House of Angostura Redesigns Rum Packaging

 The House of Angostura unveiled a complete packaging redesign of its international rum portfolio at this month’s Rhum Fest in Paris.

     The “brave” new look includes Angostura 1824, Angostura 1919, Angostura 7 Year Old, Angostura 5 Year Old and Angostura Reserva.  The new labels have been “streamlined” to feature the same typography and the brand’s butterfly logo has been placed centre at the top of the front label.  Additionally, two new brand icons have been added – a map of Trinidad and Tobago on the left and an illustration of a butterfly and molasses on the right.   Furthermore, the bottle designs for premium expressions Angostura 1824, 1919 and 7 Year Old feature a thick glass base with a new “orchid closure system” to make them easier to open while offering secure protection.

     The signature of Dr J.G.B. Siegert, founder of Angostura, and the crest of The House of Angostura are embossed on the bottles.   The three variants are also available in carton packages, with 1824 and 1919 both available in tubes and 1919 also available in a matte grey box.  All five rums feature a “spirit of Trinidad and Tobago” illustration on the bottle closure to “reiterate” the brand story through images of a dancing woman, sugarcane and Trinidad’s national bird, Scarlet Ibis.

     “It’s a big, brave move for us,” said Genevieve Jodhan, executive manager – international sales and marketing. “We are confident that our new, modern and sophisticated packaging captures the more than 190 years of heritage and history that inform the proud traditions of The House of Angostura.  “Every change reflects the exquisite quality of our rums. The new packaging isn’t just aesthetically pleasing, it also centers the brand geographically in its Caribbean birthplace, Trinidad and Tobago and reflects the unique nature of our journey.  “The entire range of Angostura rums celebrates the history and the true spirit of Trinidad and Tobago.

     “Over the last 192 years Angostura has successfully perfected the art of rum making, creating elegant stylish rums that are now found across the five continents.  “We believe that our new, totally reimagined packaging reflects our sense of adventure and innovation.”

Read More at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2016/04/prweb13314955.htm

What Happens to the Old American Oak Barrels after Whiskey?

     For years whiskey producers were struggling what to do with a large number of barrels after they had been used for 3 to 4 years aging whiskey.  There were a large number of them being stored in warehouses at a great expense to the whiskey producers.  Today this is no longer a problem at all.  Barrels that were almost given away to get rid of them theses days are going for $200.00 or more depending on their condition and how many years they have spent with spirits inside.



     Today they have become a very valuable commodity, the demand for used whiskey barrels has grown exponentially over the past 10 or 15 years.  Every other spirit producer is vying for them along with a large number of beer producers as well.  The demand for them has all but used up all of the barrels that were sitting around in their storage warehouses and there are producers waiting for the next batch to come available as they are emptied.


     Some of the old barrels are being cut up and

used as flooring and others made into flower pots  My friend Troy Roberts at Drum Circle Distillery in Sarasota, Florida is loaning his rum barrels to a local brewery for aging beer then putting his rum into them giving the rum a new flavor from the barrels.  There are many sherry and other wine using old whiskey casks and then having rum makers buy them for aging of the rum afterward.  The days of the old whiskey barrels being an expensive storage issue is pretty much gone, and the life of a retired whiskey barrel has been greatly extended by the producers of almost every other spirit, wine and beer out there.

Havana Club Prepares for US Market

     There is a lot more that just opening the flood gate and we have Cuban rums here in the United States.  There isn't enough aged rum being made to fill the sudden surge in demand that the United States will create.  Havana Club and the rest of the Cuban brands that will be coming to the United States have a lot of preparation in order to make this happen. 

     Havana Club International S.A.''s general director, Frenchman Jerome Cottin-Bizonne, has stated that the company is preparing to compete on the US market when trade relations resume between Cuba and the USA.   The investment in the Havana Club factory, located at the Mayabeque municipality of San Jose de las Lajas, aims to meet the high level of demand for aged rums in the US.   That factory has been updated to international standards with cutting-edge technology and the required ISO accreditation, the executive stressed.

     Havana Club International is a joint venture between the French Pernod Ricard company and the CubaRon production plant.   According to Cottin-Bizonne, the partnership, founded in 1993, has been highly productive.   Cottin-Bizonne also said that the recent visit of U.S. President, Barack Obama, to Cuba was a good news for Havana Club, because it represents a step towards the opening of the U.S. market to the Cuban rum, particularly the Havana Club brand.

Ron Abuelo Has Introduced a New Ron Abuelo XV Finish Collection

     The Ron Abuelo XV Finish Collection are authentic Panama Rums, they are the fruit of a long family history that keeps adding to its expertise.   Ron Abuelo has shined for many years throughout Latin America.   There is a significant importance of tradition in the development of Abuelo Rum and experimentation which allowed to reach the "finish collection" of Abuelo XV.  The three new rums complement the existing range of Anejo, 7 years and 12 years, not to mention the prestigious Abuelo Centuria .

    Ron Abuelo XV Finish Collection is a masterful series rums that is a limited edition created by the master blender at Varela Hermanos. There are three expressions in the series, Napoleon, Tawny and Oloroso.   The names were chosen to reflect not just the character of the finishing wood, but also the places that inspired their creation: Napoleon for Cognac and France, Oloroso for Sherry and Spain and Tawny for Port and Portugal.  

      NAPOLEON: What better name for a rum finished in barrels that have contained cognac!  The French oak of these barrels and the delicate and complex flavor and aroma of cognac, with its characteristic fruity sweetness, give Napoleon its distinctive character, because different notes appear to those that we traditionally have in our rums.  The aroma has notes of wood, fruit and a hint of cacao.  On the palate it has a dry fruit and wood with a lingering elegant finish.

     OLOROSO: Finished in “botas” of Jerez Oloroso (Fragrant Sherry) made of American oak.  The Jerez Oloroso is a really aromatic wine with a lot of body and mildly sweet.  It is perhaps the expression that most maintains the traditional character of our rums, but with a more complex character, which gives it its final finish where the notes of dried fruit can be distinguished.  First pass by the nose give you a complex blend of citrus peel and smokey wood.  In the mouth there are notes of citrus and toasted almonds in the rear of the mouth and a long and enjoyable finish.

  

     TAWNY:  means “amber or dark brown”.  This was the name given by the British in the XVII century to the most aged wines from Oporto, because of their color. As a dessert wine, it gives our rum a special and distinctive sweetness with notes of “berries,” but without notably transforming its characteristics.  On the nose this is unique with a sweet and dryness that is a blend of the wood and the berries.  In the mouth, there is a natural sweetness of a well rounded blend.  The flavors in the mouth seem to remain for an inordinate amount of time with woody and fruited notes at the finish.

     All three of these expressions have different and unique flavors that are what has come to be expected from the Varela Hermanos Distillery.   It is expected to be priced between $65.00 and $70.00 herein the United States and available around the end of April.  

The Southernmost Airshow from Boca Chica Beach

     It is one thing to stand all day on the tarmac and watch the airshow, but for the Southernmost boatnicks, it is a day on the water enjoying the sun, the airshow and a dip in the water when it gets hot.   In the Keys, we do know how to have fun on the water.  There were more than 200 boats out anchored out and partying.   Just enjoy all the pictures of this fabulous show.

Kayaking Gives You a Different Perspective of the Bridge

     Since we started kayaking around Bahia Honda, I'm really surprised how different things seem.  Being closer the water and able to move up very close to the things and wildlife is not only fun, but it is sometimes quite spectacular.

This Year's Miami Rum Renaissance Festival Is less than Two Weeks Away

    Enjoy a grand three-day exhibition of the best rum brands, the excitement of the Island Lifestyle Showcase, celebrity seminars, workshops and cocktail competitions, the annual RumXP competition and awards, an opportunity to rub shoulders with dignitaries and notable experts, and more.

No Tickets Sales At The Door

A reminder: tickets for Miami Rum Renaissance Festival will not be sold at the door.

Order tickets and trade passes in advance online or by phone. $75 per day or $125 for three days.

http://www.rumrenaissance.com/Tickets.html

    Tickets are available for the this years Miami Rum Renaissance Festival.   You need to get your tickets ahead of time, because there will not be tickets sold at the door.  This is the Rum Show that you really don't want to miss, there are just a ton of producers and distributors there to introduce you to all of the new rum expressions..

Southermost Air Spectacular Saturday and Sunday

 The skill and training required by military aviators is evident in the U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron the Blue Angels, as well as the other military flight demonstration teams that you will see this weekend. The incredible maneuvers that the Blue Angels perform are actually the same fundamental maneuvers that are employed in aerial combat.
 

   

     We have also selected very special civilian performers for the Southernmost Air Spectacular. The performers that you see today have spent thousands of hours developing their amazing and exciting aerobatic acts.   Spectacular flying, static displays, a Kid's Zone, souvenirs and concessions – there is no better way to spend a day with family and friends! We are glad you are here to see your military in action!

April 2^nd & 3^rd 2016

Gates open at 9 am
Air Show starts at 10:30 am
Blue Angels Fly at 2:30 pm

     What is the admission fee?

There is no admission or parking fee. Patrons are welcome to bring their own chairs/blankets. The earlier one arrives, the better the set-up spots. There is a fee for reserved seating. Seats can be reserved in advance or purchased as available on the day of the show. Once the show starts, spaces behind the bleachers are not good for viewing anything on the tarmac, so the open spaces to the sides of the bleacher areas are the best for viewing.

For additional information go to  http://airshowkeywest.com/index.php/faqs/
   

South Florida Distillers Releases First Batch of Single Barrel Aged Fwaygo

     South Florida Distillers, makers of Fwaygo white rum, has marked its one-year anniversary with a special bottling.   Starting this week, founding partners Joe Durkin and Avi Eisenberg will begin selling their first batch of aged Fwayo, an award-winning white rum aged in virgin white American oak barrels.   Aging since February 22, 2015, the limited-edition rum, dubbed simply "single barrel Fwaygo," is twice-distilled, producing a deep, toffee-hued liquor.

     "The flavor we've arrived at is very unique and almost fools you into thinking you're drinking a bourbon," says Durkin. "It's got a really strong, smoky front end that moves into rum-like notes of sweet toffee, caramel, and vanilla on the back end. We like to think of it as getting the best of both worlds."

     True rum enthusiasts can geek it up by visiting the South Florida Distillers website, where they can find the distiller's notes for each bottle; in other words, you can look up how your rum was aged, including what barrel it was aged in, the char level of the barrel, when it was filled, when it was emptied, and at what proof it was aged.

     If you're interested in getting your hands on a bottle of single-barrel Fwaygo, act fast. The distillery's first special-edition bottle, a Grilled Pineapple Fwaygo made from locally harvested fruit that went on sale last October, sold out in record time.   Bottles will go on sale at the distillery at noon Thursday, March 24. Priced at $60 each, bottles of single-barrel Fwaygo will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Burlock Coast's  Rum Shop (inside the Fort Lauderdale Ritz-Carlton, 1 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.) is the only retail market carrying the specialty release.

South Florida Distillers is located at 1110 NE Eighth Ave., Unit 3C, Fort Lauderdale. Visit southfloridadistillers.com.

Read More at http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/restaurants/south-florida-distillers-releases-first-batch-of-single-barrel-aged-fwaygo-this-week-7666713

"2016 World's Best Rums Announced

      The World’s Best Rums for 2016 were recently announced and shockingly no Caribbean rum made the winners’ list.   The best rum for 2016, just announced last week by The 2016 World Rum Awards, went to an Australian company you may not have heard of.   Bundaberg Rum Master Distillers’ Collection – Blenders Edition 2015 was named “World’s Best Rum 2016.” It is produced by the Bundaberg Distilling Company and has a “polished oak notes, rich fruit cake and treacle aromas.”   Bundaberg Rum also was named Best Dark Rum for 2016 while the distillery also took home the title of “Best Gold Rum 2016” for its Bundaberg Rum Master Distillers’ Collection Small Batch.

     Meanwhile, the “Best Flavored Rum 2016” honor went to Spirits of Old Man Rum Project One, produced by a German company named Spirits of Old Man GmbH Germany while the “Best Overproof Rum 2016” went to the St Vincent Distillers Sunset Very Strong Rum.   But don’t be fooled by the name – the producers are Sunset Rum UK and not from the island of St. Vincent & the Grenadines.

     The “Best Spiced Rum 2016” award went to Bayou Spiced, produced by Louisiana Spirits LLC of the USA which also took the award for “Best White Rum 2016” for its Bayou Silver.

     The Awards are part of the World Drinks Awards program, launched in 2007 with the World Whiskies Awards and World Beer Awards. Presented by TheDrinksReport.com .   The World Rum Awards selects, rewards and promotes the best Rum Taste and Design to consumers and trade across the globe.

Sailor Jerry Unveils Flash Art Bottle Wraps

William Grant & Sons is set to launch a series of limited edition flash art bottle wraps and cups for its Sailor Jerry rum brand.

     Based on flash designs from the “undisputed father” of old school tattoos, Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins, each of the four new designs – the homeward bound ship, an American eagle, a pin-up girl and a Gypsy – holds a specific meaning.

     The range itself is said to be “inspired by brotherhood, embodying freedom of expression and showcasing the craft of old school tattooing”.

     The gypsy design represents “good fortune”, while the ship is “practical, patriotic and metaphorical” – tattooed on sailors as a reminder of home.

     The eagle is a symbol for America, and represents “honor, prowess and intelligence”, while the pin-up girl design – arguably Sailor Jerry’s most iconic – represents the “ideal and extremes of femininity”.

     Dave Hort, senior brand manager of Sailor Jerry, said: “We wanted to provide our consumers with a collectible run of new bottle wraps based on the great, iconic works of our founding father Norman Collins.

     “These new wraps showcase some of the highest quality flash art that has spanned generations, and we’re proud to continue spreading the word of Norman Collins through this limited edition packaging.”

Released exclusively in the UK and Australia, the first two designs will hit shelves from April, with the second two designs to follow later in the year.

The Bacardi's of Santiago de Cuba

Bacardi Mansion in Santiago de Cuba

     Havana has its charm, but for pure Cuban history and colorful people it is hard to beat Santiago de Cuba.   From the battle of the Spanish Cuban and American War to what I want to talk about today, The Bacardi Family.   Emilio Bacardi Moreau, son of Facundo and Amalia, fought for independence from Spain, was exiled and jailed, once for four years. Eventually he became the first freely elected mayor of Santiago de Cuba. 

Facundo Bacardi Masso

          Facundo Bacardi Masso, youngest of four sons of a Catalonian stonemason. Masso emigrated to Cuba in 1830.   He set up his shop and worked it diligently , he became known as "Don Facundo," owing to his serious, Don-like manner.   Bacardi's wife, Amalia Moreau, and her wealth would end up helping Bacardi fund his business ventures over the years including the Bacardi Factory.    

     An earthquake almost destroyed Bacardi before it began.  In the summer of 1852, earthquakes hit Santiago de Cuba.  The city was nearly destroyed, along with it the aspirations of Bacardi.    The Caribbean experienced waves of cholera pandemics in the 19th Century, and Cuba was among the suffering countries. One such wave, which lasted from 1850 to 1856 and took two of their children, gave the Bacardi family an incentive to leave Cuba.   Not permanently, clearly, but after the earthquake and cholera outbreaks, Facundo thought it wise to return home to Catalonia for a time.

Bacardi Rum Factory Early Days

    They returned after a few years, at which point Facundo started toying with distillation.   Initially his rum was pretty rough stuff.   That  shouldn't surprise anyone, since it was basically developed as a "trash" product-in the sense that 17th Century sugar producers were beset with the problem their leftover molasses from the processing of the sugar  . In fact, they used to dump it in the ocean before somebody figured out how to ferment it and turn it into rum..

     Facundo Bacardi wasn't originally a distiller by trade.   A businessman looking for a hook, Bacardi and partner José León Boutellier toyed around with the process of rum distillation, incorporating the use of new white oak barrels for aging, charcoal filtering  and a proprietary yeast strain that Bacardi uses to this day.

Bacardi Daughter's Home on the Grounds of the Mansion

     The Bacardi Family lived a life of opulence in Santiago de Cuba.  Their home was massive and very beautiful.  Today you can tour the grounds and see the mansion that is being used as a school that Castro use to tech about the government of Cuba.   The daughter's house was also there on the grounds and just as spectacular.  They lived in a area that is nothing but huge beautiful mansions on the hills overlooking Santiago de Cuba. 

The Hatuey brand originated in Cuba and was owned by the Bacardi family.

     The Factory and the brewery are also still in full operation down next to the railway in the downtown area.  They still produce the finest rums in Cuba at this distillery.   The brewery, located just up the street from the rum factory is producing beers for local consumption only.  Even though the Bacardi's have been gone from Santiago de Cuba since 1959, their presents can still be felt.

Bacardy Rum Factory Today in Santiago de Cuba

Cloudy and Rainy Easter Morning here in Key West

     Happy Easter Everyone, just wish that the weather could have been brighter.  I guess that it follows the season, in that the days were grey leading up to Jesus's arising, and things were much brighter afterward,   Sadly it looks like another mostly cloudy day today.

     The high humidity and the cool weather has left us in Key West with quite a few grey days in a row.  Most of us are ready for the sun shine and the young spring to turn to the customary sunny and warm days,  The prognosticators tell us that it is on the way, but I guess that it has gotten lost this year.

Showrum 2016 Happens October 2 and 3 in Rome

     Save the date!   Showrum 2016 is 2 AND 3 October, in Rome!  This is the biggest rum event in all of Italy!

     Keep up to date and get all of the rest of the needed information at #‎showrum .  

     Leonardo Pinto and his associates promise that this will be another really fun show.  Get your time off planned so you can make this event this fall.

There Are Many More Rums Coming from Cuba Soon

     With the doors to Cuba looking like they are going to be opening finally, the question of Cuban
rum is coming to the fore front.  There are huge battles going on between Bacardi and Havana Club over the "Havana Club" Trademark, but there is a lot more great rum in Cuba that just Havana Club.

     One of my favorites is Santiago de Cuba rum, a wonderful rum made at the old Bacardi Factory in
the town of Santiago de Cuba.  Having first tasted this fine expression 5 years ago when I first visited Havana, this is a really nice full bodied and flavorful rum.

     What I like about Santiago de Cuba Rum is that the entire line is clean smooth and a good sipper.   I still enjoy the Anejo, the and the Extra Anejo to this day.   There are a lot of opinions as to which is really the best of the line.  This is one opinion out of the Cuba Journal last week.   Santiago de Cuba 11 Años.  And it isn’t just the favorite of bartenders around Havana — it’s the favorite of in ­the ­know connoisseurs, too. It’s not as well known as its 12­year old sibling, Santiago de Cuba 12 Años — indeed, its label is unique among the brand’s range. But that’s because it’s something special. It is a wonderfully aged rum, sweet with notes of candied fruit, caramel and a lovely, semi­ dry finish.



      The really important thing is that there are a lot more rums that will be arriving on our shores from Cuba soon and  much more than just Havana Club.  Look for brands from all over the island including Ron Veradero, Cubay, and Ron Arechabala.    The time is really getting close, so get to know that there are a lot of really good rums made in Cuba.

Frozen Colada Time in the Tropics

     The season for frozen cocktails is rapidly coming upon us, especially down in the tropics.   I'm getting tired of the conventional frozen stuff, so here is a new idea that will put a bit of a twist on the conventional Pina Colada.

Coconut Peach Colada

·         1 oz. Peachtree Schnapps

·         1 oz. Siesta Key Toasted Coconut Rum

·         1 oz. Chocolate Syrup

·         3 oz. Half and Half

 - 

Pour the Chocolate, Half and Half, Schnapps and Rum into a Blender filled half full of ice.   Blend until smooth and top with fresh ground nutmeg, whipped cream and a cherry

The Aroma of Alcohol Eases Your Inhibitions

New research has revealed that the smell of alcohol makes it harder for people to control their behavior.

     Here is another of the interesting studies on how alcohol effects us.  This time it is the smell of alcohol.  I know that when I visit a distillery the smell of alcohol makes me very happy, but I love the smell of rum anyway.   This is an interesting read.

     Researchers at Lancashire’s Edge Hill University found that during a computer-based study the smell of alcohol interfered with people’s ability to refrain from a particular behavior.  Participants wore face masks that were pre-treated with either alcohol or a non-alcoholic citrus solution.

They were then presented with two picture sets – one containing the alphabet, the other made up of bar-related images – and were asked to press a button when either the letter K or a picture of a beer bottle appeared on their screen.   The scientists measured the amount of times the participants incorrectly pressed a button, raising a ‘false alarm’, which indicated a decrease in the person’s ability to inhibit their behavior.

The number of false alarms were “significantly higher” in participants who were wearing the alcohol treated mask, and the effect was the same for both alcohol and non-alcohol-related visual cues.   A statement from the study reads: “The current findings support the findings of previous research that exposure to alcohol-related stimuli results in reduced accuracy in tasks requiring inhibitory control.

“Overall, this research offers an original insight into the importance of acknowledging olfactory alcohol cues in developing a comprehensive understanding of alcohol-related behavior. Context-related reductions in inhibitory control may lead to increases in consumption, or to relapse in abstinence users”

The study, called Smells like inhibition: The effects of olfactory and visual alcohol cues on inhibitory control was published in the journal Psychopharmacology.

Read More at http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2016/03/study-finds-aroma-of-alcohol-inhibits-self-control/?article-source=newsletter&source=651&date=2016-03-18

New Owner of St. Lucia Distillers

PRESS RELEASE –  Saint Lucia Distillers Group of Companies (SLD) has been acquired by Martinique conglomerate

Group Bernard Hayot (GBH).  Founded in 1960, GBH has a number of businesses through the French overseas departments including Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guyana, Reunion and New Caledonia, as well as other enterprises based in Trinidad & Tobago, Dominican Republic, West Africa, China, Morocco and Algeria.

The group currently employs in excess of 8,500 people and is concentrated in three divisions: automotive distribution, retail/wholesale distribution and industrial production.

(GBH) owns two successful distilleries in Martinique – Rhum Clément and Rhum J.M.  The acquisition of SLD brings together two established traditions of rum making – Rhum Agricole and molasses based – into one portfolio. GBH intends to put in place a comprehensive investment program for St Lucia Distiller’s production and warehousing facilities.

SLD’s commitment to traditional artisanal rum, made to the highest possible standards, will remain at the center of its philosophy and will therefore mirror the same ethos employed by Rhum Clément and Rhum J.M.

The management and staff of St Lucia Distillers will all be retained under the new ownership and the management structure will remain unchanged. SLD will continue to use its existing export market distributors, but will also tap into the distribution network of GBH’s other brands, which will facilitate the continued expansion of Chairman’s Reserve, Admiral Rodney and 1931 into the global markets.

St Lucia Distillers’ Managing Director, Mrs. Margaret Monplaisir, expressed her delight at the acquisition: “I am excited and very happy that St Lucia Distillers has a new owner committed to further investment in our distillery and helping us build our brands both locally and internationally. It is a tribute to the hard work of our 150 staff members, that such a major Caribbean company has seen the potential of our operation. We certainly have a bright future ahead and we are keen to begin working with our new owners.  GBH also intends to use its considerable expertise to develop our tour at St Lucia Distillers making it a “must see” for visitors to St. Lucia, like they have done at Habitation Clement in Martinique’.

GBH Spirit Division’s Director Gregoire Gueden described the acquisition as “a natural progression given the close proximity of Martinique to St. Lucia and the similarity of our heritage and cultures. We admire the rums of St Lucia Distillers and believe we can build Chairman’s Reserve into a major global brand. It is our intention to invest in the distillery, warehousing and SLD’s work force so that we can continue to make some of the greatest rums in the world”.

Read More at  http://www.stlucianewsonline.com/new-owner-of-st-lucia-distillers-to-implement-comprehensive-investment-programme/#sthash.RLsjYkMo.SHd9DtKC.dpuf

The Battle for "Havana Club" Heads to Court in the United States

Bacardi "Havana Club"

     Well the next round of the battle in the United States for the use of the "Havana Club" brand is headed to court.   "Bacardi has upped its battle with Pernod Ricard and the Cuban government, calling on a US court to strike their joint venture’s Havana Club rum brand from the register."   

     In its latest court filing, Bacardi argues that Pernod Ricard and the Cuban agency Cubaexport engaged in “elaborate, misleading, fraudulent and deceptive activities concerning the obtaining, maintenance and renewal of the Havana Club trademark in the US”.   A senior Bacardi official has also alleged that Pernod Ricard, the world’s second-largest spirits producer, “intentionally and knowingly” hid “pertinent facts” that undermine its claim to the Havana Club trademark in the US.   It is the latest move taken by Bacardi since US officials in January extended Pernod Ricard and Cubaexport’s trademark over Havana Club to 2026, forcing the brand dispute into the courts.

Cuban "Havana Club"

     "The litigation has its origins in Bacardi's effort to seek cancellation of Cubaexport's trademark registration for Havana Club. In 2004, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) ruled that Cubaexport was the owner of the Havana Club trademark registration.  Bacardi appealed that decision to the courts.  The case was stayed pending the renewal of the trademark registration.   "In February of this year, Cubaexport renewed its registration with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) through 2026.  This means that the courts will now decide the dispute over the ownership of the Havana Club trademark on the merits."

     "Havana Club is the reference when it comes to Cuban rum around the world. It has earned its stellar reputation over the years for its quality and the image it conveys. Havana Club is 100% made in Cuba and benefits from its rich soil, warm weather, quality sugar canes, know-how of the Maestros del Ron Cubano and also the Cuban culture.

     This issue is not going to just to away.  I feel like it is something that is going to be a stubborn issue that is going to be tough to resolve.  I will keep you filled in as more information comes available.

Spectacular Springtime Days in the Keys

     The skies in the tropics never cease to amaze me.  The light up in the morning and ar afire in the evening.  Then during the day the wind , clouds and the sun put on a totally different show for us.  Today the clouds were whipped by the winds aloft into a really spectacular display of blue sky and white wispy clouds.  Just plain awesome.

Ron Zacapa Announces a New Global Travel Expression

     The slow-aged rum is described as a “true expression of Guatemalan heritage and culture” and takes inspiration from traditional Mayan rituals.   Zacapa Edicíon Negra has been aged in double charred, American oak casks, said to result in a dark rum with a “smoky intensity”.   The no-age-statement blend is intended to showcase a different Zacapa palette from Zacapa 23, the expression created from rums aged between six and 23 years.

     Zacapa Edicíon Negra was produced by master blender Lorena Vasquez, who is known for developing the brand’s Sisterna solera ageing system.   Given nosing and tasting notes include caramelized fruits, plums, raisins chocolate, dried fruit and a “smooth smoky” element.

     Peter Fairbrother, marketing director, Diageo Global Travel and Middle East (GTME), said: “In our quest to provide travel retail customers and shoppers with new and different drinking experiences, the Diageo GTME team is thrilled to introduce Zacapa Edicíon Negra – a truly exciting innovation in the luxury rum category.

     “Delivering a bolder, new flavor inspired by the powerful, natural landscape of Guatemala, Zacapa Edicíon Negra is the perfect choice for the rum connoisseur, as well as those travelers looking for something very special.”   The rum is presented in a slender bottle featuring the Zacapa Petate band, encased in a canister.   Zacapa Edicíon Negra is available in global travel retail now. The expression is bottled at 43% abv and retails at €70 for a 70cl format.   
You can read more at http://www.thedrinksreport.com/news/2016/16494-zacapa-edici-n-negra-rum-launches-in-duty-free.html