Alligators on a Party Barge

2007: The Year We Bring Rum Back

Hangover recovery always leads to wistful reminiscing of nights where mass quantities were consumed, but no ill effects were felt the following day. And we discovered something interesting – none of the gators can recall ever having a rum-induced hangover.

Rum is likely what constituted My First Cocktail, at least if you are a girl. Then you probably discovered cheap vodka. And it got you where you wanted to be even faster. But despite all the bullroar about clear liquor and odorless/colorless, nothing treated you quite so bad the next morning (or at end of the night) as vodka. Vodka is tasteless going down, but it is memorable coming back up, as Garrison Keillor says.

Along the way, you dabbled in whiskey, gin, and tequila. You learned how to drink beer without gagging and you acquired at least four matching wine glasses. There were exotic green liqueurs in shot glasses and amber cordials in balloon glasses.

[Brief aside: Seamus, yo, says the two things alcoholics drink are vodka and Canadian whiskey. So far, we haven’t found any evidence that his assertion is wrong.]

But you forgot all about poor old rum. Rum was hijacked by springbreaking 18-year-olds in Panama City and Cap’n Morgan. Rum cocktails all seemed to require a blender. And everybody at the bar always turned their heads when they heard the blender crank up because it meant someone underage was about to start getting her drink on.

Rum cocktails do seem to require a little more attention that liquor + mixer. There's a need to garnish rum drinks with flowers and paper umbrellas and fruit speared on plastic swords. But we think rum deserves more respect. Rum deserves a second chance. That’s why we’ve decided that 2007 is the year we bring rum back. Somebody’s got to it, and it might as well be us.

Are you over 23? Is there a rum cocktail you aren’t embarrassed to order in public?

Labels: 2007 resolutions, rum, suggestion solication

posted by Bailey, yo @ Wednesday, January 03, 2007