Published In The Great North Arrow, April 2021: Maple Rum Cocktail

 Maple Rum Cocktail

- jim Young

“One cocktail is alright. Two is too many. Three is not enough.” - James Thurber

These warm sunny days are helping to get the sap flowing in the maple trees as well as the blood flowing in our tired, old bodies after a long, cold winter.

So while many of our neighbours are busy tapping trees and boiling down the sap for the production of maple syrup, the rest of us are happy to sit out on our decks, relax and soak up the sun, longing for summer to arrive. It might only be for an hour or two on the best days, but we’ll take what we can get.

We weren’t able to make our annual trip to Cuba this year OR last year for that matter, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the sun in Caribbean style in our backyard even if it is brief. 

To help achieve this, I like to combine some traditional Cuban flavours with some typically Canadian flavours by smoking a fine Cuban cigar while sipping on a cocktail made with rum and maple syrup.

Two years ago Mike Clapperton helped to put Loring and the whole Argyle area on the map as a maple syrup producer when the Toronto Royal Agricultural Winter Fair officially declared Clapperton Maple Syrup “The Best Maple Syrup In The World”.

Of course I think it’s only fair to note that all our local maple syrup producers deliver award winning maple syrup each and every year.

So if you want to enjoy some of the best of both Cuban and Northern Ontario cultures, treat yourself to this unique concoction that’s quick and easy to make. Then just sit back and soak up some rays before the sun begins to set.

Maple Rum Cocktail

Stuff You’ll Need

• 1 ½ oz dark rum (Havana Club recommended)

• ½ oz Maple Syrup  

• ½ oz Lemon Juice

• Crushed ice

• Ice cubes

Do This

1. Shake rum, maple syrup and lemon juice over crushed ice.

2. Strain and pour into a Highball Glass over cubes.

Tip

You might want to make this in larger quantities as you’ll likely want another when the first one’s gone.

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Click here for more of my favourite recipes of both food and drinks.

Note: Please boycott Bacardi products to protest their past acts of terrorism and aggression towards Cuba and their ongoing unfair and illegal business practices involving infringements of the "Havana Club" trademark.