May 12, 2008 Just
arrived in San Carlos, ready to sing Wednesday night at La
Palapa, 5-8PM!
What a weekend in Arizona! Thanks to all
who attended the Friday night house concert, in Tucson,
and also to 300 of you who came out to the Saturday night
fundraiser in Sierra Vista. (I'll be back in both towns
in September, stay tuned for details!)
Enjoyed the ride back to San Carlos Sunday,
as I traveled a back road (the Sonora River Route) through the
central part of the state. I was joined by my friends Bill
and Linda Pattison, who hosted me at their home Saturday in
Sierra Vista. It was an adventure, as we had to bribe our way on
to the highway (a permit was required for Bill and Linda's car
in that part of the state). Negotiations were tougher than
expected. And as a result, two government officials are
currently enjoying the "Mexico" CD as I write this. As we
continued on in our journey, we enjoyed incredible scenery and
wonderful folks in the little mountain towns we traveled
through. Like Socorro from Arizpe, Sonora, who fixed us
lunch in her home, which doubles as a four table restaurant.
Great tacos, burritos, and even a shot of homemade "bacanora"
from her mother's stash. (It's stronger than tequila,
unavailable anywhere in the U.S., in fact unique to that region)
Later we pulled into a small town down the road near
Banamichi and after several references from locals, tracked
down a bottle from a local horse trader, who sold us his
personal stash (seems everyone around there makes this stuff!)
for 150 pesos. Even let us "try before we buy". (He's also
listening to the "Mexico" CD tonight. Nearly every town had not
only gorgeous scenery, lush surrounding farm and ranch land, and
beautiful town squares, but buildings and churches that date
back to the 1630's. Finally pulled back into San Carlos around
11PM, tired but happy with the trip!
Also happy to hear that my brother David
and my musical brother Rob Mehl had a GREAT show up the
road in Cave Creek on Saturday! Thanks Tony Schindler for
hosting my bro.....learn more about David and his music at
http://dmulligan.net
Just added an event up the coast in
Rocky Point, October 22nd at a wonderful little place called
"The Thirsty Parrot". Just two days before "Parrot
Mafia"! Stay tuned for all the info.....
Next trip to the States? It's gonna be a
fun one as I play my first ever show near Denver. Read on!
COLORADO, JUNE
27TH!. Tickets are going fast for my first ever show in Colorado!
Hope my friends up there join me for the 7:30PM show on
Friday, June 27th in Elizabeth, CO, between Denver
and Colorado Springs. Brought to you by Coyote Creek Concerts!
One night only, in a wonderful concert setting. Tickets are now
on sale ($10 in advance, $12 at the door) and seating is limited! To make your
reservation or get additional info, email Arty Smith at
sunsetridgeranch@msn.com or call him at
303-648-3662. See you in Colorado!
SOUTHERN CAL, AUG. 22-23 We've just
posted the info for the big "Landsharks and Lions" event in
Santa Barbara, where I'll be joined by my pals Gary Seiler and
Kelly McGuire PLUS trop-rock favorites "Stars on the Water".
Check
http://markmulligan.net/schedule.htm for all the info!
Captain Tom and PJ continue in their search for the perfect
rum....Read on!
RUMOLOGY
By Cap’n Tom Volume3, Chapter 3
March, 2008
In 1566 Francis
Drake began making his first of several slave trade expeditions.
Black slaves were purchased in Africa and brought to the New
World fetching a handsome price. To keep his fleet in shape and
motivated, some slaves were sold along the way in harbors
throughout the Caribbean to pay for repairs and some were traded
for barrels of rum. During one such voyage Drake landed in
Hispaniola, which at 29,355 square miles, is the 22nd
largest island in the world. At the time, Hispaniola was a
possession of Spain’s having first been discovered by Columbus.
When war broke
out between England and Spain, Queen Elizabeth gave Drake a
royal ship. He led 2,300 Privateers to victory over Spain
decimating its navy. While England and Spain were focused on the
raging war, French buccaneers settled on Hispaniola’s western
half. Over two centuries the French spread east until they
controlled the whole island which they then named Saint
Dominique.
Eventually a
slave revolt left most of the island and its sugar cane
plantations in shambles. The French quickly became disenchanted
with Saint Dominique and in 1804 the first black republic in the
world was established and named Haiti. Five short years later
Spain reclaimed its share of the island and the Dominican
Republic became independent in 1844.
How does all
this connect and what does it have to do with our pursuit of
fine rum? Well, there are only two islands in the Caribbean
shared by more than one country, Hispaniola and St. Martin. One
island Drake stopped at for repairs was St. Martin, the trade
capital of the Caribbean, both then and today. Drake also
stopped in Hispaniola, and I know why. They make some más fiña
rum! In March 2006 I wrote of the fine rum there from the Brugal
Distillery. Then I featured the standard Gold Label, but in St.
Martin I could only find their Añejo.
Apparently it’s all they export. Brugal Añejo is a dark rum, aged over
three years and silky smooth with the right spices. We are
preparing our ship to leave St. Martin for Antigua, where good
rum is available, but more expensive. Normally I lean toward
bottom shelf rum, which this is not. Available in the States,
you’ll recognize it by its trailer-park-trashy-netted-stocking
cover. I’m not sure what it will cost you there, but I bought a
case of Brugal Añejo 750s for US$51. Good tasting, trashy
looking and cheap! What else can one ask for? Only a good
tasting, trashy looking, cheap recipe…………
ISLANDER
3 oz.
Brugal Añejo
½ oz. triple sec
Cranberry Juice
Club Soda
1 fresh lemon
1 Mark Mulligan
Going Coastal cd
Start Mark’s vintage cd with There’s Always Mañana.
In a highball glass, combine rum & triple sec. Fill with
cranberry juice and top with Club Soda. Add a squeeze of lemon.