Today is a New Beginning for Rumstyles.

     Three years ago yesterday I started with an idea and this is what you have today.  I have to say that there is no one more surprised with the number of you that read this every day than I am and there is no one more grateful that you do.   I'm planning to continue and have even more fun this year and hopefully there will be new places to see and new events to cover as the year goes on.

Welcome to the new beginning for Bahama Bob's Rumstyles and 2014, a new year of fun and adventure.   Let's start this year with a big splash and do all the fun things that are put in front of us.

I Know it is Snowing at Your House

     Winter has arrived in Key West as well, it is cloudy, misty and grey this morning.   The only thing different is that we are boasting a "balmy 64 degrees" this morning.   I know you don't feel sorry for me.  

     It isn't the temperature, but the total grey out of the day.  It even changes the color of the water to match the gloomy skies.   These are the days down here where I would rather just pull the blankets back over my head and think about the beautiful warm sunny days that are returning tomorrow.  

     I thank goodness that it is a work day where I will be inside and fixing fine cocktails for my friends that are in town and not really see the day itself.  It will be dark when I go home and that is just fine as well, because it is only partly cloudy and in the 80's again tomorrow.  I just know that when waters will be blue and teal again and all will be right with my world.   ;o)

Vintage Cars, Dancing Girls and Fine Rum

     Yesterday was a very busy day at the Rum Bar, but the subject of conversation kept coming up Cuba, fine rum and old cars.    It is funny how that subject keeps coming up again and again at the bar.   It is a shame that you can't just jump aboard a ferry and be there in  4 or so hours from here in Key West.   It could be a day trip just like going to the Dry Tortugas.   The Key West Express comes from Fort Myers is approximately 4 hours everyday and it is 10 miles closer to Havana.    It is really time for this insane embargo if an island that really did less to Americans than Vietnam, USSR, or Germany, but we keep this stupid embargo going on and on for better than 50 years now.

     Anyway, it is the home of many a great many well preserved old cars and some very fine rums.  Did I mention the great 1930's stage shows at the Tropicana?     The culture that has been preserved in this island country is incredible and it is a crime that as Americans, we are missing out on all of these .   In the past, many famous Americans either lived or frequented this island more often than Americans do the Bahamas today.

    The rums of Cuba are also pretty spectacular as well.   I'm not just talking about the Havana Club that just about every rum lover wants, but the other fine rums like Santiago de Cuba, La Occidental, Ron Mulata de Cuba and  Ron Veradero that are available to tantalize your palate.

     I'm looking forward to the next adventure and all the new sights, boats, forts, cars and of course rums that the this world has to offer.   Open your eyes as you travel and given the opportunity to taste the fine rums of Cuba when in any country outside of America.    Don't pass up  any opportunity to experience these rums.  ;o)

On the 15 Year Old Rhum Barbancourt

     It was my pleasure to sip a snifter of Rhum Barbancourt 15 year old Estate Reserve rum the other night as I sat on the aft deck watching the day turning into evening.    This was a perfect evening to enjoy the one of Rhum Barbancourt's finest expressions.  The complex aromas of citrus fruit and spices draw you into this spirit's fruity and spicy flavors that are sparked by cinnamon and pepper on the tongue.  With the last glowing of the sun, you enjoy the long lasting flavors of the returning citrus and spice flavors.  This is a truly fine aged rum made in the purest manor for the palates of the true rum connoisseur.

    This rum is the work of a distillery that has been in Haiti for more than 150 years, Rhum Barbancourt is one of the finest rum companies around.   Today Rhum Barbancourt is being run by the fourth generation of the Gardere family.   Adhering to the high standards of the past the rum is still made with the finest natural ingredients by the traditional family  cognac based process that guarantees the highest quality product possible.    

     In the 1960's the "15 Year Old Reserve du Domaine" first saw public sale, and to this day it is one of the finest quality expressions produced by La Societe du Rhum Barbancourt.    There is only a limited quantity of the "Estate Reserve", that was made originally to be shared with the family and friends.  It is available for sale today for people that have a love for fine rums.     The adherence to the methods, ingredients while following the traditional family methods set down by Jean and Thierry Gardere, Rhum Barbancourt is still one of the best rum manufacturers in the world.   ;o)

And Away We Go Again

     The start of a new year is always a fun challenge for me.  I like erasing the old slate and beginning again with new ideas and things that I am interested in doing.  I really don't make resolutions, but use the time to come up with new ideas and better ways to approach what I am already doing.    This time last year it was a newt approach to finishing the book.  This year I'm looking at new ventures and adventures to keep my mind fresh and functioning as well.     I'm excited about the Rum Festival Bahamas coming up in February, of course the Rum Renaissance Festival in Miami in April and Caribbean Rum and Beer Festival in November.  I'm also excited about several planned trips to the islands again this year.   All in all I'm pretty excited in anticipation of all the fun that this year has for me.

     The blog is another thing that has provided me with some wonderful things as well.  You loyal readers that check in every day and keep up with all the wonderful and weird things that pop into my head are greatly appreciated.  I'm planning to continue the daily attack on your minds this year as well.  The blog passed several milestones in 2013 and is looking to continue improving in 2014.

     Key West has brought the year in in it's usual manner with a pirate wench coming down the mast of a schooner ship, a conch shell descending the face of Sloppy Joe's and Sushi and her ruby slipper descending  the front of the Bourbon Street Pub.   All's well in Key West and the party keeps happening for another year.

    It is my hope that your year will be a wonderful and fun one that allows you to keep growing and finding better and more fun ways to live.   Press on and make things happen, the days for talk are gone and it is time to do.  Just get Out and Do this is my motto for 2014.   ;o)

Here's To 2014 Happy New Year

     This year has been a really fun one for me and the Bahama Bob's Rumstyles blog, I've been able to visit and write about so many wonderful places and sample so many fabulous cane spirits.   I'm thankful for a safe and wonderful 2013 and am so looking forward to all the adventures that 2014 has in store for me.  
     Here is to all of you and I hope your 2014 is as wonderful as it can be.   Happy New Year to all.  ;o)

Bahama Rum Festival

     February 21 through the 23 is the first "Festival Rum Bahamas".  Alexandra Maillis-Lynch is the chairperson for this event and has very high expectations for the event.  :" We believe that as a country if is time to stop waiting for things to come to us, we have to create our own destiny.  So far tourism has been pretty general, going after almost a generic tourist.  What we're looking for  now is a specific market because they are the ones that are often more loyal.     They follow product.   The rum festival world is in fact a huge one."    With this premise in mind, the festival is being created to provide a place for the rum manufacturers to show their wares and the rum lovers to enjoy them.  There will be product sampling, rum classes, bartending and cocktail competition, plus the fun of music and food from the Caribbean.



     The Bahamas have for many years been a center for rum.  The beautiful islands just off the coast of the United States are home for many rum companies.   Bacardi has a strong presents in the Bahamas along with John Watling's, Ron Ricardo, and many others.  It is a place with rum history from Prohibition rum running to a rum production mecca for many years.  The islands have a great Caribbean feel for the visitors as well.  The beautiful white sand beaches and the crystal clear water makes for a great break from the winter cold here in the states.

     Today is the day to start to make your plans to be at the festival this year and be a part of the first of it's kind in the Bahamas.    Everyday the list of rum producers is growing and the event promises to be a fun one for those that participate.   Remember that rum not just a spirit it is truly the spirit of the people that enjoy it.  Join the rest of the rum enthusiasts and be at the Festival Rum Bahamas in 2014.  ;o)

The St. Nicholas Abbey Sugar Factory

     On the island of Barbados there is a great old historic sugar plantation called St Nicholas Abbey.  In addition to all of the antiques around the main house, the sugar factory with its steam powered cane crusher and rum factory is a very fascinating experience.  If you make it to Barbados make the time to visit Larry Warren and his family at the St. Nicholas Abbey, it is an experience you won't forget.  ;o).

How Much Sugar is Their in Rum?

Fermentation Tanks

     I hear this question on a daily basis behind the bar.  "I can't drink rum because is has sugar, and too many carbs".   Actually, true rum is sugar free.  Rum is turned from a sugar derivative to alcohol during the fermentation and distillation, the final product is alcohol, and it is sugar free.   There is one catch to this statement though.  Some rum companies add Caramel, (burnt sugar) sugar and/or flavorings to improve the flavor and color of the straight alcohol in lieu of actually aging the product.  These do have a sugar content. 

Pot Stills

     There has been a lot of discussion about this practice around the rum blogs lately.    I feel personally that I find it a bit deceitful taking a low grade distillate and artificially making it look and taste aged by artificial means.   There are a number of very great distillers out there that still honor the time proven method of actually allowing the rum to spend the amount of time necessary to mature before putting it on the market.  These are the true spirits that make the category so wonderful to enjoy.

Bottling Area

    I hope this will answer the question about sugar in the rum.  It is in fact made from sugar cane, but when completed there is virtually no sugar left unless it is added during the finishing and bottling.





     Here is a list that was put out by the Swedish Government (Systembologot)

Rum Brand                                    Sugar Content

      Angostura 1919                                                             14 gr/l
     Appleton Estate Extra 12 Years                                    Less than 3gr/l
     Berrys' Caribbean Rum 12 Years                                  Less than 3 gr/l
     Botran Solera 1893 Gran Reserva Añejo                      9 g/l
     Dillon Très Vieux Rhum                                               Less than 3 gr/l
     Diplomático Reserva 8 Años                                        7 gr/l 
     Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva 12 Años                     41 gr/l

     El Dorado 15 Years                                                       31 gr/l

     Matusalem Solera 7                                                       Less than 3 gr/l

     Ron Barcelo` Gran Anejo                                              5 gr/l

     Ron Zacapa Gran Reserva                                             41 gr/l

     Zacapa XO                                                                     26 gr/l   

     Plantation 20^th Anniv.                                                    29 gr/l

     Plantation Grand Reserve Barbados                              22 gr/l

Tweener Recipe

     These are the days between Christmas and New Year, I feel like it is the perfect time for a new version of a Virgin Island favorite.   These are the tweener days of December and a fresh tweener cocktail is what the rum guy has come up with.  

Bahama Bob’s

"New" Bushwhacker Recipe  

·         1/2 oz. Dark Rum

·         1/2 oz. Vanilla Rum

·         1/2 oz. White Rum

·         1 oz. Coffee Rum

·         1/2 oz. Rum Cream

·         3/4 oz. Amaretto

·         1/2 oz. Crème de Cocoa

·         1 1/2 oz. Cream of Coconut

      ·         1/2 oz. Half and Half

Blend all ingredients with ice until smooth. Pour into a pint glass that has been swirled with chocolate syrup.  Garnish with fresh ground nutmeg, an orange wheel and a cherry.  If you are looking for a real kick from this one, float it with Lemon Hart 151 Rum.

     This is a very fun cocktail that is a kin to soft ice cream and packs a fun wallop.  Careful this one is dangerous, you will not taste any of the alcohol.  ;o)

What is Happening to "America's Spirit"

     Today many feel that "America's Spirit" is bourbon, but in fact it is rum.    There was a time in Colonial America, at the eve of the American Revolution, that as many as 160 rum distilleries were operating.     New Englanders had a real love for molasses, not so much for baked beans, but for making their rum.    Colonial Americans felt that "rum could cure the sick, strengthen the weak, enliven the aged, and generally make the world a better place."

    It has been said that the American "Rumbellion" was fought over molasses rather than tea.   The molasses was the key ingredient for making the rum. American  rum was a big part of the triangle trade that kept Colonial America going financially.   It was said that George Washington brought a large quantity of "Bombo", a rum cocktail to a campaign rally to encourage the electorate to vote for him.

  
  It seems that several events brought the reign of rum to an end and later saw the advent of a strong whiskey popularity here in America.    Following Prohibition, you had to buy several cases of rum in order to get a bottle of whiskey, this lead to warehouses full of rum with no outlet for it.   Some of the more creative barmen like Pat O'Brien in New Orleans, came up with some cocktails that would lead to rum's return to prominence.  

    Today in middle America rum is very hard to get a hold of.  In Ohio for instance, where the alcohol is strictly regulated by the state, there are only some 30 rums available.   Fortunately for me and the "Rum Bar" here in  Key West, we are in Florida where there are several hundred rums from which to choose.  We are currently stocking some 235 plus rums from which our customers to choose.   This is very fortunate, but several of our vacationing customers are saddened when they find a new rum that they really enjoy and find that they can not get it back home.
 

    Rum has made a huge resurgence in the past few years.  Today it is right near the top of the spirits world and growing with leaps and bounds.   The industry has responded with an awareness of the need for more honest and high quality rum.   Not just a bunch of swill for college students to chug not worrying about what it tastes like.   I read articles that are revealing how some of the producers out there are taking low grade distillate and adding caramel and sugar to make these appear to be aged and high quality products.   All in all, the category is making giant steps into the world of spirits.   Rum is letting the world know that they are serious about offering true high grade rums.   Today they are back near the top as "America's Spirit", they still have some work to do.  I'm glad to see all the efforts being made around the globe to make it better.   It is very interesting to see how many craft distilleries here in America are making rums as well.  ;o)

Look What this Rum Writer Got for Christmas

   I found a great present under the Christmas Tree this morning.   This is one of the rums that I have been waiting to put into my collection and be able to sip and enjoy for years.   Christmas is that special time of year when wishes come true and you get to share them with your special friends and family.   This year is no exception, getting a bottle of "Reserva Don Pancho" Origenes 30 Year Old Rum makes for a real special day.   I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for this wonderful present.  

     I was first introduced to the rum at the Rum Renaissance Festival in Miami this past April when Don Pancho and Carlos first brought it to light.  Now actually having one is just unbelievable.   This is a true Spanish style rum made from Don Pancho's very private reserves and only available now in limited quantities.   Terlato Wines has been chosen to be the distributors of Don Pancho Fernandez's very own rums, both the 18 and 30 year old expressions.   These rums were bought by Don Pancho many years ago and have been tucked away with this project in mind.   Today we will finally have the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of all of his knowledge and passion for the rum.

     From it's rich mahogany color of Origenes Reserva Don Pancho and the legs from its viscosity are only the beginning of this superb experience.   The balanced aromas of  vanilla, oak, tobacco and spices tells me this is going to be a very special tasting experience.   The tasting reveals a smooth, full bodied rum that mirrors many of the aromas that you taste and just seems to flow immediately into a finish of lingering sweetness that dries as the flavor begins to fade.

     I am so proud to be able to say that I have this bottle of such fine rum to call my own, this is a Christmas to be remembered and long cherished.    I know that I will be enjoying this for many years to come, when the occasion warrants it.

Thank You So Much.   ;o)

From My House to Yours

    I just want to take the time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas from my house to yours.    This is a very special day that deserves the company of friends and family.    I hope that your day will be a warm and happy one this year.  ;o)

Christmas in the Caribbean

 
 
     I love the Caribbean during Christmas season, we replace white snow of the frozen north with white sand.  Naturally, White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, BVI comes to mind immediately.   There is something about this place that is really magic.    Yesterday as I made what seemed like my thousandth "Painkiller", I started thinking about the beautiful white sands of White Bay and the Soggy Dollar Bar.  

     You can have your freezing "White Christmas", I'll take this time of year at a balmy 75 degrees on the white sands of the Caribbean make a great "White Christmas" for me.


     Of course Christmas would not be right with out a fine cocktail with the aroma of nutmeg in your hand to enjoy.  Being that you are at the home of the "Painkiller", it is only right that you wander up the beach and see Mic at the Soggy Dollar Bar.  You can have one custom made just for you while you watch.   Of course, there is the next question as to where do I go to enjoy the wonderful beverage, beach, hammock, or even the ocean.    So many choices so little time, I leave it up to you to figure out.

    

     Let me see, who needs presents, this is all the present I really need.  I think that this might be a great time to head for the hammocks and just take it easy and watch the tides ebb and flow.   The palm trees provide all the color I need naturally, I really don't need those sparkling lights to give me a warm Christmas spirit, the painkiller takes care of it just fine.

     I guess that I'm still dreaming again, because I just woke up here in my office writing a blog instead of sipping painkillers on the white sands of Jost Van Dyke.     It is funny what starts your mind traveling to fun and far away places.  


     I guess the ability to day dream is a really calming thing and something that is always fun.  I'm here in paradise, but I still get to dream of being in another paradise just a little bit further south.  ;o)

Time to Drift Away

This time of year it is really a time for me to just drift away and think of all that has happened over the year and how much fun I have had passing through,   Hope you year was as much fun as mine.  ;o)

Classification of the Rums

     As a judge of rum, I am often asked how do you compare all of the different types of rum?  Actually you don't.  Rum is broken up into categories so you can compare them to members of like attributes.    For instance you won't generally compare a white mixing rum to an aged dark rum, they are two completely different animals.  Therefore we break rum into classifications.

     White Rums:    These are usually continuous distilled light rums that are not aged.  There are some exceptions, a few are aged and filtered to remove the color gotten from the barrels.   Most of these are "mixing rums" in that they generally do not have much flavor to allow them to be sipped..   Like all generalizations there are exceptions to the rule, some are made in "pot stills", especially ones coming from smaller low volume distilleries and some have been aged enough to be flavorful.

     Gold or Amber Rums:  Sometimes referred to as "anejo" the are rums that have been aged in wooden casks for a relatively short period of time, usually 2 to 5 years.  They tend to have a golden or amber color.  These can be quite a bit smoother when compared to the white unaged rums and they have subtle flavors that emanate from the reaction of the alcohol with the wood.   These rums are also usually the product of a continuous distilling process.  They tend to be a lower viscosity  than the rums that come from the pot stills.   One other thing to keep in mind, rums are usually not a "vintage" product, they are usually a blend of different styles of rum from different batches and years, and aged in different types of casks.    After blending, some are put back in barrels for a final finishing.   These rums in some cases can be sipped, but also make great mixers for premium cocktails.

     Aged or Dark Rums: These are the premier rums, the ones that have spent from 6 to ... years in barrels.   Most are blends of different types and ages of rums to attain the flavor that the blender is seeking.   You have to watch out for the age statement on many of these rums, but usually the age statement is letting you know that the youngest rum in the blend is at least that age.     Many are age equivalents, these are numbers that take into consideration the environment that they were aged in.   Many of these rums have some heavier post stilled rums in the blend, giving the finished product a higher viscosity and richer flavor.   When you are looking at these rums it is the flavor of the expression that you are seeking, and not how old it really is.   "Vintage" rums are the only ones that give you a true age, because they were from a specific year and production run.   These rum are for sipping and generally not for mixing.

     Flavored and Spiced Rums:  The name says it all.  These are the rums that usually not aged, but mixed with flavoring and or spices to give you a palatable flavor.  Generally low grade distillate based, these are definitely mixers in most cases, but there are exceptions.

     I hope this helps you understand the differences in the rums that you see on the shelves and in the bars.   The older the rum the more it costs to produce, and the more expensive it will be for you to taste.  Hope you can get out and try some these expressions of the rum in the near future.  ;o)

Just One of Those Days

     It seems to be one of those mornings where I really don't have much to talk about, so lets go to the Virgin Islands and see some of her moods.   She is a beautiful lady with many moods and colors to keep you coming back and learning more about her every time you visit.   She can be a mean mistress, but the ocean is in control out there and if she is mad you will pay the consequences for crossing her.

"Santa's Helper": A Cure for Those Present Wrapping Nights

     The late nights of wrapping presents can be a little brighter with this different version of the Cosmo I created just for the Christmas season.   It will pick up those late evening Christmas wrapping blues and kindle your spirits for a Merry Christmas.   Give this one a try and enjoy the eves leading up to the Holidays.

Santa’s Helper

·         1 ½ oz. Brugal Especial Extra Dry Rum

·         1 oz. Cointreau

·         1 oz. Cranberry Juice

·         ¾ oz. Dekuyper Pomegranate Liqueur

·         ¼ oz. Fresh Lemon Juice

Place all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled.  Strain into a chilled Martini glass and garnish with a lemon zest.

"Selected by Berrys'" 11 Year Old Barbados Rum

  

     Founded in 1698, the cellars of Berry Bros. & Rudd have been, for centuries, a temporary resting place not only for the very finest wines, but many very exquisite spirits including rums from all over the world.

     Perhaps lesser known, our range of spirits has been expanding year on year, and exponentially since we first introduced Berrys’ Own Spirits in 2003.   As have the accolades and awards that their spirits team have received in recognition of their expertise and passion for sourcing and blending all of the spirits in the collection.   Berry’s strives to provide unparalleled quality and service.

     These ideals were perhaps never more in evidence than in the selection of “The Berrys’ Selected Spirits”.   Carefully chosen and blended by the spirits team, led by Douglas McIvor, they represent the standard-bearers of style and quality for rums from the region.     

     Rums from the former Spanish American colonies (Cuba, Panama, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic) have commonly a light, crisp, clean taste.

     Former English colonies share a tradition for darker, sweeter, richer Rums, with a pronounced molasses flavor. Rums from Barbados where distilleries date back to the mid 1600’s, probably some of the oldest operating rum producers in the world.   There are other regions like Fiji, Bermuda, Belize, the Demerara region of Guyana, Venezuela, Trinidad and Jamaica that still produce some of the finest aged rums in the world.

    Berry's 11 Year Old Barbados Rum is a very fine example of the rums that come from this operation.  It has the aroma of sweet fruits followed by the notes of rich figs and raisins on the palate and a smooth rich and lingering finish that prolongs the wonderful fruitiness of the palate.

     If you are able to get a hold of one of these wonderful "Selected by Berrys' rums don't miss the opportunity.  They are really a marvelous experience.   ;o)

 

Havana Through the Windshield

     Havana for all it's beauty and charm is after all made up of very industrious and colorful people.  Traveling in the taxi on different days to different parts of the city, I was able to see a very different side of the city.  It is a side that is about it's people, where they live and how they get from place to place.   The city is very much like many other large cities that I have visited, but it seems trapped in the 50's.   I find this to be very charming and fascinating to see how they can be so innovative.  They can make marvelous things from cast offs and scrap like no place that I have ever been.   

     The city is very clean and the country sides are well manicured and beautiful as well.   They are very proud of their heritage and what they have accomplished.    I find that I can't seem to get enough of the island, the people love to show me so much about their country, rum, and are so happy to share the culture.

      Making the venture is a difficult process, but is so worth the effort.  You will experience so many places and things that the stories and rumors of the island can't even begin to cover.   Just enjoy the pictures and let them take you there and travel with me through the streets and highways. 





     Soon, maybe we will all be able to just hop onto our boats, planes and ferries to make the short trip from Key West to Havana and enjoy all of these sights anytime we care to just like they did in the days of Hemingway and Josie Russell ;o)