Global Rum Masters Awards Announced

     The competition took place at The Jugged Hare in London’s Chiswell Street, where the day’s judging was accompanied by a lively and apt soundtrack of reggae, as the genre of choice for venue-owner ETM. This year the entries rolled in thick and fast, so in order to accurately examine each submission our judges were split into two panels under the charge of chairman Becky Paskin, editor of The Spirits Business, and co-chairman Adam McCulloch, bar manager at The Cadogan Arms. In Paskin’s team sat Pepijn Vanden Abeele, bar manager of Coburg Bar at The Connaught; Georgi Radev, bar manager of Mahiki; and independent rum judge John Gibbons, while McCulloch’s squad was comprised of rum writer Peter Holland; Luca Cordiglieri, bar manager at China Tang; Jamie Kimber, bar manager of Trailer Happiness; and Elliot Ball, co-owner of the Cocktail Trading Company.

Read More about the competition at http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2015/03/the-global-rum-masters-2015-results/

     This is an annual even that has had some of the most interesting  judges, and always provides us with some the best rums anywhere.  Here are the results of this years competition. 

 

 

 

Company	Product	Medal
White Rum
Havana Club	Havana Club 3yo Rum	Gold
Angostura Ltd	Angostura Reserva	Gold
Louisiana Spirits	Bayou Rum Silver	Silver
CB Products	Rum Botran Reserva Blanca	Silver
Joseph Banks	Banks 5 Island Blend	Silver
Don Q	Don Q Caliche Rum	Silver
Elements Eight	Platinum Rum	Silver
St Nicholas Abbey	St Nicholas Abbey White	Silver
Gold up to 7yo
Tortuga International Holdings	Tortuga 5 Year Old	Gold
Joseph Banks	Banks 7 Golden Age Blend	Gold
Grays Inc Ltd	New Grove Old Tradition 5yo	Gold
The Westbourne Drinks Company	The Duppy Share Rum	Silver
Grupo Caballero	Ron Contrabando	Silver
La Martiniquaise	Saint James Heritage Caribbean Rum	Silver
Don Q	Don Q Gold	Silver
Gold 8-12yo
Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky	Caribbean Blended Rum 2001 12yo	Gold
La Martiniquaise	Saint James Reserve Caribbean Rum	Gold
Edrington	Brugal XV	Silver
St Nicholas Abbey	St Nicholas Abbey 10yo	Silver
Elements Eight	Elements Eight Gold Rum	Silver

 

Company	Product	Medal
Gold over 12yo
La Hechicera	La Hechicera	Master
St Nicholas Abbey	St Nicholas Abbey 15yo	Gold
Santa Teresa	Santa Teresa 1796	Gold
Dark up to 7yo
William Grant & Sons	Wood’s 100 Navy Rum	Gold
M.S Walker	Famous Newfoundland Screech Rum	Gold
Westerhall Estate	Westerhall Dark 7yo	Gold
Facile & Co AB	Noble Selected	Gold
Pusser’s Rum	Pusser’s Blue Label	Gold
Blackwell Rum	Blackwell Black Gold Rum	Gold
Paradise Beverages (Fiji)	Ratu Dark Rum 5yo	Silver
William Grant & Sons	Old Vatted Demerara Rum	Silver
Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners	Jeffersons 1785 Extra Fine Dark Rum	Silver
Angostura Ltd	Angostura Gran Añejo 7yo	Silver
Wild Geese	The Wild Geese Premium Rum	Silver

 

Dark 8-12yo
Banks DIH	XM VXO Royal 7yo	Master
Westerhall Estate	Westerhall Vintage Rum	Silver
Banks DIH	XM Royal 10yo	Silver
Dark over 12yo
Banks DIH	XM Supreme 15yo Rum	Master
Joseph Banks	Connoisseur’s Cut Guyanian Cognac Cask	Master
Havana Club	Havana Club Añejo 15yo	Gold
CB Products	Rum Botran Reserva	Gold
Pusser’s Rum	Pusser’s Navy Rum 15yo	Silver
Joseph Banks	Connoisseur’s Cut Guyanian Whisky Cask	Silver
Angostura Ltd	Angostura 1824	Silver
Premium
Beam Suntory	Cruzan Black Strap Rum	Silver
Beam Suntory	Cruzan Estate Diamond Dark Rum	Silver
Super Premium
Beam Suntory	Cruzan Single Barrel Rum	Master
Edrington	Brugal 1888	Master
La Hechicera	La Hechicera	Gold
Berry Bros. & Rudd	Penny Blue XO Mauritian Rum Batch #4	Gold
The Westbourne Drinks Company	The Duppy Share	Gold
Rémy Cointreau	Mount Gay XO	Gold
Santa Teresa	Santa Teresa 1796	Silver
Ultra Premium
Harbour Island Rum Company	Afrohead XO 15yo	Gold
Berry Bros. & Rudd	Penny Blue Single Cask	Silver
Angostura Ltd	Angostura 1824	Silver
Rhum Agricole
Rhum Clément	Très Vieux Rhum J.M XO	Master
Rhum Clément	Rhum Blanc Damoiseau Pure Cane	Gold
Rhum Clément	Rhum Vieux J.M VSOP	Gold
Rhum Clément	Trieux Rhum J.M Multimillésime	Gold
Rhum Clément	Rhum Blanc Clément Première Canne	Silver
Rhum Clément	Rhum Vieux Clément Select Barrel	Silver
Rhum Clément	Rhum Vieux VSOP	Silver
Rhum Clément	Très Vieux Rhum Clément XO	Silver

 

Company	Product	Medal
Rum Liqueurs
Quintessential Brands	Toussaint Coffee Rum Liqueur	Master
Worthy Park Estate	Rum-Bar Cream Liqueur	Gold
Spiced Rum
Louisiana	Spirits Bayou Spiced Rum	Gold
Pusser’s Rum	Pusser’s Spiced Rum	Gold
William Grant & Sons	Sailor Jerry	Gold
Berry Bros. & Rudd	Pink Pigeon	Silver
Paradise Beverages (Fiji)	Ratu Dark Spiced Rum 5yo	Silver
Overproof White
Worthy Park Estate	Rum-Bar White Overproof Rum	Master
Overproof Aged
Green Island Ltd	Tilambic Overproof 151 75.5%	Gold
Paradise Beverages (Fiji)	Lautoka Overproof Dark Rum 12yo 58%	Silver
Westerhall Estate	Westerhall Jack Iron Rum 70%	Silver
William Grant & Sons	Wood’s 100 Navy Rum 57%	Silver

     I hope your favorite made the list, but this is a very strong list of very good rums that did score medals this year.  ;o)

 

 

A Maryland Senator has Proposed a New Bill to Allow 18-year-old Members of the US Military to Drink Alcohol.

     This article appeared in the Spirit Business, I though it makes good sense.  If a person is willing to and allowed to give their lives for the country, who are "we the people" to have better judgment on where they are mature enough to drink in a responsible manner?

A senator has proposed lowering the legal drinking age for troops in Maryland, US

     Senator Ron Young, D-Frederick proposed a reduction in the legal drinking age for military members to the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee on Friday.

     The bill would permit service members under the age of 21 to drink beer and wine at a bar or restaurant by showing valid military identification, however spirits and off-premise purchases would still be prohibited.

     “Is someone can risk their life, why shouldn’t they be able to have a glass of beer or wine with dinner?” Young asked the committee.

      His proposal has received support from Hugh Warner, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3285 in Frederick, who told the Frederick News Post: “If the young man’s able to dodge bullets, he ought be able to vote and take a beer now and then.”

     However, a state transportation official estimated Maryland would lose approximately US$32 million in highway funds every year as a result of not complying with the federal uniform drinking age law.

     An anti-drink driving organisation called Washington Regional Alcohol Program has opposed the bill, claiming minimum drinking age laws have saved almost 30,000 people since 1975.

Read more at http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2015/03/plans-to-lower-drinking-age-for-military-members/

     I found this to be an interesting read and one that should be considered for those willing to give their lives on foreign lands for the protection of our way of life.  I feel that if you are old enough to handle the equipment of war, you should be mature enough for a cocktail.  ;o)

 

The Ginger Rum Cosmo

   Fooling around with ginger again the other day and came across an idea to ad a little spice to my Rum Cosmo.   I really have an attraction to many things ginger, so this seemed like a potentially good grouping, so I gave it a shot.   By the way it is a really nice way to add some life to a Cosmo.

Ginger Rum Cosmo

• 1 tbsp. Chopped Fresh Ginger
• 2 oz. Brugal Blanco Rum
• 1 oz. Pierre  Ferrand Dry Curacao
• 1 oz. Cranberry Juice
• 1/2 oz. Lime Juice

Preparation: Muddle the  ginger then add ice and the remaining ingredients to a shaker.  Shake until fully Chilled and strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with an orange zest. 

Give this on a try, you will really enjoy it.  ;o) 

Alcohol, a Serious Issue Most Everywhere

     Between the Binge drinking and the depression over Duke Chronicle that came out recently talks about what is being done about the problem at Duke University in North Carolina
grades and other social issues in the college scene.    Alcohol provides an escape from all from the pressures of the college experience.   Many of the students are away from home for the first time and have a tendency to experiment with a number of "vices" including alcohol and find themselves drawn into state of numbness that it provides.  There was a interesting article in the

     “This is a significant issue everywhere,” said Jeff Kulley, associate director for clinical services at CAPS. “It’s significant at Duke because of the way drinking occurs among subgroups and how drinking with the purpose of intoxication is normalized.   Students with alcohol dependencies represent a portion of the student population at Duke, said Dan Perry, alcohol and drug senior program coordinator at the Wellness Center.    

     “Looking at the national data, combined with my perspective, I would say that somewhere around 10 percent of Duke students will likely meet the criteria for a substance use disorder at some point in their lifetime, if not now.”

     Most college students that develop issues with alcohol began drinking younger than most of their peers, Kulley said, with many showing signs of alcohol abuse in high school. He said the problem of alcoholism usually takes four years or more to develop.

 

     Students who come to CAPS worried about their dependency on alcohol would first meet with a staff therapist for an initial assessment, said Kulley. During this appointment, the therapist would address the students’ concerns and describe possible treatment options.   “We operate from a standpoint of identifying with students’ worries about consequences,” said Perry. “We work with them in terms of where they are and what their motivation to make changes is.”

Read More at  http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2015/03/05/alcohol-significant-issue-everywhere#.VPrggnl0x1s

 

     This is a serious issue that there is a service at most colleges to help the students overcome this  potentially deadly affliction.   Programs like AA meetings on campus and psychological help can address this issue before it becomes a lifelong issue that will ruin your life if it doesn't kill you. 

 

Sunset Through the Bridge

     I am so drawn to the Bahia Honda State Park, the fabulous gardens, beaches, wildlife and more, but this place has sunsets that will rival those any where else.  I love the sunsets from the back of the boat in Key West, but there is something wonderful about being in the "camper" and just watch the sun dropping into the ocean through the old railroad and highway bridge.  ;o)

"Scoff-Law": The Word and the Cocktail

Back in the Prohibition days, there was a very popular cocktail known as "Scoff - Law", it was created by a millionaire named Delcevare King.    King had anti-saloon league morals and offered a prize for the person who created a new word for the "Lawless Drinker".  "Scoff - law  was the winning entry and a cocktail baring the same name was soon to follow.  The cocktail was a sour with an addition of some dry vermouth.  The cocktail first  appeared in at Harry's New York Bar, located in Paris circa 1924.

Original Scoff - Law Cocktail

·         1 1/2 oz. Rye Whiskey

·         1 oz. Dry Vermouth

·         3/4 oz. Grenadine

·         Juice of ½ Lemon

Place all ingredients into an ice-filled shaker. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

As usual, I enjoy working many of these classic cocktails into my world of rum and give them a new twist.  This cocktail fits into that category very well, because of it's first ingredient.   I think that a bit of Doorly's XO would be a good starting place and then lets see where it leads.

Rum Scoff - Law Cocktail.

• 2 oz. Doorly's XO
• 1 oz. Dry Vermouth
• 1/2 oz. DeKuyper Pomegranate Liqueur
• Juice of a half Lemon

Place all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled.  Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon zest.  

This is a really tasty cocktail I think that you will enjoy.  ;o)

What Can You Get for $100 in Havana?

     WOW! I get to bring back $100 worth of Cuban rum or cigars when I visit  Cuba, but what does that really get you?   CNBC released a piece on that very subject recently and it makes it very clear that it isn't much.   Watch the video at http://www.cnbc.com/id/102361188#.   You will see what I am talking about.


     Great rums like great cigars are expensive even in Cuba.   A bottle of Havana Club 7 year old rum is about $35.00 per 750ml bottle.  The Cohiba Siglo VI is about $32.00. so for $100 dollars you can bring home a bottle of middle of the road Havana Club and two Cohiba cigars.   I guess there really isn't much there for our tourists  after all.


     Good rums in Cuba will run you from $200.00 and up.  25 Year Rums like Santiago de Cuba run about $250. 00 a bottle, and upper end Havana Club's like Maximo is $1700.00 a bottle.  The just released Havana Club Union ($350.00) paired with a one Cohiba Ciglo VI ($32.00) will cost you $382.00.  By the way you can't take this pair home with you either.

     What I am wondering is when the rhetoric is going to quit and our government really does something so everyday citizens can go on vacation to Cuba and bring back souvenirs like they can from Vietnam, Russia or Croatia.  The 50 year embargo has been bad enough, but another empty promise of travel and being able to bring back their wonderful rums and cigars is really even worse.

2015 Miami Rum Festival is Just Around the Corner

   April 17th is not that far away and the excitement is beginning to build for this years Miami Rum Festival.  If you haven't gotten your tickets yet, just go online and get them.  There will be no tickets available at the door this year, so make sure you get yours before you make the trip down there.   You can get your tickets and the rest of the information that you will need at http://www.rumrenaissance.com/





     I'll be posting daily from the event all week long, with notes of what is happening with the judges and the meeting with the various producers.  This is an interesting week that provides us with a lot of new information on the up and coming new products and things that are happening in the world of rum.


     Remember to get your tickets and a room if necessary, but please try to visit the event if you can, it is a most unforgettable happening.  If you can get a room at the Double Tree Miami Airport you will be right in the center of all the action for the festival.

Drunk Crustaceans: OK

Calendar Cover

     Designed by DJ and photographer Leslie Kirchhoff and Drew Berezowitz, the "Drunk  Crustacean calendar" boasts 12 fantastic images of shrimps, crabs, lobsters and other assorted shellfish in various stages of inebriation.   “Running the gamut of human emotion, these stills capture the chic realities of inebriated shellfish”, writes the duo. “Each photograph distills the vast mysteries of Drunk Crustaceans into visually appetizing and easily digestible tableaux.”

"Kim Krustashian"

     If 12 images of drunk shellfish isn’t enough, for an extra $40 you will receive a signed and numbered print of the ocean’s “most notorious shrimp, Kim Krustashian” – re-enacting the reality star’s famous #breaktheinternet pose for Paper magazine.   Not only a practical addition to any home, the purchase of this calendar also supports a good cause, with 50% of sale proceeds going toward the Plastic Pollution Coalition, an organisation that works towards removing plastic waste from the ocean.  You can purchase it on line at http://lesliekirchhoff.com/new-products/drunk-crustacean-calendar

 

     The rest of the pictures and the rest of the story of the "Drunk Crustaceans can be read at

http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2015/02/must-see-drunk-crustacean-calendar-released/

     This is a too funny to miss calendar for 2015.  ;o)
     

Havana Club Union, a Rum to be enjoyed with a Cohiba Siglo VI

     Havana Club has announced the launch of their newest rum, one that is to be paired with a fine
Cohiba Cigar.   Havana Club Union is the latest in a line of ultra premium rums launched in the past few years.  

     "Havana Club, the leading rum in the super-premium category, has announced the launch of Havana Club Unión, the first-ever rum made to perfectly match a Cuban cigar, the Cohiba Siglo VI. The new expression is the latest prestige product in the Havana Club Icónica Collection and will appeal to rum and cigar connoisseurs seeking to experience true Cuban culture."

     With the easing of the embargo, many of these rums and cigars will be soon available to us here in America.    To see the expressions of this quality being released now is very exciting. 
"A premium cedar wooden box houses the expression, and features the logos of Havana Club and Cohiba together in an elegant combination of black and gold colors, bringing the luxury character of the expression to life. The bottle’s clean and round design is in line with the distinct shape of Havana Club’s award-winning Icónica Collection, which includes the brand’s most prestigious rums; Havana Club Selección de Maestros, Havana Club Añejo 15 Años and Havana Club Máximo Extra Añejo."

     The rum has a deep amber color with a nose of smoke, oak, along with vanilla, coconut and dried fruits and coffee.     On the palate there is a softly woody flavor that is highlighted with sweet vanilla, chocolate and dried fruit flavors.   The finish is of a long lasting rich and aromatic nature.
     This is an ideal rum to sit of the roof of the Inglaterra Hotel in Havana with a Cohiba Siglo Vi and enjoy the skyline as the sun goes down.  I'm sure looking forward to being able to enjoy this fine rum very soon when I visit an airport with a duty free shop in the near future.  ;o)

Apple Cider Rum Cocktail

     With all of the cool weather around here in the past few weeks, I had an idea for a different kind of Daiquiri Cocktail.  I had some apple cider and a bottle of Siesta Key Spiced Rum, I knew that I could make something great with these ingredients. 

     I started with some apple cider and added the juice of a half lemon.  The rum blended with it perfectly.   Shaking until chilled and straining it into a cocktail glass and garnishing with a lemon zest gave the blend a finishing touch that put a smile on my face.  This is another daiquiri cocktail that I enjoy so much more than any other style of cocktail.  They are so simple and balanced for a tasty and clean cocktail experience.



Apple Cider Daiquiri

• 2 oz. Natural Apple Cider
• 1 1/2 oz. Siesta Key Spiced Rum
• Juice of a Half Lemon

Place all ingredients into an ice filled shaker and shake until chilled.   Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon zest.

The Second Edition of Bahama Bob's Cocktails and Tales is Available Today

    The new edition of Bahama Bob's Cocktails and Tales is now available for purchase at the Rum Bar at the Speakeasy Inn in Key West or Online at Bahama Bob's Rumstyles.

     The new book has ten different traditional rum cocktails and 43 new original cocktails for your enjoyment.  Get yours today.  ;o)

Two Interesting Predictions for 2015

     The Spirit Business has made its predictions for spirit trends for 2015.  I found two items very interesting.   First the effect of the introduction of Cuban Rum in America, and the other is the growth of liquors like Cachaca.  

     The relaxing of the importing of Cuban products like Cigars and Rum
might lead to the strengthening of the rum category's sales here in the states.   The effect won't be felt as much is the rest of the world as here in the States, but it is definitely peaking peoples interest to see what will happen.

     "The US congress finally lifting the decades long Cuban import ban could provide the spark for the long overdue detonation of the category. While top line volume growth might continue facing headwinds battering low quality variants in emerging markets such as India, the category’s versatility and new found premium aspirations will inform its short term performance. Embracing the unique heritage of English, Spanish and French expressions, carefully dipping a toe into the flavored bandwagon and cruising on the enviable momentum enjoyed by dark spirits, rum will be one of the protagonists."

     The other Category showing some progress is the Brazilian cane spirit Cachaca.  There have been a lot of effort in the area of premiumization of this category as well.  This is a different type of cane spirit expression that warrants more exploration.

     These two predictions I feel are valid and worth watching as we progress into 2015.

 

 

Major New Initiative to Help Consumers Understand Rum

The Rum industry is faced with an unusual situation.  Rum has so many faces, causing a lot of confusion on the part of consumers trying to understand the category.  Basically there are three major types of rum out there.  There is Ron, Spanish style, which is generally lighter and more buttery in flavor.  There is Rhum,  French style primarily Agricole which has a more intense flavor and made to exacting legal rules.  The third and finally Rum, English style, Naval rum that has a bold and spicy flavor.

By categorizing characteristics of rum into three main styles – English, Spanish and French, it is hoped consumers will understand the spirit more clearly, giving them confidence to choose a brand outside their comfort zone.  

 

     Matthieu de Lassus, export director for Spiridom, claimed the map could help rum on its way to becoming the next great spirit trend.   “Our main intention is to better segment the rum market in order to create the necessary conditions for premiumization,” he said.   “Rum is the third biggest spirit category in the world and bartenders’ preferred spirit for cocktails. It has enjoyed steady growth worldwide for the last 10 years but still rum is the only spirit category to remain largely underpremiumized to date.   “We believe that premiumization will only come through a better education of our customers and a better segmentation of the rum category.”

     I'm in fully agree with Matthieu de Lassus, the only way that the category will grow is if and when the consumer learns the category, by finding a taste that suits your palate.   I'm hoping that this map will help you locate the place that your palate will call home.  ;o)

 
 
 
 

Where is the Bahia Honda Bridge?

Beautiful Sunset Yesterday

     Wednesday morning I woke up in Bahia Honda and stepped outside to glance at those wonderful bridges that I say the sunset through the previous night and they were gone.   The past two days have given the Keys an unusual mornings, we have been fogged in.   I've been living here for nearly ten years now and I've only seen this a handful of times.  

Woke Up to No Bridge Today

     Camping at the Bahia Honda Marina in our "aquacamper"  has become a regular escape for Marta and I since August.  It does the both of us a lot of good to just escape Duval Street and relax in the stillness of the Bahia Honda State Park.   Last week we had our winter visit with low temperatures and rain, and this we'll we are going to have to stay a little later until the fog burns off before we can head out.  We can "fly by instruments, but it is dangerous to be out here without the ability to see other boats and things.

     They are predicting a noon lifting and we will be off to Key West and back home again.  I love this place, it just isn't boring.  There is always something new to see or experience.  ;o)