Rum Magic on the Island

by Jen
The week is done, now take me to the island and gimme some rum!

Back at university, I used to be a rum guzzler. Upon arrival at the bar, I wouldn't have to say a thing – my drink would be delivered; rum and coke, double on the rocks. You could say my zest for rum was excessive – yes, I certainly over-did it. However, after a few year break – I'm BACK to bang the rum drum; but this time for something a little more fruity, fizzy and fun.

My rum reincarnation was done in style. I took a water taxi from the Harbourfront port, alongside the boys of, now world-famous, Bedouin Soundclash. They were heading to the island for the Malibu Rum Concert, ,and of course to also show me how to make a picture-perfect summer cocktail.

Arghhhhhhhh! Me lips are wet for a tasty spirit!

As I sat on the roof top of the Paradise restaurant indulging in numerous drink taste tests, I felt myself transported away from Lake Ontario to a sun-soaked beach in the Bahamas. Gazing at the city shore line I visualized smoggy traffic lights with honking and middle finger rage, claustrophobic subways with coughing and greasy food wafts; and all I could think of as I sipped my Malibu Caribbean Cosmo in the hot heat with a mild sea breeze was – SUCKERS!
The only negative part of this experience was that I had idiotically worn tights and a turtleneck…I could have sworn when I left the house that morning that it was cool and fresh. I must have been in a weather vortex, as a string bikini and zinc was the actual appropriate apparel for the occasion versus the somewhat Brit pop mod get-up I was sweating in.

Following a somewhat stumbled and humorous lesson on how to make a cocktail by Bedouin Soundclash lead vocalist Jay Malinowski and bassist Eon Sinclair, we sat in the sunshine – myself half tipsy, and discussed the current state of their glorious success. The boys are ready to take some time off. HA! I can understand that. "After five years on the road, it's time to chill out, reassess who we are as people and why we started the band. We need to look at the philosophy of what we are doing and why we are doing it." Leaving Canadian music in the hands of Bedouin favourites Alexisonfire, Sam Roberts, K-OS, Kardinall, and Moneen, the band is ready to kick back, watch Planet Earth, and take'r easy. Sounds good. Would you like a cocktail with that?

Try this out, and you will make love to your martini glass:

MALIBU CARIBBEAN COSMO
2 oz. Malibu Coconut Rum
Splash of triple sec
2 oz. pineapple juice
1 oz. pomegranate juice
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a twist of lime.
Did you know that Malibu Rum is available in these flavours at your local LCBO:
Malibu Coconut (the most popular)
Malibu Tropical Banana
Malibu Mango
Malibu Pineapple
Malibu Passion Fruit
So go buy some POM or Pineapple juice (all the rage right now), put on your thong bikini and do a little rum shake in the back yard.