Sunday, January 16, 2011

Rumstylin with Pusser's Original Navy Rum

     Pusser's in 1979,  9 years after Black Tot Day if you will, began to reproduce the famous navy rum in tradition of the times of Trafalgar in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.     The rum is distilled in traditional wooden pot stills and still retains the intense flavors only this method of distillation can produce.     This is a heavy dark amber rum that bold aromas that are apparent even at a distance when the bottle is uncorked.     The flavors are bold and the finish is on the sweet side.      This is the same blend of 84 proof rum that was issued by the British Admiralty from  1655 after the British too control of Jamaica til July 31, 1970, Black Tot Day.   

     Today this is the basis for one of the most famous of the cocktails that come from the British Virgin Islands, the Painkiller.     This is the cocktail that was created at the Soddy Dollar Bar located in White Bay on Jost Van Dyke.     This cocktail was perfected at "Sandcastle's Soggy Dollar Bar in the 70's and is an absolute staple of the US and British Virgin Islands.     The Soggy Dollar derived it's name from the fact  that boaters upon arriving in White Bay and to anchor off shore and swim to the beach and the bar, often paying their tabs with soggy wet dollars.     There was a clothes line that you could hang your paper currency to dry , adding to the unique experience of the venue.
     I'm still serving this cocktail in it's original form at the Rum Bar in Key West.     We have kept the drink 's standards high using the Pusser's Navy Rum and all the best of ingredients right down to the fresh ground nutmeg topping.     Should you be in the Virgin Islands or Key West you would be remiss in your rumstylin' if you don't have one of these wonderful cocktails made with this traditional rum.     ;o)