Bundaberg Names Gyton Grantley to Star in Their New Ad Campaign

     Diageo Australia has recruited The Dressmaker actor Gyton Grantley to star in Bundaberg Rum’s new AU$20 million marketing campaign, called Unmistakably Ours.   Australian actor Gyton Grantley stars in Bundaberg Rum’s new campaign.   The campaign celebrates everything that makes the country “brilliantly unique” and aims to “reinvigorate love and pride” for the Australian spirit.

     The advertisement features the Gyton Grantley in a Mardi Gras scene and cameos from Olympic medalist Anna Meares and surfer Julian Wilson, before culminating with the Bundaberg Rum team outside the Queensland distillery.   It will be activated across multiple channels from in-store to out-of-home, digital plus a new television commercial which will air tonight (2 March), to coincide with the launch of the 2017 National Rugby League (NRL) season.

     The campaign will feature all of the brands core products including Bundaberg Rum Original, Bundaberg Extra Smooth and Bundaberg Spiced Rum; Bundaberg UP & Cola and Lazy Bear RTDs as well as premium blends, Bundaberg Rum Blenders Edition and Bundaberg Rum Small Batch.   Building on Bundaberg’s sponsorship of the NRL, the campaign will also include off- and on premise below-the-line creative activity to engage fans across the footy season.   The NRL creative will see multiple executions in market across 4,000 outlets to encourage fans to ‘Share the Spirit’ and celebrate the things that make the game so unique.

Bundaberg Rum marketing manager, Jodi McLeod, said: “Combined with our NRL partnership which kicked off in 2016, the launch of Bundaberg Rum Lazy Bear, our most successful RTD launch in over a decade, and now this AU$20 million investment in an iconic new campaign, Diageo is really getting behind the Bundaberg Rum brand and we hope our customers will get behind it too.”

There Was a Lot More to Prohibition Arrival and Departure, Both Took Some Time

     Prohibition has always had an interest for me, having been born in 1946,  There was still a lot of people that lived through the "noble experiment" and it was interesting to talk to hem about it.   My grand Mother and Grand Father were always good to talk to about the subject.  I found this article  to be very interesting. 

     In January 1919, the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution forbade, "the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors". It came into force exactly a year later, with the National Prohibition Act - usually known as the Volstead Act - setting out the detailed guidelines.   Prohibition had not come out of the blue. The Temperance Movement had been building strong support among the many churches since the early 1800's. Massachusetts was the first state to introduce anti-alcohol legislation in 1838, but it was short-lived. Maine did so more successfully in 1848.

Al Capone

     Prohibition was not a success. Organized crime set up large smuggling operations across the Canadian and Mexican borders, as well as managing illegal shipping routes from the Caribbean. Domestic bootleggers began distilling vast quantities of home brew, and medicinal and denatured alcohol were cut and washed for resale - sometimes with fatal consequences. All these products were pumped out through mob-controlled speakeasies and illicit drinking dens. In the space of only a few years, prohibition had given a new breed of gangsters undreamed of wealth and geographic reach. From this solid foundation, organized crime then diversified into narcotics, gambling, prostitution, and finance.

Eliot Ness

     Law enforcement agencies and organized crime gangs battled it out on the streets of American cities. The state's high point came in 1932 when Eliot Ness and his Untouchables from the Bureau of Prohibition succeeded in securing Al Capone's imprisonment for income tax offences. However, by this stage the tide had turned, and the whole violent experience of prohibition had killed off much popular support for the Temperance Movement.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

     In April 1933, the new president, Franklin D Roosevelt, signed the Cullen-Harrison Act, which legalized beer and wine up to 3.2% ABV. But a framework of far more severe reforms was already in place. On 20 February, Congress had proposed the Twenty-First Amendment, aimed at repealing the Eighteenth Amendment completely and ending prohibition. It was finally adopted on 5 December 1933, and the Eighteenth Amendment was junked in its entirety - the only constitutional amendment in U.S. history to have been ditched wholesale. Prohibition was a 13-year failed experiment, whose main legacy was a sophisticated nationwide criminal infrastructure.

Read More on the subject at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/20/day-1933-congress-strikes-first-blow-fight-kill-prohibition/ 

Mount Gay Introduces the Next in the Mount Gay 1703 Series

     Rémy Cointreau has added a new expression to its ultra-premium Mount Gay 1703 rums, the new expression is being called Mount Gay 1703 Master Select.   Mount Gay 1703 Master Select is a blend of copper column and copper pot rums, aged between 10 and 30 years. Stocks that are being used to create the blend were individually selected by Mount Gay’s master blender Allen Smith.

     Around 12,000 bottles of Mount Gay 1703 Master Select will be released globally at price of  US$150.00.  This rum, which has an abv rating of 43%, features a new bottle design for the annual 1703 range.   The range was first launched in 2009, and been a real hit ever since.   “The most important ingredient in 1703 Master Select is time,” Allen Smith said,  “We spend years carefully monitoring our rarest barrels to achieve a perfect balance of flavors.   “It may take time, but when it all comes together, the taste is worth the wait, but once it’s gone it’s gone and you have to wait until the following year. It is important that you don’t wait, because 12,000 bottles world wide will disappear in a real hurry, so we recommended that you grab it as soon as you see it.”

     Mount Gay’s 1703 range pays homage to the year the Barbados distillery started production, using the brand’s oldest reserves.

My Presidential Hero Based on Alcohol Usage

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

     Franklin Delano Roosevelt has become my hero president, as far as related to how and what he did for the alcohol industry.  FDR is a legend among drink-loving folks. He repealed Prohibition, this alone puts him at the top of my list of presidents that actually drank.  He also mixed drinks like it was the Roaring ‘20s all through the Depression was on at the time.. This is a FDR had serious mixology skills as well, he also knew how to turn hard times into great ones. When life gives him lemons, he makes Bermuda Rum Swizzles.

John F. Kennedy

Rutherford B. Hayes

            John F. Kennedy got my attention because of his love of the trendy at the time Daiquiri.   John Adams our second president liked his rum as well among other tings.   In these times we have Barrack Obama who only drank beer and now we have a non drinker.  The very worst though was Rutherford B. Hayes, his wife was not in any way a fan of booze of any kind.   Rutherford backed her up so completely that he insisted that the White House staff use rum flavoring instead of real rum in punch for guests. This is the worst of them, at least it was rum flavoring.

     

The Women are Taking Over the Top of the Rum World

      There are more and more women being found at the top of the rum companies around the world.  Joy Spence was the first and she is celebrating 25 years with Appleton.

Appleton Estate's Joy Spence

        Appleton Estate has honored master blender Joy Spence’s 20th year at the distillery by launching a 25-year-old rum, named Appleton Estate Joy Anniversary Blend.   Joy Spence’s creation, the limited edition 25-year-old minimum aged rum also includes rums that have been aged up to 35 years.  “For my anniversary blend, I simply set out to create the rum that I’d like to sip while watching the colors of my garden change in the warm glow of the Jamaican sunset,” Joy Spence said.   “It includes two rum marques which are of particular sentimental significance to me: The first of these marques was laid down to age in 1981, which is the year I joined the Appleton Estate team, and the second is my favorite marque of pot still rum. The final blend is a wonderful rum that I hope will be become a cornerstone of my legacy.”

     Spence graduated from the University of the West Indies with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and the University of Loughborough with a Master of Science in Analytical Chemistry.   She joined Appleton Estate as chief chemist and quickly became “enthralled” with the process of blending rum.  Over the next 16 years, Spence learned under the expert guidance of former master blender Owen Tulloch.   Joy Spence’s became the world’s first female master blender in 1997, it came at a time when rum was primarily made and consumed by men.

     Appleton Estate Joy Anniversary Blend will be rolled out across markets starting in March 2017.   The new offering “opens with a delicate orange peel top note”, a hallmark of Appleton Estate rums.  On the finish, there are hints of “warm vanilla, butterscotch, coffee and layers of almond and toasted oak.
Serve neat in a tumbler to fully appreciate Appleton Estate Joy Anniversary Blend, which opens with a delicate orange peel top note, a hallmark of Appleton Estate rums, intertwined with ginger and spice. The aroma finishes with vanilla, butterscotch, coffee, and layers of almond. The palate is exceptionally smooth with a long, elegant brown sugar finish.

Spring Has Popped in North Carolina

Flowering Plum Tree

     Sunday Morning, just one more week up here on this trip and it's back to Key West for a couple of weeks and then one more trip up here to put the finishing touches on everything.  Couldn't be happier the way things are progressing, things are finally starting to go back together and they are going to be beautiful, just like when those guys on TV.

     Spring is popping a little early this year, many of the frees are in bloom already.  The neighbor's Bradford Pear, my Flowering Plum and some of the Rhododendrons are blooming as well, makes for a wonderful walk through the woods.   I had forgotten how beautiful spring is up here in the North Carolina

Bradford Pear Tree Looking Like a Popcorn Tree

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Angostura Appoints Jodhan as Permanent CEO

       Rum and bitters producer Angostura Holdings has confirmed its acting CEO Genevieve Jodhan has been made permanent in the role effective 14 February.   With the appointment, she becomes the first woman to lead a large Trinidad and Tobago company outside of the energy sector.   Jodhan has been heading the company in an acting capacity since September 2016 when previous CEO Robert Wong went on a period of leave.   Prior to her promotion, Jodhan held the role of sales and marketing executive manager.

Genevieve Jodhan

     As CEO, Jodhan will lead the executive management team, support the board of directors on strategic business and lead growth strategies.   "Genevieve has the experience and track record of delivering results and has proven leadership," said Dr. Rolph Balgobin, chairman of the Angostura board.

     "She spearheaded our international sales growth increasing market share and sales of our signature rums and bitters in Europe, Asia and Australia and has directed the development of the brands in many emerging markets including Russia, Czech Republic, and Armenia."

Jodhan added: "I am both humbled and honored to be appointed chief executive officer. I have been with the company for close to a decade and my commitment has always been to Angostura's people, products and values.   "I am keen to build on the long outstanding achievement of our manufacturing business, through the execution of forward looking business strategies that add to the customer experience, and build on our shareholders' value."

Read More at http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2017/02/jodhan-confirmed-as-angostura-ceo/ 

Rum is Bracing for Falling Volumes Ahead

     This is from a report that surfaced recently,  It looks like it is time for the rum sector to buckle down and work on it image and get some guidelines in place so the people purchasing rum truly know what they are buying and expect more rather than less from the sector.

     “The global rum market is set to face a tough future, according to joint research from just-drinks and The IWSR, with volumes expected to slide over the next five years.”  The Global Rum Insights report has forecast a compound annual drop of 0.5% between 2016 and 2021, representing a decline of almost 3.7m cases. The rum segment's top three markets - India, the US and the Philippines - are all expected to record falls.   The predicted five-year dip follows a decline of 0.8% in 2015 to 141.8m nine-liter cases, with nine of the top 20 markets and four of the top five registering declines.

Read More at http://www.just-drinks.com/news/rum-sector-braced-for-falling-volumes-in-years-ahead-research_id122393.aspx

     Nine of the top 20 markets fell in 2015, including four out of the top five. Virtually all of those in growth are in low single digits.   Rum’s trajectory is one of gentle decline and not overly dynamic, at least when viewed from a top-line vantage point.  

     One of the biggest issues for rum lies in the fact that it’s basis is value-priced brands which only account for a further 39.1% of sales, meaning that almost 60% of total category sales are value or low-priced expressions.  This has implications for brand building, particularly premium brand building. In much of the world, rum has a relatively low image and is viewed as a commodity product rather that a product of quality.

Things are Moving Along Well in Mooresville

     Two days behind me and a lot of progress has been made.  The exterior of the house has been pressure washed and re stained, paint is progressing well on the interior.  The roofers start replacing the roof today and the flooring people arrive on Monday.

      In the mean time, I’m playing lumberjack.  The yard is suffering from major over growth.  I’ve cut down a couple of trees and pruned many many more to go.  Today it is back inside to replace a couple of vanities and ad some crown moldings.     The progress is good, things are moving right along and the list is getting shorter.  I’m afraid that I will be here for a full two weeks.  Currently planning on driving back on Monday the 6^th of March. 

     The important thing to me is that I'm getting a lot done each day in a lot of different areas.  Yesterday was demo on the old deck by the pond and some work on building a new well cover.  The painting and plastering is moving along well.  I feel like on the Flip or Flop Show.  Only difference is that I don't have a crew to come in to take care of a lot of this stuff.

     The old body will be needing a break by then.  Dock to repair and a ton of clean-up around the yard.  2 ½ acres is a lot of area and lots of things to take care of.  Looking forward to having this chore behind me.   I need a Karaoke break, but there will be none for the next couple of weeks.

Don Q Releases Oak Barrel Spiced Rum Expression

     Don Q has finally released its anticipated Oak Barrel Spiced Rum after first announcing plans to release it for a one year now.  “Don Q first announced plans for the release at the launch of its Single barrel last year.”  Oak Barrel Spiced Rum is created from rums aged between three and six years.  This is the “structure, smoothness and tanins” to differentiate the Don Q’s from other spiced rums, the natural blend of vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove is then added Yielding a “dry” spiced rum that is free from artificial colors and flavors. 

      “We took our time in crafting our Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced Rum,” said Roberto Serrallés, the sixth-generation Don Q rum maker.  We wanted to make sure we created an elevated experience for our customers; one that would reveal how barrel ageing and pure ingredients can take spiced rum from an ordinary mixer to an exceptional spirit that is ideal for crafting unique cocktails as well as for drinking neat, on the rocks or with a splash.”

          Tasting of the expression from the nose to the tasting notes includes vanilla, nutmeg, honey oak and tanins.   Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced Rum is bottled at 90 proof/45% abv and is available across the US now priced at $29.99.

Jimmy Buffett Lifestyle Community Coming to Daytona Beach

     I can't believe this hasn't happened before.  Jimmy has been near "retirement" age for a number of years now.  What a great idea, if it is pulled off properly this could compete with places like the Villages for people of retirement age and ready to live the laid back and "keywasted" lifestyle.

Jimmy Buffett

      Jimmy Buffett fans in search of a real-life "Margaritaville" will soon be able to find it, just not in Key West.   It will be right here in Daytona Beach.  Canadian developer Minto Communities announced that Buffett's Margaritaville Holdings company has agreed to become a strategic partner in developing its planned 6,900-home community for residents 55-and-older on the north side of LPGA Boulevard, just west of Interstate 95.  

     The first homes are expected to be ready for move in by fall 2018, said William Bullock, a senior vice president with Minto.  The new deal is a "game changer for this area," said John Albright, the CEO of Daytona Beach-based Consolidated-Tomoka Land Co., which recently sold the land where the first phase of the Latitude Margaritaville, Daytona Beach is planned. "It will make the Minto development something that people identify with nationally."

Town Center "Park"

     The community, which originally was to be named Oasis Daytona, will now be called Latitude Margaritaville, Daytona Beach, and will be designed to reflect the lifestyle espoused in Buffett's songs throughout the development.   "Featuring world-class amenities and design, Latitude Margaritaville, Daytona Beach, will reflect Margaritaville's authentic 'no worries' tropical vibe, offering an immersive brand experience," according to a news release issued by Minto.

     "With Minto's expertise in creating master-planned developments and Margaritaville's inherent ability to deliver fun and escapism, Latitude Margaritaville has the exact coordinates for those looking to live the Margaritaville lifestyle as they grow older, but not up," stated John Cohlan, the CEO of Palm Beach-based Margaritaville Holdings, in the news release.

Community Center

     Buffett and Cohlan are the majority owners of Margaritaville Holdings, whose operations include destination resorts/hotels across the Southeastern United States and Caribbean, four gaming locations, and more than 60 food-and-beverage locations.   "Daytona will be the first of several communities we'll be developing in partnership with Margaritaville Holdings," said William Bullock, a senior vice president with Minto, in a phone interview.

     "Music, food and beverages will be a big part of the community," Bullock said, adding that the community's town center will include a music bandshell and "Margaritaville-inspired food and beverage offerings" among its amenities, which also will include a fitness center, indoor lap pool and spa, and an outdoor resort-style pool. "We're definitely going to do some live broadcasts from there (Latitude Margaritaville, Daytona Beach) on their SiriusXM Channel," he added, although he did not know who those performers might be.   Bullock said he was told by Margaritaville Holdings officials, "You never know when or where Jimmy Buffett may show up to do a concert." 

     The community will also operate for its residents a private oceanfront beach club in Ormond-by-the-Sea that will be accessed via a loop shuttle bus.   Latitude Margaritaville, Daytona Beach is expected to be the biggest master-planned community ever built in the Volusia-Flagler area.   Bullock said while his company is initially looking to develop between 6,000 and 7,000 homes, "there's still an opportunity grow the community" even further by acquiring additional adjacent land from Consolidated-Tomoka, which recently completed its sale of nearly 1,600 acres to Minto for $27.2 million. That land, on the south half of the planned community, is where Minto will be developing the project's first phase of up to 3,400 homes, as well as a neighborhood retail center along the north side of LPGA Boulevard, just west of the Tomoka River.

     Margaritaville Holdings is currently in talks about the possibility of becoming involved in the neighborhood retail center, Bullock said. The 200,000-square-foot retail center is expected to include a grocery store as well as restaurants and shops and would be next to the south entrance of the gated "golf cart-friendly" community, he said.

Learn More about this at https://www.latitudemargaritaville.com/ 

Lake Norman Here I Come

     Today is a travel day for me.  I’m heading up to North Carolina to put in some days on the house on Lake Norman.  My long time tenants have moved out and it is time to play the “Property Brothers” game and get it refurbished to sell.   Fortunately, I won’t have to trip over a production team as they film the project.  Most of what has to be done is to remove some overgrown plants and fix a few things that have just gotten old.  I moved out some 11 years ago and things can grow a lot in that time. 

     Marta and I built the house in 1990 and it has stood proud ever since.  It just needs to what I will call normal maintenance after 27 years.  I will have some fun up there as well as working, so I’ll keep you up on what is happening. 

Fishing Anyone?

     The mangroves of the Florida Keys are always willing to unveil new adventures and sights every time you visit them.  These days in the kayak we are able to quietly arrive upon sightings of wildlife going about their everyday lives.  This is really exciting for us and happens more and more often.  It isn't very often that you get the opportunity to catch an Egret stabbing at a fish, but I was lucky enough to catch this one.  Enjoy the vision that I had as I cruised through these fascinating Eco Systems of the Keys.

Only Three Days Left to Attend The 2017 Miami Boat Show Presented by Progressive Insurance

     2017 Miami Boat Show is underway on Virginia Key at the Historic Marine Stadium.  The show is filled with everything marine and necessary to maintain your nautical life.  There has been a greatly improved control of the traffic on the Rickenbacker Causeway allowing you to get to and from the show quicker and with a lot less stress that the previous year.   My personal recommendation is to park at the American Airlines Arena and take the Water Taxi (if you already have bought you tickets on line) to and from the show.  It is a very relaxing ride through the port of Miami to the show and the arena gets you back onto the freeway without dealing with the city traffic.

     Once at the show, you will be walking for hours upon hours to see all the booths in the tents and several more at the exhibits in the water across from the historic Marine Stadium.   If you are looking for boats, engines, electronics, marine furniture, flooring, accessories or just ideas to update the boat you have, this is the place to be.  

     We spent a lot of the day in the B, C, and D tents and on the docks.  There is so much to see, collecting brochures and talking to the people that make the pieces.  I’ve been attending this show in Miami for many years, this year is one of the best all round experience that I have ever had there.   The shuttles, parking, water taxis, and the content of the show itself made for a great experience.  The show runs through Sunday, so if you haven’t thought about going and you have an interest in anything nautical, get on line get your tickets, parking and head on out to the show. 

     Tickets and the parking can be purchased online at http://www.miamiboatshow.com/tickets-and-parking .  You cannot take the water taxi to the show if you don’t already have your tickets to the show and the ticket lines on site can take quite a bit of time.  Having all of your tickets when you arrive will save you a lot of time and add to your enjoyment of the show once you get there. 

Bahama Bob’s French Riviera Cocktail

        A nice cocktail for the evening that offers a warmth with a interesting variety of flavor is what the         evening is calling for.   Here is a little cocktail that is quite easy to make that will take the edge off fo the     day and leave you feeling warm inside.

     Bahama Bob’s French Riviera

 

• ¾ oz. Plantation Barbados Grande Reserve

• ¾ oz. Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao

• ¾ oz.  Rouge Vermouth

• ¼ oz. Licor 43

• 2 dashes Fee Brothers Old Fashion Bitters

• 2 dashes Fee Brothers Cardamom Bitters

     Shake all ingredients with ice. Then strain into an ice-filled glass.   Garnish with a lemon.

Rum Craft Distilling Growing Fast Across the United States

     Recent changes to state laws have made it cheaper and easier for small upstarts to open distilleries, sparking the appearance of local craft spirit makers.  Many states have introduced Distillery Laws that greatly reduced licensing fees and allowed distillers to sell spirits directly to consumers on site in their showrooms by the glass and by the bottle.   That gives distilleries the ability to open tasting rooms, which attract customers and tourists, and help increase sales.   Changes to state laws also have made it easier for small upstarts to get into the distilling business, allowing them to source more than half of their raw materials from their local areas.

     The Fed is also involved, but once you get your license to operate the still the state governments are seeing the potential for tax revenues and are making it easier to get their operations up and running and start selling the spirits.  In the past, It has been very cost.   The results of these laws is that America has gotten hundreds of new craft distilleries opening all over the country.

     New laws that are going through the state legislature here in Florida are looking to make the tourist side of the craft spirit grow by allowing the distilleries to sell to the customers more than one bottle a year that they have been saddled with for many years.  These changes are drawing more companies to give the distilling business a try.  The changes in Florida laws are happening in New York, South Carolina and many other states.  It is really exciting to see all the new rum offerings that have entered the Miami Rum Festival in April.  There are over 100 American made rums being shown.

     This is an exciting prospect to have America be a major rum producer and from what I’ve seen of the rums being produced here the basics are here and with time for the rums to age, there will be some really nice rums available from right here in the states.

Falernum is Back

      On a visit to Barbados about seven years ago, there I was introduced to a very unique liqueur called Falernum.  They make a really good cocktail there called a Corn ‘n Oil in which the John D. Taylor Velvet Falernum is the primary ingredient.  I also found out on the same trip that it is made at Foursquare Distillery there on Barbados.

     John D Taylor Velvet Falernum is a longtime staple item of resorts and bars in Barbados, and today for its use in Tropical, Tiki and Caribbean drinks such as the Rum Swizzle, Mai Tai, Zombie, and the Corn n' Oil.   It is made from an infusion of spices and lime juice into sugar cane syrup and Barbados Rum.

     Falernum was at the center of many of Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vics’ popular cocktails of the era.   Falernum is a classic for your classic Tiki and other Caribbean cocktails.   Falernum is either a non-alcoholic syrup or a liqueur based around white rum.   Almond, clove and lime zest, with other possible flavors of allspice, ginger or vanilla are added to the rum to create this unique flavor.   Falernum is one of those mixers that fit into so many different cocktails and brings them to life with the extra depth it adds.

     For those looking for the flavor of falernum without the alcohol, Fee Brothers makes a very good Falernum syrup.  The other alternative is to make it yourself.  There are a lot of recipes out there to create this in your own kitchen.  Below is the recipe that I have played with and like very much.

     Traditionally, falernum is used with rum, tiki driven or swizzle style cocktails.   Falernum adds a spicy sweetness that will overcome the citrus acetic, dryness or sourness of many cocktails.   Falernum can be used with other spirits addition to rum, it does very well, especially dark spirits like rye, brandy, and scotch.   This is one mixer that you have to be careful with and not use too much of it, as it can over power the cocktail very easily.

Bahama Bob’s Falernum Recipe

• 1/3 cup Sliced, Raw Almonds
• 30 whole Cloves
• 1/8 cup of fresh chopped Ginger
• 1/2 cup of Doorly’s White Rum or other quality white rum
• 8 Limes
• 2/3 cup of Water
• 1/2 cup of Sugar in the Raw

Preheat the oven to 400°F and toast the almonds on a cookie sheet until slightly darkened and fragrant, about five minutes. Be careful not to let them burn. Let cool before using.

Place the almonds and cloves in a closeing glass jar and pour in the rum.  Shake and let steep 24 hours days.

Zest the limes, being sure no white pith is included. Set aside four of the limes for use in the rest of this recipe, and reserve the rest for another project. Add lime zest to the jar. At this point you can also add other spices, if desired. Shake and let steep for 1 day, and then strain through cheesecloth, pressing to extract as much liquid as possible.

Juice four of the limes, and strain the juice into a sauce pot. Add water and sugar, then bring to a boil on medium heat. Cook until sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes. Let syrup cool, then combine with the strained almond and clove infusion. Strain mixture through a coffee filter, if desired, then let it rest for an additional 12 hours before use.

Happy St. Valentine's Day Cocktail

           Where we get Valentines day is an interesting story, there are many stories that began  with the execution of St. Valentine on February 14, 278 A.D.  St. Valentine was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius Gothicus. He was arrested      and imprisoned upon being caught marrying Christian couples and otherwise aiding Christians who          were at the time being persecuted by Claudius in Rome.

     No matter were the holiday came from, today is the day that we offer up something to the love of our life.  St. Valentines Day is today and if you haven't got your special cocktail for your special evening yet, here is one you might want to try..  In my mind, women seem to like two things chocolate and fresh fruit cocktails.   

     Bahama Bob’s Valentine's Day Cocktail

• 1 oz.  Selvarey Cocoa
• 1½ oz.  Matusalem Platino Rum
• 4 oz. Silk Dark Chocolate Almond Milk

     Place all ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake until chilled and strain into a martini glass.  Garnish     

     with 2 fresh Chocolate Dipped Strawberries.

Rum and Karaoke Tomorrow at The Rum Barrel

     Don't miss the premier of  Gary O'Key with Gary Woods and a Rum Experience with Bahama Bob Leonard on Tuesday 14th of February from 11 am til 2 pm on the Quarter Deck of The Rum Barrel on Front Street in Key West.

     For all of you arriving on the cruise ships, locals with time to enjoy or working at night and missing all of the Karaoke fun.  Gary Woods is one of the best known karaoke emcees on the island.  He carries 130,000 songs with him to keep everyone singing all morning long.

    We will be spending some time helping you become better acquainted with rum during the 15 minute breaks while Gary takes a pause for the cause.  There will be a it of sampling, and learning happening each time.  The Rum Barrel has a great selection to choose from and the bar will be there running wide open for your spirits needs.

   This will be happening on the second of Tuesday each month, so if you miss the first one, there will be another next month.  Looking forward to getting together with all of you tomorrow.

"Don't Try to Describe the Water if You Never Seen It"

     There is no way to describe the waters of the Caribbean Skies and  Ocean.  It is different in every part of  it you visit.  The blues are of so many hues and shades that only a picture can show you, but it still can't compare to seeing it in person.

Virgin Holiday's New Data Distilled Rum: What a Concept

     Virgin Holidays created the “world’s first data-distilled rum” by using a super computer to analyze more than 15 million social media posts and produce a recipe that “tastes like a holiday”.   Virgin came up with the recipe for ‘Holiday Spirit’ by programming IBM’s cognitive computing platform ‘Watson’ to analyze feelings expressed online by more than 15 million holidaymakers.   The emotions identified were matched to thousands of rum flavor descriptors by global rum ambassador Ian Burrell, and used to build a rum which was then bottled at 40% abv.

     “The Virgin Holiday Spirit has a subtle vanilla flavor, medium sweetness, hints of coconut and is naturally caressed with cinnamon and allspice,” according to Ian Burrell .   “It was my first time collaborating with a super computer to create a distinct blend, so we ensured a high level of quality control to deliver a premium palette experience. Tough job but someone has to do it.”

Ian Burrell

     The most predominant positive emotions captured in the posts were happy, excited, curious, adventurous and relaxed, matched against vanilla, sugarcane, cinnamon, allspice and coconut flavors respectively.   Dave Geer, interim managing director at Virgin Holidays, said: “We’ve long been known for creating the ‘perfect blend’ when it comes to holidays, so we set ourselves the task of translating this into something tangible.

     “Bottling the holiday spirit, and creating a blend informed by joy, excitement, curiosity and confidence perfectly encapsulates the Virgin Holidays experience.”   The only problem is that they are only available in the UK.  This is a very interesting approach to making rum, but it makes sense, creating flavors that fit the people that are looking to buy them, it makes a lot of sense.

Bringing Back a Variation of the Sour

     Spring and warm weather is promised in about five weeks, so time to look at the cocktails for the patio after work and on the weekends.  Sour Mix is a critical mix for many spring and summer cocktails, it adds such a refreshing touch to many cocktails.  One of the simplest one is a sour.  Rum is one of the best spirits from which to create a good sour.

     Take this simple combination of my sour mix and Papa's Pilar Dark Rum to make youself flavorful and refreshing cocktail for the patio or aft deck of the boat.  If you cant wait, just build a nice fire in the fireplace and enjjoy.

Bahama Bob’s Rum Sour

• 3 oz. Pilar Dark Rum
• 1 oz. Bahama Bob’s Sour Mix

Place all ingredients in a shake filled with ice and shake until chilled, strain into a sour or cocktail glass filled with fresh ice.  Garnish with a cherry or nothing at all.

Bahama Bob’s Sour Mix

• ½ cup Water
• ½ cup Sugar in the Raw or honey can be substituted to make a hone sour mix
• 4 oz. Lemon Juice
• 2 oz.  Lime Juice

Place water in a suitable pan and heat to boiling point.  Add sugar and stir until all sugar is dissolved, lower heat and let simmer for 5 minutes.   Add lemon and lime juice, stir and allow to cool to room temperature. Put into a dispensing bottle and put into the refrigerator.  Ready to use when cooled.