Way of the Wong – Page 59 – city secrets from an urban ninja

National Rum Day {Harvard & Stone}

Summertime is the time for rum. That eau de vie distilled from sugar cane hits just the spot on a hot summer day. Perhaps because its origins are from such tropical places, the drinks we make with it also transport us to a sandy beach filled with palm trees or a tranquil hammock asleep with a book. So, in honor of this fabulous spirit, I present you with a cocktail to try at home.

Here’s a little historical background for you: in the 1700s and even 1800s in what is now New England, punches consisted of rum, sugar, citrus, water, and local fruit (if you could get it). Ingredients were combined and served out of a bowl or by the glass over ice. Punch was the great equalizer in the history of rum because this way of drinking rum was enjoyed by either the politicians or poor, wealthy or nefarious, pirates or everyone else (aka ninjas).

Following in this grand tradition of Tories & Theives, I give you Rowes Warf, a delightful cocktail that is both high brow and low brow. The name of this drink hails from Rowes Warf in Boston Harbor, so think tea parties, rum distillation plants and a port that was a necessary piece of the spice trade.

So don’t say, I never taught you nutthin’…

Just a warning, this drink is not for beginners. We don’t do anything easy here (aka no red bull – vodka in my house).

Rowes Warf

1 oz blackberry grapefruit tea oleo syrup**

1 oz grapefruit juice

1/2 oz lime juice

2 oz sailor jerry rum

1/16-1/8 oz angostura bitters

2-3 oz ginger beer

**BLACKBERRY GRAPEFRUIT TEA OLEO SYRUP**

1) brew two bags of english tea into one cup of hot water

2) add the peel of one grapefruit and 10 blackberries to 1 cup of cane sugar

3) muddle berries and peel

4) add hot tea and stir to dissolve sugar

Add syrup, grapefruit, lime into bowl, add SJ, slowly add ice and stir. add bitters and stir. finish with ginger beer. keep chilled. serve over ice in desired glassware.

Craft Cocktails for Pirates

…and if you are too lazy to make this at home, come on down to Harvard and Stone tomorrow Thursday August 16th, 2012 where the amazing Matt Wallace and his team will have some deals on Rum Cocktails in honor of this grand tradition of pirates.

Harvard and Stone was recently nominated as one of the top 10 Best American Cocktail Bars at Tales of the Cocktail, so you know you’re in for a treat.