#borntorum

Mulled Cider

This cider drink is the quintessential hot mulled cider cocktail. It is colonial and rich, with gold rum, cider and spices. While you can make it with any brown spirit and cider, there's something about the old world taste of rum that clinches it. Interestingly enough, "gold rum" does not denote a particular category. It refers vaguely to the color of the rum, which may be lighter or darker depending on age and blending. To prove this point, Cruzan labels all their rums, light, gold and dark as simply aged rum. The color, not the label is the only visible difference between them and is a result of the blending decisions. In fact, gold rum is created by blending light and dark rums--but it also may contain caramel as a cheap way to achieve the color of an aged rum. I blended Cruzan aged rum with the very dark Pampero Venezuelan rum. Both are aged and contain no added caramel. You can chose to blend yourself, or open a bottle of brownish (not-spiced) rum to go with your home-spiced cider.

The Undead Gentleman (Smuggler’s Cove Recipe)

Ever wonder what a Zombie would be like served up? That's the aim of the Undead Gentleman. This drink has all the complexity of a Zombie without the soda or crushed ice. It is unbelievably layered! For this I made cinnamon syrup, which was really just a matter of adding ground cinnamon to demerara syrup and straining it through a coffee filter. I also made my own black overproof rum with black strap molasses, 151 rum and white unaged rum. Pampero Anejo rum is well aged and especially smooth. It is not one of those molasses-added dark rums. It is more sophisticated and suited for sipping, so it is fitting for a gentlemanly drink. If it wasn't for all the work, I'd say this is a great drink to enjoy a Zombie cocktail at home. At a restaurant where all of these syrups and rums are available, it is a no-brainer...