Exploring Boca Chica Channel

     Yesterday was a day off, and I jumped into the dinghy for the first time in a long time and went off to explore Boca Chica Channel, just one channel east of the one I live on.    There is nothing more fun for me that to jump into the dinghy and head out to so many fun places out in the keys  where thee are usually no other people around.  The waters around many of these mangrove keys are usually very shallow and make it hard for so many boats to even get to them.  The dinghy is a perfect vessel to carry me there and back.



     As I enter the channel from the Atlantic side,
I see many birds soaring over my head.  Most of them are my feathered friends, but with the landing pattern for NAS Key West turning to final approach along the channel there are also some very interesting military birds thee as well.

    Boca Chica Channel is a mooring for a number of sailboats.  It is also a great way to get from the Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico.  You will see all types of boats along the way.   Today I am following along the edge of the mangroves to see what all is lurking there of interest.  I love to follow along the mangroves because they offer so many sights that you would miss if you follow the center of the channel.  Marine life, birds and interesting reptiles.



     I found myself relaxing with a little help from a gentleman that brought a lot of rum to the waters off the coast of America during the days or the Prohibition.   Here is to a great day off for you as well, and I hope you to can find a place to unwind like I do on your days off.  ;o)

 

Top 10 Bars of Key West

     With more bars per capita than anywhere else in the United States, Key West has a smorgasbord of watering holes. The island’s “Its 5 o'clock somewhere mantra” means daytime drinking is perfectly acceptable, and finding the best happy hour is a sport. Key West’s rich rum-soaked history is filled with pirates, rum runners and famous writers.  Hidden treasures and swanky martini lounges, craft beer lover’s refuges, are worth seeking out.

     The Rum Bar in the front of the aptly named Speakeasy Inn features rums from around the world.  There are wine bars, Jazz Clubs bringing you soothing live music nightly.   For a view of the famed sunset, plant yourself on a colorful stool at Sunset Pier slightly removed from the masses on Mallory Square. Old Town is pedestrian friendly, and these bars were made for hopping.

 

Here are the Top 10 bars for you to visit in Key West.

 

Captain Tony's

10  Captain Tony's Saloon

The battle over Hemingway's favorite watering hole ends here. Captain Tony's Saloon was the original location of Sloppy Joe's (and its previous incarnation as a speakeasy) where the famed author haunted a bar stool until 1938.   History lesson aside, today it's the definition of a dive bar--license plates on the walls, bras and undergarments strewn on the ceiling. The bar stools have patron's names on them (literally), and the place is lacking of any natural light. The "hanging tree" where 19 pirates met their fate grows through the floorboards and out the ceiling. Like a handful of other Key West pubs, not much has changed here since Hemingway ordered his first scotch and soda.

9 Aqua Nightclub
This all-welcome, gay night club has creative events every day of the week from afternoon to evening. Stop in for no-limit Texas Hold'em poker tournaments, Aqua's American Idol karaoke with proceeds that go to charity and dueling bartenders who sing as they shake and stir their cocktails. Their nightly drag shows, featuring the Aquanettes, get rave reviews from locals and tourists alike for the caliber of the performances and the hilarity that ensues.

 

8 Little Room Jazz Club
Opened in late 2012, the Little Room Jazz Club is a refreshing change in the hectic (and similar) Duval Street music scene. Find a new favorite glass of wine from the extensive listing, as you listen to live jazz, blues and even Cuban-fusion bands.

 



Rick's (Durty Harry's)

7 Rick's Key West (Durty Harry's)
With eight bars built in to this complex, you can easily party all night at Rick's Key West. The Duval Street institution offers late night karaoke (until 4:00 a.m.), the Durtbags cover band, and several DJs that turn up the bass into the wee hours of the morning. The live music roster is sure to have patrons on their feet with rock-and-roll covers of bands like Blink 182, Godsmack, AC/DC and others.

 

6 Vinos on Duval
Located on Duval just next to the Tropical Inn, Vinos on Duval it's a refreshing change of pace. The intimate environment invites conversation, and sharing a bottle and cheese plate is the way to go. They have an extensive selection of reds, whites and sparkling wine, and the list is constantly changing to keep things fresh and exciting. Not a wine connoisseur? No problem. This is a great place to find a new wine that you love, and the bartenders will guide you in the right direction.

 

Sunset Pier

5 Sunset Pier
Nestled between Key West Harbor and Mallory Square, Sunset Pier is all about location, location, location. Of course the live music, vivid decor, Caribbean fare and lip-smacking libations don't hurt either. Each night thousands of visitors flock to Mallory Square for the famed sunset celebration, and while Sunset Pier is in the heart of the action, it offers a bit of a buffer between you and the crowds. The menu is a mix of Key West seafood classics like conch fritters, crab cakes and raw bar favorites paired with Cuban cuisine.

 

4 Virgilio's
Tucked behind La Trattoria restaurant, Virgilio's (named after the founder of the restaurant) is an elegant indoor/outdoor cocktail bar popular with the swanky over 30 crowd. Perfectly mixed martinis are the house specialty in yummy flavors like mint chocolate chip and Key lime pie. If you have trouble choosing from their extensive selection, the bartenders can help you find the right drink to fit your mood. Kick back either on the outside patio covered with a tree canopy or at the second bar under the roof. Nightly, people hit the dance floor for live music, usually jazz, blues or Latin.   If you're feeling peckish, you can also nosh on items from a limited menu by the restaurant.

 

The Porch

3 The Porch
Steps from the controlled chaos on Duval Street, The Porch is a craft beer lover’s refuge tucked into the front of a 1839 Victorian mansion. They have 18 brews on tap and plenty more in bottles with selections changing with the seasons. Wine aficionados will also be pleased with their full wall of wine, interrupted only by a flat screen TV playing B-movies (ironically of course). The décor mixes historic architectural details like pressed tin ceilings and chandeliers with 80s music, a Buddha statue and an R2D2 in a Santa hat. It's been likened to "Cheers" on acid.

 

The Green Parrot

2 Green Parrot Bar
Filled with mix of local characters and visitors-in-the-know, "The Parrot," is not your typical dive bar. As the oldest watering hole in Key West, they've got nothing to prove, and their motto, "No Sniveling," illustrates their no-nonsense approach to slinging stiff drinks.   Tropical breezes and ceiling fans keep the open-air bar cool, and the old-school jukebox mixes B.B. King with The Temptations and New Orleans Funk. They only have popcorn to munch on, but there is a BBQ joint next doorif you get hungry.,

 



The Rum Bar at the Speakeasy Inn.



1 The Rum Bar at the Speakeasy Inn
Stop by and visit with "Bahama Bob" at the Rum Bar at the Speakeasy Inn. The friendly mixologist is well-versed in the art of bartending and world of rum. While the staff at the fraternity-style pubs on Duval Street toss together a Jack and Coke, Bahama Bob will make you a Pain Killer from scratch (with fresh ground nutmeg), and mojitos muddled with mint and lime juice (no mixers here).  If you are new to rum, a sampler lets you ease your way in, and the bartenders are happy to answer any questions you may have.

 

Read more at http://www.10best.com/destinations/florida/key-west/nightlife/bars/

 

 

     This is a very rewarding for all of us that have worked so hard for the past 6 1/2 years building the Rum Bar to what it is today.  Anne, Barbara, Scott, Jill and Mindy have teamed up to make this bar what it is today and  we are as a group very proud of this honor.  It is really rewarding to have USA Today 10 Best publish this and to be rated Number 1.   WOW!!!!  ;o)

Tips or Wages for Bartenders?

     An old debate has arisen again about whether wages or tips are the better way for bartenders.   As a bartender and a bar patron, I can see both sides of this issue.   As a confident Bartender/mixologist, I feel that I would rather take my chances with tips.  There are several reasons for this.  First of all it is like being a salesman in any other field.  I look at them like sales commissions for selling of any other industry.   For the less out going people, the tips are much slower to fill up the jar.   For them, a salary might be a better way.

     There are several others on both sides of this issue who have com
forward in an interesting article I read just the other day.

     “There is nothing like the rush of a busy night and watching the tip jars fill up rapidly”  
 
I believe having your income based on tips rather than a set salary is part of what keeps service industry staff hospitable.     When you know your money is based on performance, well, you perform.   There is nothing quite like amazing service – you remember it.   As Maya Angelou once said: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, they will forget what you did, but they will never forget the way you make them feel.”   A good bartender can make everyone’s night, and should be paid accordingly. If you’ve ever seen the best bartenders work a room, it’s an art form, and they deserve to be suitably compensated. As a bar owner, it is important to foster an environment that encourages the bartender to go above and beyond, and a tip income is one of the best ways.   "Those at the top of their game create the money they make. I have seen bartenders turn a usually slow Monday night shift into one of the most profitable by creating an environment that encourages guests to come back time and time again."

     On the other hand, one of the biggest benefits we hope to provide by offering our staff a fixed

salary is quality of life and a regular schedule – this industry is notorious for its chaotic lifestyle. What’s more, if you’re working for tips you become incentivized to work Friday and Saturday nights. By eliminating that incentive and creating an even playing field, it enables us to have some quality control over the other nights and be consistently great.   Ultimately, the biggest issue this will solve is consistency of pay. By having a set salary, our bartenders are never going to run into that scenario. Being in an industry that can cull you off on your way to work and not pay you is so absurd; that should not be legal. With us, we’ll be paying bartenders every week regardless, and if they work more than 40 hours, they’ll receive extra.   There’s a guy called Michael Lynn who’s a doctor at Cornell University and has written more than 50 papers on tipping. He shows if you have bad service, you still tip the same amount out of habit – you just don’t come back to the venue. By removing tips, the pressure is really on us because people will be more outspoken about the service they receive.

Read More at http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2015/06/should-salaries-replace-tips-for-bartenders/


     I guess that it is like so many other issues there are valid arguments on both sides, but your performance behind the bar is still the most important issue.  I feel you have more incentive when your pay is based on that performance.   ;o) 

Blue Chair Bay Introduces New Flavored Expressions for Summer

     Independent spirits company, Fishbowl Spirits, owned by Chesney has launched its new flavored expressions in the United States just in time for summer.

     The Vanilla Rum has a silky flavor of exotic natural vanillas combined with soft, delicate Caribbean rum, yielding a warm and lingering finish of creamy vanilla .  The Banana Rum Cream exudes flavors of caramelized ripe banana with notes of vanilla to the original  white Caribbean rum for a gently sweet and warm distinctive flavor
.

     David Farmer, president of Fishbowl Spirits, said: “As the popularity of Blue Chair Bay Rum and the laid-back lifestyle it embodies continues to grow, so does our dedication to adding flavors to our portfolio for our fans to enjoy.”

Read More at http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2015/06/kenny-chesney-launches-two-new-rum-flavours/?article-source=newsletter&source=441&date=2015-06-04

Daiquiri Time !!

     Today I stumbled on an idea for a new daiquiri.   I keep hearing about cucumber this and cucumber that, so I worked out an idea for cucumber in a daiquiri.

      Cucumber adds a subtle flavor to the cocktail that I like when making a cocktail.  The daiquiri lends itself perfectly to the making of this type of cocktail.  Fwaygo Rum is a new rum made in Fort Lauderdale and fits the bill perfectly with its clean taste.   Anyway, this is another fun and flavorful patio cocktail for you to try.

Cucumber Daiquiri

• 1 1/2 oz. Fwaygo Hand Crafted Rum
• 5 Slices Cucumber
• Juice of ½ Lime
• 4 oz. Tonic Water
• 4 Mint Leaves
• ¼ oz. Agave Nectar

 place  2 mint leaves, lime juice, 2 slices cucumber, rum and agave nectar into a shaker and muddle.   Add ice and 2 cucumber slices to shaker and shake until chilled.    allow to sit for a couple of minutes and Strain mixture into a chilled cocktail glass and top with tonic water and garnish with cucumber and float a couple of mint leaves on the surface.

     This should quench your thirst for something different on the patio this summer.  ;o)

 

Colonial Williamsburg is Opening a Distillery in the Near Future

     The Williamsburg Distillery focuses upon the use of classic ingredients and recipes from the 1600s and 1700s.    The Distillery has started to produce Jamestown Gin, Yorktown Rum and Williamsburg Bourbon, expressions that are known as the ‘Historic Triangle series’.   "Our slogan is distilling the American spirit," owner, distiller and President Bill Dodson said.

     Rum and Gin are already in the barrels and expected to be ready for consumption this summer.   

    Currently located in temporary quarters until the business can invests in a larger facility.  When open , tours to educate visitors with some of  the local alcohol history and the historical recipes colonial distillers have used to production their spirits.

  They will use modern equipment to produce the expressions, like the 100-gallon pot still that is currently being operated.    There are plans to set up a working period still to give the visitors an accurate picture of how the spirits were made during the colonial times..

Havana Club's Past and Present Masters Meet in Madrid

     There was a lot of rum and Havana Club History came together at the 4th annual International Rum Conference in Madrid this past week.   Francisco Don Poncho Fernandez and Maestro Jose Navarro, maestro and former Maestros Roneros for Havana Club Rum.   Don Poncho in the 50's and Jose Navarro today.  These are the men that are responsible for the rum at all stages of it production, from the sugarcane  to the bottle.      

     They bear the secrets of one of Cuba’s true treasures: rum that owes its incomparably high quality to the noblest traditions and finest ingredients. Around 15 years of training are necessary to become a true Maestro Ronero – a period in which the most experienced Maestro Roneros transmit their knowledge to their successors. Each Maestro Ronero leaves his creations to age so that future generations may use them to blend even better aged rums.

     Today Don José Navarro, Havana Club’s Primer Maestro Ronero, and his team follow every step of this unique process, ensuring the respect of Cuban rum-making tradition and the superior quality of Havana Club rum. "The rum doesn’t come from a magical combination", Don José Navarro explains. "It is a cultural legacy, passed on from Maestro Ronero to Maestro Ronero, from heart to heart, from Cuban to Cuban." 

Read More at http://havana-club.com/en/havana-heritage/maestros-roneros

     Maestro Ronero Fernandez began his career in Cuba with Havana Club, then in Panama with Varela Hermanos crafting the beautiful Abuelo rums, and he has consulted for distilleries all over the world.  Today he is producing such rums as Don Poncho Origenes Rums, Panamonte, Panama Red, Yolo, and many many more.   This linage of Maestros Roneros is what make the Havana Club Rums so consistent and wonderful.

Key West Distilling - The Newest Distillery in Key West

     Master distiller Jeff Louchheim gave up his career as a private investigator to open Key West Distilling.   Located in Old Town Key West where his Artisan Still stands tall in the distillery.   The craft distilleries offer the “small batch” quality of their spirits that the larger commercial facilities lack.   You can visit the distillery between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday

     Upon entering Key West Distilling on Southard Street, between Duval and Simonton, you pick up the aroma of alcohol and fermenting sugar cane.    It is the smell of “home cooking”, according to Jeff.    Jeff uses sugarcane that he buys in Costa Rica as his base for both the rum and his vodka.  He feels that it gives both the spirits a better flavor and natural smoothness.       “There is no comparison to the taste of small batch craft distilling versus commercially made products”.

     The rum at Key West Distillery has recently finished aging in charred oak barrels, which brings out the flavors such as vanilla and oak.  Jeff dropped off a sample of his new spiced rum for me to take a look at as well as the 153 proof expressions.

     The new spiced rum starts off with a very pleasant aroma of crème brulee blended with a grassy aroma that is there when rum is made directly from sugarcane juice.  This is a dry expression with a subtle sweetness on the finish.  I find the rum overall to be quite enjoyable.  This spiced rum that can be enjoyed either neat or in a cocktail.

     The Overproof expression is at a full 153 proof, is as you would expect pretty fiery, but there is a smoothness there that is not usually found in white Overproof rums.  This is a great rum for use in some of the “Tiki Cocktails” that call for overproof rums.  

    If you are in Key West be sure to make some time to stop by the Key West Distilling Company a tour the facility and try the wide variety of spirits.   ;o)

El Coco The Palm Tree in Santiago de Cuba

     Everybody knows about the bat that is the primary logo of the Bacardi company, but do you know the story of El Coco that was planted by Don Facundo Bacardí Massó's son?  
 
    A fascinating Bacardi symbol: El Coco, a coconut palm planted prominently at the opening of the distillery by the founder’s 14 year old son, Facundo, Jr.   As its roots took hold so did a popular legend: "... the Bacardi company will survive in Cuba so long as the coconut palm lives ..."   


     Today there are palm trees planted in front of the Bacardi Cathedral of Rum in Puerto Rico as well keeping the belief alive.   It has been said that the planting of El Coco and the purchase of the Nune's Marina Baja Street distillery mark the beginning of the Bacardi Rum Company.




    

     Call it a liquor legend. As revolution engulfed Cuba at the end of the 1950s, the coconut tree that Facundo Bacardi had planted at his distillery in Santiago de Cuba in 1862, as a symbol of company prosperity, began to wither and die. Months later, Fidel Castro would seize the property and the Bacardi family would flee the island.

 

It seems so fitting that the tree seemed to know when the end was near for the Bacardi Rum Company in Cuba, and would whither and die just as the Bacardi family fled Cuba in the late 50's.

 

 

Getting the Urge to Travel Again

     July Vacation is taking us south again with the opportunity to visit several island including Grand Cayman where the morning sun is such a beautiful way to start the day.  As much as I love Key West it is nice to "get off the rock" and visit other islands in the Caribbean.  Grand Cayman is one of my many favorites...

California Rum Festival. to be Hosted at "Mixo Capital" in San Francisco, California

     The inaugural California Rum Festival in San Francisco is happening on September 12th at the Terra Galley.  This has promised to be an interesting event for those on the west coast and the rest of the US to visit.  You can et tickets on line at http://www.californiarumfest.com/ .   Don't be left behind, get yours now and enjoy the Rum Festival.

     The Rum Lab introduces the inaugural California Rum Festival on September 12th, 2015 at the Terra Gallery. California is one of the key states in the spirit industry alongside Florida, New York, Illinois and Texas-especially when it comes to rums. As an international event produced in the tourist mecca destination, known for its sophisticated mixologist scene, the inaugural http://www.CaliforniaRumFest.com is arguably set to become a leading world-top class event in the West Coast. 

     The rum festival is divided in two sessions. The 1st session, which is scheduled from 2:30-4:30pm will be primarily Spirit Industry Session-focused on industry professionals like:

bartenders, bar managers, distributors, brand ambassadors, F&B managers, etc. The 2nd session, will be for the general public and rum aficionados. Attendees will be able to enjoy some of the world's best national & international rums such as Plantation Rums, Blue Chair Bay Rum, Ron Barcelo, Miami Rum Club, Koloa Rum to name a few. In addition, guests will be able to attend seminars with renown guest speakers, like the "Global Rum Ambassador Ian Burrell and Master Flair-Mixologist Dean Serneel-already lined up for one of the sessions. 

     The Rum Lab and Reál Ingredients are in conversation to possibly host a Rum Mixo Competition, which may attract bartenders from the West Coast, as well as Hawaii. 

     Terra Gallery is located .6 miles from the BART station in San Francisco's South of Market (SOME) district in Rincon Hill-this one day event celebrates the cultural, ritual and historical legacy of the world's best national & international rums.

Read More at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2015/05/prweb12737668.htm

Big and Small US Distillers Hail New Tax Bill

      Members of the US spirits industry have hailed the introduction of a new bill that would significantly cut tax for both large and small distillers. 

     Discus and the ACSA successfully lobbied for the introduction of a new bill that would significantly cut spirits tax in the US.   House representatives Todd Young and John Yarmuth have put forward a new bipartisan bill, titled Distillery Innovation and Excise Tax Reform Act of 2015.   If approved, the legislation will see the current tax rate of US$13.50 per proof gallon to US$2.70 per proof gallon on the first 100,000 gallons for all distillers, regardless of size. After the 100,000-gallon threshold has been passed, the bill sets a rate at US$9.00 per proof gallon.

     The legislation has been supported by both the Distilled Spirits Council of the US (Discus) and the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA), both of which also claim the bill should apply to imported and domestic spirits.   “It is significant that the distillers of all sizes are united behind this important hospitality industry legislation,” said Distilled Spirits CEO Peter Cressy, who will retire from the role later this year.   “We thank the sponsors for recognizing the economic impact passage of this bill will have for our industry.”

Read More at http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2015/05/big-and-small-us-distillers-hail-new-tax-bill/

     This bill will have a wide reaching  effect on not only the spirit industry, but the Service and tourism industries as well this can have a real trickle down effect that will benefit all who are a part of the spirits industry.  

 

Don't Chase Bears When You are Drunk!!!!!!

     My research for this blog brings me in contact with a lot of very funny articles.  Today I ran across a really funny one.    This one falls under the category if you are going to be stupid, you better be tough.    

By the Way, This is a bear, they are big and strong.  LOL

     The intoxicated man was arrested last week after he was found chasing a black bear into the woods in Massachusetts, brandishing an axe.     Following the incident, the North Adams, Massachusetts Police Department posted a Facebook message warning others not to go all “Davy Crockett” and imitate the man’s actions, urging residents “to NOT chase bears through the woods with a dull hatchet when drunk.”

     “Yes, that really did happen,” police posted. “We understand there are bears in the area. If you see a bear, LEAVE IT ALONE and call us. We certainly don’t need anyone going all Davy Crockett chasing it through the woods drunk with a dull hatchet. It is just a bad idea and not going to end well. It will however, certainly end you up in jail…which it did.” 

     Yes I found it on their facebook page.  https://www.facebook.com/pages/North-Adams-Police-Department-Massachusetts/201279173262612?fref=nf   

Oh well another day another seriously funny story.   ;o)