Just Hangin' at the Marina

     Today is a day off, and I decided to just hang out today here at home in the marina.  I find that once in a while I have to just kick back and do very little.  It is a chance to recharge my batteries and get ready for another week on Duval Street.   I love the time I spend with all my customers at the Rum Bar.   All of the excitement and craziness there, but every now and again, I need to step back and take it easy for a day or two.

     I find that by just laying around the boat and watching all of the birds and the beautiful things that surround me puts my mind back to a place of comfort and stresslessness.   Today was one of those days where I needed to just put the body in neutral and just be for a time.

     I found myself walking up and down the docks and watching the skies and the glassy water.   An unusual flock of "Frigate Birds" appeared over the marina.  I find them so fascinating, I have seen them in Mexico, the Virgin Islands and many other tropical places and they never cease to amaze me.  They look like something out of Jurassic Park, and turn out to be incredible fishermen as well.   Local fishermen will watch for them overhead as a sign of a school of fish  and a place to anchor.

   
As the day slips away into the evening the sky again puts on another display of artistry as the sun begins to head for the horizon and turn this day of bliss into night.  ;o)

The Periodista: What?

     What in the world is a Periodista?  The name is Spanish for Journalist it is a cocktail that  you probably have never heard of before.  It has the style of a daiquiri, lending some credence to the stories that it originated in Cuba during the 20’s or 30’s.   This is one of the oddities of cocktail history, a drink created in Cuba, lost for many years resurfaced in the early days of this century in Boston.   So when Devin Hahn first tried it, he could have been forgiven for taking it fora true rum classic.    There really isn't very much information out there about the Periodista. 

   Devin Hahn had been looking for an excuse to write about cocktails in Boston and with the Periodista, he found a drink offered in every other bar of the city but about which very little was known.  

According to David Hahn,  “The Periodista’s a classic Cuban cocktail, they told me.   Hemingway drank them at El Floridita in Havana.   Esquire Magazine revived it in the ‘50s. American reporters sucked back Periodistas during the Cuban Missile Crisis.   This drink was the stuff of legend.”

     The oldest known printed recipe comes from the 1948 Club de Cantineros book.    Devin Hahn suggests we prepare Charles Schumann's version, from his American Bar book (which seems to have been the only printed recipe available in English for a very long time). 

Periodista  (Charles Schumann Version)

·         45 ml Havana Club Añejo 3 años 

·         7,5 ml Triple sec 

·         7,5 ml Apricot brandy 

·         1 bar spoon of sugar 

·         Juice from ½ lime 

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wedge. 

Bahama Bob’s Periodista

·         2 oz. Plantation 3 Star White Rum

·         1 oz. Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao

·         1 oz. Apricot Brandy

·         ½ oz.  Cane Syrup (Sweetener)

·         Juice of ½ Lime

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wedge

     This is a very tasty daiquiri like cocktail that I found to be wonderful for an afternoon or early evening libation.  I found it to be very refreshing and fit my taste to a “T”.   I found that I could make it with and without the sweetener and be great for my palate.  If you want a “skinny” version try ½ packet of “Sweeta” artificial sugar.

Different Alcohols Are the Drunks Really Different?

   I don't usually just reprint an article that was done by other authors, but this on I feel warrants running.  It deals with the different effects of different alcohols on different people.  Robbie Gonzales
did a great job of looking into the subject.  I found it to be very interesting, and I hope that you do as well.

Do Different Kinds Of Alcohol Get You Different Kinds Of Drunk?

Robbie Gonzalez

When your friend gets tipsy and starts rambling about how tequila turns her into a savage party monster, and then your other friend vehemently calls bullshit, calmly put your hands up and say this: "Friends. Please. I got this." And then explain to them what I'm about to explain to you.

First off: alcohol is alcohol – which is to say that the alcohol in wine is the same as the alcohol in beer is the same as the alcohol in the unholy red-cup concoction at a dorm room game of King's Cup. That alcohol is ethyl alcohol, aka ethanol, and it'll get you drunk. The fact that liquor tends to contain higher concentrations of ethanol than wine, and wine higher concentrations than beer, means that the same volume of different alcoholic beverages will get you more/less drunk, ergo the "standard drink" rule, as defined by the National Institutes of Health:

In the United States, a "standard" drink is any drink that contains about 0.6 fluid ounces or 14 grams of "pure" alcohol. Although the drinks below are different sizes, each contains approximately the same amount of alcohol and counts as a single standard drink.

The standard drink model suggests that when it comes to behavioral effects, the only difference between a can of beer and a shot of whiskey is the mode of delivery. Ounce-for-ounce, an 80-proof shot of MaCallan's is a much more efficient ethanol-delivery system than a can of Bud Light. If you down a few shots of the former really quickly, you'll experience a rapid spike in your blood alcohol level, and, presumably, a rapid drop in your inhibition, sense of propriety, and so-forth. But any perceived difference between the drunk you feel from the liquor and the drunk you feel from beer has to do with the rate at which you consumed the ethanol, not the beverage via which you consumed it.

But what about hard alcohols that are comparable in ethanol concentration, and therefore equally efficient at getting you drunk? According to the Alcohol Is Alcohol argument, 80-proof tequila should have the same effect on you as 80-proof vodka, rum, gin or whiskey. Yet we all know someone who insists that tequila makes them wild, that whiskey makes them angry, or that gin makes them sad. Why is that?

One possible explanation: mixers. Lots of people shoot tequila straight, whereas rum is commonly taken in tandem with something else – cola, for example. If you're combining gin with tonic, or vodka with something super-caffeinated like Red Bull, who's to say the drunk you're experiencing is due to the alcohol, and not because of what you're drinking with it?

Another explanation: congeners. Congeners are byproducts of the fermentation and distillation process, and include chemicals like acetone, acetaldehyde, and esters – not to mention forms of alcohol other than ethanol. Different alcoholic beverages contain different types and quantities of congeners, so even though 80-proof vodka, rum and gin all contain the same amount of ethanol, their congener content can vary considerably. This variation contributes mainly to tan alcohol's colors and flavors, but may or may not also have an effect on the "flavor" of drunkenness it imparts – the lackluster (but still technically valid) justification being that different chemicals affect everyone differently, in ways we may not fully understand.* Take coffee, for example: we know it makes you have to poop, but we really aren't clear on why that is.

Read more at http://io9.com/do-different-kinds-of-alcohol-get-you-different-kinds-o-1622304827 

 

"Certain congeners are also thought to cause more unpleasant hangovers, though experiments with animal models have shown that fusel oil – a congener found in whiskey – may actually alleviate the after-effects of heavy drinking, contrary to common belief."   Some rum producers spend a lot of time removing the fusel oils from rums, and others don't.  It is a belief that the fusel oil adds flavor to the mix by people in some circles.    ;o)

Reviving Old Classics with Rum

I am always looking for different ways to use rum, and taking some of the old classic cocktails and reworking them with rum yields some of the most rewarding results.  Here are three that I really like with the conversions.



Rum Manhattan

• 2 1/2 oz. Doorly's XO Rum
• 1 oz. of Extra Dry Vermouth
• 2 Dashes of Fee Bros. Bitters

Place all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled.  Strain into a cocktail glass and float a lemon zest on the top.

Rum Sidecar

• 1 1/2 oz. Plantation 20th Anniversary Rum
• 3/4 oz. Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao
• 3/4 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice

Place all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled.  Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon zest.

Rum Old Fashion

• 2 1/2 oz.  Pampero Aniversario Rum
• 3 dashes of Fee Brothers Bitters
• 1 cube of Sugar
• 1 tsp. water

In an Old Fashion Glass, muddle sugar, bitters and water until sugar has dissolved, add rum and fill glass with ice.  Garnish with an Orange peel.

 

"From Jamaica With Love"

     This campaign is the first since Gruppo Campari took over distribution of Appleton in 2013.  This is the first major new marketing campaign for Appleton Estate in some time.  The campaign was officially announced on 6 August in conjunction with the Jamaica Independence Day.  The day was commemorated by Appleton Estate in 2012 with the introduction of the  50 year old Appleton Estate Rum that commemorated 50 years of Jamaican Independence.  The video of the ad is very good and shows the real Jamaica and a great promotion for the rum.

 

 

   The From Jamaica “With Love” campaign features images and videos of the “authentic, undiscovered Jamaica”, its people and the craftsmanship behind Appleton Estate rum, each of which is accompanied by Jamaican sayings such as “Everything Come From Scratch” and “A Shut Eye See Nothing New”.

    Andrew Floor, senior marketing director, dark spirits at Campari America, said: “This new marketing campaign allows us to offer consumers a window into an authentic Jamaica – a Jamaica that delivers rum with a distinctive, rich and complex flavor found nowhere else in the world.”

     The video element of the campaign, named “Anthem”, which has been created in collaboration with Sharethrough, features music and lyrics by Jamaican musician Brushy One String, as well as Appleton Estate’s talented coopers.

     The out-of-home aspect will be rolled out to key US markets including Austin, Atlanta, Miami, Portland and Columbus.

     The ad video can be seen at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J39MQ2_MxyY

 

Take a look at what they have done and you might be surprised at the ad.  It is really a great ad and a good idea for the promotion of Appleton Estate Aged Rums.  ;o)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brilliant Sunsets of August, So Exciting to See

     August nights and the sun and the clouds light up the sky.  With the humidity of summer here in the Keys, sunsets are especially colorful.  It highlights the reds and the oranges as the sun drops into the ocean at the end of the day.   I sets the sky on fire and makes the clouds light up in a spectacular manner most every night.  Mother Nature shows her artistry in so many ways every day down here in the tropics, with the sky water and the land as her canvas.  ;o)

Today is National Rum Day

    Welcome to National Rum Day, a day to celebrate all of the wide variety of spirits of the sugar cane.   I do have a little bit of these fine spirits to choose from for my celebration.  I decided to offer a list of 14 of my favorite rums for different applications.  It is not fair to just say what is your favorite rum, most of us can't afford, myself included to be spending thousands of dollars to taste some of the rare and exotic rums that I have had the opportunity to enjoy.  So I thought I'd give you a list of realistically priced rums for National Rum Day.

    I thought this trough pretty thoroughly and here are the top 14 rums for enjoyment at a realistic price well except for the Ultra Premium Rums.

Mixing White Rum:               Ron Llave Blanco
Premium White Rum:            Matusalem Platino
Mixing Dark Rum:                 El Dorado Dark
Premium Mixing Dark:          Flor de Cana 7 Year Old
Mixing Spiced Rum:              Bacardi Oakheart
Premium Spiced Rum:           Siesta Key Spiced
Mixing Flavored Rums:         Cruzan
Premium Flavored Rums:      Brinly's Gold Shipwreck
Mixing Overproof:                 Wray and Nephew Overproof
Premium Overproof:              Plantation Trinidad Overproof
Sipping Rum:                         Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva
Sipping Rum:                         Angostura No. 1
Premium Sipping Rum:         Doorly's XO
Ultra Premium Rum              Origenes 30 Year Old

     These for the most part are readily available in most states at the corner liquor store if there is a rum selection there.

     In general the mixing rums are for everyday bar use and the premium for those very special cocktails that you can brag about at your parties at home.  I hope that you enjoy National Rum Day today as much as I plan to.  ;o)


 

What Could Go Wrong with This?

 

An alcohol delivery service, with underwear models, in L.A.

 

LA Times

by Jenn Harris  

     What's better than having your favorite alcohol delivered to your door? Having it delivered by a model in his or her underwear, of course? 

     Saucey, an L.A.-based alcohol delivery app, and MeUndies, an L.A.-based company that sells underwear, have teamed up to bring you your favorite liquor and clean underwear. The two necessities will be put together in handy Sleepover Packs.  

     The packs will be available beginning Friday for one week only. They will include everything you need for a sleepover, including a fresh pair of underwear, socks, a T-shirt, sunglasses, a hangover-fighting vitamin from Drinkwel and your choice of alcohol and mixers.  

     A representative for Saucey says that when you place your order using the Saucey app, you'll receive your goods within 20 minutes. And when you order Friday, some of the lucky customers will have their packs delivered by actual underwear models in nothing but their skivvies. The models will be delivering liquor from 4 to 9 p.m., and the regular alcohol delivery service will run from noon to 1:45 a.m.      

    Read more at http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-alcohol-delivery-models-underwear-20140813-story.html

     This seems like a very interesting concept, that could do very well in larger cities.  In fact there might be a pretty big market for such an enterprise.  Today we have strippers that show up, so why not alcohol and foxy male or female models to liven up your party or whatever.   ;o)

The Bahama Mama: Finally a Believable Origin

   The "Bahama Mama" is a favorite tropical cocktail that can be found all over the Caribbean.  The story about Oswald Greenslade in "The Spirits Business" I feel like has found a realistic source for the famed cocktail.

     "It all began at the young age of 14 when Greenslade left his school books behind and eventually entered the lucrative hotel business. Ultimately, Greenslade found his way into the magical world of concocting flavorful spirits. He said that at first he was just going to try it and see if it fits. Well, he's been trying it ever since and obviously it fits!"

     "Approximately two and a half years ago, "Slade," as he is affectionately called decided that he wanted to give back some of his expertise. Consequently, he began compiling his life work. Greenslade explained that he took pen to paper and started recording what he had stored in his mind. He said, "Learning to use the computer was my hardest obstacle." According to Greenslade, "There were many sleepless nights of remembering, writing and researching." The result of his endeavors can now be appreciated in his colorful and informative book, One More Cocktail."

Read more at http://jeralynlashsands.blogspot.com/2013/07/oswald-greenslade-self-published-author.html

    Greenslade's book, One More Cocktail contains more that 1000 recipes for his cocktails and makes for a very interesting reading and a helpful book of true Bahamian Cocktails.   Currently, Oswald is working at "The Poop Deck" restaurant and bar in Nassau, where he is still creating all of those famous cocktails, in addition to selling and signing his books for his customers.  This man is  a very special one with so much ability and talent.  he seems to be able to accomplish anything that he sets his mind to.


      "My name is Oswald Greenslade and I have been a bartender in The Bahamas for over 50 years. For the first time ever, I am sharing all my original cocktail recipes with you. Not only am I giving you the secrets to many years of success, but I am also going to share with you a brief history lesson of The Bahamas."

     "I hope you relish this unique insight of The Bahamas and enjoy the new drink recipes I now pass on to you."

    "And, remember - It is Better in The Bahamas!"

   "As you do".

     Oswald Greenslade
     Professional Mixologist/Bartender

     Read more and order Oswald Greenslade's Book at

http://www.onemorecocktail.com

Bahama Mama

·  2 oz. Dark Rum.

·   1 oz. Light Rum

• 1 oz. Coconut Rum
• 2 oz Orange Juice
• 2 oz Pineapple Juice
• 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
• 2 dashes Grenadine

Place all ingredients in a 16 oz. glass filled with ice and shake until chilled, garnish with a Maraschino Cherry and an  Orange Slice.

I was not able to get what I can verify as being the accrual original recipe, but this one seems to be the most consistently written

Great Key West Morning

     I woke up this morning and came walking down the dock to see a very unusual site just at sunrise.   Looking at the sun up against the clouds I noticed a rainbow through the center of the cloud and a Full moon to the left. 

     It is great to see any one of these events, but all three at the same time, this is a great morning.  It just reminds me why I live here in Key West, and find it like starting the day with a new canvas each morning.  There is never a shortage of things to do or see, between the people, the island and the waters that surround me I can find something of great interest every day.

London's Savoy Hotel Celebrates it's 125th Year of Operation

     One of the most famous hotels in the world, the Savoy on the Thames in London has been a hangout for man international celebrities since it opening in 1889.

     This week, London’s iconic Savoy Hotel celebrated its 125th anniversary. Situated in Westminster City, the luxury hotel was built by impresario Richard D’Oyly Carte and opened to much fanfare in 1889, since it was the first luxury hotel in the city boasting electric lights and lifts, en-suit bathrooms and a constant supply of hot water. In 1890, Carte hired the hotel’s first famous manager, César Ritz, who later became the founder of the Ritz Hotel. Rich and famous visitors from across the globe have long frequented the hotel, drawn by its consistent quality, luxury and style.

     While one side of The Savoy faces the Strand, the other looks out across the River Thames, giving guests an idyllic view of the city. This painting by artist Harold Oakley shows the Savoy in 1904, with its ornate original balconies.

     The Savoy was the first hotel in the UK to install electricity-generated lifts, a feature only previously seen in opulent American hotels. The hotel was built on a plot of land next to The Savoy Theatre which opened in 1881. The plot was originally purchased by Carte to house an electrical generator for the theatre, making it the world’s first public building to be lit entirely by electricity.

Marilyn Monroe

 

     The hotel kept records of its guests’ preferences, so that it could provide them in advance. For Coward, the staff made history by taking the first photographs of a hotel guest's toilet articles so that they could lay them out in his bathroom exactly as he liked them. They made sure to provide a fireproof eiderdown to Barrymore, as he always smoked while reading in bed.

 

Her Majesty the Queen Mother

 

 

     Her Majesty the Queen Mother can be seen arriving at The Savoy’s famous driveway. The hotel was also the first sighting of her daughter Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, who attended a wedding reception in 1946.

See More at http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2014/08/the-savoys-125-year-history-in-pictures/10/

Joe Gilmore

     One of the very famous parts of the Savoy Hotel is the American Bar, named for the fact that it was the first to introduce American style cocktails to Europe.  The American Bar was the hangout for many famous writers such as Ian Fleming, Noel Coward, Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde.

     Joe Gilmore was one of the more famous head barmen at the American Bar, he served from 1954 until 1975. Among his many creations was the "Moonwalk" to honor Neil Armstrong's achievement.   His hangover cure was two aspirins and a "Corpse Reviver".

 

 

     There were movie stars like Fred Astaire, Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich, Audrey Hepburn, Errol Flynn and even Bob Dylan spent time there.  This is a part of a list that would fill an entire blog page.  Today the celebrities still flock to the Savoy to be seen in the elegant atmosphere of the Savoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daiquiri, Martini, or Rumtini?

     Martini's or Daiquiri's, I really wonder what the difference is other than Martini's are generally mad with vodka or gin and Daiquiri's are made with rum.  I guess that it is pretty much a moot point, but one that is interesting to ponder.  

     Any who, here is an idea for the late summer or right into fall for a  rumtini or daiquiri if you like with a little different twist.

Bahama Bob’s Apple Rumtini

• 2 oz. Diplomatico Blanco
• 1 Lemon Wedge
• 1 Tbsp. Cinnamon Sugar
• ¼  Diced Green Apple
• ½ oz. Agave Nectar
• ½ oz. Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao
• ¾ oz. Lemon Juice

Rub a lemon wedge on the  rim of the martini glass then dip in the cinnamon sugar.    Muddle together the diced apple and agave nectar in a cocktail shaker.   Add ice and the remaining ingredients and shake well until the outside of the shaker is frosted.   Strain into the sugared martini glass.  

 

Reflections of a Summer Afternoon

The is nothing more beautiful that the ocean and the sun on a summer afternoon.   Come enjoy the calm with me as I float around on the water at sunset this afternoon.  Just relax and enjoy the beauty of the moment.   ;o)

The Spirit of Bacardi, The Graphic Novel

     Bacardi has just released a new "graphic novel' called the "Spirit of Bacardi". it deals with the Bacardi family's life in Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish occupation.  It also covers the role of Don Facundo's son, Emilio during the days of the Cuban Revolution.

    The graphic novel is well written and very informative.  I enjoyed the read and learned a lot about all that took place during the revolution and the later American control of the city.  The graphic novel was written by Warren Ellis and Michael Allred for the Bacardi.  the graphic novel is releasing today as a free digital download, the graphic novel The Spirit of Bacardi tells the story of the man and the family behind Bacardi rum.

    Give this novel a read through, I think that you will really find it very interesting.  ;o)


http://www.bacardi.com/spiritofbacardi

Should Bartenders be Drinking on the Job?

     From time to time, I’m offered a cocktail by a customer, which I politely say no to, but it raises a question in my mind.  Is it appropriate to drink on the job as a bartender?   In my mind, the answer is no, but there are other opinions out there as well.   I know that there are a lot of bartenders that do drink on the job, and it that works for them, so be it.  For me, I feel that I am paid to perform a service to my clientele.  If I have been drinking all day long, by the time my afternoon rush hits my cocktails are going to be lacking something, instead of being something to be enjoyed by the customers.

     There are other considerations as well to this question.  First of all drinking on the job during the day puts me on my scooter at the end of the day in a situation that can be very unsafe and could be a fatal mistake.  It could also  land me in trouble with the law, especially here in Key West.  Secondly, part of my job as a bartender is to keep an eye on my customers and make sure they haven’t had too much and get themselves into trouble.  That would be a tough job if I was as drunk as they are.  

     I find that the job is a fun one, dealing with such a diverse group of people, and find myself enjoying the “party” without drinking.  It is such a joy to walk up and down the bar keeping cocktail glasses filled with the fun libations that are being enjoyed.  I get the chance to chat with people from all over the world and generally have a really fun time.   In such a situation I don’t need to be drinking to have fun with my people. 

     There is one other situation you do not want to be out of control in and that is a medical emergency.  I have had people that heat and alcohol didn’t mix well with and have to make the right decisions for.  These situations require and alert person who has all of their faculties functioning the right way.

     Many states including Florida have laws about drinking behind the bar, but most of these are no enforced on a regular basis.  As for me I’ll be your sober bartender and save my rum time for after I return to the boat where I can sit back and enjoy my time without having to be responsible for others safety.  ;o)