Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Yo, ho, ho and a bottle of Rum!

We're back from the cruise!
We had a terrific time both on board the ship and in each port that we explored.
Visiting Russia was just surreal.  I'm so looking forward to writing about our trip.

But first there's a mountain of laundry to get through. (Have I mentioned that we don't have a dryer?  I've actually now spoken the words "I'm gonna go hang the clothes on the line."  Seriously?)

 Then there are the 1,500 photos to sort and edit.  I can't wait to relive all 10 days.
And weren't my guest posters fabulous?  Thank you so much, Sarah, Gina, Erin, and Jade.  
And I love that my husband Matt did a guest post!  (Thank you, Darling.)

Thank you so much for all of your comments.  We've read them all and I'll try to start responding to them tomorrow.  I've seen a lot of new faces commenting and I'm so excited.  Welcome!  As always, thank you all so much for reading.
It means the world to me.

I'm not quite ready for the fun to end, so today I have a post for you involving booze!

You're never too old to learn, right?
So you can imagine my delight at being invited to attend Rum School!


Rum & Sugar

On a lovely Wednesday evening, I took the DLR (Dockland Light Railway) to the Canary Wharf and alighted at the West India Quay Station.  I can't believe I haven't been to this area of London yet.  (I even stumbled upon a Royal Baby sand sculpture as I walked around waiting for Matt to join me.  Cute.)

 
There are several large listed warehouses along a canal that were once used to house imported goods, particularly rum and sugar.  They are now home to several restaurants and bars with huge areas of outdoor seating, perfect for a nice dinner out and a stroll.  If you walk all the way down to the end you will find the Museum of London Docklands (that's on the list for a future visit.)  You will also find Rum & Sugar, a restaurant/bar featuring British fare and rum.
We knew we would be sampling rum later in the evening so we thought we should get there early and have a bite to eat (good call).  We were there before the after work crowd and were quickly seated in the sunshine.  Matt had the homemade beef burger and just barely managed to keep the juices from getting all over his work shirt.  I had the daily special which was a pan-fried steak and chips.  I'm always a little nervous ordering steak because you just never know how it's going to turn out.  I hate a tough steak, but this one was really good, perfectly cooked and tender.  The fact that the special included a glass of wine was a bonus.
 Rum & Sugar

Rum & Sugar

Everyone was sitting outside because it was such a pretty day.  But they have a great indoor space with a massive bar.  They were also setting up for live music outside.  But it was time for us to be schooled. 

Rum & Sugar

We joined our other classmates for Rum School!
They divided us into two groups and our group went first for the Cocktail Masterclass.  It was so much fun!  I want to be a bartender now.  We even got to do a little over the hand flippy thing (technical term) to pour the rum.

Rum & Sugar

Rum & Sugar

We each made a classic Mojito (yum!) first, followed by a Rum Cosmo (yum!) and then spicy layered rum shot (Wowza!).  You can imagine by this time we were all in pretty good spirits.  (Pun totally intended.)

Rum & Sugar

Then the chef came out and enticed us from our cocktails.  The length of the bar was laid out with small bites, both sweet and savory, all made with rum.  Of course, they were all terrific, especially the panna cotta.

Rum & Sugar

Rum & Sugar

Then it was time for some very serious rum tasting.  We tasted six Flor de Cana rums varying from white rum to an 18 year old golden rum.  Matthew was loving this.  He used to work in the drinks industry and knows his liquor (in a developed-palate way, not a frat-boy-trashcan-punch sorta way.)  I just took a sip of each, shuddered a bit and passed the rest to Matt. 

Rum & Sugar

I even managed to test out my new cocktail skills and make another Mojito. It was quite good, if I do say so myself.  We were each presented with an official certificate declaring us graduates of Rum School.  

 It was such a great night out.  You just need 10 people to book your own Rum School and it would be perfect for a Stag Do or Hen Party.  (Just be sure to eat first.)

A huge thank you to everyone at Rum & Sugar for a great night.
You can find them on Twitter and Facebook.

You can also read Fiona's take on the evening at London Unattached.  

Now aren't you craving a Mojito?



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*We were invited by Rum & Sugar to attend the Rum School for the purposes of review.  All photos and opinions are 100% my own.  As always, I promise to be open, honest and transparent with my readers.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.


You can find this review and many others in my
London Attraction Guide

28 comments:

  1. I can't wait to read all about your trip! :) Welcome home!

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  2. As always- love your photos, Selena! I'm so glad you had an enjoyable time, I can't wait to hear more! x

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  3. What a great experience! I would love to attend rum school, as that is the only alcohol I drink! I can not wait to read about your cruise!!

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  4. This is so cool! My office is just over that little bridge and I've been to a few of the bars there but not Rum & Sugar. Maybe I should suggest this for our team night out!

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  5. I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE BACK!!!! Sorry, I'll stop yelling now. :o) I loved your guest posters, but I still missed hearing from YOU!


    What an incredible opportunity! I'm impressed by how much you remembered (lol) after six shots and a few cocktails! It's a good thing they teach you the hand-flippy thing BEFORE all the shots! ;o)

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  6. Yes, I do now want a Mojito and now you can make me one! :) Sounds like a fun night out. Welcome back.

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  7. I am really enjoying your trips, Selena. :) I'd love to travel as much as you do, but since we moved from Italy to Scotland, hubby has been way too busy with work. For now I can only dream of these beautiful places. Thanks for showing them to me.

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  8. Oh, I am so sorry to say, but that sand thing-o is creepy. Honestly, just creepy. The rum on the other hand.... YUM!

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  9. Ahhh I have a massive post vacation laundry pile as well! I do not care for rum either but that places looks so cozy!

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  10. Rum school? Interesting! I do not drink so I would not do well in rum school - but coffee school (is there such a thing?!) I could ace! :-)
    I hope you are getting through your laundry - I have a mountain of that too, but have not left home ... oops!

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  11. The Docklands and Canary Wharf are places I love to go to, I was going to do a posting on the Museum at the Docklands soon... It was an interesting visit.
    I can't wait to see your photos especially from Russia... My children are Russian, as my exhusband is Russian and you know ... they know nothing of their culture... isn't that sad? But once in America, it's easy to lose sight of where you come from.
    It's good to see you back and glad you had a great time on your trip!
    Tammy
    PS... I'll be in London in November... Shall we have a tea?

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  12. This is such a cool idea! I know someone who would love to do this for her birthday! So excited to tell her about it :)

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  13. What a wonderful idea. I love rum, but my favorite drink has to be a cosmo, so a rum cosmo is right up way. I definitely have to find the recipe for that drink.

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  14. I think we used white rum in the cosmo. It was very tasty!!

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  15. How can you not love Rum School!?! Now I have to find a Gin School. Vodka School. The list goes on...

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  16. Yes! Let's definitely meet up while you are here. I'd love for you to post about the museum. I haven't been yet. Oh, and Russia was amazing!!! I can't wait to write about it.

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  17. Finally got through the laundry, now trying to get the photos sorted. Coffee School is a great idea!!

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  18. Oh, the laundry! But, I'm finally done.

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  19. lol Creeps you out, huh? It was pretty odd and random. And the rum was yummy!!

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  20. I dream of living in Scotland! Do you love it? I'm hoping to spend a few weeks there next year.

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  21. Thanks, Erin! Did you get your mojito??

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  22. You're so sweet! I'm glad to be back. And Jessica gets here next week!! Yay!! And without the photos of the rum school, I might have remembered less ;)

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  23. It would be a really fun team building exercise. Although could be dangerous after all of that rum!

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  24. You should try the white rum cosmo. It was really good! I need to find the recipe on the internet.

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  25. I don't know how I'm going to get all of these pictures sorted & edited!!! Over 2,000! But such a great trip!!!

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  26. I know! That's always so overwhelming when you get home from a trip!

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  27. That sounds good! I will definitely look that up!

    Subject: Re: New comment posted on Oh, the places we will go.

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Thanks for commenting. I love to hear from you!