Friday 13 September, 2013

    Friday the 13th,  with a second 13 in it.    This should be an interesting day, I'm not really superstitious, but a double 13 on the same Friday.   I guess it is a day to put your best foot forward and charge straight ahead into it with a huge smile.  That usually does the trick, it will drive those who are having a bad day crazy and give me a way to avoid all of the negative energy.

     If you go at it with a positive aura the day will be just wonderful, but if you become one of the evil thoughts types you might find yourself face to face with your old buddy "Jason" and probably not have a very good day.

    Just look at this one a being just another fun day and come down to the Rum Bar and enjoy the day with me and the 235 bottles of fine rum that I have there to make the day very special.  This day will be as good as you make it, so lets get out and have a really fun Friday the 13th of September, 2013. 

How Does Rum Present Itself?

     The world of rum dredges up nautical and adventuresome images, that is what the "Madison Avenue" types are focused on when they pour out the rum ads.    Rum has the image of a sexy and exciting outlaw spirit.  It is thought of with the idea of getting you away from the city and the doldrums of life, getting you into the high seas adventures of pirates and other swashbucklers.  There is also the whimsical side of rum as well, like the 10 Cane ad on the right.

    Cruzan takes a look at the dramatic in their ads of high drama flying.  Both of these ads are geared to get your adrenaline pumping and headed out to purchase their spirit.   I truly mean spirit, not only is rum the spirit of the sugar cane, but a spirit of the mind as well.  It has the spirit of adventure and all of the fun that is associated with it.

     There is a truly sexy side of rum as well.  The pirate wench, the lovely salsa dancers of the Caribbean or the Polynesian hula girls of the Pacific.   The lure of the opposite sex is always a part of any ad campaign, and especially one that rum is a part of.

     Even the ads during Prohibition that lured the rum lover to an exotic time in Havana and a chance to enjoy their Bacardi brought the visions of an adventure in a far away place and a chance to skirt the law and enjoy the "demon rum" that the states had outlawed.  Pan American Airways and Bacardi teamed up to lure the prosperous Americans to Havana for rum, gambling, extravagant shows and a bit of larceny.

     Today it is still much of the same, and the ads that you remember are the sexy adventuresome ones that get your imagination going and take you to a place with "Jack Sparrow" or "Gilligan" on an abandon island with Ginger and Maryanne.   Isn't a wonderful spirit that does all this for us and we don't even have to leave the house to enjoy it.  ;o)

 

9-1-1

     September 11, 2001, a day that to this very day really haunts me.   I can't believe as I was measuring a chassis that would be driven by Jimmy Johnson in the Busch Race the next weekend, the crew chief came in and dragged me over in front of the shop TV and I saw a rerun of the first plane hitting the tower, and then it cut to live and the second one hit.   It was like a bad movie.

     The sad part of the whole thing is we have gotten totally involved again in someone else's problems and twelve years later we are still loosing American lives without solving a single problem.

     Always remember, but it is time to memorialize the losses and move ahead.  It is time to leave the revenge in the past and make progress again.   It is a lot like Pearl Harbor, we memorialize our losses and quit looking for more blame.  ;o)

A New Artisan Louisiana Rum

     Rank Wildcat Spirits  from Acadiana, Louisiana is hitting the ground running as one of the newest artisan rum producers. Founded in the middle of 2011, David Meaux and Cole LeBlanc  decided to open their distillery.  They have created their little niche in a very impressive manner, including the making of their own still (Lulu) and virtually all of their other equipment.  Then most importantly they created their rum in their own way also.   This is a true grass roots operation that had to create all of the equipment, contacts and formulas with out any outside influence.

M.A. Patout and Sons Sugar Mill

    It was really important that all of the raw materials were gotten from the local area assuring the legitimization of the grassroots Acadiana rum.   All of the cane juice and raw sugar is supplied by M.A. Patout and Sons LTD in Acadiana, this is one of the largest sugar mills in Louisiana.   First opened in 1825, the family owned and operated sugar mill fits the bill perfectly for this local rum producing operation.

David Meaux and Cole LeBlanc

     "Sweet Crude Rum" is the result of their trial and error method of creating a rum that met their tastes and the tastes of the community.   Sweet Crude has an all natural flavor with nothing added to enhance or change the rum.   This is an all natural product and they are extremely proud of that fact.   In fact it is 100% gluten free.   There is a smooth sweet richness  to this rum that comes only through a tightly controlled process and a small batch operation.  

     The future will bring about an aged expression that will tentatively be called
"Black Gold".  The small operation sees this coming in its future, but only when it is to their high standards.  The art of barreling and blending has to be learned before they will be able to accomplish this portion of the art.    If you are in Louisiana, see if you can find a bottle of this fine artisan spirit.  ;o)

Flor de Cana Introduces 25 year Slow Aged Single Estate Rum

    There is little or no information available as to the taste of their new expression.   It is available globally, but only in the travel retail sector at this time.  The retail price is $130.00 US.  This puts it in the realm of many of the other ultra premium rums price point.    I am glad to see more and more of the rum producers adding more of the upper quality rums rather that more of the "bulk rum" expressions of the past few years.

     The company is describing Flor de Cana 25 year Old as "our jewel in the crown".  The brand joins the Centenario Collection in receiving a new decanter style bottle that emphasizes the quality, age statement, and the "Tradicion Artesanal" (traditional craftsmanship) of the rum.   The bottle is beautifully with a great shape and heavy glass base.

     According to the label it is "Slow Aged" for 25 years, which is a trademark of Flor de Cana.   It is also a "single Estate Rum" and presented at 80 proof.

    My next trip out of the United States Flor de Cana 25 Year Old is going to be added to my personal collection.  I'm really looking forward to being able to taste this one.  ;o)

Just Before Sun Rise, So Peaceful

    One of the things I love the most about wandering the docks before sun rise is the reflections in the water as the first signs of dawning appear.  It is the clouds being illuminated and the sky going from dark to pale blue that really puts a smile on my face going to the office.   Try an early morning walk and it will amaze you as the night transforms into day.  ;o)

Clouds and Sunshine Mornings

     This time of year down here in the Keys there is a blend of clouds and sunshine every morning.  This morning it was particularly intense.  As the sun came out and started illuminating the dark clouds.  The pictures were very beautiful and dramatic.   Yes there was a bit of rain beneath the clouds and some booms of thunder, but the blue sky and the white sides of the clouds contrasted with the darker parts of them made for an inspiring formation of opposites.

     It is the always the new vision that the sky presents each morning that makes my mornings here so fascinating, it makes it easy to get up early to enjoy the mornings show.  

     Now with the sun up and the day in full swing, it is time to finish up the blog for today and get on to the Rum Bar for another exciting day of rum classes and cocktailing.  Saturday is the best day of the week during the "off season", and all of the weekend escapees bring a new life to the island for a couple of days.   They seem to be able to just run away to the Keys and release all of the stress and pent up emotions of the week before returning on Monday.   It's definitely time to play down here.  ;o)

 

The El Floridita Daiquiri

El Floridita Havana

     For a lot of people that visit the El Floridita is try the "Papa Doble", but what really made the El Floridita and Constante Ribalaigue was the frozen daiquiri.   With the fame of Ernest Hemingway and his legendary love of the daiquiri, especially the one that Constante developed for him known as the "Papa Doble", loosely translated "papa's double", the original El Floridita Daiquiri has been almost forgotten.
    

Constante at the El Floridita

     "In 1914, the Catalan immigrant Constantino Ribalaigua Vert started working in the bar as cantinero (bartender). Constantino, nicknamed Constante, became the owner in 1918. Constante is credited for inventing the frozen daiquiri in the early 1930s, a drink that became linked to the fame of the place, whose motto is now "la cuna del daiquiri" (the cradle of the daiquiri). The bar became a school of highly skilled cantineros (bartenders) specialised in cocktails prepared with fresh fruit juices and rum, whose traditions are still preserved by the disciples of Constante."

   Today lets take a look at the original El Floridita Frozen Daiquiri and slip back in time to a different place and enjoy a fine cocktail that helped make the El Floridita famous.

El Floridita Frozen Daiquiri

• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• juice of 1/2 lime
• 1/2 oz. Luxardo Maraschino liqueur
• 1 cup of crushed ice
• 1 1/2 oz. of a good quality 3 year old white rum

Place all of the ingredients into an electric blender and blend until smooth.  serve in a Martini style glass with a lime garnish and enjoy your daiquiri responsibly.

 

    Try this daiquiri, it is not nearly as tart as the "Papa Doble" and quite the tasty and refreshing cocktail to enjoy on a hot and humid afternoon in these "dog days of summer".  ;o)

4th Annual Caribbean Rum and Beer Festival Coming in November

     From the "Spice Isle" of Granada comes the 2013 Caribbean Rum and Beer Festival running November 22 - 23, 2013.  This is the fourth year of the festival that began in 2010 in Barbados and again for the second strait year will be held in Granada.   With the support of the Granada Board of Tourism as the marketing arm of the festival, this year promises to be even bigger than last.   According to Festival Director Ms. Cheryl Collymore, "it is truly back by popular demand in Granada.  

     This is an exhibition for all the producers of rum and beer throughout the region to show their products to the interested consumers that will be in attendance for the tastings .  In addition it is an opportunity to see how their products fair against the others in the region at the 2013 CAB Taste Contest.  The submitted rums and beers will be blind tasted by a panel of international experts from the beer and rum industry.    To take away one of the Gold, Silver or Bronze Medals by a brand is an extremely important honor to the producer.

    Don't forget the Master Classes by rum and beer experts, Live Culinary Displays, "Rum Cocktail Wars" cocktail challenge, and a large array of other events both nights of the festival.   There is going to be a silent auction to benefit the "Queen Elizabeth Home for Children" and the Caribbean Rum and Beer Festival Golf Tournament, none of these events should be allowed to slip by you.

     If you are coming from America there are packages available through the Granada Board of Tourism, but get there any way you have to, but don't miss this years event.  For more information, go online to www.rumandbeerfestival.com    ;o)

Red Sails and a Beautiful Sunset

    In these "dog days of summer" down here in Key West, there isn't many things prettier than watching the boats in the harbor heading out for their sunset cruises and the blazing colors of a Key West sunsets this time of year.   It reminds me of a line from an old song about "red sails in the sunset".   The sereneness of the evenings with the calm of the seas make for a great way to relax from the day.

     Just sitting on the dock, just watching the boats with their revelers as they head out for the best view of the sunset is absolutely a wonderful way to spend some time on a Key West evening.     This is one of the finer things about living in the Keys, it really takes the edge off of the day and makes you want to get up and dive into tomorrow so you can enjoy the next sunset that much sooner.

Oronoco: Discontinued Brazilian Rum will be Missed

     In or about September of 2010, Diageo made a decision to discontinue the Oronoco brand.   We sold off the last of our available stock yesterday at the Rum Bar in Key West and unfortunately will not be able to replace it.

   "There always has to be something that defies categorization, and in white rum that would be Oronoco. A very different type of rum, made in Brazil from fresh pressed cane juice, with its first distillation in a pot still and two more in a column still. It’s then blended with aged Venezuelan rum and aged several more months in casks made from a Brazilian tree, Amendam."   This rum has many of the characteristics of an agracole rather than a Spanish style rum.    

     The rum is a very shippable rum that seems to blossom on the palate and through the finish.   There is a vanilla and caramel sent along with a slight bit of grassyness on the nose.  This is a very smooth white with a very minimal burn to it.  it is not a dry rum, but rather sweet from the first scent to the finish.  The finish is rather sweet, with a flowery and grassy aftertaste that is very pleasant.

     The bad news is it is no longer available.   Southern Wine and Spirits has been out of it for several months.  It is a good time to search the various liquor stores and grab up any remaining bottles for your collection.  ;o) 

Labor Day: A Perfect Day to Put the Labors Aside

     This is a day that is meant to kick back and relax.  I'm not going to be any exception to this rule, I'm taking it easy today and putting everything off until tomorrow.  I see me on the aft deck of the boat today and it feels like a Panama Red kind of day.  It is my friend Carlos E. Esquivel G's birthday and Panama Red somehow seems appropriate for this occasion.  What a concept, Panama Red and the Keys, fit together like a glove.  ;o)

The Beach Morning at Dunns River Falls

     There is something about a beach early in the morning before all the people arrive with the sea lying there calm and the ebb and flow of the waves.   ;o)

What Made a Bar Attractive in My Youth?

     As a college brat in the late 1960's in a little town in Northern California I found my favorite bar to be a little place just off of the town square called Marino's.Club.    This was one of the coolest bars in Arcata, California, a small lumber town.    This was the place that I had my first Zombie in 1967, and a goodly number of other cocktails during my school years at Humboldt State College.

     It was one of those classic bars of the 50's and 60's era, it would fill up nearly every night with a great group of "working class" people and students from the college.    It was a place to go have a few cocktails, good conversation and the occasional "hook-up".    It reminds me of the fun little bar here in Key West (The Rum Bar) that I work at now.   I feel that a lot has been lost with these large show bars that dominate the bar scene today, the homey little places that are quiet enough for conversation and fun really is what a lot of people go to a bar for.  

    The large "dance hall" fast drink places lack the personal touch that I looked forward to when I went to a bar in the first place.   The Rum Bar at which I am a barman today is one of these small 15 seat conversation pits for which many people stop by to have our craft cocktails and enjoy conversing and meeting new people.  It is both a tourist and local friendly, You can usually find it filled with both.  The tourists like talking with the locals getting insights into the town and places to eat, drink and see.   The locals enjoy meeting people from all over the world and especially from their hometowns .

     I guess when it is all said and done,
what I liked in my college days is pretty much what I still like today.  The warm, homey, friendly local tavern or club that people get acquainted and have good conversation and fun.  This is the bar that I still will be frequenting  today.   My hangout bar (The Hurricane Hole)  down here is an outdoor waterfront bar that is about as fun as they come.  I can be arrive at by boat, car or bicycle, but how you get there doesn't really matter, it is the fact that you are there that counts.   Just people enjoying people and having fun, that is all that really matters.   ;o)

Stand Up Paddle Boards in the Mangroves, Pure Nature and Beauty

     One of the most popular water sports these days in the Keys is the "Stand Up Paddle Boards", they are what appears to be a large surf board with a paddle.   The idea is to stand and paddle your way through the calm and shallow areas around the mangroves and observe the incredible marine and other wildlife that make the mangroves their homes.

     Not only do they paddle through the shallows, but there are yoga classes and other exercise groups that get together in the early evening and afternoons on the boards.  You can find groups of 10 or more that will be gathered on the edge of the mangroves just having fun and getting into shape at the same time.  It is amazing to watch as they go through their routines and still stay balanced on the boards.

     No matter how you use the boards, they are a lot of fun and provide a great bit of exercise at the same time.  I can understand why so many people are becoming involved with this sport.   Getting exercise while cruising through some of natures most fantastic views is really great.    I've seen people out on the boards with their dogs riding along, carrying coolers and all kinds of other stuff to get them through their outing.  It really seems to be taking off in a big way down here, in addition to on lakes all over the country.

     There are a number of outfits that will rent you a board and give you instruction around the keys.  One of my favorite is the Lazy Dog outfitters at the Hurricane Hole.  They have a great selection of good quality boards and paddles to suit your needs plus the people that are very good at instructing you on the boards and their use.  They also have Kayaks if you don't feel comfortable standing on a board. 

    Next time you are around a really cool water feature, give boarding a try.  You'll find it to be a lot of fun.  ;o)

The World's Most Expensive Rum

     Legacy by Angostura, there is nothing in the category to compare with this one.    The Legacy is created by  Angostura Distillers as a celebration of Trinidad's 50th Anniversary of their Independence.   There are only 20 decanters of the precious rum that will ever be released.  They will carry a price tag of $25,000 each.   This makes legacy by Angostura the world's most expensive rum.    Legacy is the culmination of nearly 200 years of rum production heritage, it is a blend of seven of Angostura's rarest and most precious rums.   Legacy is present in a "bespoke 500ml crystal and silver decanter specially made by jewelers to the Prince of Wales, Asprey of London.  

     The closure for the bottle boasts a beautiful silver  hand carved butterfly.  There is a unique Barcant Butterfly collection the company bought from Malcolm Barcant in 1974. It has been at the company’s Laventille premises since then and has been viewed by hundreds of thousands of visitors over the years.   Among this collection is a very rare butterfly known as a Faunus-ab Lamonti seen below that looks very much like the one on the decanter's crown.








The real story is in the rum, which according to

Angostura master distiller, John Georges, Legacy by Angostura is crystal polished dark oak in color, with bronze and gold highlights. It enters the palate with sweet, dried fruit flavors and, as it fills the mouth with warmth, the notes become nutty and spicy. The finish is long with trailing flavors of orange zest and oak.   This is a fitting finish for the "world's most expensive rum", and one that if I am so lucky one day may get the chance to sip.  ;o)

 

 

Havana and the Art

    Walking through the streets I have seen many incredibly beautiful buildings and places.  Under the sculptures that are the buildings of Havana there are some pretty incredible art works as well.   In the area around the Plaza de San Francisco and the Port of Havana there are many plazas in front of the many churches and cathedrals.   Around these churches there are many more displays in the courtyards of the "Catedrals".   The amazing part to me is the fact that this art is out in the open and still in really pristine condition.




      As you walk through the streets of Havana you will also find an abundance of "street art" as well.  Much made from debris that is collected from the back streets of the city and put to good use as art work helping to decorate the city.  This is the art of the people, and also very important to the expressiveness of the people of Havana and their love of the arts.    The creativeness of the Cuban people is what I find so wonderful about the country.  The seem to be able to make things from the scraps of the countryside and have an end product that is really beautiful.












No matter the subject of the arts of Cuba they are absolutely spectacular, making up one of the more interesting parts of the city and countryside that is Cuba and Havana.   ;o)

Labor Day Daiquiri

     The Daiquiri is always a wonderful cocktail to sit back and relax with whether on the patio or at a cocktail party.  Today I have a nice little tropical daiquiri that you will probably really enjoy.   Today's offering is from my book "Bahama Bob's Cocktails and Tails", and one that I know that I really do enjoy out on the aft deck of the boat on a warm afternoon.  





Tropical Daiquiri

 

· 1 oz. Spiced Rum

· 1 oz. Banana Rum

· 1 oz. Pomegranate Liqueur

· ¾ oz. Lime Juice

· ½ oz. Cane Syrup

Place all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled.   Strain into a martini glass and float a lime wheel on top.

 

     Have a happy and safe Labor Day Weekend and if you drink use alternative transportation to make sure you get home safe and you can smile the next day as well.   ;o)

Labor Day Weekend vs DUI Enforcement

     This is one of the biggest DUI arrest weekends of the year, and you don't need to become one of the statistics.  It is so senseless in this day and age with taxi service being provided by many bars, public transportation and "friends" that should never allow their friends to drive under the influence for you to become an offender.
    

     "The Transportation Department kicked off a $14 million advertising campaign to convince Americans not to drink and drive as talks continue on funding a second round of research to make it impossible for intoxicated people to drive future-generation vehicles."

 

     "From Aug. 16 to Sept. 2, more than 10,000 police departments and law enforcement agencies will be out in force to crack down on impaired drivers for the "Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign. The TV ads are targeted especially at young men ages 18-34 who account for a large share of deaths. The nearly 10,000 annual alcohol-related deaths account for 31 percent of road deaths. The campaign will also advertise on 1,500 websites."

 

    Read more at http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130822/METRO05/308220108

 

    The real sad issue is that over the labor Day weekend the rate of alcohol related fatal crashes  climbs dramatically.  During the entire year of 2010, there were 2,444 fatal crashes in the state of Florida, 32% of which were alcohol related, but in the same year over the Labor Day Weekend 43% were alcohol related according to The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.  This is a clear indication of how the trouble multiplies over the holiday.    

 

     The police will be having enough trouble keeping the highways safe over this coming weekend because of the increased traffic flow without us adding the alcohol factor to the problem.  Please use your head if you are drinking.   I like my rum as much as any one, but when it is time to say when, listen to that little voice and if you have had to many to be driving,  get home by an alternate method.  I really don't want to loose any of my readers or friends to a drunken crash or even a DUI, which can be catastrophic to your lifestyle if not some one elses.

 

    

Sunshine Wins the Battle

Friday the weather tried hard to throw a damper on the day, but the sunshine prevailed and I had a wonderful day of drifting and running through the channels in the mangroves shooting pictures and enjoying the sunshine again.   This was an afternoon that I needed in a big way, so peaceful and relaxing.

Summer of Rum Festival Today in Tampa

     The 2013 Summer of Rum Festival is today in Tampa.   The doors open at 4:00 PM and the event runs through 11:00PM.   It I recommended that you arrive early and get your wrist band so you can get right in when the gates open at 4:00 pm.    there will be live entertainment from bands like "The Landshark Band", "Johnny Cakes and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypso", "Rocksteady @8" and "Impulse World Beat" all on the "The Tampa Tribune" Stage.  





     There are several zones to go to for your rum shacks and all of the other fun things that will be making up this event.  Each of the zones will be for your pleasure and rum fun.    There is plenty of parking on site and even more fun once you arrive inside.   There are two types of tickets available both on line and at the gate is there are any remaining at the time.     The G/A is your admission to the event, this will allow you access to all of the zones only your drink tickets will have to be purchased once inside.  The other is "The Endless Rum Cup", these tickets include the G/A plus a endless rum cup to have refilled as often as you want at the multitude of rum shacks in the show.     The ticket also includes branded swag from the participating rum producers.  You can read more and get your tickets at http://www.summerofrumfest.com/ .

     The only thing I ask of my readers is to drink responsibly, I really don't want a great day of rum fun ending in a DUI or even worse a tragedy.     Have a designated driver, take a taxi or a motel room with in walking distance of the event.    The event planners have a Concierge Desk to help you if you can not drive home.   You will not be towed if your vehicle is parked at the site and left overnight.

     Just go and have a fun day.  ;o)