March 15, 2003--Not surprising anyone in the Maritime Republic, MRE's "mixologists," headed by Lew Woodward and MRE Premier Mike "Mad-Dog" Raab, won the Annapolis Maritime Museum's First Annual Pusser’s "Grog-Off" on Friday, March 14.

Culminating a great, rollicking party, both the celebrity judges and the populace in attendance ruled that Lew's concoction was the best of the six entries!

Lew has promised to provide his island-influence recipe for posting here.

As a reward, Premier Raab appointed Woodward MRE's official Minister of Mixology.

The event was a fund-raiser for the Annapolis Maritime Museum, and the party was held at McNasby Oyster Company building in Eastport. The date marked the anniversary of the museum’s first event held in the old McNasby oyster packing house at 723 Second Street.

Mixologists from some of Annapolis’ most prominent taverns and restaurants, including Davis' Pub and the Boatyard Bar & Grill, competed with their own personal best in the way of rum concoctions.

The event was sponsored by Pusser's Rum. A special exhibit on the history of rum included an authentic rum tub, as used on Her Majesty's ships, and a variety of Pusser’s memorabilia was raffled off. Fabulous live music was provided by the "Maritime Jam," an odd assortment of odd musicians, headed by Them Eastport Oyster Boys.

The celebrity panel of judges included:

*Ellen Kaye, owner of the Schooner Woodwind

*Don Backe, executive director of Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB)

*Brian Callahan, owner of Café 49 West

*Maggie Gibbons, manager of the Historic Annapolis Foundation Museum Store

*Buck Buchanan, chairman of the board of directors of the Annapolis Maritime Museum

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