100 Years Ago Yesterday, The Volstead Act Was Ratified by Congress

Andrew Volstead

     One Hundred Years ago yesterday, the Volstead Act, named for the Minnesota representative Andrew Volstead, was ratified by the United States Congress.   The 18^th  Amendment led to the complete prohibition of “intoxicating liquors” in the United States.   There were seven states that had not yet ratified the 18^th Amendment by that date, but the ¾ majority had been reached.  Seven more states would ratify the amendment between 17 January and 25 February 1919 and New Jersey passed it in March 1922. Connecticut and Rhode Island both rejected the amendment.

     In October 1919 Congress passed the Volstead Act – named after Judiciary chairman Andrew Volstead who supported the bill – which allowed for Federal enforcement of Prohibition.  Having ratified the amendment and introduce the Volstead Act, Congress announced that full Prohibition would be implemented on 17 January 1920.

     The 18^th Amendment had grown out of decades of temperance activity and lobbying in the US.  One of the prominent temperance leaders was Protestant, mid-Western spinsters following  Carrie Nation, who became a prominent figure in the movement.  She famously led women into saloons and smashed them up with hatchets and hammers while singing hymns and quoting the Bible.  It is interesting that Carrie Nation died in 1911, but the movement she becan was driven by many “God fearing men”.

     Volstead of course was one but there was also Neal Dow and Wayne Wheeler, the head of the Anti-Saloon League.   Then there were political campaigners who saw in the ‘liquor barons’ and companies the pervasive hand of capitalism striving to keep the working man sedated with cheap drink.   Remember that the 18^th Amendment did not actually ban the consumption of alcohol merely the manufacture, distribution and sale of them, but it was aimed as an effective method to put an end to consumption.

 Drinking became an underground network, so it fell under the control of criminal organizations who reaped enormous gains from the Volstead Act. With the increasing power of the mob came a rise in violence, racketeering and bribery. Civil, police, judicial and political corruption filled the veins of the American system with appalling results.

     Finally In December 1933 Utah became the 36^th state to ratify the 21^st Amendment which repealed Prohibition as it would gradually be rolled back across the country. Not every county in every state repealed their own local limitations or prohibitions on drinking but it was no longer a Federal business and the re-ignition of breweries, distilleries and wineries and their various distribution and sales arms brought an incredible windfall in much needed taxes into the nation’s coffers.  The 18^th Amendment remains the only statute in the history of the US to have ever been repealed.

Soggy Dollar Rum Sponsors Songwriting Tour

     Caribbean rum brand Soggy Dollar will sponsor the 25-date Hit Makers & Rum Chasers songwriters tour across the US.  Kicking off on 29 January at City Winery in Nashville, the brand’s partnership with the tour hopes to “authenticate the off-the-grid island vibe” associated with Soggy Dollar.  The Caribbean rum brand has been inspired by the Soggy Dollar bar in the British Virgin Islands, which is the home of the Painkiller cocktail.

     Soggy Dollar owner, Jerry O’Connell, said: “The Soggy Dollar has a devoted subculture seeking the ideal of living life off the grid.  “So many of our guests who visit the beach bar every year and live what’s referred to as ‘the Soggy Life’ have asked when will we be able to get this rum back home? So we’re thrilled to be able to bring our rum and a taste of that laidback island lifestyle to cities across the US as a Hit Makers & Rum Chasers tour sponsor.”

    Ty Bentli of Westwood One’s The Ty Bentli Show will MC the first show in Nashville, which will feature a number of songwriters including JT Harding, Jon Nite, Bridgette Tatum and Justin Ebach.  A selection of Soggy Dollar signature serves will be available during each date of the tour, and events will also include a silent auction and an island-inspired dinner menu created by Mat Vacharat, owner and head chef at Lucky Chops.

     All proceeds from the tour will support music and arts initiatives for school children in the United States and US Virgin Islands.

Sandals and Beaches Plan to End the Usee of Styrofoam at All of Its Resorts

     Sandals Resorts is planning to eliminate all styrofoam from its 19 Sandals and Beaches-branded resorts across the Caribbean, the company announced this week.  The company said the elimination of styrofoam was particularly important in the Caribbean, with its abundant marine life.       Sandals and Beaches resorts will eliminate all Styrofoam from their resorts in the Caribbean starting Feb. 1, 2019. Sandals operates 19 resorts on seven islands including the Bahamas, Grenada, and Turks & Caicos. 

      “As we enter the New Year, it’s incredibly important to our Sandals family that environmental sustainability remains a key priority,” said Adam Stewart, Deputy Chairman of Sandals Resorts International. “After eliminating plastic straws, stirrers, laundry bags and gift shop bags last year, we’re choosing to eliminate Styrofoam from our resorts. We’re proud that many of the islands in which we operate are also making this shift to ensure that future generations can enjoy the beauty of the Caribbean.”

     According to Environment America's Wildlife Over Waste campaign, scientists have found plastic fragments including Styrofoam in 86 percent of all sea turtle species, 44 percent of all seabird species and 43 percent of all marine mammal species.  All Sandals and Beaches Resorts are certified by the EarthCheck benchmarking and certification program, with nine resorts currently holding Master Certification. The company is the only hotel chain in the world to have all of its resorts certified.

To learn more about Sandals Resorts Internationals' commitment to sustainability, visit https://www.sandals.com/all-inclusive/eco-friendly-resorts/. 

Heron Watching as We Drift By in Mud Key

     With the winds down the other day, I had a chance to get back to the Mud Keys just north of Boca Chica Key.  This is one of those places that is just filled with nature and in general, one of my favorite places to just drift with the tides.  This is the first time since Irma that I have had the time to get back to Mud Key.  It was damaged by Irma, especially the mangroves, but some 16 months later the regrowth of the mangroves is apparent.  Still it is a great place to get out and enjoy all of the sights.  Nature has such a great way of naturally recovering.  This beautiful Heron was perched at waters edge surrounded by the regrowing mangroves.

Two Rums Make Fortune Magazine’s Best Booze of 2018

     In a year when whiskey and gin have dominated the spirits industry, it is great to see that two rums have made the Best Booze of 2018 list.  This is great to see that the rums are starting to make their way back into popularity again.  These are great representatives of the rum world that made the list in 2018.

Mount Gay XO Peat Expression Rum

Mount Gay only released about 6,000 bottles of this super-unique XO rum, aged 8 to 15 years before finishing for six months in barrels previously reserved for peaty Scotch whisky. This combination might not sound amazing on paper, but it’s superb stuff, with a rich sweetness trailing into a long tail of smoke. Worth the cost (about $250) and effort if you can track it down.

Clairin Vaval Rum

Handmade and distilled to proof from a single varietal of sugar cane juice, like rhum agricole from Martinique, rather than molasses, Clairin stands apart significantly from rums you might be familiar with—it’s grassy, complex, and somewhat briny. Made near the beaches of southwestern Haiti, Clairin Vaval can be a great substitute for standard white rum in citrus-forward drinks such as a daiquiri or mojito.

Read More at http://fortune.com/2018/12/31/best-liquor-drinks-of-2018/?mc_cid=2f798cb19e&mc_eid=424fa6330e

The Alcohol And Tobacco Tax And Trade Bureau (TTB) Has Been Forced to Cease Operating as the U.S. Federal Government’s Shutdown Continues.

           This is something that you don’t see everyday, but the Alcohol Feds are shut down until The agency, which is responsible for licensing and label approval of alcohol products in the US, including spirits, has created a temporary landing page on its website stating alcohol companies can still access the TTB site to make payments, submit labels or formulas, and to file other operational reports.

Congress gets its act together and puts an end to the government ”shut down”.   “Once funding has been restored and the government shutdown is over, we will work to restore regular service as soon as possible.” 

     TTB has directed employees NOT to report to work and they are prohibited by federal law from volunteering their services during a lapse in appropriations.  “TTB has suspended all non-excepted TTB operations, and no personnel will be available to respond to any inquiries, including emails, telephone calls, facsimiles, or other communications.

The US government has been partially shutdown due to a political gridlock since the 22nd of  December is showing no progress toward a solution.  Meanwhile, our “non-essential” government  agencies as still shut down.  If they are truly “non-essential” why do we have them in the first place? Once funding has been restored and the government shutdown is over, we will work to restore  regular service as soon as possible.

Sunset on Cow Key Channel

     The one thing I like about "Standard" time is sunset happens as I'm heading to the Hurricane Hole for Karaoke.  Wednesday night was one of those very spectacular ones.  I really love my sunsets and this one was no exception.

     Cruising across the bay to Cow Key Channel is one of those areas that seem to provide a number of very nice photo opportunities, I try to take advantage of them whenever I travel across it.

Leaping Forward into 2019 with a Smile

My Neighbor is taking theirs down as well.

     The Holidays are Officially Over for us for another year.  Today we are putting the decorations away and dumping all of the leftover junk food that has been on the boat throughout the holidays.  It has been a fun holiday season for us this year, we stayed away from all of the craziness and enjoyed the quietness of our neighbors on the docks.

     I hope that all of you got everything that you were looking for from the 2018 Holiday season and that you are ready to move ahead during 2019.  I'm excited about all of the possibilities and adventures that lie ahead and can't wait to get started on the.

     Time to put the past behind us and look and see what is ahead and embrace it with all the energy that we can muster.   Make your new year one that you can look back on and smile from ear to ear when you think about it.  You might want to include a taste or to of a great rum as well.

Things Are Changing for 2019

Happy New Year 2019

     After Eight years of publishing this blog for seven days a week,   I've decided to cut it back to

Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.    I've written 2906 editions and I need to slow down a bit.

     Sorry to all of you that have read this blog daily for so many years, but I'm not traveling nearly as much as I use to, and the rum material is not as readily available to bring you.

     It has been a great run and I'm still going to bring you stories three times a week until further notice.  I still enjoy doing this blog, but my time and materials to create it are not as available as they once were.

     The blog has taken me to places in this world and allowed me to meet so many wonderful people, I have to say that it was really worth the time and effort to do the work to make it happen,  I wouldn't have missed the "dance" for anything and I thank everyone for that.  I hope that you will still take the time to read the blog on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

A Special Cheers for 2019

Here is an idea to toast in the New Year, This is an interesting blend of rum with a citrus and bitters mix that will light up your party.  It has a bitter sweet flavor that is hard to put down.

Bahama Bob’s Bitter Cheers

• 1 ½ oz. Mount Gay Eclipse
• ½ oz. Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
• ½ oz. Lemon Juice
• ¼ oz. Simple Syrup
• 3 oz. Angostura Lemon Lime and Bitters

Place all ingredients into a mixing jar filled with ice and stir until chilled.  Strain into a martini glass or snifter and enjoy. 

The Magnificent Osprey

     One of the most beautiful and interesting birds that are found here in the Florida Keys is the Osprey.   I love spending around the mangrove islands just to photograph all of the interesting birds that are around there.

Bahama Bob's Hot Buttered Rum

     Hot Buttered Rum is always a great call for a warming cocktail during th wintertime, around the holidays it is even better.  Here is my version of the classic hot cocktail that I think you might enjoy.

Bahama Bob's Hot Buttered Rum Batter

• 1 1/2  Cups Brown Sugar
• 1/4 lb. Unsalted Butter
• 1 Pinch Salt
• 1/2  Pint Light Cream
• 1/2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1/4  Tsp Ground Cloves
• 1/4 Tsp Vanilla Extract

Combine the brown sugar,cream, butter, salt and heat in 2 quart pan stir until butter is melted and all of the sugar is dissolved.    Add vanilla, cinnamon and cloves leaving it on low heat and stir into the batter ,   Allow to cool and it is ready to use. 

Making the Cocktail

• 3 oz. Bahama Bob's Hot Buttered Rum Batter
• 2 Oz. A Good Dark Rum
• Boiling Water
• Whipped Cream   
• Fresh Ground Nutmeg To Taste

Use about a heaping tablespoon of batter in each mug, top up with boiling water, stir until batter is dissolved.    Add rum,  top with whipped cream and a dusting of fresh ground nutmeg.  Cinnamon stick is a great garnish.

What Does This Birthday Mean?

     As 2018 comes to a close I'm happy to say that this has been a much better year than 2017.  There
have been no Hurricanes here in Key West and the island has had time to take care of most of the damage that Irma did in September of 2017.

     Sanity Too is back to her old self again and we are back aboard and happy to be enjoying the lifestyle that we did before the hurricane.  The year has also allowed us to make some changes to the boat that made it even better than it was before.

     2018 has been a great year for my personal growth.   I've begun to better understand the world of making rum through my year of development in the areas of fermentation and making the still do what is needed to get the quality of rum that we need.

     Today as I move into the next year of my life, I could not ask for a better birthday present that to have everything back to normal and maybe a bit better than it was before the storm.  Looking forward to seeing what happens in my 73rd year of life and 2019 in general.

Looking Back and Feeling Very Greatful

     Coming Home from the distillery yesterday I keep seeing so many things that really make this
place so wonderful.  The way that this town decorates for Christmas and the fun places that I get to visit almost anytime that I want to.





     I tell people that I fee so special, because I get to make the rum in the mornings and enjoy them in the afternoon.  That is a very special place to be at this stage of my life.  I look at all of the things and places that I have been and can't help to feet that someone up there has really blessed me.

     Tomorrow I turn 72, a number that is just that, a number and I wouldn't ever want to go back and try to do it again.  I have to say that I've been able to re-invent myself several time and learn and do things that have made me very happy and leaves me with a feeling of accomplishment.

     Making life special is a full time job in itself, you have to work at it and for me to have a wonderful wife of 44 years and living here in Key West for the past 13 years tells me that it has been really worth the effort.

     I'd like to pass along a very special thanks to all those who have helped me along the way.

Back to Making Rum Today

     Here we go again, day after Christmas and I'm headed back to work.  Today we are refining the low wines from the stripping runs from this month, bringing 2018's rum production to an end.  It has been a wonderful year at the distillery, we have learned so much about the still, fermentation and distilling.

     Looking forward to the new things that we are going to be trying and learning more and more about the process and the results of good procedure and new ideas.  We are going to be allowed to create a few special release expressions next year and with some of the rum that we created in 2018.

     Papa's Pilar and The Hemingway Rum Company has been quite the special experience for me for the past year and a half.  Looking forward to the growth that we expect to be seeing in the next year of so.

Merry Christmas to All

     Merry Christmas from Key West

Christmas Eve 2018

     Today is a day for families to enjoy each other and to share.  It is a day for time around the Christmas tree and wonderful dinners.  I just want to take a moment to say Merry Christmas to every one and to wish your day be a joyful one.

The Twenties or Today?

Sitting at my desk today trying to come up with something fun for today, when I looked up to se the picture on the wall.  It suddenly took me back to the Twenties and all of the prohibition days of flappers and speakeasy's and travel by plane was purely for the rich and famous.  Boarding a Sakorski sea plane and flying to Havana for a weekend of gambling, booze and great shows.  What a really exciting time, but I still wouldn't trade it for today ever.

The Spirits Business Forecast of Rums to Keep an Eye on in 2019

     As rum takes slow steps up the ladder of premiumization, The Spirits Business forecasts the brands to watch in the category next year.   At the start of this year, the Caribbean rum industry continued its recovery from the battering it endured from hurricanes Irma and Maria, which both landed in the final quarter of 2017. Distilleries such as Cruzan, Captain Morgan, Destileria Serrallés and Bacardi temporarily halted production, but, luckily, none have reported a significant impact on their businesses.

     Speaking to The Spirits Business following the disasters, Roberto Serrallés, sixth-generation distiller of Puerto Rico’s Don Q Rum, said: “We’ve been distilling for 152 years and have seen lots of strong storms. This was different. It took us four days just to get a message through because all communications were down, and it took eight days to make sure all our employees were fine. Once everyone was accounted for, there was then the process of getting back to business.”

      As the year progressed, the pace of rum innovation accelerated, with more cask-finished expressions, new flavors and intriguing styles hitting the market. The distilling footprint of rum also grew as new production sites opened up around the world – Scotland, surprisingly, entered something of a rum-­distilling boom.

“Innovation in the world of spirits in general is very important,” says Edouard Beaslay, global marketing director at Diplomático Rum. “Consumers want to explore and try different things, but at the same time we are proud of our tradition and we are true to our history.”  Diplomático has highlighted its artisanal production through a range of new products. Last year, the Venezuelan rum brand launched the Distillery Collection to showcase the diverse distillation processes it uses. In April 2018, the distillery released a 2004 vintage, which has been finished in ex­-oloroso Sherry casks.

     Another brand keen on barrel experimentation is Trinidad and Tobago-based Angostura, which in September unveiled the third expression in its Cask Collection, created using a combination of techniques from the Old World and New World of rum.        “The House of Angostura has been experimenting with ageing rum in different types of casks and techniques for many years, but this is the first time we have used oloroso Sherry casks to mature one of our rums,” Natasha Mustapha­-Scott, Angostura’s marketing executive, said at the time.

     For Richard Davies, founder of Barbados-made Neptune Rum, additional education efforts are boosting the sector. “Consumer knowledge has expanded beyond – dare I say it – the spiced rum category. The education element will help the on­- and off­-trade, business to consumer, and the home consumer. Interest in rum has been tipped to take off for a few years, but now the messaging is finally filtering through.”

Bacardi

The world’s largest international rum brand has had a tough time in recent years as it struggled to claw back sales.   However, speaking to The Spirits Business this year, Bacardi Limited CEO Mahesh Madhavan said the next 10 years will be the brand’s best as it focuses on a more consistent marketing strategy and enhances its ladder of price points.

Neptune Rum

After completing its funding round through private investment, Neptune Rum launched in the UK this year and is lining up its expansion to the US and France.   After recruiting a raft of key personnel, the brand has big things planned for the coming year.

Appleton Estate

Jamaican rum’s GI was agreed this year, and it will be interesting to see how its key proponent, Appleton Estate, benefits.

The brand is also continuing its premiumization mission, having launched a “rare” and “complex” 30-year-­old blend last month.

Read More at  https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2018/12/the-rum-brands-to-watch-in-2019/

Lil’ Wayne Featured in Bumbu Rum Video Series

     Rapper Lil Wayne is in the hot seat in the first episode of a new online video series by Bumbu Rum, called The Bumbu Room, in which celebrities answer questions from the their fans.  In the first video of the series, hip hop star Lil Wayne is grilled on plastic surgery, Rihanna and Nicki Minaj, and Michael Jordan versus Kobe Bryant. 

    The video, which is available to watch on YouTube, is the first in a new online series that will see music producer DJ Khaled, American rapper Rick Ross, musician Dave East, and other celebrities quizzed by their fans.  Prior to filming, each artist will announce their Bumbu Room participation on social media to give fans the opportunity to submit their best questions.

     Earlier this year, Barbados-based Bumbu Rum launched a TV advertisement that saw music producer DJ Khaled channel his “inner goat”.

See the video at https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2018/12/lil-wayne-features-in-bumbu-rum-video-series/

Local Economic Conditions Have Not Slowed The Taste for Rum in Barbados.

R. L. Seale

     Here is an interesting and encouraging article I found in Barbados TODAY.   It is a great sign that the rum industry may be on its way to regaining its strength in the market place. 

   Local rum producer R.L. Seale & Company is reporting a boom in business. Manager for Spirits and On-Premise Steve Singh is even predicting an equally strong performance next year.  “We have been doing very well although the economy for the past eight years has not been the best. As a company, R.L Seale and Four Square Rum Distillery, have been performing well throughout last year and this year given the circumstances of the economy,” Singh told Barbados TODAY in a recent interview.

     While not revealing figures for the year, Singh highlighted the company’s historic Supreme Champion Award at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) in London earlier this year, saying this helped to boost the sales for the latter part of this year and he could only look forward to more great achievements next year.   “The outlook is that we can only grow more,” he said.   “The winning rum for us this year has been the Four Square 2005. It was entered in a category where for the first time in 23 years a rum actually beat gin, whiskies and others. Since we have achieved that award this year the sales on it have been doing very well. It is a limited edition but it is outselling the other two limited editions we have,” he reported.   The company also won the rum producer of the year award three times in a row and recently captured the rum distillery of the year award.

     Singh said R.L Seale would be partnering with the Hospitality Institute in an effort to give students an opportunity to learn more about rum and how to better incorporate it into their mixtures.  He explained that this was another way to encourage more visitors to the island to consume the product.  “It helps with our exports in the future and that is foreign exchange for Barbados. That is why we want to educate people on really, what rum is all about and let them know also it is something that is growing worldwide,” he added.  Singh wants Barbadians to have a greater appreciation of rum, pointing out that while many residents still considered rum to be a “poor man’s drink”, the appreciation for, and consumption of the alcoholic beverage continues to grow on the international scene.

     Just last Friday Prime Minister Mia Mottley called for the story of rum to be told to the rest of the world and be used as a way of earning the country more foreign exchange.  “There are people in Europe whose appreciation for rum has grown so much in the last three to five years. We want to let, not just people living overseas but Barbadians, know that you can drink good rum here, properly aged rum that will cause you not to pay for some high-end drink,” Singh said.  “We should really cherish it because it is part of Barbados. This is coming from a distillery, which is one of two Barbadian-owned distilleries in the island,” he added.

Read More at https://barbadostoday.bb/2018/12/18/rum-sales-booming/

Bahama Bob"s Tom and Jerry for the Holidays

     The Tom and Jerry is one of those hot holiday drinks that has been around for many many years.  It is a true classic that I remember even as a kid in the 50's, less the alcohol, but none the less a wonderful hot drink that meant it was getting close to Christmas.

    There are a lot of recipes to make your own batter, but for me I like to head to the store and pick up one that fits my taste.  One of my favorites is Trader Vic's, it is spicy and really flavorful.

Bahama Bob's Tom and Jerry

• 3 Tbsp of Bahama Bob's Tom and Jerry Batter
• Blend of Heated Milk and Water
• 2 oz. Doorly's XO Rum
• Fresh Nutmeg

Put 3 Tablespoons of Bahama Bob's Tom and Jerry Batter in a 8 oz. Mug,  Mix 3/4 cup of boiling water and 1/4 cup warm milk and add the rum and stir it into the batter..  Top with fresh ground nutmeg and enjoy.

Bahama Bob’s Tom and Jerry Batter

• 1 Egg (Separate Whites from Yoke)
•  ¼ tsp. Cinnamon
• ¼ tsp. Allspice
• ¼ tsp.  Nutmeg
• ½ oz. Simple Syrup 

Beat egg white until foamy in a large glass or metal mixing bowl until stiff peaks form.  Add Yoke  and beat with the whites.   Add the spices and Simple syrup and fold into the egg whip.

Seventh Annual Caribbean Journal Rum Awards

     It’s hard to believe that this year is the seventh annual edition of the Rum Awards, a celebration of rum that was one of the earliest innovations of Caribbean Journal. And it’s just as remarkable how much rum has changed in these seven years.

     Today, an increasingly knowledgeable consumer base is appreciating the unparalleled diversity and romance of rum — but also asking more of rum companies, pushing them to launch more sophisticated, more authentic — and more premium — expressions.

     Consumers are also beginning to discover the joy of the world of Rhum Agricole, a small fraction of global production that manages to produce a wide-ranging, artisanal, terroir-focused offering that includes some of the greatest cane spirits you will find anywhere.

     It all means that rum is in a very good place, whether one is starting his or her rum journey or taking trips to collect rare bottlings in the far corners of the West Indies.

     It also means that every year the judging for the Rum Awards gets more difficult, as the Rum Journal team travels across the Caribbean region, visiting distilleries and sampling rums (and sampling them again). This year, we began the judging with a dossier of more than 200 rums tasted, one that eventually whittled down to a field of 12 rums for the Rum of the Year category.  

     This year’s final judging was conducted again at the terrific  Casa de Montecristo by Prime Cigar in Miami, where the Rum Journal panel conducted six rounds of spirited tasting and eventually settled on the winners.

     This year’s slate of winners is as impressive as ever, hailing from across the Caribbean and the United States and demonstrating, again, the wonder of the world of rum.  But remember, as we like to say at Rum Journal, the best rum in the world is the rum that’s in your glass right now.

     Rum of the Year: Havana Club Seleccion de Maestros, Cuba Each year, choosing the Rum of the 
Year gets more difficult. More and more producers are making exceptional aged rums, using new blending and aging techniques, experimenting with special finishes and helping to raise the perception of premium rum in the marketplace. But this year’s winner was a veritable institution of the rum world, from one of the great rum producing countries of the world. Havana Club, Cuba’s flagship rum, produces a broad portfolio of expressions, from traditional white rum to rums specifically blended to be smoked with Cohibas. But this year, its signature ultra-premium rum took home the crown. Havana Club’s Seleccion de Maestros, bottled at a robust 45 degrees, is a blend of reserve-stock rums, brought together by the company’s master rum makers. After multiple rounds of judging, the Havana Club held up against all competitors, thanks to its hallmark: a truly remarkable balance. This is a delicate, luxurious rum that just kept holding up after repeated tasting, one that is consistent from start to finish and that simply begs you to pour another glass. Plainly, it’s an exquisite rum.

Double Gold: El Pasador de Oro Rum XO, Guatemala

Gold: El Dorado 21 Year Old Rum, Guyana

Silver: Angostura 1824, Trinidad

Bronze: Chairman’s Reserve 1931, Saint Lucia

     Best New Rum: One Drop, Harbour Island, Bahamas Harbour Island isn’t like other places in the Caribbean — or even in The Bahamas for that matter. It’s a bit like an English-speaking St Barth, chic but carefree, charming but unpretentious. And it’s also an island that loves its rum. That was how the island’s Afrohead rum was born a few years back — and now Toby Tyler, the master blender behind Afrohead, is at it again, this time with a blend of 10-year-old and 12-year-old Jamaican juice. The result is a rum (hand-bottled on Harbour Island) that is delightfully drinkable, with a fruit-forward flavor profile and a funky but velvety finish. It’s not like other Jamaican rums, and that’s cool — it’s kind of a new interpretation of that island’s spirit, and a rum that’s made for, well, people who like rum. And it’s the best new rum of 2018.

     Get the rest of the lists of the award winners at https://www.caribjournal.com/2018/12/14/rum-journal-the-rum-awards-2018/

Where Did Rum Really Come From?

Sugarcane Fields

     There is some disagreement as to the exact origin of rum, but Barbados and Brazil are some of the most repeated ones.  There is a lot of talk about early rums coming from the areas of the South Pacific as well.  Sugarcane has its origins in that area, along with a large sugar production.  Anytime that you have fermentable materials, you will generally find an alcoholic beverage made from it.

Early Sugar Processing Pots

     Plantation slaves first discovered that molasses, a by-product of the sugar refining process, fermented into alcohol. Later, distillation of these alcoholic by-products concentrated the alcohol and removed impurities, producing the first true rums. Tradition suggests that rum first originated on the island of Barbados.

     The first distillation of rum in the Caribbean took place on the sugarcane plantations there in the 17th century. Plantation slaves discovered that molasses, a byproduct of the sugar refining process, could be fermented into alcohol. ... However, in the decade of the 1620s, “rum” production was also recorded in Brazil.   Cachaca is a rum like spirit that is made in Brazil from fresh sugarcane juice, it has many of the same characteristics as rum.

     Christopher Columbus was the first to introduce sugarcane to the Caribbean in the 1400’s, but the plantation slaves of the late 1600’s finally started distilling rum.  Columbus brought the sugarcane from the East Indies that he introduced to the Caribbean.  I guess that it really doesn’t matter the exact origin of rum, but it seemed to pop up anywhere there was sugarcane.  Some places it was made from sugarcane juices and other places used the industrial waste of the sugar processors.  The bottom line is we do have it today.

Old Town Panama City, Panama

     I've been thinking about all of the places that this blog has taken me over the past seven years.  One of the early trips was courtesy of Abuelo Rum to Panama.  Besides visiting the distillery in Pese, I spent a great afternoon in Old Town Panama City.  In addition to the beauty of the sidestreets of this historic town, there was remnants of some of the damage from the battles to extract Manuel Noriega in 1989.   This picture s one of the really colorful sidestreets I ran across in Old Town Panama City.