Meeting Patrick Hemingway in Key West.

     It was one of the honors of my life to have been able to meet Patrick Hemingway, middle son of Ernest Hemingway here in Key West last Friday night.   Talking with him and enjoying some of the stories of Cuba and the memories of his father were just heart warming.  He is now in his eighty's and a memory as sharp as though everything had happened just yesterday.   

     He related some of the stories of summers in Cuba at Finca Vigia, the Hemingway home in San Francisco de Paula outside of Havana.   He told of his first camera a Rolliflex he received from his father that he was given to his father when he went to China with his third wife Martha Gellhorn, who was on assignment for Collier's Magazine. 



Ernest, Patrick (left) and Gregory at Finca Vigia

     Patrick was born June 28, 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri, but traveled to Europe, Wyoming and Idaho during his childhood, though his permanent residence was Key West, Florida.   After his parents divorced, he would visit his father at Finca Vigia in Cuba quite often.  The start of World War II found Patrick accompanying his father on improvised attack missions in the Gulf of Mexico on his father's boat Pilar.

    Patrick Spent 25 years in Africa as a safari guide and teacher at the College of Wildlife Management in Tanzania. 

     Patrick edited his father's last book about Africa and published it in 1999.  The book was one of fact and fiction from an East African expedition Ernest and Martha went on during 1953 -54.   Toward the end of the trip Ernest was in two successive plane crashes in which he was reported dead.  Ernest was said to have read about his death in the newspaper when he wandered out of the jungle.    Patrick took the 800 pages of the unfinished manuscript and edited it down to about half the size and published "True at First Light".   Patrick was more than qualified to do the final editing for he had been present through most of the safari.


     Today Patrick lives in Bozeman, Montana, where he has been his residence since 1975.  There he oversees the Ernest Hemingway Intellectual Properties and the Hemingway Foundation.

    Papa's Pilar Rum is the latest of the projects he has been involved in and seems to thrive on the active life he still leads. ;o) 
    

An Incredible Rum with an Incredible Story

     JoAnn Elardo of Cape Coral, Florida, came up with an idea for making rum in the center of Florida using the resources of her surroundings.   Today JoAnn Elardo and her associate Chris Spiro have the distillery and a  bright Turquoise colored building on Pine Island Road between Nicolas Parkway and Santa Barbara Blvd. that jumps off of the landscape.   From this little building comes an award winning silver rum that is pure Florida.

     Wicked Dolphin is an artisan hand crafted rum.   Made in a 660 gallon pot still from 100% Florida Sugar Cane purchased from local farms.   Barrel aged and blended on site at the family owned and operated distillery in Cape Coral, Florida for the highest quality.     The "Silver Rum" as a bit of a straw color that comes from the barrel aging, and has not been filtered out.  Filtering will remove the color, but it also removes some of the flavor of the barrels.   

     Wicked Dolphin won a best in class at the American Distilling Institute spirit competition and a gold medal at the 2013 Miami Rum Renaissance competition.   Winning medals in the first two competitions tells a lot about the quality and the process that is being followed by the team.

   There was a legal issue posed by a prohibition era law in the state of Florida preventing the sale of rum where it was produced.   The had a beautiful building and you couldn't even tour the distillery, plus you could not buy the rum on site.  This posed a serious problem for the success of the business.  Ms. Elardo said "Everybody has distillery tours, if you go to Colorado, New York, or even North Carolina it didn't make sense that Florida didn't have those tours"  The Wicked Dolphin team went about to change the law.  According to JoAnn Elardo, "it was a long process and a lot of times discouraging", but worth while when Bill 347 passed unanimously.    Now the people cat tour and taste the product before they purchase it.

The project is headed straight for success and has already proven itself with two prestigious awards for their Wicked Dolphin Rum.  This looks to be a new Florida Distillery that has the talent and the means for growth and quality Florida based rums.  ;o)

Drifting from Duck Key to Fish Hawk Key

Duck Key

White Egret

     It worked, I was able to get out and enjoy a day on the water.  I turned off the motor upon arriving at Duck Key just north and east of Key West and drifted to the north toward Fish Hawk Key.  The partly cloudy skies and the warm sun made for a fabulous day of relaxation.   Drifting across the 6" to 12" deep water gives you a chance to watch the sea life moving in and out of the sea grasses as well as watching the skies and mangroves for very interesting bird life.     The many trips I have made out into the keys around Key West, it never gets boring or even repetitive.  There is always something new out there in front of you.

    This day found an Egret perched in the top of a mangrove near Fish Hawk Key, along with several Cormorant "Condos".        The Egret sat there and watched as we approached and remained there watching us as we watched him.   Finally when we drifted up to about forty of yards away off he went.    There were several Cormorants there in the same mangrove key.

Cormorants drying their wings.

     The approach to Fish Hawk Key  got our attention as a pair of Osprey appeared over the mangroves that provide shelter and a nesting ground for the large and beautiful birds.   The pair would alternately circle us and let us know they knew we were there.   We continued to drift past hem and they headed back to their nest just in from the edge of the water.    As we continued drifting past Fish Hawk Key toward Jewfish Basin, I spotted a Frigate Bird making high circles overhead.   The Frigate is a great fish catcher, and can be found circling above schools of fish.

   All in all quite a wonderful day out on the water, and I look forward to getting out there more often now that summer is approaching and things will be slowing down here in Key West.  ;o)

Monday Monday

   The start of another week here in Key West.   The weather has finally turned summer like and the winds are showing signs of calming.   It has mad me crazy not being able to head out to the remote keys and drift this year.   My days off have been filled with "honey do's", "boat do's" and choppy seas here of late.   I'm up early today so I can finish my Rum Bar orders and get the blog posted then have a play day today.   

     There  are no shortage of things to see or places to head out on the water and see here in the keys, but just getting my act together in time to head out and be able to get back before dark can be the problem.  Living on "island time" is great, but it can be a "bitch" as well when you are trying to get everything coordinated to go somewhere.  

     The one thing I know is that I am taking my flask of rum and headed out on the water today and going somewhere that will allow me to loose this pasty white skin that I'm wearing these days.   It is in the mid 80's today and there is no excuse for sitting at home as of right now anyway.  

   Only a few more things to get done, and away I go somewhere fun, peaceful and quiet just drifting through the shallows and shooting away with my camera in the sunshine.   ;o)

Friday Night Sunset in Key West

    Sunset is always an event here in Key West, Friday Night was no exception.  Mother Nature painted her beauty and showered some fabulous color in Wisteria as the sun dropped behind.

It is Official Papa's Pilar National Debut in Key West

     It was my pleasure to attend the Papa's Pilar National Debut Event on Sunset Pier in Key West last evening.   It was a real gala event with themed cuisine and cocktails celebrating the adventures and life of Ernest Hemingway.   The new line of rums that are made with the robust taste with the great adventurer in mind.  The Blonde and the Dark rums are absolutely exquisite and deserve your time to taste them.


     The event centered around industry people getting to know about these fine rums and the programs that it supports.   The rum is fully supported by the Hemingway family with their royalties from the project being given to the Hemingway Foundation and distributed to it's many Charities.   Last night there was a check in the amount of $30,000.00 given to the International Game Fish Association, one of the foundation charities and an association that was founded by Ernest Hemingway to protect, further the needs of and keep the records of international fishing.


     The entire team that made the project possible was in attendance for the event and they were having a great time seeing the project officially out in the limelight.   This has been a nearly seven year project that was finally debuted here in Key West, a fitting place considering the tie with the Hemingway family and the famed 38 foot fishing yacht called Pilar.  

    The coordinating of the Hemingway family, the rum and getting everything just right to have such a great product with so much prestige attached was a monumental project.    On hand for the event were Patrick Hemingway, Ernest's middle son, his wife Carol and John Hemingway, son of Greg Hemingway and Ernest's grandson.   The combination of great rum and a very famous family makes for a really fun event.   This is a rum that I feel will be around for a long time, they are in the process of setting up a new plant here in Key West where the Solera aging and blending operation will be conducted in the very near future.  Key West is a natural tie for the entire program, considering the tie with rum, Ernest Hemingway, and of course Pilar who's registry is still Key West.  

     It was a real honor for me to have some time to talk with Patrick Hemingway last evening about some of the things that I had the pleasure of visiting in San Francisco de Paula and Havana last fall.   Patrick's memories of the many adventures of and with his father are absolutely amazing to listen to.  His memory of the places in Cuba, Bimini, and Key West as well as all over Africa are amazing.  He told of a Rolliflex Camera that was given to his father when he went to China just before WWII that he received as his first camera ass a child and how he enjoyed photography.   I would love to be able to spend more time with him just to further the knowledge of Ernest and the stories of Patrick who is quite the protege of Ernest.  Patrick shares the love of fishing and hunting with his father as well as a love of all the exciting places and things he and his father shared.

     I would like to thank all of the people from the Papa's Pilar  organization for the invite to the debut, and best wishes for a very successful fun with these wonderful rums.  ;o)

Kenny's Blue Chair Bay Rum Has Arrived at The Rum Bar

     The long awaited rum from Kenny Chesney has finally arrived at the Rum Bar.  We have gotten the White and the Coconut so far, the Coconut Spiced was not yet in stock yet at Republic National.  Hopefully it will be in for next weeks order.  

    The Kenny Chesney fans are literally eating this rum up.  The fans are mixing it with several different juices and sodas, but they are liking these rums.   The coconut is of a very sweet nature and very aromatic, you can smell the sweet coconut frosting like airs from across the room.




     The white rum is a classic Bajan style rum, this is a good mixer that will make you feel right at home with Kenny on the beaches of the Caribbean.   This is for the true pirate that likes the fun beach life and a rum cocktail on the beach or in your back yard a sunset.

NTSB Proposes Legal Limit Lowered from .08% to .05% BAC

     The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is proposing lowering the legal limit for driver's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) from .08% to .05% as a means of reducing the drunk driving fatalities.    On the surface, it seems like a very simple thing, lower the blood alcohol concentration limit and you lower the drunk driving fatalities, but all it is really going to do is criminalize the responsible social drinker and really do very little for making the roads safer.  


     Mothers Against Drink Driving (MADD) feels that this is the wrong place to focus upon the problem.   They really don't have a problem with lowering the legal limit, but Jan Withers, National President of MADD, feels "the issue with lowering the legal limit is that it will take a lot of effort for a potential result that is many many years down the line". MADD isn't opposed to lowering the legal limit in principle, but feels that it is the wrong place for the government to put it's focus in the battle against drunken driving.  This is the feeling of many others involved in the battle also.   MADD is supporting the efforts of placing interlocks on the ignition system of convicted DUI offenders, (A device like a breathalyzer that will not let the car start if the driver blows .08 of higher.) putting a focus on "hard-core drunken drivers, and a better education programs.
 

    The other problem is that there is no direct correlation between the BAC and the number of drinks that a person consumes.  The body weight, metabolism of the individual, and other factors play important roles also.   When the percentage was dropped from .1% to .08% in 1983, the highway deaths cause by alcohol impaired drivers dropped 50% from 21,113 in 1983 to 9,8878 in 2011, but the real issue is that it took nearly thirty years for this to occur, and the advent of many auto safety equipment also had an impact on the numbers as well.  The information provided by the American Beverage Institute ( Trade organization made up  of 8,000 restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages) said that fewer that 1% of the crashes involving alcohol have occurred with drivers showing less than .05% and .08% BAC.   The institute believes that an effort to tighten the penalties for repeat and habitual offenders would have better results.


     The real issue in my mind is that there needs to be more people being more responsible for their own actions and others around them willing to do what is necessary to keep their friends and acquaintances off the road when they have had too much to drink.  It is too easy to say that "I don't want to get involved" and let someone go ahead and drive impaired.  The government hasn't yet learned that Americans are going to drink, prohibition was a failure in the twenty's and will fail again in this century.   The key to solving the problem is for the responsible drinker to "get involved" and keep your friends and relatives from getting into trouble when they have been drinking.   I firmly believe that drinking and driving is really a bad thing, but this is a social issue that need to be approached on an individual level and not an opportunity for another expensive government intervention into our social problems.  Putting the efforts on the core of the problem would yield better results and not hitting the 1% of the problem.   Repeat and habitual drinkers that didn't have just one to many are the real core of this problem, this is the part of the demographic that needs the attention.

The 2013 Hurricane Season is Just Over the Horizon

Hurricane Flags

     The first of June brings on the start of the 2013 Hurricane Season down here in the Keys.    This is the marker for the end of our busy season and the time when things begin to settle down here in Key West.   The mythical fear some people have and a real dread as hurrricane season approaches, but actually it is when the waters and the streets of Key West are returned to the residents.  It marks the time when we can go out on the waters and find areas that are not over run with people.    I look forward to the end of season and the beginning of the time when I get to travel out to the uninhabited keys and shoot pictures and enjoy the beauty of nature.  

     Nature has a calm side and a side filled with fury.  She can make days that I can go out in my little dinghy 25 of more miles out to sea in absolute calm or she can whip up a fury that can topple cities.   This is the season of uncertainty, but it is the time of the year that I really enjoy here in Key West.   I have all the respect for the fury of the hurricane, but I also know how to prepare for the arrival of a storm and know that I am where I need to be when she arrives.


Hurricane Wilma Hitting Havana Harbor Entrance

     Besides, the storm wouldn't be a storm without a good hurricane party.   On the serious side, it is time to make sure you have your hurricane preparedness kit in place and all of the necessities for the time post storm without electricity or water.  We like to think that we are all above the storm, but we really need to have a plan should one actually arrive here in Key West.   If you haven't this is the time to prepare for the 2013 hurricane season while the stores are still stocked with the supplies that you will need.  If you wait until one is approaching, you might find that everything you need has already been sold to your neighbors who got there before you.  Prepare to live through the 2013 Hurricane Season it is a good investment.  ;o)
 

Landmarks Around Havana

El Capitol and the Grand Theater

    In my past stories about Havana, I've dwelled on the bars, rum and some other things, but I've completely forgotten about the impressive architectural beauty in the City of Havana.   From the area around the Central Park to the harbor there are so many beautiful sights that the camera never seems to stop clicking.   Around the central park area there are hotels, a mall, restaurants, and government buildings.  All is an architect's dream of classic European styles.  



     There are museums of all kinds that give you a good cross section of life in and around Havana.   The Museum to the Revolution with the Memorial to their Fallen Heroes, is a collection of the weapons and of course the eternal flame for the fallen warriors.    There is a museum for the firemen, Havana Club, Museum of the Arts and the many other people and events.  It is wonderful that we can see the past here in Havana because the heritage was such an important part of life to the residents of Havana.


     The biggest memorial in Havana is the Jose Marti Memorial, located on the North side of the Plaza de la Revolucion in the Vedado section of Havana.   This is a memorial built to the biggest hero of the Cuban people, Jose Marti.     This monument was built by Fulgencio Batista after seizing power in a coup in 1952.  Construction began in 1953 on the 100th Anniversary of Jose Mari's birth. and was completed in 1958.  Today tourists may ride up and down the elevator and enjoy an exciting view of Havana.  

     The Presidential Palace, the Bacardi Building, The National Hotel and so many other buildings and sights make this city an amazing place to visit.   There is a lifetime of history exploration that can be done here, not to mention the exciting night life and incredible clubs and restaurants here.   


    The historic Havana Harbor and it's fortress that protects the City of Havana and the
great wall that surrounded Havana is still partially in tact in different parts of the city.

  If you should ever get the chance to visit Havana, make the time to walk the city and see all of the unbelievable sights.  ;o)

   

Cocktails and Tales is Selling Well, have You Got Your Copy Yet?

    The book has been available for a little over a month and sales are doing very well.   Don't miss out on getting your copy from the first printing.   This is the book that takes you through 10 classic rum cocktails and their history plus 42 of the best cocktails developed in the Rum Lab over the past 2 years.   The book has vinyl covers and cover stock pages so it will survive a live of use in the bar.   

     Bahama Bob's Cocktails and tales is really complete including the recipes for the special syrups that are necessary to make these cocktails jump off of the bar and be so memorable.   

     Try this recipe from the book this evening,  then you can get all of the rest of the recipes when you order the book as well as all of the other interesting trivia and recipes the book has to offer.

 

 

Havana Beach Swizzle

·         1 oz. Lime Rum

·         1 oz. Spiced Rum

·         3/4 oz. Sour Mix

·         2 oz. Pineapple Juice

·         ½ oz. Cane Syrup or Agave Nectar

Place all ingredients in a shaker with ice, and shake until chilled, pour into a blender filled with crushed ice and quickly turn and off the blender to swizzle it.     Pour it into a pint glass and garnish with a Sprig of Mint and an Orange Wheel.

     You can order the book today by clicking on the right of the blog.   ;o)

Happy Mother's Day

     This is the day that we honor our mothers with flowers and love.  Don't forget your mother on this very special day.    Happy Mothers Day Mom, and here are some special flowers from paradise.  ;o)

Sammy Hagar's Beach Bar Rum

      Sammy's Beach Bar Rum, first launched in Hawaii in early 2012  has finally reached Florida and the Keys.   We got our first bottles this week at the Rum Bar in Key West this week.  This is a premium silver rum that is a fine addition to your collection for mixing of premium cocktails.   This is great in Mai Tai's, Mojito's or Tiki style drinks, but not the best I've ever had as a mixer with cola though.

Sammy Hagar

     As the rock front man for the supergroup Van Halen for many years, Sammy Hagar today is still touring with his new group "Chickenfoot" and an entrepreneur with restaurants / clubs world wide.   Sammy's Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and the chain of Sammy's Beach Bar and Grill is in Hawaii, Las Vegas, New York City, St. Louis, and now Roseville, California.   Sammy's Beach Bar and Grill's donate all of their profits to the Hagar Family Foundation to help local community children's charities.   Sammy says "You will never stand taller that when you kneel to help a child", and that sums up why he is so involved in the children's charities.  

Mark Nigbur and his unique post stills

      The world-wide success of Cabo Wabo Tequila has led Sammy to venture into the world of rum and specificly Sammy's Beach Bar Rum.    Sammy's Beach Bar Rum is created from the first crushing of Virgin Maui sugarcane.  Using a one of a kind artisan pot stilled process to distill the rum, Master Blender, Mark Nigbur has created an cachaca style unaged product.   The rum is unaged and has that grassy aroma the is very indicative of cachaca's and a very unique flavor that is also similar.  This 80 proof rum that has a smoothness that is a characteristic of aged rum, and with their plans to start aging the rum in the future, it will only further improve.    Both Mark and Sammy are proud of the fact that the rum is made only from Maui sugarcane and the size of the run each year will be determined by the amount of sugarcane available on Maui. ;o)

Thinking of Venezuela and Rum

   Last year I spent a very interesting week in Venezuela with some very special people.   The country is so beautiful, and some of the finest rums in the world are produced there.   Looking toward the mountains and the valleys you are taken to a new level of beauty.    The cane fields to the vegetation to the sheer beauty of the mountains are all a part of this country.   



Tito Cordero

    The climate is also perfect for producing sugar cane and thus a perfect place to make rum.   There are many places on earth that produce rum, but there are few around that overall produce more top quality premium rums like Venezuela.     Whether it be Diplomatico, Santa Teresa, Ocumare, or Pampero, you will find these rums to have extraordinary flavor.     I feel that there are so many great "Maestro Roneros" here and when I think about fine rum in Venezuela, Tito Cordero always come to mind.   It is these fine people that do the blending and control all the aspects of the rum making that make these rums so special.  

    The next time you are in a rum super store, take the time to search out some of these fine Venezuelan rums and take them home for your personal pleasure some afternoon or evening.   The Ambassador is a high end choice, but one you won't soon forget.   ;o)

Hemingway and his Beloved Pilar

Ad for the Wheeler Playmate

Pilar underway off Cuba

     It is said that there is no greater friend than a man's boat, and Pilar was Ernest Hemingway's one true love to whom he was always true.     After returning from safari in Africa in 1934, Ernest Hemingway was headed to the Wheeler Shipyard in Brooklyn, New York to buy his 38 foot fishing boat.   Hemingway was as creative in boat design as he was as an author, putting innovations like the roller on the stearn and the "tuna tower" that were addid to the basic "playmate".   This is where the story of Hemingway and Pilar really begins.  Pilar would become Hemingway's very special place when things were at their best and at their worst.   The boat truly was his best friend and constant companion.   Something the people around him could not offer him like the time that he and Captain Fuentes spent on Pilar.  

Hemingway and Captain Fuentes

     There was another side of Hemingway that wasn't seen on land.  This was Hemingway's place to act out all of his fantasies if you will.  He could be the gracious host, or the biggest boor, he could be a hero, just about anything he wanted to be.   According to Paul Hendrickson, author of "Hemingway's Boat", "If you learn everything that happened on that boat you'll get his entire life".   

Pilar prior to most recent restoration at Finca

    Pilar has had a rugged life as well,  she was found in
1965 in pretty rough condition and a restoration brought her back to life in 1965, but was left sitting until 1987 when she underwent more substantial repairs was placed in a garage at Finca la Vigia.    In the past decade, she has undergone a very thorough restoration and a relamination of the hull, as there were serious question about the stability of her structure.    Today she is in pretty fair condition for a 79 year old lady of the sea.   This little fishing boat has become a very special part of American Maritime History, and due to politics we are not able to help with the maintenance of this fabled piece of history.    Thanks to the Cuban Historic Trust, both Pilar and Finca la Vigia have been maintained and are open to guests.  There is a lot more that could be done, but that is in the hands of politicians and not "we the people", funny how that goes.    

    Here is the shot that I took of Pilar last year on the grounds of Finca la Vigia.   She is really looking quite fine, and it was a thrill to be able to walk around and shoot the pictures of her.  

    I can really agree with Hendrickson in that your boat is such an important part of a man's life.  My little dinghy that I travel around the islands and waters of the keys feels that way to me as well.  It really doesn't worry if I'm happy, sad, joyous or depressed, it is there and performs for me taking me on my next adventure and finds me new places and things to see and write about.   ;o)

Back to the Bar Wednesday

     After two days off from the bar, today is back to the fun and excitement of Duval Street and the ongoing party  that is the Rum Bar here in Key West.    I find it very interesting that even after some four and a half years at the bar it is still a lot of fun.   You never know who is going to walk through the door and sit down.  I think that is what makes it so much fun.    Who knows what today will bring and how much fun I'll have serving my guests today.

     Just like every morning brings a new and different presentation of the day as the sun comes up over the marina, the Rum Bar offers new adventures in bar tending.     Key West is the most colorful place that I have ever lived and the people never cease to amaze me with their quirky antics and love of life.   The combination of tourists, locals and the karma of the town make this career a forever morphing life.   I guess it is that I just wonder how it is that I am so lucky to be able to enjoy this life down here and still make a living.    I guess it is not my place to question my lot in life, but rather to live it while I'm still here to enjoy it.  ;o)

Panama Red Comes to Town

Panama Red

     Last night was my wife Marta's birthday party here in the marina.   We had a very unique visitor for the party that made the party very exciting.   This exciting Panamanian Redhead lit up the evening.    No, I'm not in trouble for bringing the lovely lady that was the legendary dancer and owner of "Cantina Roja's", but a bottle of Panama Red Rum.   

"Red Sky's at Night"

     This is one of the new wave of bold rums that go back to the roots of rum making and another one of the fine rums made in the Cuban style of rum making by Francisco "Don Pancho" Fernandez.   Panama Red is a bold 108 proof full bodied rum that boasts flavor and aroma that keeps the party going all night long.   It was fun introducing the "redhead" to my friends last night, although she didn't last very long.    The group really enjoyed her as rum on the rocks and as a mixer.   This versatile redhead will really surprise you, even though she is an overproof, her smoothness and flavor will astound you.

     This one has a mahogany "roja" amber color with incredible long legs as well.  Her aromas of honey, vanilla, oak and dried fruit lure you to her like Panama Red drew the sailors to "Cantina Roja's".    On the palate, she is warm and bold with a sweetness and notes of spice and the barrel.   There is an earthiness that is very distinct that appears in the back of your mouth and the finish is smooth with a long slow fade that is a reminder of the flavors from the palate.

   To say the very least, Panama Red was the hit of the evening and one lady that Key West will not soon forget.   Looking forward to partying again soon with this "lovely redhead".   ;o)