The balmy and insular air
Beguiles the truthful sailor
To put ashore and linger there,
As all have done who sail there.
-Sir John Betjeman
‘Serenade to Bermuda’
Bermuda, the tiny island cluster in North Atlantic is deemed veritable paradise by many. ‘If you want to go to Heaven, you can: I ‘d rather stay in Bermuda’, the irrepressible Mark Twain observed famously. Not many visitors to Bermuda would disagree.
A vacation to Bermuda then, is a short sojourn in heaven- of pink golden beaches, of turquoise blue waters, of verdant hills, of multi-hued landscape of bright redolent hibiscus and oleanders, of secluded coves where the sea sings lullabies to windswept cliffs, where echoes of ancient tales linger in the salty breeze.
A vacation, it is said, is an escape from the mundane. And therefore, one must choose the ingredients of this diversion with care and cleverness. One ingredient is, of course, the variety of beverages on offer here that turns the visitors in a buoyant mood and often make them go into a lightheaded reverie.
But the one drink that defines this exquisite place in many ways is Rum Swizzle, Bermuda’s national drink. ‘The cocktails’, says an experienced traveller, ’should be a portal to leisure and not an anchor to the ordinary.’ This drink, for sure is not anchored to the ordinary, and decidedly a doorway to undiscovered pleasure of tastes, flavours, and senses.
Rum swizzle is a delicious, well-balanced rum with notes of thick, sweet spices, stewed fruits, and vanilla with a finish that’s crisp and tingling.
Origin
Rum Swizzle traces its roots to the 19th century, when it first emerged as a simple blend of rum and fruit juices, crafted to refresh and delight under the Bermudian sun. The drink is named after the Swizzle Inn, one of the iconic and oldest pubs in Bermuda, which claims to have created and popularised it. The Swizzle Inn, located in Bailey’s Bay, has been serving the drink since the early 1900s. The name “swizzle” refers to the swizzle stick, a traditional tool made from a branch of the Qararibea turbinata tree, which is native to the Caribbean used to deftly mix the drink’s ingredients. The term “swizzle” thus pays homage to the traditionally crafted swizzle stick, while the drink itself has become synonymous with Bermudian conviviality.
Evolution
Originally, the Rum Swizzle was a simple mix of rum and fruit juices, designed to be refreshing and easy to make. Over time, it evolved into a more complex cocktail, often incorporating multiple types of rum, such as dark and gold, along with a variety of fruit juices like lime, pineapple, orange, and sometimes bitters. The exact recipe can vary, but it typically involves: Gosling’s Black Seal Rum (a key ingredient due to its Bermudian origin), Gosling’s Gold Rum, Pineapple juice, Orange juice, Lemon juice, Falernum or grenadine, and Angostura bitters. The ingredients are mixed and traditionally swizzled with a swizzle stick to create a frothy, refreshing beverage.
Contemporary Counterparts
Rum is indeed a staple in the Caribbean and Central American regions, deeply embedded in their culture and history. Among these libations, Rum Swizzle stands as a vibrant thread, distinct yet intertwined with its regional counterparts. Compared to the light and herbal Mojito of Cuba or the creamy Piña Colada of Puerto Rico, Rum Swizzle distinguishes itself with its intricate blend of flavours, celebrating Bermuda’s unique terroir and historical narrative. While other global rum-based cocktails like the Mai Tai and Hurricane have their own cultural legacies, Rum Swizzle remains a cherished emblem of Bermudian identity, evoking a sense of place with every sip.
(To be Continued……..)
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