Post #602280 by Vince Martini on Sat, Aug 13, 2011 10:48 AM

On 2011-08-03 14:28, tsenator wrote:
I don't know. Its not like the Pussers company doesn't allow any bars to make the drink "Painkiller", its that the bar in NY was using the "Painkiller" name in its Tiki Bar's name. CLEARLY riding the coattails of all the investment and expense that the Pusser's company put in over all the years and introducing it to the North American Market (Over $1 million - http://www.pussers.com/joby.htm).

Look I'm a longtime Sailor and I've been to the BVI's and also sailed and been to Annapolis MD in which they have another Pussers (which is one of the few in North America). I also live & sailed the NY, NJ waters and LI Sound for over 20 years and when I think PAINKILLER I think PUSSER's. Plain and Simple. They've put the time, money and effort to promote PUSSER's which for any self respecting sailor is synonymous with PAINKILLERS.

Not that any bar can't make one - But Pusser's made it famous (with the ok of original inventors of the tiny Soggy Dollar bar in the BVI's which is called the "Soggy Dollar" because you have to anchor out and swim to the bar to get a drink :)).

With that said I feel the exact same way with a “Dark n Stormy”. You can make it with a different dark Rum other than a Goslings (like for instance a Myers' and Ginger beer blech) but when any self respecting Sailor thinks "Dark n Stormy" they think Goslings.

Just a little bit of perspective from a "Sailor" where I guess traditions are still cherished -- and I think most "good" bartenders and bars feel the same way. Tradition in making a classic cocktail is paramount. If not then you are just another one of those low class college bars like down Jersey Shore that serve any alchohol (usually the cheapest) and call it a "xxxx" (insert classic cocktail name here).

IMHO - Cap't Jack Sparrow....lol

Aaaaaaaah, so you are the one with this response on TikiGeeki's blog. Here is my response to your posting as is on TG's blog.

"This idea that no one ever hears of a drink unless it is tirelessly promoted by some profit minded company is an incredibly presumptuous pothole of rationalizing. Incredulous is too tepid a word to express my open jawwed reaction to your pomposity with this "weaker than a Pusser's painkiller" argument.

Which distillery has trademarked the Jet Pilot? Which company has proprietary ownership of a zombie? Dead Bastard? Suffering Bastard? Fog Cutter? When is Pusser's going to own the rights to a Navy Grog? After all, they are the creator and promoter of all maritime related cocktails, n'est pas? Without their tireless global marketing, we would never know of these things in this miasmatic jungle known as the United States. Correct? I think you have the scurvy, sailor boy!"

BTW - your argument still dances around TG's essential point...that is, Pusser's may have promoted the Painkiller (just like Appleton Estate promotes a mai tai, ala National mai tai day), but given history, neither distillery invented either drink. This reality precedes the point you tried to argue within your post.

With that said, Charles Tobias DOES respond to this central and key point. I admire his response to TikiGeeki's blog. So, who has the proper historic perspective?

I have always respected Beachbum Berry's depth of knowledge on the history of all cocktails (having sat in one of this cocktail lectures and listened to him reverently give the history of many cocktails). So, with no disrespect to Mr. Tobias, I have to place my trust in someone who passionately follows this for his livelihood. Ergo, I continue to vehemently believe that Beachbum Berry is spot on with his statement that George Myrick created the drink. Hell, Beachbum Berry even cited the original recipe.

I am not saying that Tobias knows this and is just denying the truth in his defense of Daphne Henderson creating this drink, but (again) Beachbum Berry researches these things for a living. Mr. Tobias says he spoke to people who never recall the drink being served in George Myrick's days. I believe (conversely) Beachbum Berry spoke to people to validate the history that he has promoted -- his reputation depends upon his accuracy as a noted cocktail historian.

[ Edited by: Vince Martini 2011-08-13 11:12 ]