Summer is upon us. (Even if it doesn't feel that way for some of you...) And nothing says summer more than tipping back a tall cool drink made with some great rum. Preferably on a beach somewhere, surrounded by bikinis.
Last week Andrea from Cruzan Rum came down to Ft. Lauderdale, and invited me and a bunch of friends to dinner and a rum tasting. Along with an education on their rum. An offer we couldn't refuse.
Here's the condensed version of what we learned (what I can remember after a three hour rum tasting...): It's pronounced "CREW-zshin" not "crew-ZAN", and is named for the inhabitants of St. Croix where it's distilled. The company is family owned and operated for generations. There are 165 windmills on the island that grind sugar to get the molasses they use in the rum. And they use a 5-column distillation process to remove all the impurities and create a clean, smooth taste. And I will tell you, that in blind tastes, all six of us picked Cruzan every time.
Two of the drinks we had that night got top reviews and are perfect for kicking off your summer, so I'm posting them below. The key is the float of their Black Strap, a molasses-heavy rum that adds a serious flavor punch. Trust me, you'll want to make sure to include it. Now your job is to go find some bikinis...
Single N’ Stormy
2 parts Single Barrel
4 parts Ginger Beer
Squeeze of lime
Float Black Strap on top
Cruzan Bay Breeze
1 part Cruzan Pineapple
1 part Cruzan Coconut
Cranberry Juice
Pineapple Juice
Float Black Strap on top
www.cruzanrum.com