Yo ho ho (and 38 bottles of rum)

[Colin]

Alcoholic or connoisseur?

Well, I do have about 100 bottles of liquor in my home bar so the question was certain to arise. The fact that I can mix a cocktail from memory that involves nearly a dozen ingredients (some including seemingly bizarre ingredients such as falernum) does speak in favor of the latter, though my propensity to include 151 Demerara rum on the top of myriad concoctions doesn't do much to dissuade the former.

At certain points in my life, I have favored tequila, gin or vodka, but I have no come to see rum as the ultimate spirit. And about a third of my current collection is made up of my newfound love — light, medium, dark, overproof, flavored. I discriminate not when it comes to the many lovely forms of this beverage. And I hope this board that I stumbled across continues my tiki education. I love the rums that Cruzan makes in particular — so cheap and high-quality for a good mixed drink. Lemon Hart and Appleton are my other favorites.

I live in Seattle and my name is Colin as the user name intimates. I'm 31 and a copy editor/page designer at a daily newspaper. I fix grammar, write headlines, lay out pages, etc. Don't hold any drunken typos against me as I'm off the clock (and onto my second Hemingway Daiquiri). In the past, such occupation was rewarded with complicity in the unspoken truth that a flask was ever-present in the depths of one's desk. Nowadays, keeping 80 proof liquors in one's drawers is frowned upon, but I always smile when I come home to a Zombie or a mai tai or a bahia.

Remember, I'm a connoisseur, not a drunk.

[Edward Hamilton]

Well Colin, it appears you have a healthy appreciation of spirits. The old days of the local newspaper are gone but there is still a lot of reporting done from the mahogany bar.

[Tiare]

Welcome to the forums!

[Lew Barrett]

Welcome from one Seattlite to another.

Here in town, it's fair to say that The Times, they are a' changin'. They laid off 200 last month, as I recall. Nobody here will correct your spelling, syntax or grammar as long as you don't get 'Demerara' wrong. Bottoms up, and see you at 4th Avenue.

[tym2relax]

Hey Colin, welcome aboard!

Mai Tai? Did you say Mai Tai? Please tell us your favorite recipe!

[Hank Koestner]

Welcome to the forums!

[frenchrumlover]

welcome on board

[Colin]

Originally Posted by Lew Barrett

Welcome from one Seattlite to another.

Here in town, it's fair to say that The Times, they are a' changin'. They laid off 200 last month, as I recall. Nobody here will correct your spelling, syntax or grammar as long as you don't get 'Demerara' wrong. Bottoms up, and see you at 4th Avenue.

Hey, fellow Seattleite. I'm glad I don't work at the Times. They're our enemy.

You'll have to let me know about any good spots here in town to get rum drinks. I go to Hula Hula once in a while (I'm still recovering from a Zombie-Fog Cutter-Hurricane trifecta there last week), but am always looking for fun spots. I want to go across the lake to Bellevue some day soon to check out the Trader Vic's there since I've never been. What's on 4th Avenue that I should be aware of?

I like many variations on the Mai Tai. The one I like best: The juice of one lime, 1 oz. each light and dark rum (Cruzan or Appleton for everyday use), 1/2 oz. orange Curaзao (Bols is the best we have available here), 1/4 oz. each orgeat and either rock candy syrup or a homemade syrup (which I flavor with vanilla beans, lime zest and almonds).

If it's a warm afternoon, sometimes I'll add a splash of pineapple or fresh orange, even if it's not traditional. I'm also a sucker for any dark rum on top, whether it be Myers's, Gosling's, Cruzan Black Strap or Lemon Hart 151. You must garnish with fresh mint.

[Dood]

Welcome to the Ministry!

[Tiare]

Originally Posted by Colin

I like many variations on the Mai Tai.

I wish every Mai Tai lover would be able to try it with the 15 year Silver Seal 110 proof demerara...its really out of this world with 2 oz of this rum. Better than anything i ever had before. Just a pity is expensive..but its worth it.
You find it in Robertos shop