Bar Belle_Sum21_Ed-final.qxp_Road Trip_Cinci.qxd 5/31/21 3:32 AM Page 12
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License to chill An ode to the beach drink floater BY SARA HAVENS AKA THE BAR BELLE
f you’re having fun in the sun and enjoying a drink or two, here’s some advice for you:To become a true beach bum, you must top your cocktail with rum. Some people call it a topper and others know it as a floater, but that extra shot of love on top of a piña colada, strawberry daiquiri, Miami Vice or Mai Tai is as essential as the ice, the garnish and every other ingredient the cup holdeth. In my opinion, the floater should not be optional. Options imply you can enjoy it as is. You can’t, and you won’t. Historians trace the origin of the floater back to 420 B.C., when only kings and queens were afforded the luxury of an extra pour. Drinks back then were served in coconuts, and they say that extra finger of booze kept the pesky fireball-breathing dragons away. OK, so I may not be great in history, but I recently have been to a tropical paradise where buff bodies sunbathe on beaches and most folks don’t believe the pandemic ever existed. This oasis is known as Florida, land of the free and home of early-bird specials and two-for-one drinks. The piña coladas down there were on point: creamy, heavenly concoctions presented in large vessels with — you guessed it — mandatory floaters. Most places simply poured the spiced rum freely on the surface of the drink, while others filled a test tube and shoved it down into the frozen mixture of ecstasy. For three fabulous days, I forgot about the pandemic myself (although I did still wear a mask), I forgot about the last year of unrest, fear and isolation, and I remembered briefly what life can be. All of that inspiration from a topper, you ask. Yes, my friends. If Oprah can find her “aha moment” in a slice of cauliflower pizza, I can certainly be woke by a floater of rum.
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10 Best Beach Drinks in Louisville
No need to travel all the way to Florida for a decent beach drink with a floater. I’ve put in many hours scouring the city for the best summertime cocktails and discovered these 10 gems — which are only the tip of the iceberg in this town. If I missed your favorite, I apologize. It was tough to narrow down, which is a great problem to have! But if you still want to fight me on this, I will happily join you at your bar of 12 Summer 2021 www.foodanddine.com
choice if the first round’s on you. Most of these places listed below use the souped-up, Ferrariengine blenders that are music to my ears, and others have the efficient frozen machines that spit out booze slushies like soft serve. Both are legit and will get you licensed to chill. 1 • Havana Rumba | Piña Colada ($7.50) I love when my friends suggest we meet up at Havana Rumba, because I know I’m about to get my fix of expertly-made piña coladas. The bartenders here know their way around a hardcore blender, and they aren’t afraid to harness its power to produce something otherworldly — topped with a shot of rum, of course. Next time you’re here, pass on the mojito and go for the colada. You won’t be disappointed. 2 • Captain’s Quarters | Miami Vice ($12) Y’all know Captain’s Quarters is the closest we can get here to a beachlike experience, and for decades this riverside restaurant has been serving up some of the best frozen cocktails in town. The blender’s hum is constant if you’re sitting at the bar waiting on your Miami Vice — the drink of choice here that features blackberry brandy, banana liqueur, piña colada mix, grenadine and spiced rum floater. 3 • The MerryWeather | Verdita Slushie ($8) If you haven’t ventured into this humble Germantown establishment, you’re truly missing out. Formerly the Lydia House, the space now celebrates tiki drinks with full abandon, including the saucy and sassy Verdita Slushie, which is made with both rum and tequila, plus pineapple, cilantro, jalapenos and mint. Get there before 7 p.m. and they’ll be $5. 4 • The Limbo | Rum Punch ($6) Speaking of a tiki theme, this downtown bar respects rum like most bars here boast bourbon. Of course they’ve got all the classic beach-drink staples from piña coladas to daiquiris and Mai Tais. But what I like best is the simple yet strong rum punch, made with white rum, coconut rum, pineapple juice and grapefruit juice. These also go for $5 during happy hour. 5 • River House Restaurant & Raw Bar | Carmelized Pineapple Piña Colada ($12) Not only will you also find riverfront views here, but they’ll take your piña