Bermuda's National Drink, Rum Swizzle

This punch-like drink is the national drink of Bermuda, although interestingly, recipes vary. It is commonly made in pitchers for multiple servings, but I've put together this recipe for one drink. The drink got its name from the "traditional" use of a swizzle stick twirled between the palms of the maker's hands to mix the drink. Originally, the "swizzle sticks" used were small twigs from the "Quararibea turbinata," a type of fragrant, flavorful tree common on many islands of the Caribbean. The tree has long been called the "Swizzlestick Tree," and from what I understand, the twig gave off some of its flavor to the drink, something that was later replaced by angostura bitters. In Bermuda the drink is still often made with a swizzle stick, but some people use a shaker or an immersion blender (stick blender) or some just stir it with a spoon. Damn, what a novel idea!     

Don't get scared or turned off when you see "simple syrup," because it is appropriately named, and it is just equal parts of sugar and water, with the water heated and the sugar stirred in and completely dissolved in the hot water, then cooled. It is a common ingredient to sweeten cocktails.

 

Ingredients (per drink): 

 

1 ounce dark rum

1 ounce golden rum

2 ounces pineapple juice

2 ounces orange juice

1 teaspoon lemon juice

2 or 3 dashes of angostura bitters

1 1/2 tablespoons simple syrup 

cherry and/or orange slice can be used for garnish

ice

tall glass, 10 to 12 ounces

Mix all main ingredients well over just one or two ice cubes, then add more ice and garnish with a cherry or two or also with a slice of orange.

 

That is NOT an olive on the cocktail pick, that is simply a decorative piece by the manufacturer ...  

WORD HISTORY:

Ere (Erst, as in 'erstwhile')-The word "ere," primarily used as a preposition, but also as a conjunction, is closely related to "early," a word from the Germanic roots of English. "Ere" goes back to Indo European "ayeri/aieri," meaning "morning, day," which then gave its Old Germanic offspring "airi" meaning "early" (comparative "airiz," meaning "earlier"), and this gave Old English (Anglo-Saxon) "ær," meaning "early, before." This then became "er," and then "ere." The Old English superlative form was "ærest," meaning "earliest, first," and it came from the Old Germanic form "airist," meaning "earliest, first, highest." Old English "ærest" then became "erst(e)" and then "erst." In the past, the forms of the word shared usage with forms of the actual word "first," but that word then came into dominant use for that meaning. In more modern times, "erst" is most common in the adverb/adjective compound "erstwhile" (adverb meaning: formerly, adjective meaning: former, onetime). Relatives in the other Germanic languages: German has "eher" (earlier, sooner, rather/quite), but also, the conjunction "ehe" (before), Low German has "ehr/ehrder" (earlier, sooner), West Frisian "earder, ear't" (earlier), Dutch "eer" (before, early) and comparative "eerder" (earlier). The North Germanic languages apparently do not have forms, although their ancestor, Old Norse, had "ar" (early).