Warm Island Breezes and Rum Cocktails

Each spring, those of us in the Northwest are teased in to believing summer is here. Temps rocket into the 80’s, sun filled skies warm our bones and gentle breezes have us putting on shorts, sun dresses and dragging the outdoor furniture out of the garden shed. Within two sunrises, skies are gray, rain will fall for days and temps will plummet in to the upper fifty’s. We never learn. We fall for it every time.

This is the time of year I dream of the tropics with warm island breezes, light blue seas, hot sand and and rum. A lot of rum.

 

Caribbean Dance by Shaun the Bartender This site is incredibly informative and filled with a recipe each day. Read a bit of history and watch Shaun whip up something delicious.

• 1 1/2 ounce white rum
• 1/2 ounce Kahlua
• 1 once peach nectar
• 5 fresh raspberries ~ 3 inside the cocktail and 2 for garnish
• 1 tsp sugar – optional
• Soda Water

Method: In a shaker glass, place three raspberries, peach nectar and sugar in bottom. Muddle until consistency is uniform. In a tin filled half with ice, add measured amounts of rum and Kahlua. Cap with shaker glass filled with muddled ingredients and shake well. Strain in to glass with ice and top with soda water. Rub orange rind on the rim and garnish with the orange rind and two fresh raspberries. Watch Shaun whip up this little beauty here.

Andy Pearson’s Strawberry Daquiri on BBC Food. Whether you are thinking of concocting a few for a crowd or sipping one or three by yourself on a quiet beach, this has a perfect touch of sweetness with a kick of lime.

• 4 fresh strawberries, plus ½ strawberry to garnish
• 2 tsp white sugar
• 1 1/2 ounce white rum
• 1 tbsp strawberry liqueur
• 1 ounce lime juice

Method and full recipe here

The Rum and Ginger Fizz by My Man’s Belly. Summer dreaming at it’s best. Meyer lemon, rum and ginger liqueur. I can hear the waves crashing now.

• 2 Teaspoons Grated Fresh Ginger
• 1 Teaspoon Bitters (such as Angostura)
• 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice (preferably from a Meyer lemon)
• 1/2 Cup Dark Rum
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons Ginger Liqueur
• Sparkling Water
• Lemon Wheels
• Full recipe and method here