National Moonshine Day!

Guess what? 

Today is National Moonshine Day! 

According to the Google A.I. Overview:

National Moonshine Day in 2026 falls on June 5. The holiday is celebrated annually on the first Friday in June.

 Celebrate accordingly!

Norwegian Cruise Line Beverage Package Change

Above, beverage carts at Great Stirrup Cay last summer. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last summer, I took a cruise to the Bahamas with Norwegian Cruise Line.

One of the stops was at their Great Stirrup Cay island. While there, a friend and I jet skied for about an hour. Later, I strolled down to the beach area and found a bar. I had a cocktail there. I didn't buy any beverage package they offered. I just had one cocktail and paid out of pocket.

There are going to be some changes next year for beverage packages at Great Stirrup Cay. People who have already booked a cruise for next year aren't too happy about it.

Travelhost reported:

Norwegian Cruise Line’s unlimited open bar drink package is very popular with passengers for the value it offers, especially for cruises to the cruise line’s private island in The Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay.

Passengers have long been able to use their beverage packages on the island, but that’s about to change as the cruise line rolls out major upgrades to its private island experience.   

In late 2025, Great Stirrup Cay will debut a brand-new pier, a massive heated pool with swim-up bars, and a splash pad for kids, followed by a huge waterpark boasting 19 waterslides and a dynamic river that will open in summer 2026.

But as passengers sailing to Great Stirrup Cay enjoy its new features, they won’t be able to enjoy the perks of their onboard beverage package on the island if they’re sailing after February 2026. 

To read more, go here. 

No More Red Cliffs Rum

Above, Honeyville in Durango, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the things I always do whenever I am in Durango, Colorado is to stop at Honeyville at the north end of town to pick up a bottle of Red Cliffs rum. This I did during my trip to Ridgway or, at least, tried to do.

Honeyville discontinued it.

They said that they weren't selling enough to continue it, so they stopped brewing it last year.

Above, getting some Red Cliffs rum last year at Honeyville.

It was a great-tasting rum with some spice to it. It was better, in my opinion, than the rum I bought in Cuba in 2019.

This was definitely disappointing. 

CAN YOU USE VODKA TO WINTERIZE AN RV?

Above, my motorhome in its garage. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's something I've never heard of before: Can you use vodka to winterize your RV?

Do It Yourself RV has posted an article on just this topic. Is this a good idea or not?

They begin with:

Winterizing your RV is a necessary ritual if you want to protect your investment through the freezing months. For many, the standard winterization process involves the use of RV antifreeze, a pink-colored, non-toxic solution specifically designed to prevent water lines from freezing. However, in recent times, some RV owners have suggested using vodka as an alternative to RV antifreeze.

This suggestion has raised eyebrows and a fair number of questions. Is it a good idea? Is it effective? And is it safe? In this article, we’ll explore whether or not vodka can be a viable alternative for winterizing an RV.

 Personally, I use RV antifreeze, the pick stuff to winterize my motorhome.

To read more, go here.

Dinner At Zen Steak & Sushi

Last evening, I headed into Gallup to Zen Steak & Sushi for dinner.

When I got there, I noticed that they changed their hours. It used to be that they would open at 4:00. Now they are open 11:00 to 9:00 (or 10:00). This was fine by me.

But the hours change didn't sit well with Mike, their longtime sushi chef. He decided to take "early retirement" and head back to Taiwan. So he left. It is too bad, as he was good at his work.

Last month, he told me that the restaurant and the King Dragon Chinese restaurant next door has new owners. So now, they're making changes to both.

Another change: Zen Steak & Sushi is no long serving steak. It appears that a name change is in order. Zen Steak and Sushi?

There will be additional changes, including adding Korean barbecue and other things.

While I was dining at the counter, a large (tall and muscular) Navajo man came in and sat a couple of seats away. I rarely see Navajos there, as they generally don't eat fish (a cultural thing, he said). We had a good chat with a waiter (who has been there 12 years). I quipped, "the restaurant would get more business from the reservation if they served mutton sushi, as they seem to eat a lot of mutton." He and the waiter had a good laugh over that. He enjoyed his platter of sushi. 

The restaurant had a full bar, but the sale of the business didn't include liquor sales (the new owners are applying for a liquor license). 

Since Zen Steak & Sushi is the only game in town, I hope the business does well under the new ownership. Just hope they don't screw things up.

NM Democrats Pushing For Alcohol Tax

Above, a brew pub at the Albuquerque Sunport offering several craft beers. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Whenever Democrats aren't promoting abortion or trying to destroy our Second Amendment rights, they try to impose new taxes or raise them.

They are now proposing a flat tax of twenty-five cents per drink to combat to combat the state's alcohol-related death rate. Yeah, right.

Some snippets from Seattle PI:

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Democratic lawmakers in New Mexico are pushing for a flat 25-cents-a-drink tax to combat the state’s alcohol death rate, which is the highest in the country and nearly twice the national average.

The legislation survived its first committee Friday, advancing on a 6-4 vote.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that if the proposal advances through the Capitol, New Mexico would raise alcohol taxes and dedicate an extra $155 million in new revenue to support health, treatment and other programs.

But the newspaper said the proposal is facing blunt opposition from the national alcohol industry, local breweries and others.

Al Park, a lobbyist for the New Mexico Brewers Guild, said the changes would undo incentives that helped the state grow its craft beer scene.

To read the full article, go here. 

Screwball Peanut Butter Whiskey: Try A Shot At The 49er Lounge

Above, the 49er Lounge and signs at the El Rancho Hotel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last week, I stopped at the El Rancho Hotel in Gallup for a late lunch/early dinner at their restaurant. (I had chicken enchiladas.)

After finishing my meal, I headed out to the car, which was parked in front of the hotel's 49er Lounge and noticed a sign (top photo).

Upon closer inspection, I noticed that they have shots of Screwball Peanut Butter Whiskey available.

Above, the sign advertising Screwball shots. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Regular readers know that I first tried the whiskey at a clampout last year in Quartzsite, Arizona and bought a bottle of with when I got my state tax refund. A bottle is about $30.

Above, the bottle of Screwball I got with my tax refund. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I've said before that I like the taste of this whiskey better than regular whiskey. My recommendation is to pop into the 49er Lounge at the El Rancho Hotel in Gallup and try a shot.

Easy Mixed Drinks For Camping

Above, the bar of the Peter Lebeck Chapter of E Clampus Vitus at Camp Okihi. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When camping with chapters of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus, the one "adult beverage" of choice is...BEER!  Hey! It's easy and no mixing is needed.

Some people aren't fond of beer, so they may opt instead for wine or a highball of some sort.

There are some cocktails suited for camping and RV Life has a list of five of them along with recipes to make them

They begin with:

The keys to easy mixed drinks for camping are:

1. The fewest mixing items possible.
2. Items that take up the least amount of space.
3. Some of the familiar tastes of home, but a little vacation flavor thrown in.
4. Will hit-the-spot whether you are cold or warm camping.
5. And creates the least number of messy dishes when you are done.

So, these mixed drinks are ‘one pot’ options using only three ingredients that can all be mixed in advance or in one cup.  You can drink them hot or cold.  You can make them in advance if you want, but then you lose a little of the camping ‘spirit’ if you don’t create the drinks onsite. 

Tip:  Choose your mixed drinks so they will fit your mood when you arrive at your campgrounds. To save space, bring individual serving sizes of the alcohol and mixers.  If you want any of the drinks warmed, bring along a pan and items to build a fire or heat liquid, and if you want iced, have your ice chest full and handy.

To see what are the five easy mixed drinks for camping, go here. 

JOHN WAYNE KENTUCKY BOURBON WHISKEY DECANTER

Above, the John Wayne Kentucky Bourbon decanter. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On Wednesday, after setting up camp at the Payson Campground and RV Resort in Payson, Arizona, I took a walk to a nearby antique shop. It was the Explore the Attic antique store.

While exploring the shop, came upon a John Wayne whiskey decanter. It was produced roughly around 1980, according to different websites. The prices I've seen are over $40. The antique shop's price was $29.

Above, the John Wayne decanter found its home. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After checking prices online while at the store, I bought it.

It now proudly sits atop my cigar humidor.  

Two Rums

Over the years, rum from Cuba had a reputation of being among the best in the world. 

During a cruise to Havana, Cuba two years ago, I picked up a bottle of Havana Club rum. As far as taste goes, to this non-professional liquor taster, I didn't find it any better than Bacardi rum. It wasn't bad, but I didn't find it extraordinary either.

Above, the bottle of Havana Club rum I bought in Cuba. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last September, during a stop at Honeyville in Durango, Colorado, I found a local-brewed rum in their gift shop, Red Cliffs. It has a bit of spice to it that gives it a good kick in flavor. I still have about a half a bottle of it left. I prefer it to the Havana Club rum.

Above, the Durango, Colorado rum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In my recent post on Coca-Cola of a couple of days ago, G-FAN's J. D. Lees and I got started a discussion about colas (funny how blog topics come up) and liquor. For some reason, as I mentioned in our comments discussion, Coke mixes with rums and other liquors a lot better than other colas. It has to be the formula (which is a closely-guarded secret). That's how I drink rums.

Funny thing, back during my college days, I used to tend bar at political fundraisers and whenever someone requested a rum & Coke, they tended to be from the Los Angeles/South Bay city of Lomita. 

Perfect Time For Some Egg Nog & Brandy

Above, enjoying an egg nog & brandy.

There's one thing (of many) that I look forward to during the Christmas season is the availability of egg nog.

I braved 20° temperatures this morning and went to the market in Gallup to pick up some groceries. On the list was egg nog. 

I got everything I needed, including the egg nog and just now fixed myself a brandy (Christian Brothers) and egg nog drink. That hit the spot. I was craving something sweet and wanted something to drink. So, I made myself an egg nog and brandy drink (along with some dashes of cinnamon). (Sorry, Mr. Thornhill, I forgot to add nutmeg to the list.) Since I am a shut-in as it is 30° outside, why not?

Ah, nice and refreshing!

Earlier, Sierra had herself a good time checking out a couple of empty shipping boxes that I left sitting on the kitchen table after emptying them. 

Above, Sierra entertaining herself with 2 empty shipping boxes. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

NM Governor Extends Emergency Stay-At-Home Order; Closes Liquor Stores

Well, she went and did it. People are hopping mad.

New Mexico Governor "Malevolent Michelle" Lujan Grisham extended the emergency stay-at-home order from the former date of April 10 to April 30 today.

KRQE reported:

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has extended the emergency ‘stay-at-home’ order Monday to combat the spread of COVID-19. Additional businesses deemed non-essential in the new order include automobile dealerships, payday lenders and liquor stores and according to the governor’s office, they must close. However, the order states that new and used automobile dealers may sell cars through the internet or other audiovisual means. 

The order goes into effect April 7 at 8 a.m. and through at least April 30. The governor still encourages social distancing. In the original public health order, New Mexicans are instructed to stay at home except for emergency or essential outings and non-essential businesses that had been ordered to close in-person operations must remain closed.

If grocers can remain open, why can't liquor stores? How is closing down liquor stores going to make everyone safer? Are grocery stores who have beer, wine and liquor departments in them still allowed to sell beer, wine and liquor? The Flying J here in Jamestown has a walk-in beer cooler and they also sell hard liquor at the cashier. Will this order stop them from selling any of those products?

How are people able to pay their bills and buy food and necessities if they cannot get loans? I had a conversation with my banker in California today and he told me that people are getting desperate and are breaking into ATMs and burglaries are on the rise.

I can somewhat understand extending the current emergency order, but adding these businesses to the Governor's "non-essential" list is ridiculous. And, she still is ignoring the Department of Homeland Security's position that gun stores are essential.

Today, I went to Lowe's market and liquor store in Gallup and the floor of the liquor store was marked every six feet for people to stand while waiting to advance to the cashier. It's a good thing that I picked up beer and wine today.

We have ourselves a little dictator.

To read more, go here.

Albuquerque "Emergency Powers" Act To Be Voted On

The following was posted about an hour ago by Jill McLaughlin on Facebook at the Gun Owners of New Mexico page:

Albuquerque is taking the opportunity next week to pass Emergency Powers that will allow its mayor to shut down the sale of all firearms and ammunition, close all streets, impose curfews on all city streets, close all liquor sales and establishments, and shut down the sale of all gasoline distribution. This would be used NOT in the event of a virus outbreak but in the event of THE THREAT OF AN OUTBREAK. And the public meeting has been closed to the public because the governor has banned all public gatherings of more than 100 people — the most restrictive in the nation. The public can watch on cable and send in comments.

These three pages are included (there are others in her post):

How would shutting down the sale of firearms, ammunition, liquor and gasoline is supposed to help in fighting the coronavirus? Sounds like a big overreach by the city of Albuquerque, besides being a huge violation of the Second Amendment. The mayor and city council are dominated by Democrats, by the way.

UPDATE:

It seems that the Albuquerque Mayor and city council are copying, almost word for word, a similar act (an executive order) in Champaign, Illinois. We have known Democrats coordinate with each other (parroting), but this is virtually martial law.

According to Townhall.com:

The mayor of Champaign, Illinois has declared a town emergency over the Wuhan coronavirus that includes a potential ban on the sale of firearms and ammunition. 

According to a local report from WAND 17, Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen has issued an executive order that would give her office "extraordinary powers." She has issued the order despite the town and surrounding area not having a single case of the disease.  

"The executive order allows the city to be flexible to properly respond to the emergency needs of our community. None of the options will necessarily will be implemented but are available in order to protect the welfare and safety of our community if needed," Jeff Hamilton the City of Champaign's Communications Manger told WAND-TV. 

Here is the list of other items from the declaration/executive order, which also includes the ability to ban the sale of "food, water, fuel, clothing, and/or other commodities, materials, goods, services and resources," in addition to alcohol and gasoline. 

Additionally, government agents or officials have the ability to seize private property and to cut off the city water supply. The mayor justifies everything "in the interest of public safety and wolf." 

Someone else said he saw another one for the city of El Paso.

And in New Orleans (from Edgar County Watchdogs):

The Mayor of New Orleans has issued a proclamation of a State of Emergency due to COVID-19 on March 11, 2020. 

Once again, much like Champaign, Illinois, The New Orleans Mayor, with apparent support from actual Lousiana legislation, has invoked powers to “Suspend or limit the sale, dispensing, or transportation of alcoholic beverages, firearms, explosives, and combustibles.”

It appears to be a conspiracy to "not let a good crisis go to waste" by the Democrat Party. These are all nearly identical.

Coincidence? I think not!

Havana Club Rum

Above, the Havana Club rum I bought in Cuba. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in April, I went on, what eventually turned out to be one of the last, cruises to Cuba. While in Havana, I picked up a dozen cigars and a litre of Havana Club rum from a government-run shop.

I was reading about the current state of travel to Cuba and stumbled upon the story of Havana Club rum. I was unfamiliar with the story, so I read as much as I could find online this evening.

In a nutshell, here's the basic story as presented by Wikipedia:

Havana Club is a brand of rum created in Cuba in 1934. Originally produced in Cárdenas, Cuba by family-owned Jose Arechabala S.A., the brand was nationalized after the Cuban Revolution of 1959. In 1993, French owned Pernod Ricard and the government of Cuba created a state-run 50:50 joint venture called Corporación Cuba Ron. They began exporting this version of Havana Club globally, except for the United States due to the embargo put in place by the U.S. government. 

Bacardi, another Cuban family exiled due to the Cuban revolution, also began producing Havana Club Rum in 1994 after purchasing the original Arechabala family Havana Club recipe, a competing product made in exile in Puerto Rico and sold only in the United States. 

Bacardi & Pernod Ricard have engaged in ongoing litigation about ownership of the name “Havana Club”.

Before the Cuban revolution in 1959, the Bacardi and Arechabala rum families were fierce competitors. Their saga is quite interesting and one people should take the time to read.

The story still has many twists and turns due to the ongoing litigation. Which is the "real" Havana Club rum?

The way I see it, since Bacardi is producing rum with the original Arechabala recipe, it is the true Havana Club rum (although produced in Puerto Rico). However, the Havana Club rum I bought while in Cuba is a popular rum marketed worldwide. It is pretty good (but I am not a trained rum expert, so what do I know?) and I usually mix it with Coca Cola anyway.

I still have over half of the rum left.

Tried Out The Cuban Rum

Above, the bottle of rum I bought in Havana, Cuba. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday, I had a couple of glasses of the rum I bought last week in Cuba. It has been a while since I last had a rum cocktail of any kind.

Generally, whenever I had rum, it was in the old standby: rum and Coca-Cola. For some reason, rum mixes best with Coke and not with Pepsi or any other colas. This was how I drank the rum yesterday. It was nice and smooth. And, refeshing!

Back in the 1970s, we had a running joke in our political circles that you'd find rum drinkers in the South Bay area of Los Angeles in the city of Lomita. I don't know if that is still true or not, but it seemed to be the case back then (I did some bartending at different political functions in those days).

According to Wikihow.com, they came up with four ways to serve rum. They begin with:

Rum is a liquor distilled from sugar cane juice or its molasses byproduct. It is aged in casks of steel, oak, or charred oak to create light, gold, or dark rum, respectively. Commonly sourced from the Caribbean and Latin America, rum is a very versatile liquor that lends itself to a wide variety of beverages as well as being enjoyed on its own. There are many ways that this liquor can be served, so try a few to find your favorite.

To see how to serve rum, go here.

Foreigners To Be Exempt From Japan's Liquor Tax

Above, a bartender at the former Beat Diner in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who want to bring home bottles of made-in-Japan sake and other liquors produced in Japan, the Bangkok Post has some good news.

They wrote:

The Japan Tourism Agency plans to exempt domestically produced alcoholic drinks such as sake from the liquor tax for foreign tourists as part of efforts to boost regional economies, agency officials said on Saturday. 

The agency will call for the exemption when the Finance Ministry soon receives requests from government offices for annual tax changes in the next fiscal year starting in April, the officials told Kyodo News. 

The measure is intended to allow foreign travelers to buy made-in-Japan sake, shochu distilled spirit, wine, beer and whisky at lower rates and jump-start demand for such products that have shown signs of peaking out.

To read more, go here. 

For Relaxing Times, Make It Jim Beam Time

Above, Sean Connery in a Jim Beam ad circa 1967.

It has been announced that Japan's Suntory Holdings, Ltd. is buying the makers of Jim Beam whiskey.

According to The Japan News:

DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Beam, the maker of Jim Beam and Marker’s Mark alcohol brands, has agreed to be acquired by Japan’s Suntory Holdings Ltd. for approximately $13.62 billion. 

Suntory will pay $83.50 per share, a 25 percent premium to Beam’s Friday closing price of $66.97. 

The companies put the deal’s value at about $16 billion, including debt. 

Suntory has a portfolio of spirits, with whiskies including Yamazaki and Hakushu as well as Midori liqueur and other beverages. 

Suntory already distributes Beam’s products in Japan. Beam distributes Suntory’s products in Singapore and other Asian markets.

In the movie Lost In Translation, Bill Murray's character is in Japan to make commercials for Suntory whiskey. The slogan used was, "For relaxing times, make it Suntory time." I guess we can now call it Jim Beam time.

To read more, go here.