Sharkbait’s Cocktail of the Week: Something to Keep ’em All Warm

It’s no secret here that I am an avid Jimmy Buffett fan. Even more so now that I can listen to his album Volcano on my turntable I got up and running last year. On that album is one of my favorite songs: Boat Drinks. I love the theme of being somewhere cold (and shooting six holes into your freezer because of it), wanting to go somewhere warm, and the nod to watching hockey (obviously). Don’t ask me how or why, but I ended up going down a wikipedia rabbit hole about this song and found this neat little bit of trivia: It was February in Boston, and I was cold and wanted to go home. Rum and tonic was the antifreeze, and the newspaper was full of ads for warmer climates. I was in a place owned by Derek Sandersen, who was a very famous player for the Boston Bruins in the ’70s. I came out of the bar and couldn’t find a cab except for the one that was running in front of the nearby hotel. There was no driver in it, and I was too cold to care about the consequences. There is an old Navy expression which says, ‘Beg forgiveness, not permission.’ I hopped in and drove back to my hotel. I did leave the fare on the seat.

Grand theft auto aside, that is a cool anecdote about the song. Also by now you should know where this is going: rum and tonics. It had never occurred to me that rum and tonic was a thing. If it’s good enough for 1970s Jimmy Buffett, I think I should be exploring these drinks. Not knowing which rum would be best, I texted my bartender friend and he said pretty much anything goes. He suggested Plantation Dark because it works well in just about everything, and he also mentioned del Barrilito or any other Puerto Rican rum. Having neither of those, He followed up with Bacardi 10 or Goslings since I have the option of using both. I think I’ll go with the last of my Bacardi 10 here. My friend also suggested trying with orange peel/lime coin or wedge. To keep with the Caribbean theme, I think I’ll  go with lime, since rum and lime are perfect for each other:

2 oz. Dark rum

6 oz. Tonic water

Lime wedge

Fill a highball glass with ice. Add rum, and squeeze the lime over the rum and ice. Add tonic. Stir and enjoy

I get a decent amount of rum up front. The tonic mutes the signature rum aromas a bit, but bringing it up to take a sip, you can’t help but pick up the caramel/molasses like smell a dark rum has.

Oh that is excellent. I get a decent amount of rum flavor up front. But the tonic does a good job of reducing the intensity. So you get a great balance of rum flavor without the intensity. The tonic adds a nice subtle depth of flavor as well as the carbonation with plays nicely here. The lime comes through at the end with a little citrus-y brightness which is a nice touch and finish.

And…..that’s about it. It’s a beautifully simple drink that certainly acts as an anti-freeze as Mr. Buffett so aptly put it when describing the inspiration for Boat Drinks. It’s a nice changeup from my usual gin and tonic (of which, might be my favorite summer drink). I’ll be making this more before I take a  revolver to a major household appliance.

(Banner image courtesy Matthew Tetrault Photography)