proof rum, R is for rhubarb, rum and recycling, Vol. 81

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This Sunday is Earth Day. Not only will we be ‘R’eviewing the three R’s today, class, we have also chosen ‘R’hubarb as our flavour of the day. Happy Earth Day! If you would like 'the proof is in' to come straight to your inbox, sign-up is at the bottom of the page. For more information on proof brands, visit our website www.proofbrands.com, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to get last minute updates on tastings, parties & events.

‘r’um & ‘r’hubarb 3 oz rhubarb syrup • 2 oz proof rum • 1/2 oz grenadine • sparkling water

Fill a tall glass with ice. Add the syrup, rum and grenadine and stir. Top with sparkling water and garnish with a lime wheel or rhubarb stick.

The prep for this drink is initially a little time-consuming, but, once your syrups are made, the cocktail is very quick and worth the extra effort.

homeade grenadine 500 ml pomegranate juice • 1 cup sugar • 1 dash orange flower water (optional)

Bring the pomegranate juice and sugar to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce the heat and cover, allowing it to simmer for 10-15 minutes and stirring occasionally. Allow the mixture to cool, then pour into a small decanter or bottle with a tight-sealing lid. Add a dash or two of orange flower water (don't overdo it). Seal the bottle and give it a few good shakes. This grenadine should be good for up to 3 weeks and makes about 1 1/2 cups. (yes, you can use pre-made grenadine, but it really isn’t the same)

rhubarb lime syrup 2 pounds rhubarb, cut into chunks • 1 1/4 cups sugar

3 cups water • 1/2 cup fresh lime juice

Combine rhubarb, sugar, and water in a nonreactive sauce pan, bring to a boil and allow to simmer for 10 minutes or until the rhubarb starts to fall apart. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Strain liquid into a jar or bottle and add the lime juice. Chill until ready to use. (rhubarb and rum seem like an unlikely pairing, but it is really interesting and tasty)

We are featuring rhubarb today, because it is one of the first Ontario fruits in season and available for April. If you find the whole process of chopping and boiling too strenuous, you can add a few dashes of Rhubarb Bitters from Fee Brothers to your drink. (www.epicureal.com)

Since we all produce garbage, we are all part of the problem – but, we can also be part of the solution. Instead of throwing away items we no longer need, we can make sure they find their way to the next stage in their life cycle. We can reduce, reuse, repair and recycle most waste.

Today, we will be visiting the proof Craft Corner for some handy ways of reusing your empty proof bottles – a little more creative than just chucking them into your blue bin. There are many more artistic ideas out there, but without the proper equipment (like torches and glass cutters) and time, we are sticking to simple household ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

 kitchen glasses (require glass cutter), dish soap dispenser, pantry bottles for dry goods (pastas, rice, beans, coffee), juice and simple syrup bottles bathroom soap dispenser, bath salts, shampoos and body lotions 

household oil candle, door stop, candle holder, ship in a bottle, snow globe, homemade lava lamp, picture frames, paper weight, pencil cup, flower vase, workshop organizer for nails, screws, buttons, marbles, beads

backyard terrarium herb garden, wind chime (glass cutter), bee catchers (glass cutter), lantern for votive candle (glass cutter)

 entertaining One of our favourite ideas is to use proof bottles for a pre-made cocktail at a party. We recently went to an event where guests were circulating with a cocktail, served in single-serve bottle. (you can give them a straw with it as well). What you can do is make a batch of cocktails ahead of time, pour it into several clean proof bottles, cap them, label them and store them in the refrigerator. Instead of reaching for a beer, your company can reach for a ready-made cocktail. We did this for a friend’s birthday and labeled each bottle with a custom birthday sticker. They loved it!

Michael Riley will be mixing up proof rum and whisky cocktails this Friday at the 55 Bloor Street LCBO from 4pm-8pm

If you could have the perfect day, just what would that day be? proof is now running its first-ever contest – the proof’s perfect day sweepstakes from April 1st to May 30th, 2012. To become eligible to win, all you have to do is LIKE US on Facebook. If you should win, you will begin this perfect day with a $50.00 haircut at Toronto’s trendiest Barber Shop, Garrison’s by the Park Barbershop (for him), and a $75.00 mani-pedi at Sunny Mummy Spa & Boutique (for her). A $500.00 shopping spree will follow, courtesy of Club Monaco. Later you will enjoy a $75.00 SoCal dinner at the Combine Eatery on the Danforth, and you will then finish your perfect day with a Cineplex Movie Night Out Pass for two. A few surprises await you along the way, but these we are keeping a secret. Value is over $750.00.

Weekend Forecast

Saturday: Sunny with isolated showers and a high of 10 degrees

Earth Day: Sunny and a high of 9 degrees