With its island ingredients and romantic moniker, the dark and stormy tastes like waiting out a thunderstorm on a Caribbean beach. Like a great vacation, a dark and stormy cocktail relaxes and surprises. Every time I mix one, I find myself tweaking the proportions ever so slightly, to achieve the ideal balance of spicy, sweet, and sour. Similar to a moscow mule, a dark and stormy must be made Read more

National Rum Day isn't until next Tuesday, but why not get the party started now? After all, it's the end of a work week, and there is no better time for a rum drink than Friday afternoon. There are tons of mojito variations out there, but the one I've been sipping lately is this refreshing and potent pineapple version. It's like a mojito that's decided to go on a tropical vacation! The Read more

The start of a long weekend calls for a celebratory cocktail, and today I'm toasting with this fizzy, raspberry mojito! It's got all of the usual suspects of a classic mojito — rum, lime juice, and mint — but it's given a girlie twist with the addition of raspberries and sparkling wine. The libation is fruity, refreshing, and downright delicious. The only problem with it? It's too easy to Read more

When it comes to rum, every country in the Caribbean has a preferred brand. In Jamaica, it's Appleton; in Barbados, it's Mount Gay; and in the Dominican Republic, it's Brugal. I recently got my hands on a bottle of ron Brugal añejo, which is a slightly buttery, dark rum that's been aged three to six years in American oak. Naturally, I decided to use the Brugal to make a cocktail. The Turbinado Read more

It's Friday and that means it's the perfect time to channel your inner bartender by making a delicious drink. How about one that's refreshing and fruity, too? This mojito has the classic ingredients — mint, lime, rum — but orange is thrown into the mix. Fresh muddled oranges and Grand Marnier give it a vibrant orange flavor that's not overpowering, but rather, delightful. I enjoyed this drink Read more

If you're hosting a Mardi Gras brunch, there's only one drink to serve, and no, it's not a bloody Mary, it's Ramos gin fizz. However, if the soirée is on Saturday night, you've got to make a huge round of hurricanes! This classic recipe comes from Dale Degroff and features two kinds of rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, and passion fruit nectar. To batch it, multiply the ingredient amounts by Read more

Unlike other food festivals, such as the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, the South Beach Wine & Food Festival takes place primarily in tents that are located right on the beach. Festivalgoers slip off their sandals — it's hard to walk in the sand with them — and traipse barefoot around the tents. Of course we did the same: as they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. There's no Read more

Can't fathom sipping an iced cocktail as the temperature continues dipping? Then settle in with a batch of steamy buttered rum instead — it'll warm you to the core, even in bone-chillingly cold climes. This recipe for hot buttered rum is the best I've ever had, in part because it calls for a spiced butter as its base. This recipe also incorporates ground ginger, grated orange zest, and a fresh Read more