Vizcaya Did Well in the Rum Lab

Well it was a pleasant surprise at the Rum Lab yesterday working with Vizcaya Cask 12.    It worked well with nearly everything, except it doesn't play well with grapefruit juice.     I was pleasantly surprised by the very good mixablity of this rum.       It really does well with pineapple, guava, mango, passion fruit, lime, and ginger beer.     I think that this has the potential to be a fabulous all-around rum that can be sipped or mixed in cocktails.     We experimented with swizzles, daiquiris, and traditional style cocktails, all yielding some really flavorful and refreshing beverages.    

  



  Vizcaya Cask 12 Cocktails:



Vizcaya 12 Swizzle

• 1 1/2 oz. Vizcaya Cask 12 Rum
• 1/2 oz. Amaretto
• 1/2 oz. Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz. Falernum
• 1 1/2 oz. Pineapple Juice

Place all ingredients in a shaker and shake til chilled, strain into a rocks glass.   Garnish as appropriate


Vizcaya Ginger-Mango

• 1 1/2 oz. Vizcaya Cask 12 Rum
• 1 oz. Mango Juice
• 1/2 oz. Lime Juice
• Top-up with Barrett's Ginger Beer

Place all ingredients except the Barrett's Ginger Beer into a Shaker and shake til chilled and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.    Garnish as you find suitable.

Vizcaya Keyz Daiquiri

• 1 1/2 oz. Vizcaya Cask 12 Rum
• 1/2 oz. Falernum
• 1/2 oz. Cane Syrup
• 1/2 oz. Lime Juice

Place all ingredients into a shaker and shake til chilled, strain into a martini glass and garnish with a lime wheel.

     These are only the tip of the iceberg of really delicious cocktails that we were able to create with Vizcaya Cask 21 Rum.     Just one other note, it mixes well with Brinley Gold Shipwreck Spiced Rum as well.     These rums are very compatible and work well in creating some "Tiki Style" cocktails.    I'm working on that idea for my next rum lab next week.      Just remember to try a new rum every day that you can.   ;o)

Rum Lab Reopens Today with Vizcaya Cask 12

Vizcaya Cask 12 is a new acquisition at the Rum Bar that is lighter than the Vizcaya Cask 21, but has a full flavor profile.      This lighter and more delicate rum is priced so that it is practical to use in cocktails and still has it's own distinctive flavors.     I'm looking forward to development of some new cocktails this afternoon using this the Vizcaya Cask 12 rum.    It is my expectation that this rum because of it's own strong flavor profile will best lend itself to more simple cocktail recipes rather than  more complex ones.    It's broad flavor spectrum will make it complicated and harder not to have conflicting tastes prevail in the cocktail.     This was one of the challenges that we faced in the development of the Denizen Cocktails as well.

     I'll have some new cocktails for you tomorrow.    This is going to be a fun and challenging day in the Rum Lab.    All of us involved will be analyzing and rechecking all of our results to make sure that only the most flavorful cocktail recipes are released.

     Watch for tomorrow's post for the results of today's efforts.    ;o)  

A Few Tidbits

     Today doesn't hold anything that can fill a post, so it is going to be a "Post-Tidbits".

The Rum Bar received it's first bottle of "Bacardi Oakheart" yesterday and it has been greeted with very warm reviews from all of the customers that tried it in our special cocktail of the day, Oakheart & Ginger.     Many of the customers liked it just to sip, and that is very unusual for a spiced rum.    This is going to be a winner for Bacardi and us at the Rum Bar as well.

     I'm still waiting for the arrival of my other two new spiced rums, "Siesta Key Spiced" from Drum Circle, and "Black Roberts" from Florida Caribbean Rum Distillery, there seems to be a communication problem at the distribution level somewhere.    I have tasted both of these new rums and I'm excited about getting them on the shelf for the Rum Bar's customer enjoyment.

     Tomorrow I'll be back in the Rum Lab doing some research wit a very nice new rum that I've come across recently call Vizcaya Cask 12.    This has proved to be a very tantalizing rum that warrants some more research with.    It is good enough to sip, but the price allows you to use it as a mixer as well.   I feel that the flavors will work well with several different mixes and hopefully we will be able to yield some new cocktails with this rum tomorrow.

     That should just about cover all the "Post-Tidbits" for today.     It is funny that here in Key West in the Summer it is more difficult to come up with many really worthwhile stories like the spring, fall and winter provide.    ;o)

    

Free Museum Weekend at Key West

     WLRN the public Radio and Television for South Florida and Monroe Tourist Development Council are sponsoring the "WLRN Free Museum Admissions Weekend in Key West", August 20-21st.     This event provides free passes  through the website http://www.wlrn.org/key-west-museum-week/   just go on line and print out your free pass.

     This is a great opportunity to go and see many of the really cool Key West museums, and have an opportunity to learn a bit more about this unique community that is so rich with colorful history.     Visit such places as the Hemingway House, Key West Shipwreck Museum, Truman's Little Whitehouse, and so many more places you probably haven't taken the time to see.

The Pass is valid for 6 adults or 1 family at any or all of the 11 participating museums in Key West.     Come on into town and take advantage of this very special offer to visit our fair city and get to know about the special people and events that made Key West the town that is "Close to Perfect, Far from Normal".     ;o)

Tuesday, 16 August, National Rum Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

     This is by one of my favorite days, too bad it isn't really a holiday.     I'm lucky enough to have today off though, so I guess that I'll call it one.      Rum is one of the historical beverages that has been involved in the world history since the 1600's when it was said to have been born on the sugar plantations of Barbados.     Although the sugar is said to have been brought there from Guyana and Brazil, the rum is claimed to have been born in Barbados.

     The St. Nicolas Abbey, one of the earliest of the Sugar Plantations in Barbados is a fascinating place to visit and see much of the sugar history of the island.    They have many of the old cane crushers and are in the process of restoring the wind driven cane crusher as well.    The plantation is operable today and is still growing sugar cane and now they are producing a really fabulous rum on the premises.     This is a must do adventure when in Barbados.


     Today is all about the rum and when in Barbados you eat flying fish sandwiches and drink "Corn & Oil" as your rum cocktail.    

     Corn & Oil

• 1 ounce of Barbados Rum of your choice
• 1 ounce of Falernum
• 1 dash of bitters

Stir or shake with ice and strain into an old fashion glass filled with crushed ice and garnish with a lime.
This can be made in the traditional manner with J.D. Taylor  Falernum Liqueur or with the Fee Brother's mix which ever is available.     Cockspur 12 year old ,  Mount Gay Eclipse, or one of the Plantation Barbados rums  are all great rums from which to make Corn & Oil.    

     No matter how you enjoy your rum and where it comes from take some time this afternoon or eventing to raise the glass filled with rum and salute the fine flavor and fun you enjoy when you are drinking rum.     Happy National Rum Day to all of you.     ;o)

    

Bacardi is Launching a New Spice Rum

     Bacardi has launched "Oakheart" their new spiced rum.     Like good rum pirates Bacardi is out to take the spiced rum market in a siege.     They have launched an all out attack on the category of spiced rum.   This is truly a quality rum that has been enhanced with quality spices like maple, cinnamon, honey, and a variety of others that work very well together.

     This is a very smokey rum with accents of honey, fruits and even some vanilla, that is a very complex flavor profile that is not unlike that of a fine bourbon.     This has a smoothness missing in many of the members of the spiced rum category.    Many of the others have chosen a mediocre rum and tried to hide it with the spice package, not so with  this new addition to the market.    

     Bacardi is looking to improve it's image in the marketplace and with the addition of this new spice rum and some other rum that are said to be in the halls and soon to be released, Bacardi could be right back at the top of the group for quality rums.    

     I'll have Bacardi Oakheart at the Rum Bar in Key West on Wednesday afternoon for your enjoyment, so just drop on by and see what Bacardi has done to the Spiced Rum Category.   ;o)

Reflecting on Sunday

Denizen Party Today at the Rum Bar in Key West

All the preparation and the Rum Lab Days are over and today is showtime at the Rum Bar.       Denizen "Liberated Spirit Rums is the guest of honor for today's party.     Starting at 2pm and running til 5pm there will be a special Denizen Menu of $5.00 "Liberated Cocktails " for all of our guests.     This is a great break for those who are out in the heat on Duval Street for Lobsterfest and Captain Tony Days.     Stop on by and have one of these fabulous cocktails and enjoy the air conditioned and cozy Rum Bar.

     This is a 1 day event so don't put it off and miss the fun of experiencing a truly fine rum at a price you won't see again.     We have created some very tasty artisan cocktails for your enjoyment and at only $5.00 you can't go wrong down at the quiet end of Duval Street.     Many of you haven't had the chance to try this unique rum and this is the opportunity you don't want to miss.    

Just stop by:

     The Rum Bar at the Speakeasy Inn
     1117 Duval Street
     Key West, Florida
     2:00pm til 5:00pm
     TODAY ONLY

Looking forward to making you one of these fine cocktails and seeing the smiles on your faces.     ;o)         

Denizen Day Saturday at the Rum Bar Key West

Tomorrow we will be presenting Denizen Rum for your pleasure and enjoyment at the Rum Bar on Duval Street between 2 and 5pm.     All Denizen Cocktails will be $5.00 from our special Denizen Menu.    

Stop on by and join this special party as you roam up and down Duval Street enjoying Lobsterfest.     This is a one time special event to introduce you to a fine spirit to bring your cocktails to life.    We have created these  new  "liberating" cocktails to showcase how Denizen Rum, the "Liberated Spirit", brings your cocktails to life.     Denizen is a unique white rum in that it adds a flavor to the usual neutral flavor of most white rums.     This is what gives the cocktails made with Denizen Rum their special and unique flavor profile.

Join us tomorrow at:

        The Rum Bar at the Speakeasy Inn

         1117 Duval Street

         Key West, Florida

         Saturday , 13 August, 2011

         2 til 5pm

       Just bring your curiosity and your thirst and these Denizen Liberated Cocktails will take care of the rest.     Let's have some fun and get in out of the heat for a while in our air conditioned and cozy little bar.      Remember all of the Denizen Liberated Cocktails will be only $5.00 each, WOW!!!    Real artisan cocktails for only $5.00 between 2pm and 5pm.     See Ya There!!     ;o)        

Vizcaya Cask 12 new at the Rum Bar

     We have just added a really enjoyable new rum at the Rum Bar, Vizcaya Cask 12, an intimate sipping rum from the Makers of Vizcaya Cask21 VXOP.     This new addition to the Vizcaya family is of the same rich, high quality , but a bit lighter than the Vizcaya Cask 21VXOP.     Made as like an Agricole from sugar cane instead of molasses and aged for 6 years in high quality oak barrels, the very meticulously blended rum boasts a very complex and rich aroma with a more subtle palate than the Cask 21.     Still presenting very nice notes of cocoa, vanilla and maple, this new addition to the Vizcaya family has great potential as a sipping or a mixing rum.    

     This rum mixes well in many of the traditional rum classics and from some or my quick tries with other items looks like a candidate for a day or 2 in the rum lab for further development.    It is my humble opinion that this rum is going to be a  regular on the boat and at the Rum Bar for some time to come.    Drop by and taste it at your leisure and maybe bring a fine cigar and lounge on the porch with snifter of Vizcaya Cask 12 and a fine cigar.     ;o)

Rum Research Day Yields 2 New Cocktails

     Yesterday was another day at the Rum Research Lab, and two new cocktails were created that have some real promise.     These days in the lab are starting to provide us with a better understanding of what things work well together, and those that don't.   They also provide some incite as to what to do to solve the bland or awful tastes that sometime appear when you combine certain ingredients.     For the past couple of sessions in the lab, we have been concentrating on cocktails made with Denizen Rum, getting ready for our Denizen Rum Day at the Rum Bar here in Key West.     We now have our menu set for the event and just have to put the final touches on these new and interesting cocktails.


     Here are a couple of the new recipes that we have come up with and will be on the menu for Saturday's event.

     Denizen Beach Cocktail

• 1 1/2 oz Denizen Rum
• 1/2 oz. Creme of coconut
• 1 1/2 oz. Pineapple Juice
• 1/4 oz. Lemon Juice

Place all the ingredients in a shaker with ice and shale til chilled and strain into a cocktail glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange wheel and a cherry.

     Denizen Sunset

• 1 1/2 oz. Denizen Rum
• 1 oz. Orange Juice
• 1/4 oz Cane Syrup or Sugar in the Raw Simple Syrup
• 1/2 oz. Pomegranate Liqueur
• Barrett's Ginger Beer

Place all ingredients except the Pomegranate Liqueur and the Ginger Beer into a shaker filled with ice, shake till chilled and pour into a cocktail glass filled with ice.  Top up with Barrett's Ginger Beer, add the Pomegranate Liqueur slowly down the side and garnish with a sprig of Mint.

     Both of these Cocktails are very tasty and refreshing  perfect for an afternoon on the boat or patio.     You can try both of these cocktails and more at the Rum Bar on Saturday from 2 til 5 pm.     Come on by and see me and I'll be behind the bar to create your Denizen Cocktail.     ;o)

Lobsterfest 2011 is this Weekend in Key West

     The 2011 Lobsterfest gets underway on Friday 11 August with the "Kick-Off Party" at Rick's / Durty Harry's Complex on Duval Street.     The Lobersterfest Duval Crawl (tm) begins immediately after sunset with all proceeds going to the Key West High School Scholarship Fund.     Saturday kicks  off the "15th Annual Street Fair" from the 100 through the 500 blocks of Duval Street.  The Street Fair features arts, crafts, merchandise, an plenty of lobster.       This site www.keywestlobsterfest.com/ will provide you with all of the details and the schedule of events. 

 This is a fun event that celebrates the start of the regular lobster season in the waters around the Florida Keys.      This is a great event that features food, drink, fun, and more fun.    Free Concerts featuring Howard Livingston and the Mile Marker 24 Band, Alphonse, Cool Breeze, and CW Colt, at the corner of Greene and Duval  Streets on Saturday from 1pm til 10:30 pm.    The Street Fair will also feature some of the fine local lobster prepared in some very creative ways, all of which are absolutely scrumptious.

    There are artist displays as well as crafts people there to acquaint you with all of their wares.    Just stop on by and have some fun down on Duval Street on Saturday.    

     There is a special event at the other end of Duval Street at the Rum Bar, 1117 Duval, featuring Denizen Rum cocktails from 2 til 5pm.    Stop on by there where I;ll be behind the bar to greet you and mix your favorite Denizen Rum cocktails.  

     You won't be disappointed no matter what events you participate in at the 2011 Key West Lobsterfest, so make your plans and get on down here for the festival.     ;o)
    

Denizen Day at the Rum Bar in Key West Saturday

     There is going to be a fun day on Saturday 13 August at the Rum Bar.     This is a special Denizen Day where there will be $5.00 Denizen Cocktails and a chance to taste talk and get to know more about this fine rum.     We are working on some new cocktails for you to sample on Saturday and some other exciting things for this event.     This fine rum is a blend of Jamaican Pot still and Trinidad column still rums http://rumconnection.com/uncategorized/story-denizen/ that will fill your palate with excitement.

     This is an excellent cocktail rum that will liven up your fine cocktails.    Try this one here it has it's roots back in the Tiki era of Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic.

     Denizen Swizzle

• 1 1/2 oz Denizen Rum
• 3/4 oz J.D. Taylor's Falernum
• 1/2 oz Orgeat
• 1 oz Orange Juice
• 2 oz Pineapple Juice
• 2 dashes of Bitters

Place all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake til chilled and strain into a cocktail glass filled with crushed ice, stir with your swizzle (or a quick hit from the blender).  Garnish with an Orange wheel and Mint sprig.

     Try some our new recipes or stop by the Rum Bar on Saturday from 2 til 5 and have some of them there for only $5.00     This is a deal that may never be repeated again, so don't miss it.     ;o)

Captain Tony Days in Key West

     This larger than life icon of Key West is remembered and celebrated here in Key West this week ( August 11 - 14, 2011) with events all over the city.   Tony lived here in Key West for over 60 years and partied with it's most famous citizens and when things were in trouble here they elected him mayor.   

     If you are able to get down here come and celebrate the life of Captain Tony Tarracino at the first annual Captain Tony Days in Key West.   ;o)

Puerto Rico: One of the Worlds Largest Producer of Rum

Around the world when you speak of Puerto Rican rum, you hear the response "Oh Bacardi", but that is only the tip of the iceberg.     The production of "Ron" ( Spanish for Rum) has been a major part of the Puerto Rican economy since the 16th century.    

has had over the years the largest number of distilleries and bottlers of rum in Puerto Rico.     Rum Distilleries like Jose Gonzalez Clemente y Co., Ron Oro Nativo ( Segram), Alfredo Vega Toro y Co., Baltasar Cruz y Co., Luis Garcia y Co., Julio Maldonado y Co., Mayaguez Rum Company, and Primitivo Grau y Co..     These rum producer have over the years given us such brands as Christophe5r Columbus Rum, Government House Rum, Reserva Especial, Ron 738, Ron Delicias, Ron El Campesino, Ron Imporico, Ron Latino, and the list goes on and on, 21 of them in all.     The Puerto Rico Sugar Company opened a new distillery in Mayaguez in 2009 called Distileria Coqui, named for the curious little tree frog that makes a sound like it's name in the evening in Puerto Rico.    They make an artisan rum known as Pitorro ( meaning Moonshine).

     Arecibo is another Puerto Rican city known for it's rum production.    Barcelo, Marques y Co. (currently owned by Serralles Distileria), known for Ron Palo Viejo.     Roses, Garcia y Co., makers of Ron de la Casa de Roses as early as 1868.    Ron Llave goes back as far as 1891 and purveyors of rum from the Royal House of Spain in 1893.   At the start of the 1900s many of the rum producers of Arecibo merged their operations into a single operation known as Puerto Rico Distilling Company (1911)   This company became a supplier to the aging, bottling and blending producers in Mayaguez and Bayamon.   During the prohibition years the company produced denaturalized alcohol to be used in the making of "Bay Rum" an after shave lotion.    Rum production returned in 1934 and a new corporation developed called Ronrico and a new distilling plant opened in 1942.    

     Ponce is another of the significant historical producing towns.    It's primary operation is Distileria Serralles, Inc., an operation producing rum since 1865 in Ponce.,  http://bahamabobsrumstyles.blogspot.com/2011/07/destileria-serralles-and-don-q-rums.html, The Don Q brand ( best selling brand in Puerto Rico) dating back to 1932.

     Bayamon is another of the rum towns, with Edmundo Fernandez's Ron de Barrilito distillery leading the way.   This is considered to be the closest thing the the traditional rum producers of the 1800's.    Produced inside of a brick windmill at the sugar cane plantation called Hacienda Santa Ana, now an industrial park, that only make s one production run per year.

     San Juan is the other rum town, housing Bacardi, one of the largest and most well know rum brands in the world.    They are sort of a "johnny come lately" to the rum production of Puerto Rico, but never the less an important one.   They move to San Juan after being bounced out of Cuba when Castro took over, and set up their operation in San Juan.  The rest is history.

   Today Club Caribe, a new operation is under way in Cidra.   Having taken over a closed pharmaceutical plant and in the process of building a most modern and efficient distillery that is has the potential for tremendous growth in the next 20 or so years.  

     This is a country who's government sees the value of keeping it's rum production operations healthy and is offering incentives to keep them in Puerto Rico.     ;o)

Emily Fading into History

Tropical Storm Emily looks to be fading into history, ending the possibility for our first hurricane party of the year.      Today we are experiencing some beautiful blue skies and sunshine.     This was the first storm of the season that looked as though it would have some impact on us, but it too has sort of fizzled.   

     Several of my friends were in Puerto Rico from Monday through Thursday and got to party on through out the storm.     Their trip was perfect for a stormy rum trip.     They spent Tuesday in Ponce visiting the Serralles Distillery (maker of Don Q Rums), partying on with their fine rums.    Wednesday they were at Barrilito Distillery and the Bacardi Distillery, still enjoying the fine rum and partying through the storm.   Then on Thursday with the storm subsiding it was  time to visit the Club Carine Distillery, have a little more rum and then board the plane and back to Miami.    From what Mike tells me it was a great trip in spite of that nasty lady to their south.

     For us here in Key West it was a lot of us watching the television and checking our computers to see where it was going to go.     There is still a 60% chance that it will redevelop again, but til that happens we are going to just keep the party going.     This is hurricane season, and as long as we don't have to attend one, it is still fun to party from the safety of the keys.    ;o)

It is Amazing What Games We Can Create at the Bar.

Sunday at the Rum Bar a group of friends got together to do just one thing, set a record for the most "Painkillers" that could be consumed in a day.      They were successful, their previous record was nine, but that was raised to ten  about eight months ago by another person, and now they have reset it at thirteen.     Not only did one of the group make it to the record status, but four of them co-hold the record.     Two others tied the old record at ten, and this doesn't even mention the sixty-four that the entire group drank.       As the bartender that day, it set a new record for the most painkillers that I had ever made, somewhere in the realm of eighty or so.

     This also turned out to be a really fun day as other people came and went while all the painkiller consumption was taking place.     The interaction of the rest of the bar patrons with the record breaking crew was nothing short of a great day at the circus.     I guess the best part of the whole thing was the camaraderie of the crew and the support of the "spectators" that came and went during the day.    This challenge took from 12:30 til 5:30 to be completed and a great time was had by all of the people that participated.   

I was glad to hear tha the crew was able to go out for dinner that night and all were present and accounted for the next morning at breakfast.    Fortunately this was not a sprint event, but rather a marathon, and all of the participants were still around at the finish.     Great job was done by all involved and thanks to the spectators that hung out and enjoyed the show with us.     ;o)

Denizen's Special Day at the Rum Bar is Coming Soon

The Denizen Rum Day at the Rum Bar is less than two weeks ahead.      You need to be working on plans to be in Key West for the event on Saturday 13th of August from 2 til 5 pm.       This is a great week to be in Key West anyway, it is Lobsterfest and Captain Tony Days as well.     It is going to be a great weekend of fun for every one so don't forget.     Visit the Rum Connection  for a full story about this fine rum.   http://rumconnection.com/uncategorized/story-denizen/      

     One of the fun cocktail that was gleaned from our research last Friday was a Denizen Rosy.   This simple cocktail boasts clean ans sweet flavor that won't let you put it down.
   
     Denizen Rosy

• 1 1/2 oz Denizen White Rum
• 3/4 oz Pomegranate Liqueur
• Juice of 1/2 Lemon
• Splash of Cane Syrup (Simple Syrup if you don't have cane syrup)

Place all ingredients in a shaker and shake til chilled and strain a cocktail glass.

     This is an amazing rum for your quality cocktails and some time with it on you bar will yield some pretty fine cocktails that should be added to your collection.    ;o)

What to Do With a Day Off?

     Tuesday  is my day off these days, and with summer around and many of my friends in Ponce, Puerto Rico visiting the Serralles Distillery, I'm wondering what I am going to be doing to stir up a little bit of excitement down here in Key West.      I could grab a couple of bottles of rum and go off to a deserted Island and enjoy the pleasures of some nice quality rum and relax.     The only question would be how would I get back and not end up on a reef or in jail after enjoying several bottles  of rum?     A run out to the sand bar or Boca Grande is not out of the question, the seas are calm today and that is always a fun trip.

     I've already got a full tank of gas in the dinghy, sun is shining, and the seas are calm.    This sounds like the perfect thing to be doing today.    Maybe a little bit of rum and a few ice cubes for the trip and sit on the beach there and watch the tides come in and go out.     That is one of the most relaxing things that I do on a day off.    The sea has such a relaxing effect on me as I cruise across it and get out to some of the more remote keys that surround Key West.    It is my hope that you have your special place to get out and relax and let the stresses of the week go away  for you as well.  

     Thank you for your company today and you enjoy your day and I'll head out for some R & R and  talk to all of  you again tomorrow.     ;o)
 

Life is Good Today

A Light Breeze and A Puffy Cloud to Take Your  Worries Away.

The Latest Rum Lab was a Great Success



The Denizen Gang

     Another day of suffering through the heat here in Key West, but it was a very successful visit to the Rum Lab yesterday.    The bulk of the work was aimed at developing new cocktails using Denizen White Rum,     http://bahamabobsrumstyles.blogspot.com/2011/03/denizen-to-embody-liberationrebellion.html  .   The real purpose of this work was to showcase Denizen Rum in our upcoming Denizen Rum promotion at the Rum Bar on August 13th from 2 to 5 pm.

The Lab Mice

     We were able to create several new cocktails that were well received by those there for the tasting and commentary.     We will be showcasing a new Denizen Swizzle, Denizen Punch, and Denizen Rosy at the event.      It is through this research and the able help of friends that makes these  new cocktails possible.     It is the honest and sometimes brutal feedback that allows us to make some changes that will improve a so-so cocktail to a quality one or just toss the idea and start in a new direction.     Some cocktails that are close to being something good only need a subtle change to make them good, others you have to take one ingredient at a time out of the mix in order to find the one that is giving it a funky taste.    Then it is an "A B A" approach in order to fix the problem.

     This is not all work, there is some enjoyment and feeling of accomplishment when you get one or two right.     Yesterday was one of the most successful of the labs.    Having the input from a knowledgeable and professional group is what really makes these labs work.     Another Rum lab is scheduled for next Friday to complete some of the ideas that we weren't able to get to and start on some new ones.     ;o)
 

What can I do with an Agricole?

Agricole with its nutty grassy tastes lend itself to some of the more unique tasting cocktails out there.     One of the most popular is the "National Cocktail of Martinique and Guadeloupe", called Ti Punch.
This is a simple concoction that I recently was asked to make at the Rum Bar in Key West last week, and was really surprised at how tasty it was.

     Ti Punch

• 2 oz. of Rhum Agrigole
• Juice of 1/2 lime
• 1 oz Cane Syrup

Place all ingredients in a shaker with Ice shake until chilled and strain into an old-fashion glass with a couple of ice cubes.      Garnish with a mint leaf or two.

     After some Experimentation, I found that you can make this neat little cocktail with a good little spiced rum as well like Brinley's Gold Shipwreck Spiced Rum.

    Island Planter , a fruit based cocktail is also very popular in the French West Indies.

     Island Planter

• 1 1/2 oz Rhum Agricole
• 1 1/2 oz Grapefruit Juice
• 3oz  Orange Juice
•  1/2 oz Cane Syrup

Place all ingredients is a shaker with ice and shake til chilled and strain into a cocktail glass filled with ice.    Garnish with a slice of lime.

These are only a couple of the great cocktails that can be created with the amazing varieties of Rhum Agricole.

      Today we are back in the Rum Lab again this time to create some new cocktails using Denizen Rum http://bahamabobsrumstyles.blogspot.com/2011/03/denizen-to-embody-liberationrebellion.html,

for a promotion on behalf of Denizen on Saturday August 13th from 2 til 5pm at the Rum Bar on Duval Street in Key West, Florida.    This is another day that we have set aside to create some new cocktails and enhance some old one with the liberating taste of Denizen Rum.    Let you Know soon what we find.    ;o)

What is an Agricole?

      Agricole refers to rhums (the French word for rum) that are made from crushed sugar cane and aged in french oak barrels.     This is the physical difference, but what difference does it really make in the product?     Because of the way that the Rhum is made it can only be produced when the sugar cane is at it 's peak of maturity.    The cane must be harvested and crushed in a very short period of time to preserve the flavor of the cane syrup.    Cane syrup does not have a long shelf life, and there for must be gotten to the fermentation vats quickly.    It is then distilled in the single column stills to a level of approximately 70% alcohol.    The rhum is then aged as little as one month or as much as six months before being bottled as a rhum blanco (white rum)   The remainder of the rhum is then placed in French Oak barrels (new, used, or charred) and aged to maturity.     The French Oak barrels give the rhum a more nutty flavor unlike the American Oak barrels vanilla notes.

     French West Indies law  determines that after at least 3 years in French Oak barrels, it can be called an "Appellation d' Origine Controlee" ( protected designation of origin) for Rhum Agricole.   Foe example, "AOC Martinique" is for rhum agricoles made in Martinique that meet the standards of the law.    

     Most agricoles are distilled to 70% alcohol (140 Proof) and then watered down to 40% to 55% for bottling and distribution.    Much of the rhum agricole is made in Martinique, Guadeloupe, and some in Haiti.    

There is some discussion about whether or not Cachaca is really an rhum agricole.       Cachaca is made from the crushing of sugar cane, fermented, and distilled, but only to a 38 to 54% alcohol and bottled at 38 to 48%, this is one of the primary difference.    Better Cachaca still has much of the sugar cane flavor due to the special distillation process involved.     Brazilian Law requires that Cachaca be aged for at least 1 year in order for it to be called "aged" Cachaca.    One other difference is the addition of corn meal, corn flower,  or rice brand during the fermentation process.     These grains also add some flavor to the end product.

     Both of these spirits have similar qualities, but they really are different .     It is my feeling that just because something is made from the same raw materials, doesn't really make the end product the same.     I also understand that because of importation laws that it is important that cachaca be considered a rum.   Politics again instead of being able to call these spirits just what they are.    ;o)  

Lobster Mini Season is Upon Us

    This is the annual event that clogs our waterways with people that tend not to use much common sense nor do many of them practice any courtesy toward the people that live down here.     As a rule, divers are a very cautious group of people, but during mini season, they park and dive in the middle of marked channels and dive unmarked more than 100 feet from their boats causing a dangerous situation for the rest of the people here in the keys that use these waterways for transportation.     This "lobster mania" that happens every year for 2 days is the single most scary time to be on the water during the year.     Every year there a people killed and injured through the stupid actions of the boaters and the divers.     It is not uncommon to see boats loaded to the gunnels with people more interested in the party than paying attention to what is going on around them.

     The good side of the event is that it gives families a chance to get together and go out on the water and play.     This is a very good thing here in the waning part of the summer vacation time before school gets back underway.     It is this residents hope that this year the "bug chasers" use their heads and they all survive this wonderful little outing here in the Florida Keys.   

     The one thing that I ask as a resident that spends a considerable amount of time on the water each day is to be aware of your surroundings and follow the boating safety rules, they are their for your protection and mine.     Like most of us we don't want to be involved in an unfortunate event and ruin the mini season for every one.   ;o)      

Black Roberts Has Arrived

     The Florida Caribbean Rum Distillery has gotten Black Robert, a new spiced rum out on the market.     This is a new spiced rum that has some very different and enjoyable flavors when compared to the current batch of spiced rums that are out there today.    I had a chance to sample the rum on a recent distillery tour to the Auberndale, Florida plant.     I feel like this will be a good addition to the shelf at the Rum Bar and on the boat.     If you are of the spiced rum persuasion, you can stop by the Rum Bar here in Key West and enjoy this new addition after Wednesday.

      This is a darker spiced rum that has a nose on it that says Caribbean all the way. and the palate and the finish are equally attractive.     This can be sipped or mixed with your favorite mixers, like coconut water, ginger beer, or even cola.     Take a few minutes and search out your liquor stores or bars to find this new addition.     It is distributed by Republic National if your store doesn't have it yet you can tell them how to obtain it.     ;o)