381811 Fri Mar 16 13:19:26 -0700 2007 4 36 Spirits 0 2392934 I've drawn mixmaster duties for a rum-themed dinner party. I'd like to make a couple good rum cocktails. Dark and Stormys are a favorite of mine, but I was also thinking of making Bumbo -- has anyone had it? Is it good? The recipe I found calls for dark rum, grenadine, lemon juice, and nutmeg. Also, can you make bumbo with Gosling's? The other option would be to make Dark and Stormys with Myers, but that feels like a bigger no-no. Fri Mar 16 13:19:26 -0700 2007 48727 cijl 1 2393052 I would suggest Ina Garten's recipe for Mai Tai's. They are a good ratio..I make them by the pitcher in the summertime and everyone loves them... this is the basic recipe to which I also add pineapple juice about 1/2 cup 1/2 cup white rum 1/4 cup Triple Sec 1/4 cup fresh orange juice 1/4 cup fresh lime juice Crushed ice Fri Mar 16 13:50:52 -0700 2007 2392934 78837 flipkeat 2 2402839 That ain't a Mai Tai. I work at Trader Vic's, Vic *invented* the Mai Tai back in the 1940s. The real recipe for one is: 1 ounce gold rum 1 ounce dark rum 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice 1/2 ounce orange curaçao 1/4 ounce double strength simple syrup (1 pound sugar and 1 c water heated until clear, and allowed to cool) 1/4 ounce orgeat syrup Shake very well with 2 cups of crushed ice, and pour into a 16 ounce glass without straining. For the official garnish, it gets a sprig of mint (clap the mint between your hands to get it smelling good), a pineapple tidbit and maraschino cherry on a stick, and one of the squeezed lime halves. To serve 25 people, scale the amounts up as follows: 1 bottle gold rum 1 bottle dark rum 1 1/2 c. lime juice 1 1/2 c. orange curaçao 3/4 c. double strength simple syrup 3/4 c. orgeat syrup As far as brands go, I use Appleton Estate V/X for the gold rum, and Gosling's Black Seal for the dark rum. I use the Appleton because it's the same company as what Vic used in the original Mai Tai, J. Wray & Nephew. He used a 17 year blend that is no longer available today. In fact, Vic is the one responsible for it no longer being available, as he went through the entire world supply of J. Wray 17 year within a year after creating the Mai Tai! From what I can tell, the closest you could get to the 17 year on today's market is the Appleton Estate Extra, which would be used on its own in the Mai Tai. Note there is a pretty good price difference between the two; V/X is about 20 a bottle, Extra about 30. So, if these are people you'd make Grey Goose martinis for, splurge on the Extra; otherwise stick to the V/X and Gosling's. I really don't recommend going much lower in price unless you know of a really good rum that I don't; I've made this with Bacardi and it just isn't the same. Tue Mar 20 04:48:25 -0700 2007 2393052 10996 JK Grence the Cosmic Jester 1 2393125 that sounds great -- thank you. Fri Mar 16 14:06:49 -0700 2007 2392934 48727 cijl 2 2402860 what is the date of your party? We made a batch of Painkillers using Pussers Rum, they were a hit for a summer party. Check out http://www.pussers.com/rum/cocktails for more info on making a batch or by the "mug" here's the recipe Pusser's Rum to taste 4 parts pineapple juice 1 part cream of coconut 1 part orange juice Serve over ice Freshly grated nutmeg to top Tue Mar 20 05:12:43 -0700 2007 2393125 38032 Hammie