Reliving The Glory Days With Pusser's Rum

Some of the classics on the Connecticut River Museum's Steam Boat Dock

Not a bad spot for a Pusser's bar...

Awaiting the thirsty hordes...

...and they're off.

Pusser's Rum recently helped the members of The Southern New England Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society (SNEC/ACBS) relive the glory days of wooden boating at the 21st Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show. The show, dubbed Mahogany Memories, was held at the Connecticut River Museum's Steam Boat Dock in Essex, Connecticut.

With excellent weather, the event couldn't have had a better showing of boats of all sizes and shapes ranging from 14 feet to a large, extravagant, 74-foot fully-restored Commuter. But despite the excellent display of classic boats everyone was asking for Painkillers from early morning onwards - the Post Boat Show Party was not scheduled until 5.30pm. According to organisers it wasn't easy holding the thirsty crowd off, but they held firm(ish) until 5.00pm when they finally gave in and "it was as if the dikes had broken open".

Volunteers worked overtime trying to get Painkillers out in record time and they ran out within an hour. Luckily Grog and other mixers were on hand to help quench the thirst for Pusser's.

"We have made so many converts to Pussers, and both Painkillers and Grog, I had people asking me where to get the Pussers locally. It goes without saying that Pussers has become a favorite amongst the entire Southern New England Chapter of ACBS, be it as a Painkiller, Navy Grog, with Coke, or Tonic," said Cliff McGuire, secretary/bartender of the SNEC/ACBS.

Pusser's decanters were presented as "thank yous" to Chuck Royce, owner of Aphrodite III the 74-foot 1937/2005 Purdy Bros./Brooklin Boatyard Commuter, and Chris Johnson, owner of a collection of Shepherd Runabouts. Aphrodite III has just completed a massive two-year rebuild and was the featured cover story of the June SOUNDINGS magazine. Johnson's Shepherd collection is only full collection of all of the same model boat, manufactured by the same company, and owned by the same person, in the world.

Pusser's Flagons were awarded to:

Best of Show (Preserved): DRIFTWOOD - 22' 1952 Chris Craft Sea Skiff - Owners: Paul & PAtti Mertz

Best of Show (Restored): LIVING YEARS II - Inboard Racing Hydroplane - Owner: Bill Supple

Peoples Choice: ALGONQUIN - 30' 1934 Hutchinson Sedan - Owners: Bo and Kathy Muller

Judges Choice: BADGER - 30' 1959 Parece/Manuel Parece Seamaster - Owners: Fred and Christina Pucci