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Rum-de-dum-dum
Pusser's Rum (and Pusser's in Annapolis). On July 31st, celebrate the liberation of rum by the British Navy. Details
to follow... Lunchtime
on the water overlooking the notorious Ego Alley, Annapolis. We’re at Pusser’s Bar, watching the floating monuments
to wealth and excess lumber their way up to the City Dock, as we contemplate the life of the owners, and sip our second “Painkiller.” The bar, Pusser's Caribbean Grille, is located in the Marriott Annapolis Waterfront. It offers a tourista Caribbean-style menu, and gets a “Best Dock & Dine” Restaurant from What’s Up Annapolis. But that’s not why we’re here. Aye, Laddie. We’re Here for the Rum.
The “it” drink of the last few years, the mojito, might have awakened the world to rum. But this bar has awakened us to the delights of real “drinking” rum. British Navy Pusser’s Rum, the West Indies libation on which the restaurant concept is based, is an aged pot-stilled rum, much like a single malt scotch — sweet, smooth and sippable. The name is a corruption of “Purser’s,” because, until as recently as 1970, Great Britain’s Royal Navy purser served out… “…a daily ration, or "tot," of rum….Prior to 1740, the men's daily tot of Pusser's Rum was a pint a day, which they drank neat, that is without water! Before battle, they were issued a double 'tot,' and always after victory for a job well done!” (This from Pusser’s.)
The practice of daily rations, which was apparently discontinued on July 31, 1970, may be a loss to the
sailors, but our gain. An entrepreneur bought the recipe and the rights, and British Navy Pusser’s Rum was released
to the general public. Now, dark aged rum is on the world’s radar, and Pusser’s is a fine addition to our choices. It can be sipped neat or on the rocks, added to Coke for a cuba libre, or served up into the “infamous Pusser's Painkiller®” (recipe to follow). A Tale of Two Rums
But this was just the beginning of our foray into the “dark” world. Soon after discovering this centuries-old drink, we decided to put it to the test. We tasted Pusser’s ($22.99) against another high-profile sipping rum: Pyrat XO, from the Patrón Spirits Company, makers of the upscale tequila. Retailing for about $8 more at $30.99, we wanted to see if Pyrat was worth the difference. It was. Pyrat (yes, pronounced “pirate”) is reminiscent of a cognac in its sweet, deep,
heady flavor. It’s very drinkable by itself — almost too drinkable. Through the night, several of the testers
enjoyed it so much that they renounced their long-standing marriages to single-malt scotches. Another tester we carried out
the door. So be careful. It’s
the day the British Navy freed rum.
RECIPES 4 parts pineapple juice |
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