The Queen of Tarts

     I was looking to create a new tart cocktail yesterday, and I think I have come up with one for all of us that are tired of the “sugar bombs”.    This is a flavorful cocktail that rides on the trail of a tart daiquiri.   It is a blend of some new ingredients for me and I’m happy to share this one with all of you.

Bahama Bobs Queen of Tarts

·         1 ½ oz. Barbancourt White Rhum

·         ½ oz. Bols Genever

·         ¾ oz. Dry Curacao

·         ½ oz. Sweet Vermouth

·         Juice of ½ Lime

·         2 Dashes of Fee Broz. Whiskey Barrel Bitters.

Place all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake until chilled and serve over ice in a snifter or tall tumbler.

     This one turned out very well and I think that if you are looking for a really flavorful tart cocktail, it is worth the time to go looking for all of the ingredients.  The Bols Genever is one of those magic ingredients that I have just begum to experiment with, along with the sweet vermouth to just round out the edges.   ;o)

Midwest Rum Fest

     There is a new Rum Festival happening in America this year.  On Dec 6th, 2014, Federico J. Hernández is giving the Midwest its 1st Midwest Rum Festival.  It is scheduled to take place at "The Kentucky International Convention Center", located in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.

     Russell Glass (River City Distributing - Director of Wines & Spirits) said, "The Midwest Rum Festival and its focus on consumer traffic is just the type of event that we as distributors of fine aged rums want and need to support. Rum is a category that is poised to surge in the wake of other aged spirits growth in popularity among all types of consumers. While rum is arguably more approachable than many other spirits, namely whiskey. Fine aged rums still need more consumer awareness and trial."

     Attendees to this event will enjoy live entertainment starting with tropical and local musicians playing fun music for your entertainment.   In addition, a number of Rums Ambassadors will be offering seminars about the spirit of the sugar cane .   There are tickets available to give you all or any part of the festivals activities. 

     For more information or updates, and to sign up for the event newsletter, simply visit:  www.midwestrumfest.com. 

 

     I'm looking forward to hearing more about this inaugural event as the information becomes available.  It is a first of its kind event in the Midwest, and a new frontier for rum.  With all of the new grass roots distilleries popping up in the Midwest, this should be a really fun and educational event.  ;o)

   

What is with the “Proof” to determine How Much Alcohol?

One Keg of Gunpowder

     In the early 1700s, the alcohol content of distilled beverages was determined by using gunpowder. A beverage  would be “proved” acceptable by pouring some on  gunpowder and lighting it. If it burned steadily with a blue flame, it was considered 100 degrees “proof” and equaled 57.15 ethanol, i

One Keg of Rum

n the United Kingdom, 100 proof equals 57.1% ethanol by volume. The historical origins of this definition can be seen in the gunpowder test.

     In the United States, proof is defined as double the percentage of alcohol contained in a solution at 60 degrees Fahrenheit or 15.6 degrees Celsius.  Thus, 150 proof would be 75% alcohol and 100 proof would be 50% alcohol.

Today's Labels show ABV and Proof

     Internationally, alcohol strength is measured according to the recommendation of the International Organization of Legal Metrology. The alcohol content of a beverage is measured by distilling off the alcohol, by measuring the volume of alcohol distilled and expressing it as a percentage of alcohol by volume (ABV) at a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius or 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

     This is how it came about and why we still talk about alcohol content in terms of proof.  It seems that we are moving rapidly though toward ABV to replace the old term "proof".   ;o)

The Facundo Collection is Released in California



The Facundo Collection

     The Facundo Collection of four ultra-premium rums sourced from the Bacardi family’s private reserves, is being rolled out to “markets primed for luxury rum” two markets at a time, where the category is being introduced to consumers as “an art form”.  Now the Facundo Collection is being introduced to San Francisco and Los Angeles.

     The Facundo Collection is comprised of Neo, Eximo, Exquisito and Paraiso, first unveiled in late 2013 in Miami and New York.

     Facundo L. Bacardi, chairman of Bacardi, said: “We are honored and humbled by the amazing response we have received for the Collection. Facundo showcases my family’s dedication to the art of rum and we believe it offers a distinct experience unlike any other luxury sipping spirit.”

“The Los Angeles and San Francisco markets are international hubs for culture, cuisine and luxury spirits and we look forward to their warm welcome of the Facundo Rum Collection this fall.”



The Facundo Rum Team

The collection is composed of four individual rums, "Neo", the entry-level expression, is a clear blend of rums aged up to eight years; "Eximo" is a medium-bodied dark rum blended before ageing in a barrel for 10 years; "Exquisito features rum matured for between seven and 23 years before being finished in Sherry casks; and "Paraiso" is a blend of dark rums aged up to 23 years that’s filtered through carbon and rested in French XO casks.  The entire collection is a very special experience that should you get the opportunity to try any of these rums, don't miss out on the experience.  ;o)

Mai Tai Evening Pleasure

        Nothing better that a proper Mai Tai under the lights in Key West.  Sitting on the aft deck enjoying the evening and a fine Mai Tai makes for a perfect evening of relaxation.  ;o)

The Duppy Share

    
“According to Caribbean folklore, the angel’s share of rum which evaporates during the maturation process is actually stolen by dark spirits – otherwise known as duppies – which travel between the distilleries stealing their share of rum. “   Duppy is a Jamaican Patois word of Northwest African origin meaning ghost or spirit, much of Caribbean folklore revolves around duppies.   Duppies are generally regarded as malevolent spirits.   They are said to mostly come out and haunt people at night, mostly, and people from the islands claim to have seen them.  In many of the islands of the Lesser Antilles, duppies are known as jumbies. Barbados also uses the word duppy and it holds the same meaning as it does in Jamaica.   The name is very fitting for the rum, being the Duppy is a term holding the same meaning in both Barbados and Jamaica where these spirits are being produced. 


     There is an interesting outfit in London that has put together a new rum called "The Duppy Share".    The Westbourne Drinks Co, the new company behind The Duppy Share is founded in London by Rum Adventurer George Frost and start-up specialist  Jessica Swinfen, formerly of Innocent Drinks. They say rum is yet to experience the same step up into the premium level as other spirits. Along with a superior taste and beautiful presented, the brand conjures the spirit of independence and a discerning lifestyle to consumers – doing what has recently been done so successfully for vodka and gin."

     The Duppy Share rum is a blend of bourbon barrel aged 5 year old golden rums from Richard L. Seale of the Foursquare Distillery in Barbados and 3 year old pot still rum from the Worthy Park Estate in Jamaica.   "The Duppy Share" is a balanced and superb blend of the best in class of two rums: accented with smooth, oaky notes and a caramel tone and finishes with a lingering warm and buttery flavor.

     Blended in Amsterdam and bottled in London, this is a truly global rum that I am anticipating the arrival to the shores of the United States.   Still in it's infantsy, I feel that once it gains popularity, first the UK, then Europe, it could make an appearance in the United States.  I'm hoping so anyway.  ;o)

A Rum Negroni

     Campari is the dominant ingredient in the Negroni.  It is one of the most unique flavored aperitifs you can find.   Campari is an acquired taste that some people love while others not so much.    The nice thing about a Negroni is that the sweet vermouth balances the bitterness of the Italian spirit Campari.     This also makes the Negroni a nice drink for those looking to get away from all of the "sugar bombed" cocktails.    It is widely believed that the Negroni was created and named for General Pascal Olivier de Negroni, the Count de Negroni  in 1919 when he ordered an "Americano", a cocktail containing Campari and Sweet Vermouth, with gin at the Cafe Casoni in Florence, Italy.   The Negroni can also be shaken and strained into a cocktail glass with a lemon or orange twist.

 

     I found this version to be a nice change from the gin, moving into a fuller flavor of the rum.  The bitters bring back some of the texture of the gin, with the lingering flavors of the rum mellowing the cocktail.   ;o)

 

 

Bahama Bob’s Rum Negroni

•  1 1/2 ounces Rosy Vermouth
• 1 1/2 ounces Campari
• 1 1/2 ounces Matusalem Platino
• Dash of Fee Brothers Gin Barrel Aged Orange Bitters

Place all ingredients into cocktail shaker with ice and shake until chilled, strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with an orange twist.

Prohibition in Kerala, India's Largest State

Oommen Chandy, Chief Minister

     I read an article the other day about some of the Kerala, India's largest state plans to implement prohibition and be alcohol free within 10 years. .   In the 21st century, this is an interesting revelation.  One would think with all of the problems that the United States had trying that, no one else would even give it a try.

     Kerala’s 334 Beverages Corporation (BevCo) retail outlets will be wound down by 10% every year, while around 700 bars in the state will be closed.  Chief minister Oommen Chandy said: “The aim is to achieve the target of a liquor-free Kerala in 10 years.” 
    

     "Of course, the unintended consequences of prohibition - everything from that unfortunate increase in organized crime to more women tipping booze than before - were pretty shocking to the proponents of the temperance movement and Anti-Saloon League, who had thought that the prohibition of alcohol would lead us towards. well, more sobriety and church-going, not more gangsters and lady lushes."

 

     It is like so many other things in life, the most interesting are the ones that are illegal or just out of your reach.  People in this world will cross almost any barrier, legal, mental, or physical to attain something they really want.   It makes me really wonder why governments that are struggling with their economy don't just tax these items and move ahead.  They are collapsing under their own size now, then they want to add the cost of enforcement of such unpopular laws. 

 

     People are going to go out and get their spirits where they have to and prohibition will just make criminals out of otherwise law biding citizens.   Come on this is an experiment that proved to be a total failure in the 1920"s and here we are in India nearly a hundred years later looking to make the same mistake.  ;o)

The Cuban Rose

     The Cuban Rose is one of the more obscure Cuban Cocktails, I've only been able to find the  recipe in "The Old Waldorf Astoria Bar Book" "Cuban Concoction" section.   This is a very simple and nice cocktail that comes from the early 20th century and is still very tasty today.

     The only draw back to the original recipe that I have found is that it calls for grenadine.  At the time when the recipe was created grenadine was a syrup made of sugar and pomegranate juice.  Today it is a concoction of high fructose corn syrup miscellaneous dyes and artificial flavors. 

     Grenadine wasn't always a crimson concoction of chemicals -- before production cost introduced high fructose corn syrup to the game, the real thing used to be made from pomegranates.  Real grenadine comes from fruit! And once you've made the real thing, from a simple grenadine recipe, we I promise you'll never use anything else again. 

     Grenadine is basically simple syrup made with pomegranate juice instead of water.    Just pick up a bottle of POM Wonderful (sugar and additive free).    For a pint of grenadine, you'll need one cup of pomegranate juice to one cup of sugar.   Combine room temperature pomegranate juice and sugar in a pint-sized mason jar. Put into a cocktail shaker and shake until all the sugar is dissolved.   This is true and simple grenadine the way it was intended to be.



The Cuban Rose

• 1 1/2 ox. Good White Rum
• 3/4 oz. Orange Juice
• Dash of Homemade Grenadine or DeKuypers Pomegranate Liqueur

Placer all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a twist of orange peel.

  

Cruising Around St. John, USVI

     One of the more beautiful water runs that I have made in the Virgin Islands is around St. John.   From the water the island takes on a completely different perspective, one that shows the desert rocky appearance that you would expect to see in the southwest United States.  The scene is complete with cactus, scrub brush and red rock.





     The shoreline is has many spectacular vista that you have a hard leave you just spell bound as you cruise by.  From spectacular rock formations and beautiful homes perched up on the hills this is a very special and magical location.  The water meets the land in a most spectacular fashion and you have to pinch yourself to know that you are really seeing what you see.


     On the water there are some very unusual sights emerging from the beautiful blue waters.  We were cruising along at around 20 naughts when we were joined by a school of flying fish.  This is a sight to see, they had no trouble keeping up with us and the airborne maneuvers were really exciting to observe.






     From the land or the sea, St. John is one of the U.S. Virgin Islands that is worth spending some time on.  From your arrival at Cruise Bay, through the Virgin Island National Park and down to the eastern side and Coral Bay, the camera will be clicking non stop to capture the beauty and excitement of this jewel of an Island. By the Way when you are in Coral Bay, drop by Skinny Legs for lunch and a cocktail, really cool place.   ;o)

Happy Labor Day !

     This is a very traditional holiday that is remembered by most people here in the United States.  It is a 3 day weekend that in the past was the last fling of summer before school starts.  Not so much any more on the school thing, but always a fun time is had by all that take advantage or have the time off.






     These days holidays are not the most important ting in my live, being in the service industry, days off are where they are scheduled, and you get to enjoy them like holidays anyway.  There is nothing traditional about when you get them either.   In my case I'm off on Monday through Wednesday, three days that really work well for me.  This year I actually will have off this Labor Day.




    I will most likely spend the time out on the water doing something fun.  I just hope that the rest of you get to enjoy you holiday equally as much as I will.   Hope you had a great Labor day weekend and a safe one as well.  ;o)

Sunday Bunch in Havana

     Seeing that a group of Cuban refugees landed here in Key West safely a few days ago set my mind wandering to my days of walking through  the streets of Havana and seeing people gathering in the squares for lunch.  Most of the squares are in front of  the wonderful cathedrals throughout the city.

Sugar: An Addictive Drug Like Alcohol and Tobacco?

     According to a senior Dutch health official, soft drinks should carry health warnings much like the ones on tobacco products.   Paul Van Der Velpen, head of the Amsterdam Health Service was quoted as saying, "Just like alcohol and tobacco, sugar is actually a drug. There is an important role for government. The use of sugar should be discouraged. And users should be made aware of the dangers,"  

Many of the energy bars rely on sugar for the energy

    There is pressure being applied to legislators in Holland to place extra taxes and regulations on sugar and the amount of sugar being used by the food industry.   The point that they are making is some what of a valid one, because it is a lot easier to put down a bag of vegetables than it is to set aside a bag of cookies.

Up to 41 grams per liter of sugar

     I guess that when you combine sugar with alcohol, whether it be added to the liquor at the distillery, or you add it to your cocktail you are looking at a double whammy.  

     My feeling on the subject are very simple, I believe that a limited amount of sugar in your life is fine, it is like so many other things that it is so easy to over indulge on, you need to exercise some self control and use things in moderation rather than being a glutton.   For me, I like a good cocktail, but I avoid the ones that have  ingredients in the mixes or spirits that are loaded with sugar or even worse high fructose corn syrup.  You can get great flavors from the sweetness found naturally in juices and fruits without adding all of the sugar  Read your labels, you will be surprised how much sugar is contained in many "healthy" products.

Fruit Juices more sugar than a candy bar in most cases

     Just keep things in perspective and use your head when it comes to the over use of anything, whether it be alcohol, sugar or anything else.  ;o)

Tasting Results From International Rum Conference in Madrid, Spain

     The 2014 Rum Festival in Madrid, Spain is concluded and the results from the tasting competition compiled and here you have the winners for 2014.   There were a number of seminars, conferences and days of judging during the Third Annual International Congress Ron de Madrid.   Madrid will host the 2015 edition again in June.   "The "IV International Congress Ron de Madrid", for which we  from have the support of the entire rum industry."

 

 



 

El Presidente: The Lost Cuban Cocktail

Jockey Club

     Every now and again I run across one of the old classic cocktails from Prohibition in Cuba.   Cuba was the hub for sophisticated Americans to travel for fun and legal cocktails during of "The Great Experiment" that lasted from 1920 until 1933.   Many of the famous cocktail lounges and showrooms make Old Havana the Las Vegas of that era.   Out of this era came many famous cocktails, many of which are still very popular today.  One of the lost cocktails of the era was the El Presidente.

     This cocktail is believed to have been invented by an American barman at the Jockey Club in Old Havana named Eddie Woelke.  During that era, Old Havana was alive with American celebrities, aristocrats and politicians.  People Like Ernest Hemingway, Clark Gable, Marlene Dietrich, Spencer Tracy and many more would flock to Havana to enjoy the nightlife and legal booze.  El Presidente was one of the very popular cocktails of those days, but today it seems to have gotten lost in the era of Vodka and speed bar cocktails.

     The El Presidente  has all of the true classic ultra premium cocktail hallmarks, the true flavor is only attained when it is made with the proper ingredients, cheap versions just kill its marvelous flavor.  Basil Woon, one of the society correspondents of the era call it the "aristocrat of cocktails", and there were many others who were of the same opinion when it came to the El Presidente.

El Presidente  (Original Recipe)

• 1 1/2 oz. Rum
• 3/4 oz. Curacao
• 3/4 oz. Dry Vermouth
• 1/2 tsp. Grenadine

Stir ingredients well with cracked ice then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Color should pour a clear deep orange color, garnish with an orange peel.

Bahama Bob's El Presidente

• 1 1/2 oz. Diplomatico Blanco Rum
• 3/4 oz. Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao
• 3/4 oz. Dolin de Chambery Dry Vermouth
• 1/2 Tsp. Dekuypers Pomegranate Liqueur

Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, and shake until chilled.  Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and float a twisted orange peel for a garnish.

     This is a wonderfully dry cocktail, not one for people with a sweet palate, but a very nice and very flavorful one anyway.

Holiday Heart Syndrome

     I received an email from Julie Bowen today about something that I believe I say happen to a
customer of mine from the Tampa area last spring.   After a day of drinking and partying here in Key West, he wound up in the hospital with chest pains.  This is a very real problem and one that you need to be aware of when you are out partying while on holiday anytime

How Alcohol Increases Your Risk of ‘Holiday Heart Syndrome’ 

     Scientists have long been aware that heavy drinking increases the odds of heart failure. Although there are health risks, no one has pinned downed the trigger factor that leads an alcoholic to cardiac arrhythmias.

     A new study from Sweden now suggests that moderate to heavy consumption of wine and liquor increases the risk for atrial fibrillation, a condition also known as ‘Holiday Heart Syndrome.’

What is Atrial Fibrillation?

     Atrial fibrillation, or an irregular heartbeat, is a quivering of the heart that causes chest pain, shortness of breath and increases the chances of a heart attack or stroke. Usually it occurs in periodic episodes, but atrial fibrillation may last for several days. Atrial fibrillation can occur among people who don’t drink as well, but it is more common in alcohol drinkers.

Details of the Study

     In the 12-year-long study, Swedish researchers kept track of a group of 79,016 adults between the ages of 45 and 83. In the end they discovered 12,554 cases of atrial fibrillation out of this population. The results showed an increase in irregular heartbeat for moderate consumers of alcoholic beverages, which is considered to be one to three drinks per day.

     Furthermore the risk of fibrillation increased by 8 percent with each alcoholic drink consumed. The people who drank the most were 50 percent more likely to develop an arrhythmia.

     Interestingly enough the subjects that chose to drink beer, rather than wine or alcohol, did not seem to be at as high of a risk. There was no direct relationship found between binge drinking beer and atrial fibrillation.

     Susanna C. Larsson, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Unit of Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, was lead author of the study. She thinks the new findings about beer may have to do with the time of the week it is consumed.

     According to Larsson, “It is likely that beer is consumed more regularly during the week, whereas wine and liquor is more often consumed during weekends only. Adverse effects of alcohol on atrial fibrillation risk may be less pronounced if alcohol consumption is spread out over the week compared with consumption of larger amounts of alcohol during a few days per week.”

      The research was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

     There is controversy amid health care professionals over whether light to moderate consumption of alcohol leads to atrial fibrillation. However most agree that moderate to heavy alcohol abuse is a leading cause of heart problems – no matter what you’re drinking.

 

 

Labor Day Weekend is This Week

Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River

     The traditional end of summer and the kids going back to school weekend, but like so many other things in this world it too has changed.   I still will always remember the family packing all of the camping gear into the station wagon and heading up to the high Sierra's for a three day weekend of camping along the Stanislaus River.   The good news was it was a really fun time of hiking and trout fishing, but the bad news was Tuesday morning all of the summer freedom was gone and we were back in school.

Relief Reservoir

     There were several resorts along the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River from which you could head into the wilderness areas and really enjoy some beautiful views.  The entire area is from 600o' to 10,000 feet and the stars and the clear skies are just breathe taking.   Hiking or horseback riding the trail into the back country is one of the best parts or the weekend of exploration.  The untouched beauty of this area is still the same today, and will hopefully continue to be this way in this time of so many changes elsewhere.

     Here in Key West, Labor Day weekend is going to be a fun one, but in a very different way.  It is going to be loaded with people that I will be entertaining and hopefully making there long weekend a little bit more fun.   It is different from my experiences when I was young, but it is still Labor Day Weekend and a time for fun no matter how you choose to use the time.  You might want to take a cruise on out Prohibition era black boat on this labor day holiday  ;)

The 12 Bottle Bar: Your Home Bar Cocktail Guide

     With some 260 plus rums on my bar and a few of everything else, it can be a daunting task just to figure out what I want to use to create a cocktail in the evening or afternoon.  here is a new bar guide that I think has brought the home bar back into perspective.   "The 12 Bottle Bar
, by David and Lesley Solmonson, advises consumers to stock seven spirits, one liqueur, two vermouths and two bitters to create the perfect home bar."  It offers a brief history of each spirit style, why it should be included in your bar, and several recipes.   There is also a guide at the back of the book on how to serve cocktails and a selection of virgin recipes.
    "The 12 Bottle Bar" really makes sense to me for a small house bar.  It includes a white and Amber rum, a brandy, dry gin, Genever,  rye whiskey, vodka, orange liqueur (triple Sec), dry vermouth, sweet vermouth aromatic bitters and orange bitters.   

     "Obviously the main spirits (vodka, gin, rum, brandy, whiskey) need to be included, the choice from there is the brand.   The accent liqueurs were a challenge within themselves. My decision was primarily founded in how often is a certain liqueur used in the greatest number of cocktails or cocktails where the liqueur can act as a substitute for another. After that list, it’s back to choosing a brand. With a well-stocked supply of essential mixers this list can make at least 100 different cocktails."

     The book retails around $10 and is a really nice guide to making cocktails at home with a very minimal space and outlay for the bar stock.   Which brands of spirits you choose can raise or lower the cost of stocking your bar, but even "well spirits" work out for mixed cocktails.  If your palate is tuned to the better spirits by all means put them in your bar.

     "Genever" threw up a question flag for me, but it does make sense once you know what it is.  Genever enables bartenders to work with the authentic flavours of the past to recreate the true classic cocktails the way they were meant to taste.   The whisky-like malt tones of Genever make it also perfect to drink it straight, on the rocks, or in ‘regular’ easy mixed cocktail.  It adds the malt flavor to cocktails with out using scotch.

     I think that this is a perfect starter book for someone to put together a small home bar, and it will surprise you all of the cocktails that you can create with just 12 bottles.  ;o)

 

Beautiful Day Sharing the Ocean

     It was a beautiful day for a cruise out to the west of Key West and follow along the string of Keys that lead you out to Boca Grande and the Atlantic Ocean.   Today we were lucky enough to have clear waters and the company of a pod of dolphins.  These creatures are such wonderful mammals that love to play in the boat wakes as we travel along.  I find them to be just plain entertaining as well as beautiful..