Sharkbait’s Cocktail of the Week: The Weather is Here, I Wish You Were Beautiful

Hello and happy Friday. This week I was mid yacht rock playlist and a song came on that I wouldn’t count as yacht rock, but I still enjoy anyway: The Weather is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful by Jimmy Buffett.

I’ve always liked this song for numerous reasons, but this week a particular block of lyrics resonated with me:

Pack it up and let everyone know
It was something that he
Should have done such a long time ago
Still time to start a new life in the palm trees

I think another round of pandemic fatigue, plus a shit week has me daydreaming of packing up the family and saying fuck it and moving to an island somewhere and opening a dive bar or something of that sort.

Anyway

The Buffett inspiration led me to make the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club from the Vintage Spirits cocktail book. Having some newly acquired rum on hand, I was eager to give this one a go.

Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Cocktail:

2 oz. Barbados rum

.75 oz. Fresh lime juice

2 dashes Cointreau

2 teaspoons Falernum

Fairly bland nose on this one. I get a touch of citrus, and not much more. For a Caribbean inspired drink, I’m not surprised at it’s neutral aroma. In the tropical heat, I want something that immediately lets me know that what I’m about to imbibe will be cool and refreshing.

Oh and it is. The rum leads off the sip but is quickly met with a lime/falernum mix, which is quite pleasant. The Cointreau gets a little lost, but I think I can detect a little bit of it at the end. The sip starts well balanced, but towards the end, the falernum is the dominant flavor, and it tends to linger for a few seconds after you’re done, providing a slightly bitter finish to an otherwise well balanced and well made drink.

I think I’m at fault for the stronger falernum flavor. In measuring the teaspoons, I used my bar spoon, but may have overfilled it on the second one and did not adjust for the over measure. I don’t think the drink was affected negatively. A little stronger background flavor does not ruin what I made. Next time I’ll be more careful with the measurements.

(Banner image found here)

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Sharkbait
Sharkbait has not actually been bitten by a shark, but has told people in bars that he was for free drinks. Married to a Giants fan, he enjoys whisk(e)y, cooking, the Rangers, and the Patriots.
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Dunstan

Throwing this open for suggestions from sharkbait and the DFO “drink tank” generally:

A month or so ago, I bought a bottle of creme de banana to use for making Bananas Foster. I’m trying to figure out cocktails to use it in — internet searches mostly turn up various “shooters,” which are not really my thing.

Also, I long ago bought a bottle of macadamia nut liqueur. Unfortunately, I can’t find a lot of recipes for it, and it is cloyingly sweet, so it’s a little tricky to work with. It may be that its best use is as a splash in a cup of coffee, though again that’s not really my thing.

BrettFavresColonoscopy

Agreed, I’ve only ever used it for bananas foster but think a frozen rum drink is my best guess.

BrettFavresColonoscopy

Also,waiting for balls to correct us on use of BBC.

ballsofsteelandfury

I apologize as I’ve been busy at work. I’ve been neglecting my duties…

BeefReeferLives

Banana daiquiris?

BeefReeferLives

Here’s one that’s straight up instead of frozen/blended. Interesting… https://www.liquor.com/recipes/banana-daiquiri/

Dunstan

Yeah, I usually prefer the non-blended daiquiris anyway. (Plus, I only have an immersion blender and a food processor, not a full-size blender.)

I might try this today, too.

Actually, it occurs to me that I could substitute the macadamia nut liqueur for the demarara syrup, which makes this an answer to both questions!

Dunstan

Yeah, that’s an idea. Usually those call for whole bananas, but no reason I couldn’t punch up the banana flavor with some of the CdB also.

SonOfSpam

Banana liqueur and peanut butter whiskey.

Call it the Bloated Elvis.

Or just buttchug it and call it Banana in the Tailpipe.

yeah right

You could use both of those in a pretty kick ass cheesecake.

Dunstan

I love cheesecake, which is why I’ve never made one — I would inhale the entire thing in like two days.

BrettFavresColonoscopy

I can’t believe I never thought of that

Game Time Decision

CHUG
CHUG
CHUG

Dunstan

I have a bunch of limes I need to use, so I know how happy hour is starting tonight.

Jimmy Buffett concerts are a lot of fun, even if you’re not a particular fan. Great tailgating scene. Very eclectic crowd — everything from grandparents and grandkids to, yes, the inevitable drunken college bros (but I’ve never had a problem with anyone being aggro).

Gumbygirl

I saw him in the mid 80’s , at the Paramount in Seattle. Went with a bunch of submariners. It was fun, we were bad enough we got escorted to the Bremerton ferry by some cops. It was like a Mardi Gras parade, but no floats or beads. Plenty of titty flashing though! We all enjoyed ourselves, especially the cops.

Don T

All week it’s been sunny with no clouds. Hence the sucky part of the Caribbean: work keeps ya away from the beach.

BeefReeferLives

You poor guy you… It’s another day of grey drizzle up here in the PNW, so my heart really bleeds for ya…

Don T

comment image

yeah right

Now I feel like calling in sick and drinking boat drinks all day.

Dunstan

Do it now, before you end up shooting six holes in your freezer!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2PsJT-QxOw

Gumbygirl
BeefReeferLives

Humm, Falernum. Never heard of that before… Learnin’ something new every day… Thanks, Sharkie!

From Wiki: Falernum (pronouncedfə-LUR-nəm) is either a 11% ABV syrup liqueur or a nonalcoholic syrup from the Caribbean. It is best known for its use in tropical drinks. It contains flavors of ginger, lime, and almond, and most often also of cloves or allspice. It may be thought of as a spicier version of orgeat syrup.

Depending on sugar content, the consistency is often thick and is therefore sometimes referred to as “velvet falernum” because of the feeling it leaves on one’s tongue. Brands vary and the color can be white to light amber, and it may be clear or translucent

Last edited 3 years ago by BeefReeferLives
Beerguyrob

It’s probably considered “non-alcoholic” in some Caribbean circles because it is only 11% ABV

Don T

Sane here. I had never heard of falernum before Mr. Bait brought it up.