December 27, 2007 Issue

Rum, rhymes with yum. And boy, it is ever.

Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you I’m not a big drinker. Somehow I never got in the habit. I like and enjoy a variety of adult beverages, but I don’t go out of my way to procure it. I have liquor, beer and wine in my house, but seldom think of taking a drink unless I have company for dinner or I’m hosting a party.

All that may have changed now that I’ve been introduced to the wonders of rum. I’m just back from a too-short sojourn to an exquisite barrier island in the Bahamas, where rum is king. On this particular island, I believe there is serious competition for the island drunk, and it’s a small island.

The first establishment I visited featured a bartender who drank continually. I’m not sure when his shift started, but by early evening he was smashed and still on duty when I left. The very next night, at an entirely different establishment, this guy was a drunken customer at the bar. His beverage of choice was beer, possibly because it was the cheapest thing to drink on the island. On this fantasy island, customers, bistro owners, and serving personnel do more than wet their whistle while they work, often leading to some confusion, but it is all somewhat entertaining to observe.

I had decided to drink only rum on this working vacation, so I dropped by the only island liquor store and asked the clerk to recommend the smoothest rum. She pointed me to Bacardi’s Anejo, which I promptly bought. It is indeed a smooth substance, tasting equally good with mixers, in coffee, and all by its lonesome. The entire time I was there, I was not entirely sober, but neither was I ever really drunk. Previously unknown to me, there are a lot of varieties of rum, light and dark, and in different blends, but if there is one better or which goes down more smoothly than this Anejo, please let me know so that I may try it immediately. I was assured the Anejo was available in the states and just as soon as I get around to it, I’m buying some more.

Alcohol affects me in a weird way. I can drink two or three Old-Fashions and break out in drunken song; but I have always been able to sip on tequila all day long without getting sloppy. I’m not saying I would want to get behind the wheel of a car, but unless you had been watching me drink, you’d just think I was relaxed.

Back on the island, I was taken by the lack of wildlife. Feral cats were everywhere, which may have led to the absence of any birds. I expected to see the kinds of birds we see around here, but I did not see one single bird.

The plant life was exquisite, although the flowering plants were mostly small. There were some luscious hibiscus bushes blooming and coconuts were plentiful. My companions cracked open one coconut and while the juice was without flavor, the meat of the nut was moist and fiber-filled and made a nice snack with the rum.

Island life is slow paced. There were only a handful of cars, which was just as well because there were only two narrow roads. The tallest things on the island are palm trees, although development is certainly there in the form of a massive project, which includes an 18-hole golf course. Most of the full time residents are either natives or those who have retired there and they are not happy about the development, fearing the chemicals needed to maintain the golf course will run off into the Atlantic and affect the coral reefs, which surround the island.

Most folks used golf carts to get around. Surprisingly there were only a few bicycles and motor scooters. Gas is more than $5 a gallon. As the island is only seven miles long and a couple of miles wide, you could drive all over the island in a short time. There was no visible poverty or slums. Much of the labor for the building projects came in and left via the ferry. In fact, everything, including food, has to be delivered by ferry, which is a strange concept to those of us who are used to hopping in our cars for a trip to the grocery or drug store. However, I believe I could adapt to such a laid-back way of life and just as soon as I win the lottery, I will further investigate the possibilities of island life.

It is time for our annual mini-break. We will resume publication on Jan. 24. In the meantime, Happy New Year and best wishes for a safe, healthy and happy 2008.

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