Speed dating

I went to a rum cocktail speed dating event last night at a tiki bar called Old Love’s. There should probably be hyphens in that sentence, but I’m too tired.

Yesterday was a bit hard core.

Waking at 4.45am is never a great start.

Then I walked the dogs, raced to work via Officeworks for plastic name plates for an event, confirmed my purchase of a Melbourne studio apartment, organized a gazillion AV assets into a master file for the event; sorted video assets to post on social media after the event, threw all the event signage and other guff in a cab and took it to the launch location, dashed into Jackson’s on George to hug a colleague who’s leaving, then headed to a tiki bar for the aforementioned rum event before trudging home to fill out my mortgage paperwork.

But let’s focus on the event which was called The Cola Break Up. It will see cola dropped from the menu at Old Love’s, replaced with a rotating series of premium rum cocktails that showcase Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva rum.

The move comes as new data reveals seven in 10 Australians still pair their dark rum with cola.

Guests at the launch had the opportunity to sip four rum cocktails in a speed-dating style tasting to find their new perfect match.

Mine was the tropical one, above.

It’s called the Love Boat – a “bright, fruity modern take on a daiquiri that balances Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva’s rich notes with fruity passionfruit, lemongrass, falernum and lime”.

I was obsessed with the lighting in the bar, which was all green and feathery and gilt and gorgeous.

Ten out of ten would hang in my lounge room, then spend the next 10 years sneezing from the dust they collected.

Equally gorgeous were my table companions, who were vibrant young things from Sky News and Channel 10.

They were so sweet, angsting over how old they felt at 28. So I told them about being classified as an Australian senior.

They assured me I was sooooo not senior, bless them, and even took selfies with me, which looked like they’d gone out on the town with their grannie.

I felt very senior when I finally walked through my front door.

I managed to sleep until 5.30am this morning, which is a slight improvement. I need to be at my desk at 7.30am, so I’d better hustle …

Another big day ahead.

Song of the day: Dragon “April sun in Cuba” (except the rum’s from Venezuela, soz)