It's that time of year again.
Time to imbibe for National Rum Day.
While people like Jack Sparrow and Jimmy Buffett may commemorate it every day, most of us only get August 16th. Here are some of the best places in North America to revel (responsibly) this year:
La Descarga: Los Angeles, California
La Descarga is a tiki bar with a twist, as this speakeasy-style venue evokes memories of 1940s Cuba from the moment you enter. You have to look hard to find the entrance, but once inside you'll be rewarded with an impressive array of around 70 international rums and a list of mostly rum-based cocktails.
The concoctions include several tiki standards (think Zombies and Mai Tais), as well as some modern-day delights.
Hale Pele: Portland, Oregon
Hale Pele is loud and proud about its tiki roots-its name even means "House of the Volcano Goddess."
Don't let the neon pufferfish lights and wooden totem poles fool you into thinking this is a tacky theme bar, however, as they take things seriously here.
The selection of 50-plus rum bottles behind the bar are broken down by country of origin. Naturally, you will find plenty of rums from the Caribbean, but also varieties from Central and South America, and even a few craft options from the USA.
Rumba: Seattle, Washington
Many consider Rumba to be the premier rum bar in the Northwest and for good reason. Their menu of 60 different rums spans the best that the Caribbean has to offer. (Pick yourself up a Rum Map to help you navigate the options.)
Cocktails range from Prohibition-era tipples to Havana favorites and include a dedicated Daiquiri menu along with a selection of punches and tiki concoctions.
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Maggie's Farm Rum Distillery: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
This independently-owned rum distillery has won more awards than we have room to name, yet they manage to maintain a friendly charm.
All rums made here are pot-distilled using raw cane sugar and Caribbean-derived yeasts, giving them a smooth flavor and distinctive aroma.
Visitors can take a tour of the distillery on Saturday afternoons, or just pop in for a tasting session from Wednesday to Sunday.
Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery: Cape Coral, Florida
As rum and sunshine go hand-in-hand, this family-run Florida distillery is the perfect place to pick up an award-winning bottle or sip a creative cocktail or two.
Wicked Dolphinutilizes the nearby sugarcane fields to produce its artisan spirits, which are handcrafted in small batches and then left to distill for between three and 14 years.
They sell premium and reserve rums, as well as a line of flavored fruity 'rumshines'. Visitors can take tasting tours around the facility on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The Caribbean
Rum was born in the Caribbean, so if you are up for getting your passport stamped, this is hands down the number one place to celebrate the day. You are destined to find delicious rum drinks anywhere in the region, but some islands are a little more famous than others.
Barbados happens to be home to the world's oldest distillery in Mount Gay while Martinique is famous for having a multitude of rum makers.
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At Home
If you would rather celebrate in the comfort of your own home, here is a refreshing recipe that is sure to get the party started:
Bacardi Refresco Superior
Ingredients:
-2 parts Bacardi Superior
-.75 parts ginger syrup
-1 part lime juice
-.25 parts St-Germain
-4 cilantro leaves
Method: Shake all ingredients with ice, double strain into a highball glass filled with ice, then garnish with a lime wheel and a sprig of cilantro.
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