American Prohibition Repeal Day

American Prohibition

January 16, 1919 until December 5, 1933

 

    On December 5, 1933, the 21st Amendment was ratified, as announced in this proclamation from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The 21st Amendment repealed the 18th Amendment of January 16, 1919, ending the increasingly unpopular nationwide prohibition of alcohol.

Where Did the Snaquiri Come From?

     The "Snaquiri"—or a tiny Daiquiri meant to be taken as a shot—has become a nationwide bartender handshake.      The original Snaquiri, however, wasn’t a shot. In fact, it wasn’t even a full-sized drink: It was two full-sized drinks, served side by side.  Today, they are a 2 oz. mini daiquiri served as a welcome or just to get the party started.   Karin Stanley of NYC’s Dutch Kills, is widely credited for both the concept and the name.    “We were talking about our favorite drinks, the daiquiri and started ordering them two at a time, one in a water tumbler and one in a coupe”.   We’d shoot the water tumbler and sip the coupe.” A few puns later, the Snaquiri was born.   

     As time passed, the Snaquiri was downsized to a 2 oz.  size for the average drinker, though it’s hard to say exactly when that happened. “It has definitely gone off on its own to be a Daiquiri shot,”   This is a great concept and it has spread like wildfire across the country.

     I love the idea of taking your favorite daiquiri and breaking it up into 2 oz. size shots and passing it around among a group of friends.  It is the kind of shot that a group can enjoy and not find themselves under the table in just a few minutes.   The daiquiri is a very versatile cocktail that can be tailored to the tastes of most any group.  Careful if you choose to use the “Hemingway Special” as your base daiquiri, because it is a truly butt kicking daiquiri to start with.

Read More at http://punchdrink.com/articles/where-did-the-snaquiri-daiquiri-come-from/

Here is an idea for a great starter daiquiri from which to make these fun “Snaquiri’s” based upon.  

Bahama Bob’s Basic Snaquiri

• 2 oz. Premium White Rum
• ½ oz. Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
• ½ oz. Galliano
• ½ oz. Agave Nectar
• Juice of ½ Lime

Place all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled strain into shot glasses and enjoy.

Beautiful Sky of Fall

Winter is nearing here in Key West.  The humidity has dropped significantly and the blue of the sky is unbelievable.   I love this time of year, because I can get out on the bicycle and enjoy my rides enjoying the unpredictable beauty of the clouds, sun and sky.   I'm hoping where you are is as beautiful.   Enjoy the late fall.

Scotland Launches its First White Rum

     The team behind Edinburgh bar, Bramble has co-created Sea Wolf, the “first” white rum to be distilled in Scotland.   White rum Sea Wolf is first spirit from Boilermaker Drinks Company.   Mike Aikman and Jason Scott have joined forces with Gavin Ferguson, co-founder of Scottish independent wine merchants Vino Wines, to launch Boilermaker Drinks Company.   Their plans calls for the production of a full portfolio of Scottish distilled spirits.     The new white rum, Sea Wolf is being made in Angus at Ogilvy Spirits and the first launch by Boilermaker Drinks Company.

     Rum is a massive player in the British cocktail world, but there were very few British brands distilled in Great Britain, thus Sea Wolf was born.   “Unlike gin which we feel is reaching saturation point in the market, British rum is about to have its time in the spotlight and we aim to be at the forefront of this.”

     The fermentation of the spirit’s base ingredient, cane molasses, is done at low temperature for four weeks using both rum and Champagne yeasts, resulting in an “unusual” flavor profile.   Notes of unripe banana and sugar cane on the nose give way to tropical fruits on the palate, with a faint citrus and spice finish.

     “Scotland is not the ideal climate to be making rum in but we love a challenge so we set about developing a full-flavored rum good enough to work well straight and as a base for cocktails.”    A rum that has character, flavor, mouth feel and body can be difficult with an unaged spirit, but Boilermaker Drinks Company believes they have the right formula.

     The spirit takes its name from the Native American term for killer whales, which are found dotted around the Scottish coastline today.   Set to launch on 1 December 2016, Sea Wolf is bottled at 41% abv. Only 300 bottles will be made available before the end of the year.

Read More at http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2016/11/first-white-rum-distilled-in-scotland-launches/

Trump's Cuba Policy May Put Cuban Rums Out of Reach for Americans.

     The improved relations prompted Pernod Ricard, owners the international rights to Cuban-made Havana Club to present a bid to launch the brand here in the United States market.  Bacardi, which owns Puerto Rico made Havana Club rum has had the process tied up in court based on trademark ownership for many years.   Things were looking very hopeful for Americans to be able to enjoy many of the Cuban rums here in the states soon, but following Fidel Castro's passing, this looks to be in serious doubt.

     Following the death of Fidel Castro, who governed Cuba with an iron hand for nearly sixty years, Trump has threatened to reinstate sanctions on Cuba that had been lifted by Obama.   The Havana Club trademark battle between Pernod Ricard and Bacardi Limited could be set for a new twist as United States president-elect Donald Trump threatens to freeze US-Cuba relations again.  On Monday, Trump tweeted that he would “terminate” the deal unless Cuba agrees to “make a better” one.  “If Cuba is unwilling to make a better deal for the Cuban people, the Cuban/American people and the U.S. as a whole, I will terminate deal,” he stated on his Tweeter page.   Trump has threatened to reverse the restoration of diplomatic relations with Cuba before. At a speech in Miami on September 16, 2016, he stated that "all of the concessions that Barack Obama has granted the Castro regime were done with executive order, which means the next president can reverse them. And that is what I will do unless the Castro regime meets our demands."

    Re-imposing sanctions by the Trump administration will effectively block the bid to launch Pernod Ricard’s Cuban-made Havana Club in the US market.   Pernod Ricard says  that they hope the new United States leadership will continue to build bridges between Cuba and the United States.  This is an issue that bears watching as the administration change begins to go into effect.

Bring Me in Out of the Cold

With the cold weather arriving it is time for a nice tummy warming cocktail.  This is one that is perfect for when you come in out of the cold and want something yummy and warming.  So much nicer that a straight shot of brandy and just as warming.  Give this one a try, I think you will enjoy it.

Bring Me in Out of the Cold

• 1½ oz. Real McCoy 12 Year Old Rum
• 1½ oz. Rhum JM XO
• 1 oz. Licor 43
• 1 oz. Apricot Brandy
• ½ oz. Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
• ½ oz. Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao
• ½ oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
• 2 Dashes of Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters

Place all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice and shake until thoroughly chilled and strain into a brandy snifter.   Garnish with fresh ground nutmeg.

Where Did the Name Rum Come From?

     “The origin of the word "rum" is overall quite unclear.    In an 1824 essay about the word's origin, Samuel Morewood, a British etymologist, suggested it might be from the British slang term for "the best", as in "having a rum time." He wrote: As spirits, extracted from molasses, could not well be ranked under the name whiskey, brandy or arrack, it would be called rum, to denote its excellence or superior quality.”  The harsh taste early rum was known for, Morewood would later suggested another possibility.  The use of the last syllable of the  Latin word for sugar is saccharum is an explanation commonly believed today.

     No matter what the original source, the name was already in common use by 1654, when the General Court of Connecticut ordered the confiscations of "whatsoever Barbados liquors, commonly called rum, kill devil and the like".   A short time later in May 1657, the General Court of Massachusetts also decided to make illegal the sale of strong liquor "whether known by the name of rumme, strong water, wine, brandy, etc.

     Currently the name used for rum is often based on its place of origin.   For rums from Spanish speaking locales, the word ron is used.   A ron anejo, Spanish for "old rum" indicates a rum that has been significantly aged and is often used for premium products.   Rhum is the term that typically distinguishes rum made from fresh sugar cane juice in French-speaking locales like Martinique.   A rhum vieux,  French for "old rum",  is an aged French style rum that often must meet several other local requirements.

     There are many other names that rum is known by like, Nelson's blood, kill-devil, demon water, pirate's drink, navy neaters, and Barbados water, Haiti has a moonshine like cane spirit known as Clairin.  Newfoundland rum is called screech and there are some low-grade West Indies rums are called tafia.

     Whatever you call it, rum is one the world’s most interesting and flavorful spirits.  Plus my favorite.

Prince Harry Visits the West Indies

Prince Harry of Wales

     Prince Harry of Wales is on a two week visit to the Caribbean as the Queen’s representative as the monarch no longer undertakes long distance engagements. Six of the seven countries the prince will visit are Commonwealths where the Queen is still head of state. Prince Harry will be stopping at  Antigua and Barbuda which are celebrating 35 years since the end of direct British rule along with a visit to Barbados and Guyana that are marking their 50 years since independence.

Prince Harry’s two-week visit to the West Indies will include visits to seven countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Barbados and Guyana.   Prince Harry’s itinerary included the re-dedication for the island’s Clarence House in historic English Harbour.  It wasn’t the first trip to the island for Prince Harry, who first visited Antigua and Barbuda as a child with his mother, Princess Diana.   It will be Prince Harry’s second official visit to the Caribbean following his first trip to the West Indies in 2012, when he was representing Queen Elizabeth II during her diamond jubilee.

Prince Harry and Usain Bolt

     His itinerary will include a wide range of engagements, from meetings with conservationists to talks with well-known cultural figures and sporting stars.   Indeed, his last visit to the Caribbean saw a good-natured “race” between Prince Harry and Jamaican sporting legend Usain Bolt.

Appleton Estate Tour Gets $7.2 Million Dollar Renovation

     Gruppo Campari has revealed plans to invest $7.2 million to upgrade and renovate its Appleton Estate Rum Tour in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica.   The expansion of Appleton Estate’s visitor center will create new job opportunities for residents living in rural areas.   The expansion of Appleton’s visitor center will provide “a unique visitor experience”, plus an increase the number of tourists to the island.   The investment could also see the Appleton Estate Rum Tour become “one of the largest tourist attractions” on the south coast, according to the Jamaica Observer.

     The work includes the renovation of the existing facility, the addition of modern rooms to facilitate rum tastings, an expansive retail store, and a restaurant and lounge offering Appleton-infused Jamaica cuisine.   Gruppo Campari is also looking to revive a rail service for the tour by 2017 – which was dropped in the 1990's.  This will allow the number of visitors to be tripled.   The group is also looking at plans to offer a small-scale hotel in the near future.

     The upgrading of the facility and its expansion by another 25,000 square feet is expected to be complete by October 2017.

Fall's Sunset Over the Mangroves

The Sunset has moved to the south with the change of seasons.  Today it is setting in the southern part of the sky instead of the more traditional western area.  The resulting location makes for a new and interesting picture as it is setting into the mangroves instead of the ocean.  I think that I like this view equally as well as watching it drop into the waters.  The hues and silhouettes  make for an interesting picture.

November 25, 2016 Marked the Passing of Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz,

     Fidel Castro's passing has brought out many emotions for those who have lived for nearly six decades of his rule in Cuba.  There were strong emotions seen last night in Miami's Little Havana and many other places where Cuban Americans live.   Castro was born on August 13, 1926 and passed away on November 25, 2016 at the age of 90.

     President Obama's Statement on Fidel Castro's passing.  "At this time of Fidel Castro’s passing, we extend a hand of friendship to the Cuban people. We know that this moment fills Cubans - in Cuba and in the United States - with powerful emotions, recalling the countless ways in which Fidel Castro altered the course of individual lives, families, and of the Cuban nation. History will record and judge the enormous impact of this singular figure on the people and world around him."

     "For nearly six decades, the relationship between the United States and Cuba was marked by discord and profound political disagreements. During my presidency, we have worked hard to put the past behind us, pursuing a future in which the relationship between our two countries is defined not by our differences but by the many things that we share as neighbors and friends - bonds of family, culture, commerce, and common humanity. This engagement includes the contributions of Cuban Americans, who have done so much for our country and who care deeply about their loved ones in Cuba."

     "Today, we offer condolences to Fidel Castro's family, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Cuban people. In the days ahead, they will recall the past and also look to the future. As they do, the Cuban people must know that they have a friend and partner in the United States of America."

      President Obama's statement I feel was well said and showed the true feelings between the people of the United States and Cuba.  It is my hope that the events of the past can be put aside and relations with Cuba will return to a normal and we will be able to visit and share with the wonderful people of Cuba.

Diageo to Move Rum Aging Warehousing to Maryland

Diageo St. Croix Captain Morgan Distillery

       Diageo USVI that they would be moving its U.S. Captain Morgan rum aging warehousing to Relay, Maryland, in its continuous efforts to improve efficiency.   According to a statement by Diageo, the move enables more efficiency in its supply chain and also saves the firm money by improving logistics costs. The transition will begin in the coming months and expected to be completed before the end of 2017.

       Crucially, Diageo says the change of location for aging warehousing would not come at the cost of approximately 10 jobs at the distillery.   During the transition, those who choose to continue working with Diageo will be offered other opportunities at the distillery.   "Everyone currently working in maturation and warehousing who wants to continue working at Diageo USVI will have an opportunity to apply for other roles within Diageo USVI”.

 

Cruzan USVI Distillery on St. Croix

     Diageo's presence in the territory has come to play a crucial role in the U.S.V.I.'s financial well-being. Along with spirits produced by Cruzan Rum, the territory collects just over $200 million in federal excise taxes annually, which the USVI uses to pay for its bonds.   The federal government collects $13.25 in taxes on every proof gallon of rum made in the territory and sold in the U.S., and returns most of the funds to the local government in the form of rum cover-over revenues.

Read More at http://viconsortium.com/business/diageo-move-rum-maturation-warehousing-u-s-mainland-move-will-not-impact-employment-rum-cover-funds/

What is Holding Rum Back from a Stronger Position in the World of Spirits?

     It’s a shame there is no rum authority that is the equivalent of the Scotch Whisky Association.  During the past year there has been a movement within the rum industry to standardize rum expressions.  This is being set up to allow the consumer to have a better idea of what they are getting.  Education is needed to circumvent lingering consumer confusion, especially where many of today’s rum drinkers are “very curious” an nowhere to go to find out what the rum they are buying really is.

     “In Jamaica, legislation is very clear: you cannot use the solera method.” This ensures any age statements on the bottles are the minimum age, rather than an average. And it would seem the discrepancies across the category are proving frustrating.   Much of the other dark rums frankly use the solera method, where there is no way to put a honest age statement for.  What is holding the category back from a full and meaningful premiumization?   The problem of rum is that it is perceived by the products of a few very large brands that have no category wide regulation.  This is dragging down the whole category.  Once you take out of the age statements, and taste all of these aged rums, the differences will become clear.   The way to address this issue is through the education of the customers.

     Richard Seale of Foursquare Distillery in Barbados is trying to put rum into classifications like those of the whiskey producers.  For years Richard Seale has been on a campaign to purify the rum category.  He wants rum to become an honest spirit with rules.   We can still make rums like we are with his system, but the public will better understand what they are really getting in the bottle.   Richard Seale and others have devised a new structure for the way rums are labeled.   Seale said, "We are proposing a new rum classification”, we have to get away from talking about rum in terms of color and country styles, which are meaningless.

     With a strong system to insure that the customer knows and understands what they are buying, the rum will be able to satisfy its wide variety of customer tastes.  Rum is in a unique situation in that rum’s customers run the range from entry level drinkers that only want the taste of additives like spices and flavorings to effecianatos that want to taste the pure flavors of the spirit and what the skills of the distiller and the barrel can add to it.  There is a place for all of these styles of rum; the thing that it will take to make the category grow is honesty, not only in age statements, but in additives as well.

Happy Thanksgiving from Key West

    Thanksgiving in different places around the United States yield many different pictures.   Along the northern tier of states might be a white landscape of snow covered land. or the colors of fall for the middle tiers, but for us in the southernmost part of the country it is a tropical day that is expected to be in the high 70's or low 80's.

     My picture of Thanksgiving is one of blue skies and blue waters, but most of all I'm just thankful to be with the people that love me and make my life wonderful.   I'm hoping that your Thanksgiving is just as warm and wonderful even if it is freezing outside.

United States Report Signals Shift in Alcohol Policy

Dr. Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General

     A “landmark” report from the US surgeon general that signals a shift in alcohol policy towards reducing stigma surrounding addiction has been welcomed by trade associations in the country.   Published 17 November, 2016, Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health, marks the first time a US Surgeon General has dedicated a report to substance misuse and related disorders.

    “Alcohol and drug addiction take an enormous toll on individuals, families, and communities,” said Dr Vivek Murthy, US surgeon general.   “Most Americans know someone who has been touched by an alcohol or a drug use disorder. Yet 90 percent of people with a substance use disorder are not getting treatment and that has to change.”

     The report calls for action to reduce the stigma associated with addiction, to change the way people perceive substance abuse disorders, to better recognize substance misuse and to expand access to treatment.  “It’s time to change how we view addiction as a chronic illness that must be treated with skill, urgency and compassion. The way we address this crisis is a test for America.”       “We are pleased to see the surgeon general’s report acknowledges that moderate alcohol consumption can be part of a healthy diet for adults,” said The Distilled Spirits Council, Beer Institute and Wine Institute in a joint statement.

     “We also welcome the Surgeon General’s efforts to destigmatize treatment and recovery for those for whom alcohol consumption is a concern.   “The prevailing and widely accepted research shows that one-size-fits-all policies, including advertising bans and tax increases, fail to effectively address the problem of alcohol abuse, divert resources from more targeted approaches, and unfairly and negatively impact moderate and responsible consumers.

Hard Cider from Rum

     Here is an idea to warm you up as the winter temperatures approach.  Try this rum based cider made with a really flavorful syrup.  I think you will really enjoy this fun fall cocktail that doesn't have any pumpkin in it.

Bahama Bob's Hard Rum Cider

• 2 oz. Papa Pilar Dark Rum
• 1 Bar Spoon of Unsweetened Apple Sauce
• 1/2 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz. Bahama Bob's Cider Syrup
• 2 oz. Unfiltered Apple Juice

Place all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice and a cinnamon/nutmeg sugar rim. Top with Fresh ground nutmeg.

Bahama Bob’s Cider Syrup

• 1 cup Water
• 1 cup Sugar in the Raw
• 2 cinnamon Sticks
• 2 1/2 tbsp. Whole Clove

 Lightly toast cinnamon and clove. Add water a steep spices until water starts to boil. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Simmer at 200 degrees for another 7 to 10 minutes. Cover and allow to cool back down to  room temperature. Strain out all spices. Refrigerate and should be good for about 2 weeks.

Independent Stave Company Builds a Barrel Research Center

     Independent Stave Company has begun construction of a research center dedicated to oak innovation and experimentation for the spirits industry. It is being built in Lebanon, Kentucky, as an addition to the company's Kentucky Cooperage campus. Once complete, the new research center will serve as a cutting edge resource on oak maturation for ISC's distillers in Kentucky and around the world.   "We are passionate about spirits, including working closely with distillers to foster innovation and develop new products," said Andrew Wiehebrink, ISC director of spirit research and innovation.

     The research center will include a laboratory, a library of experiments, a tasting room, and offices for ISC's Kentucky-based research and customer service team.   "We don't want to just talk about what is possible," said Jeff LaHue, ISC's director of strategic partnerships. "Instead, we can demonstrate through blind tastings, sensory science and chemical analysis."   Since the 1990s, ISC has conducted hundreds of barrel experiments and the company, working with its distillery partners, continues to lay down barrels every year. The company's innovation team has increased the number of experiments in play for the past three years and many of these projects will come of age for evaluation as the research center becomes fully operational.

     "Independent Stave Company is committed to continuously improving the quality, consistency and variety of the barrels we offer," said Brad Boswell, ISC president. "This research center is further evidence of how we translate that vision into action to the benefit of our customers."   As part of its mission, the research center will also explore how to enhance structural integrity and recovery yields.

     "We are looking at all the elements to build a barrel-oak species, wood age, barrel shape and size, how we engineer the barrels, all the materials used-to optimize the barrels we craft," said Wiehebrink, who works directly with ISC's key spirits customers on innovation projects. "We encourage distillers to bring us their ideas and challenges. We know how to transform ideas into reality, with sensory and science-backed results."

The Iconic Bahia Honda Railroad and Highway Bridge

     The double decker bridge at Bahia Honda State Park is one of the most incredible landmarks in the Florida Keys.   At sunset it becomes even more beautiful.

     The Bahia Honda railroad bridge was originally built by Henry Flagler is part of the FEC's Overseas Railroad.   Opened in 1912, Flagler funded the railway construction between Miami and Key West using his own personal funds.   It was purchased by the State of Florida and converted for highway use in 1938.    Rather than rebuilding the bridge, the top of the structure was redecked for use as the Overseas Highway, the existing deck inside the truss was too narrow for vehicular traffic.

Kraken Rum Unveils a New Black Ceramic Limited Edition Bottle

     The Kraken Black Spiced Rum has launched a limited edition ceramic bottle designed by Proximo Spirits.   Though the liquid and branding remain the same, the latest ceramic bottling is glossy black to show off the Kraken design and includes intricate raised and embossed details.   The design is based upon a Victorian rum bottle,    This glossy black vessel features two handles, like so many archival rum vessels that allow for easy portability.

     The Kraken Rum is imported rum from the Caribbean that is blended with 13 spices.   Named for the Kraken, a mythical sea beast, leading to the mystique of the legend ,   Kraken Rum delivers “hints of cinnamon, vanilla, cherry and coffee aromas”.   Suitable for vegans and gluten-free, Kraken is 40% abv and is often served with ginger beer and a lime wedge to make a wonderfully refreshing cocktail that takes you back to the turmoil of the sea..

     The brand said that “only a very limited number” of the ceramic bottles have been produced.   The new bottle is available now in the UK through Amazon.  Hopefully there will be other locals seeing this beautiful black bottle on the shelves before too much longer.

Americans, You Don't Need a Passport to Come to Key West

     Key West just feels like a Caribbean Island, fully tropical with the quaint styling of the buildings, attitudes of its people, and the history of the town.  It is truly a tropical island that you can drive to along one of the most beautiful roads in the world.  You can look out on the north side and see the Gulf of Mexico, and to the South the Atlantic Ocean.   Yes this is part of Florida in name only, because one you are here you just know that you should have to show a passport to get on the island.

     Many of the residents of Key West were immigrants from the Bahamas, known as Conchs, pronounced "conks", who arrived in increasing numbers after 1830.   Many were sons and daughters of Loyalists who fled to the nearest Crown soil during the American Revolution. ^.   In the 20th century many residents of Key West started referring to themselves as Conchs, and the term is now generally applied to all residents born in Key West, but those who have lived in Key West for seven years or more are called “Freshwater Conchs.   Many of the black Bahamian immigrants who arrived later lived in Bahama Village, an area of Old Town centered around Petronia Street.

     Key West is closer to Havana, 90 miles than it is to Miami, 129 miles .    In 1890, Key West had a population of nearly 18,800 and was the biggest and richest city in Florida.   Half the residents were said to be of Cuban origin, and Key West, Cubans were actively involved in reportedly 200 factories in town, producing 100 million cigars annually.  Jose Marti made several visits to seek recruits for Cuban independence starting in 1891 and founded the Cuban Revolutionary Party during his visits to Key West.   Key West was flooded with refugees from Cuba and continue to come ashore, on at least one occasion, most notably in April 2003, flew hijacked Cuban Airlines planes into the city's airport.

     Key West is located at 24°33′33″N 81°47′03″W.  The maximum elevation above sea level is about 18 feet, a 1 acre area known as Solares Hill.  According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.4 square miles, of which 5.9 square miles is land and 1.5 square miles is water.  Since the 1940's, the island has more than doubled in size via landfill.   The new section on the eastern side is called "New Town." It contains shopping centers, retail malls, residential areas, schools, ball parks, and The Key West International Airport.

     In 1982, the “Conch Republic” seceded from the Union. Not Really, but they were very upset about a border patrol blockade set up on the only highway in and out of the Florida Keys.  The secession was a little tongue-in-cheek, but the roots of the battle live on, especially during the annual Conch Republic Days.   This town is one part tourist mecca, and one part residential, Duval Street and a better part of “Old Town” is the crazy fun filled part of town, and the eastern side in general is the residential area, where it is only half as crazy as “Old Town”

     Key West has a tropical savanna climate, similar to that of the Caribbean Islands.  Like most tropical climates, Key West has only a small difference in monthly mean temperatures between January,the coolest month and July, the warmest month.  The annual range of monthly mean temperatures around 15 °F. The Florida Keys are one of the only locations on the mainland United States known to never have had a frost or freeze.  The lowest temperature on record is 41 °F on January 12, 1886 and January 13, 1981. Prevailing easterly trade winds and sea breezes suppress the usual summertime heating, with temperatures rarely reaching 95 °F. There are on average, only 55 days per year with 90 °F or greater highs, with the average window for such readings June 10 through September 22, shorter than almost the entire southeastern United States.  However, low temperatures during this period often remain above 80 °F. The all-time record high temperature is 97 °F on July 19, 1880, and August 29, 1956.

     It is easy to see why many people that arrive for the first time in Key West, they feel like they are in some exotic Caribbean island.  This island in 100% America, and a really great place to live if you enjoy the fun loving atmosphere of the people who visit and live here.   Be careful, many of the residents came here on vacation and never returned home.

What is the Difference Between a Wine and a Rum Drunk? Nothing!

     Here's the thing, a 'Gin drunk' isn't real. Neither is the idea that tequila turns you angry, or the stereotype of beer making you loud.   Plenty of people think of alcohol as a sort of personality management tool, you may turn to X liquor when you want to be the liveliest version of yourself, or steer clear of Y drink if you want to avoid sulking in a corner of the bar.  The result is more a product of your own psyche than a result of the specific type of booze you're drinking.   Here are some things to know about the drinking myth that just won't die.

     All alcohol is created equal - but the same can't be said of all drinking session     In the U.S., a standard drink is defined by the Centers for Disease Control as 14 grams of pure alcohol, the equivalent of about 12 ounces of beer, 8 ounces of malt liquor, 5 ounces of wine, or a single 1.5-ounce shot of hard liquor (though that definition varies pretty dramatically from country to country). Chemically, the alcohol in any one of those things is the same as the alcohol in any other alcoholic beverage, it's all ethanol, and it works the same way whether you gulp it out of a shot glass or sip it from a bottle.  "Fundamentally, alcohol is alcohol whichever way you slice it."

     The difference, then, is in when and where you drink it, and whom you're drinking it with. "It depends on what mood you were in when you started drinking and the social context." If you're doing tequila shot after tequila shot, you're probably geared up for a wild night anyway.  On the other hand, if you're slowly working your way through a bottle of wine, odds are higher you're settling in for a more mellow evening and, by extension, a more mellow drunk.   Contrary to the way we see things, it's the context, not the drink, that matters, because the context often determines the drink.   When it comes to alcohol, we're mind-bogglingly susceptible to the power of suggestion.  Thinking you're drunk can be enough to make you act drunk, even when you're stone-cold sober.    In one 2003 study, for instance, half the subjects were led to believe that the tonic water they were drinking was actually vodka; compared to the people who knew what was really in their glass, these faux drinkers could be more easily swayed to remember false events surrounding the session, and more confident in their responses.

     Similarly, a lot of your reaction to what you're drinking comes down to how you think you should be feeling, it is like you are acting from a script.   But it's not all in your head, the mixers, not the booze, are to blame for any side effects beyond drunkenness itself.   Let's compare two common combos, a rum and Coke and a vodka-soda, Think about how you'd feel if you drank each of those mixers on their own, taking booze out of the equation - a sugary, caffeine-y Coke is going to give you a buzz that plain old tonic water won’t.    A lot of this is a fine line difference depending on how your body reacts to the mixers that you choose to blend with your alcohol.  I know that personally I tend to stay mellower sipping straight rum and am able to last longer into the night compared to drinking mixed cocktails.  The simple fact is that your body on average will metabolize about 0.016% BAC per hour.   If you are at the legal limit of .08% BAC, it will take about 5 hours to get back to a 0% BAC.  Remember a standard drink will add 0.02% to your BAC and your body will metabolize it at a rate of 0.01% per hour.  If it takes you an hour to sip straight liquor versus 30 minutes to finish a mixed cocktail containing the same amount of alcohol, you will raise your BAC at the end of an hour to 0.03% versus 0.01% drinking straight liquor.

     What you drink has little to do with your drunk, it is more about your attitude and what you drink it with.  This was an interesting thing for me, but I believe that it is correct.  You don't get drunker on rum than beer, unless you drink more of one than the other.

Cognac Fernand and Friends Have Come up With an Overproof Rum for Punches and Cocktails

     

     Plantation O.F.T.D. Overproof Rum – a blend of rums from Guyana, Jamaica and Barbados bottled at 69% abv.   The rum has been created by Alexandre Gabriel, founder of brand owner Cognac Ferrand and master blender of Plantation Rum, with input from David Wondrich, a spirits and cocktail historian; Jeff ‘Beachbum’ Berry, proprietor of Latitude 29 in New Orleans; Martin Cate, proprietor of Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco; Paul McFadyen, proprietor of Trailer Happiness in London; Paul McGee, proprietor of Lost Lake in Chicago; and Scotty Schuder, proprietor of Dirty Dick in Paris.

     The rum, which was brainstormed over a “secret meeting” in New Orleans last summer when the group tasted a number of historical overproof rums and research samples, has been created for use in cocktails and punches.   The group gathered at Chateau de Bonbonnet in December 2015 to taste samples created by Gabriel, unanimously selecting the rum that would become Plantation O.F.T.D Overproof Rum.

The acronym O.F.T.D. stands for ‘Old Fashioned Traditional Dark’.   “At Maison Ferrand, I often feel that we are a team of misfits having fun,” said Gabriel. “With the O.F.T.D. band of rum geeks, I felt at home.

     “I will never forget the special moments we had creating this rum: the secret meeting at Arnaud’s, the week in Cognac, the many samples tasted and the discussions about the true nature of overproof rum spoken with the same gravitas and intensity of statesmen discussing peace treaties. And all the time we were having a ball!   “These special moments of communion with a talented and passionate team are the reason I love my job. These guys are my rum brothers for life.”

     Plantation O.F.T.D Overproof Rum is available across the US at a suggested price of $31.99.   Earlier this year, Cognac Ferrand released its pineapple-infused Plantation Rum, "Stiggin’s Fancy as a permanent annual limited edition in the United States following its successful debut last year