Sunday Morning Waking Up

What a beautiful morning in Key West, hope your day starts as beautifully as mine has.   ;o)

The Hacienda Botucal in La Meil

    The Hacienda Botucal in La Meil, Lara, Venezuela is a very unique place with cattle grazing around a classic hacienda style house that is located  just outside of the gates to Distilleria Unitas.   We were the guests of Diplomatico for an afternoon fiesta of appetizers, rum, music and lunch in the grand style of the Venezuelan hacienda life.     We were greeted by Tito Cordero at the gate, a group picture in front of the main house, then inside and the beginning of the afternoon fun.  

     The group of us were first treated to a tour of the grounds and a chance to see the lunch being cooked in a bar-b-que roasting box at the rear of the house.   Then it was out to the front porch for some Mojitos, Diplomatico rum cocktails, and music from a trio of local musicians.   There was a never ending table of local appetizers that were brought out one after the other and the local cheeses were like no other I've ever had.

The afternoon and the lunch were absolutely wonderful, but like all good things, the afternoon was gone before we really knew it.   I found it so peaceful out there on the grounds with a warmth and friendliness that country living can only provide.   I really enjoyed the food, rum and companionship Tito, Alfonso, and the crew that runs the Hacienda Botucal afforded us.

   And for dessert, was an aperitif of Hacienda Saruro aged rum liquor.  The perfect end for a perfect day in the Venezuelan countryside.   ;o)

CARIFORUM Likely to go to World Trade Organization

     "There is every indication that the Forum of the Caribbean Group of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM), which includes the Dominican Republic, will likely file a formal international trade discrimination claim against the U.S. in the new year if Washington does not agree to talks over heavy subsidies being given to British and American producers in the region to the great disadvantage of CARIFORUM exporters."    This is a definite step forward in the Caribbean Rum Wars.   There is a feeling of desperation among the CARIFORUM countries that if these subsidies continue much longer they will not be able to compete for the US market.

 

    The Caribbean governments have been petitioning the Obama lead administration about these heavy subsidies for the past year or so, but their appeals have fallen on deaf ears.    The real issue in my mind is that the US is subsidizing a British Giant Diageo.   I have  less of a problem with Cruzan, and American owned operation, especially when the rum producers on our home soil are not receiving the same consideration.   In a quote in the New York Amsterdam News, "Frank Ward, chairman of the Barbados Rum Industry, drove home this week the fears of the CARIFORUM nations by telling a national audience that a challenge to the Geneva-based WTO trade disputes agency will be the likely outcome of the current rum war if all other options fail as feared."

 

     With the election behind us, it is time for the administration to take a second look at this problem.   It is not only a problem for the Caribbean, but one for the rest of the world's rum producers.   Like any other industry, you can not subsidize one brand without providing the same assistance to the others or we will be suffering from the failure of the true American system of business.   

     "We find it extremely difficult to compete, and it is a challenge at this point in time. We are appealing not just to the Barbados rum industry, but the CARIFORUM rum industry in general, and to our governments to take this issue very seriously and to seek to have a dialogue with the U.S. government, with a view to resolving what we feel is an iniquitous and pernicious use of subsidies for multinational spirit companies and their rum production," Ward stated.

   


      Kelly Railean said "There are over 80 American manufacturers of rum operating in the USA and it is time to establish quality standards for "American Rum." Ask any American rum manufacturer and they will tell you that the main obstacle to growing the domestic rum category and their small business is the unfair tax subsidies offered exclusively to rum companies operating in U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico and USVI. These subsidies restrict free market competition and give global manufacturers such as Bacardi and Diageo an unwarranted hold on the American rum market. The American Rum Association is fully committed to exposing these unfair practices and providing products made in the U.S.A.; thus providing jobs, fueling our American economy and aiding in the recovery of our economic system."

 

     The time has come to create a level playing field for the rum industry to grow in a time when America is rediscovering rum.  I for one do not want to have my choices of rum determined by the bureaucrats in Washington D.C., by subsidizing foreign producers at the expense of the American ones.

  

Angostura:The Aromatic Bitters

    It is said that Queen Elizabeth's favorite cocktail is gin and tonic with a dash of Angostura Aromatic Bitters.   The preparation has a long history that was started by Dr. Siegert in 1872.  Developed in his lab located in Trinidad, he developed the bitters as a digestion aid, but became the seasoning for the world's cocktails as its true legacy.

     Bitters are made much like coffee is by percolating hot water over the ground up barks, herbs and grains in the basket.  The actual formula is a closely guarded secret, but resultant bitters do wonders for many of today's cocktails.    Making of the bitters is a relatively simple process that takes up only a small corner of the "House of Angostura".

     The House of Angostura is by appointment of Queen Elizabeth II the manufacturer of Angostura Aromatic Bitters.   There is a special "Diamond Jubilee" edition of the bitters that was made in very limited quantities for her 50th annaversary as the Queen of England.

     The Aromatic Bitters is only a small portion, but the basis of what is now one of the largest manufacturer of rum and the aromatic bitters in the world.  I found the tour and the simplicity of the operation to be very interesting.   It is always a wonder to me how a simple idea can grow into a huge success like this one has.   ;o)

The Magic is in the Barrel

     One of the important things in getting the exact flavor that you want from a great rum comes from the barrels that are used to age the rums.   The barrels can and are used for many other types of aging before being used for aging rum.   The oak barrels can be charred, lightly or heavily depending on what is to be the desired result for the maturing of the rum.  They may also be unburned as well.   Most of the barrels are former bourbon barrels made of American Oak that were used only once to age bourbon.

Charred and unburned staves

     Today in the modern distillery the blender has many different rums at his or her disposal from which to create a new rum.   At DUSA, Tito Cordero has some sixty different rums from which to create his new blends.   The differences are for the most part how and in what the rums were aged.  I have tasted rums that are aged in sherry barrels, cognac barrels, scotch barrels, and many other types of barrels, and each has a distinct flavor that is imparted by the type of barrel in which it is aged.  Most of the alcohol that is placed in the barrels is of a similar in nature to start with, although some is heavier than others, but it is the time spent in the barrel that gives the rum its unique characteristics.
     There is another side of the story too, many of the rums have spent time in barrels before blending, and some are rebarreled after blending to marry the flavors creating a new and different characteristic again.   This will generate a completely different rum that just blending and bottling the rums can not.  

     How come a bottle of old rum is so much more expensive than a young rum?   The most expensive portion of making rum is the aging.  The rum from the distillery has 2 to 30 years of aging before the bottle can be sold.  This means that huge amounts of rum are sitting in storage for many years before they can be bottled and sold.   Think about if you could not reap the benefits of your labor for that long and you had to have enough space to store it as well.  This is expensive any way you look at it. 

     The next time that you open a bottle of twelve to fifteen year old rum, just think about where this nectar has been and what the barrels have done for it in the time since it was distilled.  It is truly a magical change.   It is the natural and slow way of getting a rum flavor, and the best rums are done this way.   ;o)

Diplomatico World Cocktail Tournament Round 1

The Diplomatico World Cocktail Tournament contestants

     One of the honors that was bestowed on the six RumXP's in Venezuela was being asked to judge the Diplomatico World Cocktail Tournament in Barquisimeto, Lara.   The tournament took place at "Tantra" a very classy bar in the Hotel Jirahara.   There were a total of fifteen barmen entered in the tournament.   Their skills were extremely good and the originality of the cocktails showed a love for their craft.

RumXP Panel

     The Panel made up of Robert A. Burr, Robin Burr, John Gibbons, Adam Kanter, Robert V. Burr and myself, were given the tough chore of rating the cocktails based on the criteria spelled out in the rules of the tournament.   There were three areas on which we would judge the cocktails.  The first was a combination of neatness, precision of the work, uniformity of the four glasses, simplicity of the recipe, and manners and presences on stage.   The Second was the garnish, originality of the name for the cocktail, cocktail presentation, general appearance, and color of the cocktail.  The third was for our palates to decide, aroma, taste, and balance of the cocktail.    Each area was scored on a 0 to 10 rating, yielding a possible 30 points for perfection. 

Jose Garcia with the RumXP Panel

     After each barman took their turn on stage, and all of the evaluation completed, it was time for the statisticians to announce the winner, who will move on the Venezuela Tournament and possibly to the World Finals.   Tonight in a very close event, Jose Garcia was the winner.

    The tournament was just another of the fun time all of us RumXP's enjoyed while with the Diplomatico people in Venezuela.   I just can't say enough about the gracious treatment afforded us while in country.   Plus it was a pleasure to be able to sample fifteen great original cocktails.   ;o)

Questions: Can the WTO Help the Cribbean Rum Producers?

    The battle over the US subsidies that are being afforded the governments of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands is heading to a new level.   A couple of weeks ago Kelly Railean's American Rum Association joined those feeling that these subsidies are unfair to American rum producers as well.   I feel that the idea of hurting a small business here in the United States while subsidizing foreign owned rum producers is something that needs the attention of our lawmakers and a newly elected president who promised to protect the small American businessman.

    These trade policies have caused the Caribbean region some serious harm through the loss of bulk rum sales to brands that are not able to distill their own rum. The Cribbean rum producers can not compete with the subsidized rum for price.   In an editorial in the Jamaica Observer, on Sunday 11 November , 2012 there is a question whether or not even the World Trade Organization will be able to help the Caribbean rum exporters.  

"Ironically, the United States, the biggest ally and friend of the Caribbean, has pursued trade policies which have caused some of the greatest harm to the region, the so-called third border. Before rum, the Caribbean was seriously hurt by US policy which resulted in the dismantling of the European Union's preferential arrangements for bananas.

The US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are benefiting from massive subsidies to their rum industries, in some cases exceeding 100 per cent of the fixed and variable costs of production for rum destined for the American market. These subsidies are funded by the US excise tax on rum, most of which is returned by the United States to the USVI and Puerto Rican governments.

The effects of these subsidies are already causing significant damage to the vital Caribbean rum industry. Several rum producers have lost long-term contracts to supply bulk rum. This trend will continue because subsidised production capacity is larger than the existing market share of Caribbean rum exports. This excess capacity will first disrupt the US market then inevitably affect all export markets.

The governments of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) have launched a diplomatic campaign to get the US to change its policy. To strengthen the case, Caricom is thinking of taking the case to the WTO. The problem with this strategy is that even a ruling against the US in the WTO cannot guarantee a change in American policy, as has been illustrated by the case of Antigua and Barbuda versus the US on gaming."

This issue is not going to go away soon, and with the addition of the American rum producers, feeling they are also being put at a disadvantage, things are becoming very tense in reference to the subject.

Visit to Santa Teresa Distillery

 

Santa Teresa Solera

     Sorry for no story yesterday, but there is no available Internet service in the area around the Santa Teresa Distillery.   I'm at the Caracas Airport now waiting for my flight back to Miami so here are a couple of pictures of the distillery and the grounds around it.   I'll do a more complete story at a later time.

     Nestor Ortega, Maestro Ronero for Santa Teresa Distillery, at the entrance to the solera of which he has the complete control.    It is Senor Ortega's work as the master of the rum that makes the finished product so impressive.   We will cover all of this in a later story updating the solera system and what it does for the rum.   ;o)

    

DUSA Distillery Tour

   This is one of the most modern and classical distilleries all at the same time.   The efficient fermentation process along with the recapture of the yeasts from the light alcohol vats make the fermentation process fast yield high quality results.     Continuous column still operation is all automated producing a continuous flow of light alcohols for re distilling or to be sent to the lab for final inspection and analysis before barreling.   The pot still and the batch kettle  are operated manually and are only run when the need is there for the heavy alcohols.   Truly modern operation that can produce a large volume of quality products. 

     After the analysis and sensory inspection of the rum, it is ready to go to the storage tanks and be barreled to start the aging process.   DUSA has an automated barrel filling operation that is truly spectacular to watch.  The barrels are loaded onto a very special trailer that can back up to the aging bodegas and the be off loaded by the special forklifts that rotate the barrels and place them on the rack where they will rest until they a re  ready for blending and bottling.

     The bottling plant is one of the most modern anywhere.   It can handle the mass of rum and other products that are produced in the plant.

      This facility is a fully self contained from the growing of the sugar cane to the bottling of the rum.   DUSA is providing an internal medical facility, fire department, and ambulance service within the operation.  This is like a small city with all of the amenities of a city.  They are an extremely green in the daily operation of the entire facility.    The residue from the fermentation is used as cattle feed and fertilizer for the sugar cane fields.  The electricity is generated with a bio-fuel produced in the plant.   All of the operations in the facility are constantly being monitored for the purpose of improvement in reducing the eco-footprint on the area. 

   Thanks again to the people of DUSA for providing us the courtesy and friendship while we were in you country and facilities.   ;o)

Diplomatico Single Vintage 1997

     The visit to the DUSA Distillery today was very much over shadowed by the introduction of the very limited production (2000 Bottles) new rum for distribution only in Venezuela and Venezuela Duty Free shops.      Diplomatico is premiering Diplomatico Single Vintage 1997 on 28 November, 2012.  

     This is a rum that will have a price point between the Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva and the Diplomatico Ambassador.   This is an extremely fine premium rum that is aged in oak and finished in Sherry casks.  It is a single vintage from 1997 rums that Tito Cordero has blended perfectly to be produce this very special rum.    The real unfortunate part is that it will only be sold in Venezuela.     The aroma is fresh with notes of wood and sweet fruitiness that yields some notes of the sherry.   The flavor of is viscous rum is warm and long lasting and a dryness in the finish that is so satisfying.

     These past three days with Diplomatico's people including Humberto Arispe Zubillaga, General Manager; Tito Cordero, Master Blender; Alfonso Castillo Gonzalez, Marketing; and the rest of the wonderful people at DUSA who have made our stay in Venezuela so very special.  Today's unveiling of the Diplomatico Single Vintage 1997 for us was the climax of the three days we spent as Diplomatico's guests.   If you should for any reason be in Venezuela, stop by the Duty Free Shop in Caracas Airport and pick up a bottle of this superb rum and if you think of it pick one up for me.  I do reimburse.  ;o)

Diplomatico Plant: Aging Bodegas and Hacienda

    As we arrive at the gate we are greeted by Tito Cordero master blender of Diplomatico and the genius behind the new Ambassador Rum that is soon to be seen in Florida.   With 265,000 barrels of rum resting in 21 bodegas,this is one of the most impressive of the aging facilities that I have ever seen.   The bodegas are also very  full and there is very special equipment that is used to move the barrels in and out of the bodega.     The barrels are stacked 8 high and 23 deep on each side.   The bodega we were in contained some 23,000 barrels of rum that was resting.   When the rum was to be taken out it is taken out by rows of barrels (22 to 23 at a time) and taken to the blending area.   

     Under the DUSA program the barrel are used for approximately 6 cycles or about 24 or so years before they become firewood.    The distillery has a complete cooperage to repair and assemble the barrels for resting  the rum before blending and bottling of the rums.

      DUSA Diplomatico's corporate name employs 630 local people in the operation, and there is a tremendous loyalty to the company.   DUSA has it's own fire department, ambulance service, and healthcare center at the facility.   DUSA is by far the largest employer in the region and is very proud of their facility and the relationship with their employees.

     Lunch time and a short trip over to the Hacienda and a fine box cooked port lunch.    Our host Tito Cordero leads us around the Hacienda with all of the beautiful gardens and interior.   This is a true rural ranch that has Brahma Buffalo herds and many other types of stock as well as the beautiful house.   We were treated to some fabulous mojitos as well as the Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva and after lunch a glass of Hacienda Sarino, a fine rum aperitif perfect for finishing a fine meal.

    With lunch behind us it was back to the hotel and getting ready to judge the Diplomatico World Cocktail Tournament regional event at the Hotel Jirahara's Tantra Bar.   This was the first regional event in the series that will lead to the 2012 champion barman.    The barmen were given 5 minutes to prepare and then 5 minutes to make the cocktails in front of the judges.   The judging was in three areas; the first is based on neatness, precision, uniformity of the filling of the glasses, simplicity, salutation, courtesy,and manners.  The second is based on garnish, preparation, color, and general appearance.  The final area is aroma, taste, and balance of the cocktail.    There were 17 barmen that entered the event and they were all very impressive.   The sad part of any contest is that there is only one winner.  

    This has been a really great day that ended with our hosts and a very fine dinner.   Today is another day at the distillery and another visit with Tito Cordero on the subject of the blending and the distilling portions of the process.  

Travel Day to Barquisimeto, Venezuela Fun Time

     This was a fun day of travel, all of the flights were on time and the weather was smooth.   It was rainy in Port of Spain in the morning, but undaunted, we walked out to the ATR plane and got aboard.   After a smooth flight to Caracas, we were met by Alfonso Castillo Gonzalez, the Diplomatico Ambassador that is keeping us company for the visit.  We started our lastest adventure with a nice lunch in the Caracas Airport followed by dessert of Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva served by the bottle.

    We cheerfully passed the 4 hour lay over in Caracas with a great lunch and an even better dessert of Diplomatico Rum, but alas it was time to leave and head out.   The short 45 minute flight to Barquismeto was smooth and quick .   We walked down the steps from the plane to the ground and to the terminal to get our baggage.


     Next it is aboard the "Rum Bus" again and off to the Hotel.   You can see the color of the city as we take the highway the rings it.   We pass the dry river bed for which the city is named, and continue to the Hotel.

   While the rest of the crew went out for dinner, this kid crashed.  Lots of food and good rum combined with a week of to little sleep have caught up with me.   I want to be alert and feeling good today when we head to the distillery and blending rooms.   Diplomatico Distillery is one of the more interesting because of all of the capabilities it has.    Anyway it is sun up and the day looks like a great one and I feel the same way.   Off to breakfast and then the distillery.   Check back tomorrow for the pictures and story of the day at the Diplmatico Distillery.   ;o)

Trinidad and Angostura

High above one of the smaller Aging Bodegas

   Today is a beautiful day here in Trinidad, weather and the day is going according to plan.    Angostura is the spot we are going to visit today.   I'd like to say a special thanks to the people at Angostura for one of the nicest tours that I have ever been on.   The Museum, Distillery, and the Bitters area are all very impressive.   Angostura not only produces rum for their own brands, bur provide a large amount of aged rum to other rum companies.   Angostura reputation is built on on the quality of their aged rums.

Robert Wong and Vidia Persad - Doodnath

     Today really brought to the forefront what kind of quality rums that the master distiller and the master blender can bring together with all of their talent and the fine quality equipment that they have to work with.   In the tasting room with Robert Wong Chief Executive Officer and CEO and Vidia Persad-Doodnath Executive Director - Technical Operations we were given to opportunity to sample some of the staple rums of Angostura and off out opinions of some new blends on the horizon.    A couple of which were very appealing.    It was an honor to have Robert Wong take the time to visit with us during this portion of the tour.

     Into the Distillery we went to look at the Impressive equipment of a truly modern distillery.   The still towers some 80 or 90 feet above the facility arE among the most impressive that I have ever seen.  They have a totally modern facility from the fabulous still to the semi automatic barrel filling station, this is an absolutely impressive facility.  

     This evening I am sitting with Carlton Grooms in the hotel room enjoying a Bottle of Angostura Single Barrel
 and relaxing after a long day before heading to Venezuela at 5:00 am in the morning.   I wish that I had more time to experience more of Trinidad, but that is how things go.  By the way, Angostura Single Barrel is a very fine rum, unfortunately it is on that is not going to be placed on the international market any time soon.   If you are in some of the Caribbean Duty Free shops at any time soon. this is a rum you might want to consider.   ;o) 

Oh the FUN of Traveling

     Oh the joys of travel.   I caught a 6:20am flight from Key West to Miami; it was a great flight with a beautiful sunrise.    Then I got to Miami where if it could go wrong it has.   First I sat in the wrong gate area, and almost missed my boarding, but I did make it aboard.   Sat down in my seat and got myself nested in the “personal area” and started doing a Sudoku.  Two completed Sudoku’s later comes the first delay announcement.   “It will be about 30 minutes and we will be underway”   45 minutes later we are deplaning with “all of our personal belongs” we are back in the terminal waiting for the next announcement.   Yeah we have a new gate and we are boarding at 1:30 pm.  It is now 2:15 and they say we are boarding at 2:30, I wonder when we will be told that the flight has been cancelled and we will be staying in Miami for the night?

     This too will hopefully pass and I’ll be in beautiful Trinidad before the night is over and I get to try tomorrow to get there.    I see the pilot on the phone, and he doesn’t look as though he is jumping for joy.   Could it be another announcement is in the works?   The passengers are getting more and more restless as another projected time passes and we are still in the terminal.   I wish I had a nice top shelf rum with a couple of cubes of ice, but I really don’t need to be drinking before heading up to altitude.   Let’s see what they are going to announce this time.   Ok now they are calling for a 3:00 pm departure, I wonder what the odds makers in     Vegas are saying about this prediction.   I have to keep up the comic way of looking at the whole thing, or else I might start to become upset by it all.   I was supposed to have been in Trinidad an hour ago, and I’m still in the terminal in Miami.   They have just decided that the problem is a major one and the plane will require major work and will not be able to fly today.   This is what they told us at 11:00 am when we gathered our belongings to deplaned.   I guess they could not find a working plane her in the hub at Miami.  

     Now I am waiting for the next announcement, this is beginning to remind me of an old tv serial  where you have to wait until next week to find out what happens next.     The new announcement has us headed to another gate where they say there is a third plane that will be able to take us to Trinidad.   Well we have been on the plane again for about 45 minutes and they have decided the plane is over weight because they put the wrong amount of fuel on board and some of it needs to be drained off.

     We are airborne finally 8 hours later than scheduled, but we are finally heading in the right direction.  11:30 and I'm at the hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad.   Say Good Night Bob.

Good Morning Trinidad!!   ;o)

Traveling to Trinidad Sunday Morning

Have a beautiful week in paradise, and I'll be sending you stories from farther South.   ;o)