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)