Sure Tommy Bahama is famous for putting guys, other than Don Ho, into Hawaiian... excuse me, "Island"... shirts. Then charging close to a car payment for it. But Tommy is more about the complete "Island Lifestyle" than just shirts with large flowers and/or heavy embroidery.

So it's only natural, in addition to the shirts, hats, shorts, watches, furniture, cafes, and various and sundry other products that let you experience the tropical vibe... even if you live in Boise... that Mr. Bahama would add a couple of premium rums to the collection.

I had a chance to sample both White Sand and Golden Sun, at the rumfest in Miami last weekend, and I gotta tell ya, the shirts may be a bit flashy and overblown, but the rum is smooth and refined. This isn't just a case of novelty licensing, where they get the cheap stuff, and slap a high-end name on it.

Made in Barbados at the legendary R. L. Seale Distillery (they've been crafting rum for more than eighty years and four generations), they start with the best blackstrap molasses and water naturally filtered through coral stone. (Coral stone? I think they have a shirt that color...)

Aged in small batches in smaller barrels to ensure the most flavor, White Sand, a clear, light-bodied rum is aged a minimum of two years in American white oak barrels. With hints of tangy, tropical fruit, it's a great choice to mix with mint and lime for a classic Mojito. (I can say that because I think I had seven of them last weekend.)

Golden Sun, a full-bodied, amber rum, gets a minimum of three years in the barrel. It comes out full-bodied and full of fruit and coffee, able to hold its own against the other ingredients it'll be paired with in a Cuba Libre or Mai Tai.

And since we'll be ringing in summer this weekend, with an extra day to party, I'm thinking you break out your loudest floral shirt, throw some sand on the floor, invite over some chicks in grass skirts, and mix up a few of these island-style drinks. It's what Tommy would do.

(For more info and recipes, surf over to www.tommybahamarum.com)

Dirty Mojito
2 parts Tommy Bahama Golden Sun Rum
1 teaspoon superfine sugar
The juice of 1 lime
1 bunch of fresh mint
Dash of sparkling soda
Crushed ice

Muddle ingredients in a shaker, add ice and Tommy Bahama Golden Sun Rum.  Shake well and pour into a chilled glass.  Add sparkling soda.  Garnish with a mint sprig and enjoy.


Golden Sun & Ginger
2 parts Tommy Bahama Golden Sun Rum
Ginger ale
Lime

In a tall cocktail glass filled with ice add rum and top with ginger ale. Garnish with a lime wheel.


Tommy Mai Tai
3/4 part Tommy Bahama Golden Sun Rum
3/4 part Tommy Bahama White Sand Rum
1/2 part almond-flavored liqueur
1/2 part triple sec
1/2 part orange juice
1/2 part pineapple juice
1/2 part grenadine

Combine rums, almond liqueur and triple sec in a shaker with ice. Shake and pour into a glass filled with ice. Fill with juices. Float grenadine on top and garnish with a cherry and pineapple slice.