship between the United States and Venezuela go.   There has not been an ambassador in Venezuela for the past two years, and has released a statement saying that the United States "remains committed to policies that promote democratic principles, the rule of law, and respect for human rights".   It is believed that he'll be best remembered for trying to make the lives of the poor in Venezuela better, but unfortunately at the end of his 14 year reign, he has made things worse for the people he was trying to help.        It is hoped that with the passing of the old guard, there will be a more open relationship with Venezuela.  This is a very beautiful country that I hope will have a much better way of life for it's people. 


   To my friends in Venezuela my hopes for a smooth transition to a new government.  This beautiful place could be so much more with the right leadership, and I hope you get it.    This is the chance for a government that truly has the policies that for the benefit of the people that live in the country and make the country what it is.

    The charismatic leader is being mourned throughout Latin America, letters of condolence were sen from nearly all of the Latin American countries.


It is my sincere hope that things are on the mend between the United States and Venezuela, bringing us closer to a country of very wonderful people and friends. 



    

Diageo to Produce Power in St. Croix

     Diageo is building a power plant at the Distillery on St. Croix.   It feels that it can no longer rely on the V.I. Power and Water Authority to supply necessary power for the distillery.   The plan is to generate all needed power on site to run their operation.   It will be a liquid propane gas fueled power plant to generate both electricity and steam to run the operations.    There are warehouses in Estate Diamond, several miles away that will continue to run on WAPA power for the near foreseeable future.

     This move was to been in the works for about 11 months, and is intended reduce costs and insure that they will have enough power to run the operation.   The heat recovery will be used with the addition of a small amount of propane fire to generate steam.   They have purchased a 4 megawatt steam turbine generator with heat recovery in order to generate their own electricity.   The will have two 75,000 gallon propane tanks to provide the fuel.

     The move was necessary to ensure that the continuous operation of the distillery would be ensured.   There was no mention of the amounts of money that Diageo was spending with WAPA or the cost of building the generating plant.   This is however a very significant investment in the distillery.    The plant is very green and will help meet the environmental goal of Diageo for the St. Croix plant.

Seven Fathoms Rum

     This is the pride of the Cayman islands, a small batch rum produced by the Georgetown Harbour Distillery and aged in "Seven Fathoms" of water.    This is the first spirit that is produced entirely in the Cayman Islands.

     The concept of aging rum underwater has some very strong merits.  The constant motion of the ocean keeps the rum "stirring in the barrels causing it to age quicker.  The temperature at this part of the ocean is very constant making for a more consistantmaturation process.  All of these factor come to light with this fine quality rum.  The sealing of the barrels and the location of the "Aging Bodega" are highly guarded secrets as one might expect.

     The rum has a light mahogany color that is clear and stunning.   The nose says vanilla, nutty and maybe some fruity scents.   On the Palate I pick up some vanilla, sered oak, with a spiciness and an amount raisin flavors.   This leads to a dry finish with hints of spices.   

     This is only the beginning for the people at Seven Fathoms, and a great effort for them getting into the world of rum.   Unfortunately it has not arrived for sale into Florida yet, so it will be a while before I have it at the Rum Bar.  I have a good friend that brought back a bottle from Grand Cayman this week and I got to taste it yesterday.  Hope to see it soon here in the states.  I'll be stopping by the distillery in July when I visit Grand Cayman as well.  I'm hoping to be able to serve Seven Fathom Rum in the near future at the Rum Bar.  ;o)

Spring Break has Sprung

    Spring Break has sprung in Key West and my job keeps getting tougher and tougher.  This "Kids" are really too much fun.  I love this time of year watch and interacting with Americas young people, too much fun.   ;o)

Winter has Returned to Key West

   It is another blustery mornings down here in Key West.  The wind is kicking up pretty strong out of the North Northeast at about twenty something miles per hour and 64 degrees.   The really good news is the rain is gone for today and it will be partly cloudy.    Perfect weather for kite boarding, or maybe surf sailing, otherwise it is just stay in and hang on to your hat.

     When it gets to the point that the whitecaps are on the water, fishing, or "pleasure" boating are out to the question.  For the real fool hearty there are the jetski tours around the island.     That can be really exciting in this weather, not to mention chilly.   I think it is a great day to find your favorite watering hole and chill with a fun bartender and learn a bit more about the sugar cane spirits.

     Yesterday in the rain we had a huge crowd of fun loving people spending a great vacation day people watching from the porch of the Rum Bar and just plain enjoying themselves.  I get the feeling that we are going to have another fun crowd today, just like yesterday.    I suggest that if your are somewhere in this year's "winterness", find a nice warm tiki bar or better yet a nice warm spot out of the wind and enjoy the day.  ;o)

Bahama Bob's Cocktail Research

Last summer, Mike Streeter from Rum Connection.com and I worked for about 4 hours doing what we affectionately call "Rum Research" at the Rum Lab, the bar on the back of my boat. We started out by making some existing cocktails that were new to us and then progressed into some new ones of our own creations. The thing that both of us noticed were that these really good cocktails don't just happen by accident. We spent several hours mixing old and new ingredients in different combinations learning what thing complement each other and which things don't do well together. This was an "intoxicating" process and after 4 hours of "strenuous research" we had to take a dinner break before we got ourselves to the point of invalid research. It's funny that people tell us all the time "where do I sign up for this kind of work, but we invited 4 or 5 people to come by and help.  It is important to have tasters of various ages to validate the information, you know different age groups and all need a good feel for cocktails. 

On the serious side, we did come up with a few new punches that will lend themselves to larger batches for parties and weddings etc., and still can be made as an individual cocktail. The biggest problem and the easiest mistake when trying to create something different is making the cocktail too complicated to be able to make in a bar environment. Some of the ideas we had involved 10 to 12 ingredients and that is just too many to be able to mix in a commercial bar situation. The next step is to try and keep the flavor profile that you have created and still cut out some of the ingredients. This is the part that is really tough and takes a toll on the body as you taste these concoctions. After 5 tries we reduced the ingredients down to 8 and got a taste that we were happy with. The working name is nutty punch #5, this is an interesting combination of ingredients that you don't often see together and turned out very tasty. You will be hearing more about the research as we move ahead. The end result of all the research will be "Bahama Bob Cocktails and Tales" 

The most important thing that I am learning from our research so far is what things that you wouldn't expect to blend well sometimes complement each other is a surprising and tasty way. Get out and enjoy a new cocktail when you can.

The Spring Break Party 2013 Begins

    Next week kicks off the 2013 edition of Spring Break in Key West.   The annual invasion of the college students from all around the country.   This annual migration is always a great time to be had by all that are young at heart enough to enjoy the hi-jinx. 

     If the sounds of scooter horns blowing and a lot of college students letting off steam for the next three weeks, Key West is not where you want to be.   The beaches will be covered with the masses of student bodies basking in the sun and chillin' out.    The roar of the music and the all out 24 hour party time is upon us.  

     I know that the town will be jumping, we hope for a fun and safe Spring Break 2013, and a whole lot of fun for all.   Bring the party on, I'm ready to have it happening again.   ;o)

Rum Renaissance Just Over a Month Away

     The 2013 edition of the Rum Renaissance Festival opens on the 15th of April and runs through the 21st.   If you haven't got you tickets and room reservations, time is starting to run out.   There are so many events and seminars there to enjoy that you will need the entire week to take it all in.  Get your tickets and all the information you need for the show at http://www.rumrenaissance.com/  

     The Grand Tasting on Saturday will get you up close and personal with all of your favorite rums.  A chance to expose yourself to some of the finest rums and the people that produce them for you.     Did I mention all of the beautiful models that will be there to offer you these great rums.

     During the week there are a number of VIP events for those that pick up the complete VIP package.   There are parties every evening hosted by the rum producers are way to much fun.  The event gives you a chance to talk with the RumXP's that will be here acting as judges for the "Great Rum Challenge".   There are Tiki Competitions, Tropical libations and island culture exhibits.  The Award ceremony for the Great Rum Challenge is always a very special event you don't want to miss.

    There is so much fun to be had and a wealth of knowledge to be gleaned from the event.   I'll be there all week long, filling my head with new knowledge and my palate with fine rum.   See Ya there.  ;o)

Antigua: The Contrasts

     Antigua, one of the leeward islands if the West Indies, provides many contrasts as you travel around this very contrasting island.   On the east you have the very turbulent seas that are seen from the high cliffs that the sea is constantly pounding against.  The high point being the "Devil's Bridge".  

 

     To the South you have English Harbour and the Nelson's Dockyards, a much more serene and calm sea is found in this area.  This is the famous harbour that protected the British Navy, and gave them a safe haven for repairs and restocking.

 



    The Southwest corner of the Island is a dense rain forest that almost requires the use of headlights as you traverse through the canopy.  It lets you out into the beautiful beaches of the western side of the island.

     The road moves inland through the countryside that is another contrast of fields of grasses and grazing goats and other animals as you move back toward the city and the end of the journey around Antigua.

There May be Light at the End of the Tunnel

Raul Castro

    In Mexico City it was announced that Raul Castro has accepted the new five-year term as Cuban President.  He also promised that it would be his final term in office.   This will be the first time since 1959 when the rebels came down from Sierra Maestra to take control of Cuba that a Castro hasn't been in control of the country.    First in line as a successor to the Castro regime is Miguel Diaz-Canel, an electrical engineer, who became Minister of Higher Education, Vice president for the Council of Ministries, and yesterday named as the Raul's Vice President of Cuba.


Miguel Diaz-Canel

     What other possibilities will this have for the Americans that so want to visit and enjoy the products of Cuba?  With the Cuban financial problems, and the failing health of Castro ally Hugo Chavez, it is time for the change that has a possibility of getting the U.S. Embargo lifted.     Though there are many problems that still need to be cleared up, this is the time to work on normalizing relations with Havana. 

    With the first relinquishing of power the the younger generations since the revolution, this will be a great opportunity to return to having a good neighbor to the south of me, just 90 miles away.   I'm still looking forward to taking the boat down and explore this wonderfully colorful and exciting place.  Not to mention that I would like to say YES, when my customers as for "Havana Club" Rum.  ;o)

The Twisted Power of the Sea and the Wind

   The powers of Mother Nature are sometimes very surprising, it always gets my attention when I see a dock and bushes done up like this.   ;o)

Thinking about the Lake

     The snow reports and listening to my friends that are still up in the Lake Norman area, sending pictures of snow and very cold days right now remind me of why I am in Key West today.  Yesterday was in the 80"s down here in Key West, not to be rubbing it in, I'm really glad to be here in the winter time.   There were many good times we all had on the lake, times and people I still miss a lot. 

    We use to get together every January or February for a first raft-up and have a great time just getting back on the water for the first time each year.  This was a great time and usually included a gallon or two of my original "Hurricane Bob", a fun rum concoction that was pretty well known around the lake in the 2002 through 2005.    It was a chance for the lake set to get together for some fun and tell the stories of the winter and how we couldn't wait for spring so we could get back on the lake again.    Most of us have migrated around the country now, but there are still a pretty good sized group that are still living up there on the lake today.

     It was the many days on the lake that got me headed to Key West and a full time life on the water that I am living today.   I still have the wander-lust that keeps me exploring the areas around the Keys that I had when I could be found exploring the un-settled parts of the lake.   The old "Sea Ray Santiago" as she was called, really a Bayliner, but because a close friend worked for Sea Ray, and couldn't be seen on anything else, we put Sea Ray insignias on the side and all was good with the world and my friends.

    Times change, and boats get swapped out, but the fun of being on the water really doesn't change much.  On the lake, we would jump into the boat and head to the Rusty Rudder there on the lake to get together with friends and a few cocktails, today it is a dinghy ride to the Hurricane Hole here on Stock Island for the same purpose, still just as much fun with good friends and good "spirits".   Thanks for sharing my water world, it is always a blast.  ;o)