Thursday, June 16, 2011

Top 4 Beach Beverages

By Robert Nickel


Sure, the doctors and your mother urge you to drink only water while at the beach, but where is the fun in that? If you plan to spend the entire day lying in the sun, well then yes, water is a good idea; as well as a good dermatologist. When evening arrives and it is time to saunter up to the bar for an icy brew to compliment a stint of people watching, consider one of these iconic beach beverages.

Whoever came up with the idea for pineapple, coconut and rum all in one glass should have an award named after them from the Spirit International Prestige Awards. The Pina Colada is said to have originated in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the Oasis Bar around the 19th century, but it was really perfected in the 1950's when cream of coconut was introduced. The sweetly potent drink is best enjoyed on a Jamaican or Dominican beach, in view of the coconut trees.

The Daiquiri is a lovely sweet and fruity drink that goes well with sand and sun, but in recent years it has gained the reputation of being a ladies only beverage. Perhaps it is the fruit, maybe it's the little umbrellas; whatever the reason, gentlemen go enjoy your boring old rum and coke, and leave the Daiquiri's for the rest of us! Cuba is the birthplace of the Daiquiri, but legend states that a group of American engineers were in Cuba and ran out of gin. So they put together a mixture of rum, lime and sugar, and named it after the beach they happened to be at.

Tahiti, Fiji and Hawaii have become synonymous with the Polynesian Mai-Tai. A blend of rum, orange curacao, almond syrup and lime, the Mai-Tai is an interesting drink. It is said that a Tahitian guest sampled the drink at a California restaurant and remarked that it was "maita'I ro'a 'ae" or 'out of this world', hence the name Mai-Tai.

Jamaica is a wonderfully diverse country with beaches, music and dancing everywhere. The beverage of choice for both locals and visitors? Red Stripe Beer. First brewed in 1928, Red Stripe has become an international symbol of Jamaica as much as their flag has. The kitschy television commercials of the 1990's remain fondly in our memories each time we crack open one of the stubby bottles, and will stay there for a long time to come.

What is your favorite beverage for an afternoon on a tropical beach? The Margarita is nice if you like lime, even a gin and tonic is refreshing. Many visitors to Jamaica seek out the iconic Caribbean rum drinks made popular by pirates of the 17th century. Whichever your preference is, make sure to enjoy it responsibly, and drink lots of water to counteract the dehydrating qualities of alcohol and sugar.




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