Most recently I have been working on an anchor project, specifically the installation of an E-Z Anchor Puller Hinged Anchoring Solution. While working with anchors and thinking about the Fourth of July, the question came up about the term anchors aweigh.

What exactly does anchors aweigh mean, and why is it “aweigh” instead of “away?” As I was thinking about this I was humming along with the “Anchors Aweigh” song in my head.

First, “Anchors Aweigh” is the fight song of the United States Naval Academy and the unofficial march song of the United States Navy. It was composed in 1906 by Charles A. Zimmermann with lyrics by Alfred Hart Miles.

Second, there’s a 1945 movie, Anchors Aweigh, starring Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly and Kathryn Grayson. Oh, and the cartoon characters Tom and Jerry.

Apparently anchors aweigh is an Old Dutch sailors’ expression. To “weigh anchor” is to bring the anchor aboard a vessel. The phrase anchors aweigh indicates that the anchors are clear of the sea bottom and the ship is officially underway. Also, you “take on the weight” of the anchor.

So anchors aweigh is about raising the anchor, but what about dropping the anchor? Well, you say, “drop anchor.” What happens after you drop anchor? It’s `toon time! My `toon time is about hanging out while enjoying food and adult beverages on an anchored pontoon.

Previously my wife and I worked up the Pon-tini and the Tri-tini: a couple of multi-colored versions of martinis. We are at it again, but instead of vodka, we took a different direction for the base drink, whiskey.

First, I need to make a few comments or disclaimers. We made the following drinks onboard our pontoon and at home, on the countertop. I also want to make it clear that we do not advocate indulging on the pontoon if you are the captain or while underway. Safe boating is always a goal for me, my crew, and passengers. On-water accidents happen far too often with sober people, so why add alcohol? I also don’t advocate any underage drinking taking place. Again, always boat sober.

Second, glassware on a pontoon is bad. Glass breaks. Rough water and bare feet on a pontoon are too much of a risk with glass.

For this year’s concoction, we started with an American whiskey and a local one to boot. Being small business owners, we like to support other local businesses, and since a friend of ours is a sales rep for an Iowa distiller called Revelton Distilling Co. (owned by Rob and Christi Taylor) we wanted to use their whiskey. (www.reveltondistillery.com)

At Revelton they make a great Honey Whiskey. (They also make honey-flavored vodka if you just can’t take whiskey!) Plus, the bottle looks cool!

We decided to mix up a few drinks using whatever would be found in most pontoon coolers. It seems most coolers have water, pop (or is that soda?), carbonated water, beer, juice boxes, orange juice or lemonade. In our cooler we always have unsweetened iced tea.

Another goal was to reduce the need for drink “extras.” No need to have simple syrup or weird liqueurs. You can make pontoon sophisticated cocktails using the sweetness of the honey-flavored whiskey and whatever is in the cooler. Garnishes are not required, but do add to the presentation and flavor of the beverage!

We have been testing the samples for a few weeks and have what we think are a few winners. All these drinks start with two ounces of Revelton’s Honey Whiskey. We tried to keep the drinks at around six ounces total, but adding or deleting some of the mixers might suit your tastes.

Here is what we liked the best.

1. Tooned Up Tea: whiskey with four ounces of unsweetened iced tea and garnished with a slice of lemon. This gave me a bit of a “sweet tea” flavor, but not too much.
2. Cow Toon: whiskey and New Glarus Spotted Cow beer (Wisconsin light ale) and garnished with a slice of orange. Who knew this would work?
3. Arnold Palmer ‘Toon: whiskey with two ounces of lemonade and two ounces of unsweetened tea and garnished with a slice of lemon.
4. Pontoon Mimosa: whiskey with four ounces of orange juice and garnished with a slice of orange and a maraschino cherry.
5. Toon Fizz: whiskey with four ounces of lemon-flavored carbonated water. Simple, bubbly and slightly sweet. Plus, low-calorie!
6. Old Fashioned Pontoon: whiskey with two ounces of cherry-flavored carbonated water with frozen sweet cherries to cool it down and garnished with an orange slice.