TheCorporateCounsel.net

Monday is Labor Day, which is traditionally the day that we bid farewell to summer. Unlike almost everywhere else in the country, we here in Northeast Ohio have been blessed with a really nice, temperate summer (well, aside from the 12 tornadoes that hit us last Thursday), so I’m a little sorry to see it go. On the other hand, I know that for my CCRcorp colleagues in the “Sun’s Anvil” formerly known as Austin, Texas, fall can’t come soon enough.

Still, regardless of whether the end of summer makes you a little melancholy or just makes you look forward to a lower risk of heat stroke, it seems appropriate to have a nice cool drink to give it a proper send-off this holiday weekend. If your preference for refreshment includes something with a little booze in it, then I’ve got a cocktail recommendation to pass along.

About a decade ago, I was at a soiree at a more sophisticated local watering hole than I’m accustomed to frequenting. The bartender was pushing a rum-based concoction that I’d never tried before. It was delicious. I asked what it was, and she told me that it was something called a “Dark ‘n Stormy.” To make a long story short, I’ve been happily quaffing them every summer since.

For my money, the Dark ‘n Stormy is close to a perfect summer drink. It’s not too sweet, but it’s very refreshing. It’s apparently Bermuda’s national cocktail, and the recipe is ridiculously simple – it’s a classic boat drink, just dark rum and ginger beer, with a squeeze of lime if you like. The only thing that’s a little complicated is that the name “Dark ‘n Stormy” is a registered trademark of Gosling’s Rum in Hamilton, Bermuda, and is only supposed to be made with their product, which can sometimes be hard to find. It’s worth the effort though because other dark rums don’t taste anything like Gosling’s, and you won’t appreciate the drink nearly as much.

If you’re looking for an alternative to the usual summer weekend gin or vodka & tonic or one of those hop-bomb IPAs that you kids can’t seem to get enough of, give a Dark ‘n Stormy a try.  I think you’ll like it.  If you prefer something non-alcoholic, then maybe give one of these summer mocktails a try.  In any case, have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend.  Our blogs will be back on Tuesday.

– John Jenkins