Rum Bahamas Awards Announced

   The results of the rum tasting competition at the 2nd Annual Festival Rum Bahamas.   The panel of 10 judges from the Bahamas and the United States evaluated these wonderful rums back at the end of February.    From the 50 total entries these are the top three in each of the category have become the medal winners.

     The Festival was attended by more that 4000 people, a great accomplishment in its second year.  This is a Festival that is rapidly growing and one that shows real potential for the future.

These are you Winners for the 2015 Festival Rum Bahamas Tasting Competition.

Dark Rum
Gold – Plantation Original Dark
Silver – Koloa Kauai Dark
Bronze – Goslings Black Seal

White Rum
Gold – Doorly’s Macaw White Rum
Silver – Appleton White
Bronze – Tanduay Silver

Amber Aged
Gold – Abuelo 7
Silver – Ron de Jeremy
Bronze – Plantation Nicaragua 2000

Extra Aged
Gold – Abuelo 12 Year
Silver – Plantation 20th Anniversary Rum
Bronze – El Dorado 15

     Congratulations to all of the medal winners.

American Craft Rum Distillers Among the Most Highly Recommended

     The American craft distillery business is growing with leaps and bounds.  it wasn't long ago tha the only quality rums came from the Caribbean regions, or so it was thought.  This is rapidly changing with the men and women here in America that are turning out fine quality craft distillery rums from throughout the US.   There are distilleries from the Rocky Mountains to the east and west coast of the United States that are producing fine quality craft rums.

     This week the category got a bit of a boost as The Spirits Business announced it most recommended spirits and two US Rum expressions were named.  Thomas Tew and Privateer True American Rum were both named.   Both of these rums come from New England and can be proud of their nominations.

     Thomas Tew is produced by the Newport Distilling Co., based in Rhode Island, in a traditional style of rum made from Backstrap Molasses and tempered with local water before distillation in an 88 gallon copper pot still. The rum, said to have notes of coconut, vanilla, butterscotch and toffee, is named after a legendary pirate.

     Privateer True American Rum a pirate-inspired craft rum brand Miles urges readers to taste is Privateer True American Rum, created in Ipswich. The rum comes in two variants, silver and amber, which have been aged in a combination of American, French and Hungarian oak.

Read more about the recommendations at http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2015/03/the-most-highly-recommended-craft-spirits/4/

 

     It is a proud moment to have our own American craft distilleries of which there are many to be honored is such a manner.  I'm proud to know many of these find craftsmen here in the US and glad to see that the group is being recognized for their efforts.  ;o)

 

Soaring into Spring

    Last Sunday we sprang ahead and today we are soaring off into Spring 2015.  The birds are enjoying the skies and I'm enjoying the warmth.   The wind is suppose to start dying down which will make it perfect to get out and have fun.  I'll be soaring with the gulls.  ;o)

“'Spirited' Exhibit” National Archives Showcase the Role of Alcohol in American History

    
     Washington, DC…The National Archives announced today that it will open a new exhibition on March 6, 2015, titled “Spirited Republic: Alcohol in American History” in the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery of the National Archives Museum. “Spirited Republic” invites visitors to look at the government’s tolerance, oversight, and control of alcohol throughout our history.
     “Spirited Republic” is free and open to the public, and will be on display in the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery of the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, through January 10, 2016. The National Archives Museum is located on the National Mall on Constitution Avenue at 9th Street, NW. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, except Thanksgiving and December 25. "Spirited Republic" is presented in part by the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of HISTORY®, the Lawrence F. O'Brien Family, The Tasting Panel Magazine, and Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America. Additional exhibition funding provided by the Beer Institute, the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S., the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association, and the National Beer Wholesalers Association.

      “Spirited Republic: Alcohol in American History” will share nearly 100 original holdings drawn from the billions of government records at the National Archives.

Highlights include:

• A 1792 note from President George Washington to his Attorney General giving his opinion that those responsible for the Whiskey Rebellion should be prosecuted vigorously;
• An 1848 list of punishments on board a U.S. Navy frigate, including flogging for alcohol related misconduct;
• A large graphic model showing how much Americans drank during US history.
• Landmark documents will include the 18^th Amendment, the Volstead Act, and the 21^st Amendment;
• Four stations will highlight National Archives' audio visual holdings including newsreels from the prohibition and post-prohibition years, public service announcements warning about the dangers of drunk driving, and a film montage of presidential toasts.
• President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s cocktail shaker; glasses from presidential toasts, a first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous (“The Big Book”), and a Betty Ford Center serenity prayer coin;
• An 1843 petition against the “spirit ration” that measures nearly 11 feet by 8 inches;
• Prohibition-era prescriptions for medicinal alcohol; and
• Design patents for temperance drinks, a 19^th century “gold cure” for alcoholism, original labels for Repeal Beer, Bacardi Rum, Smirnoff Vodka, and Picnic Beer.

     “Spirited Republic: Alcohol in American History” is divided into four sections:

• “Good Creature of God” covers positive American attitudes about drink; drink and the American Revolution; alcohol and the Early Republic; alcohol taxation, regulation, and commerce; and includes early alcohol-related patent drawings.
  
• Demonizing Drink shows the rise of temperance reform and the shift toward prohibition; early treatment for alcoholism; the fight to end the “spirit ration;” and the fight for and against the 18^th Amendment.
  
• Sober Nation details the efforts to enforce the 18^th Amendment shows the many ways people circumvented the Volstead Act; ...and the Prohibition agents; Prohibition enforcement
  
• Concerned Acceptance covers the repeal of prohibition; alcohol and World War II; alcohol advertising and trademarks; alcohol as a public health issue; Alcoholics Anonymous; diplomatic toasting, and alcohol in the White House; and examples of documents from organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD).

Drink in “Spirited Republic” to learn the fascinating history behind the government’s involvement with alcohol, and discover answers to the following:

• Which President advocated proving troops with alcohol, stating “the benefits arising from the moderate use of strong Liquor have been experienced by all armies, and are not to be disputed.”
• How many bottles of wine and kegs of beer did Meriwether Lewis bring on his for his Expedition to the West in 1803?
• Which Prohibition Bureau agent, who worked previously for the San Francisco Police morals squad, was known as “lady hooch hunter”?
• Whose Presidential candidate’s campaign posters urged voters to “Do Your Bit for Repeal . . .”?

     You can read more about this interesting exhibit at http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2015/nr15-19.html

 

    Alcohol has always had a role in American History and feel like this would be a great exhibit to visit.  If you are in Washington DC during it's run, I'm sure that it would be well worth your time to visit the exhibition.  ;o)

The Blinker: Prohibition Era Cocktail

        The Blinker's origin is very fuzzy, but like so many other classic cocktails you look for it's first appearance in a publication.  The Blinker was featured in Patrick Duffy's The Official Mixer's Manual in 1934.   The drink had a sweet tart flavor that was a blend of tart citrus and sweet syrup.   The cocktail was balance by the flavor of the spicy rye whiskey.   Most historians feel that the cocktail first appeared toward the end of Prohibition or just after Appeal.

      The cocktail's simplicity is a wonderful factor in appeal of the cocktail for both home and pub consumption.    The cocktail has three ingredients, but a really great appeal to patrons of the era.  

      The ingredients, rye, grapefruit juice, and grenadine, probably  too sweet. too child like. or not manly enough.    This cocktail is  instead, a clean, fresh, and just a bit of a kick.  

The Blinker (Early Version)
 

2 oz. Rye

1 oz. Grapefruit Juice

1 tsp. Grenadine

Place all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake until chilled, strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon slice or twist.

The Rum Blinker

• 2 oz. Barbancourt 15  Year Old Rum
• 1 oz. White Grapefruit Juice
• 1 /2 oz. DeKuypers Pomegranate  Liqueur

Place all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake until chilled, strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon slice or twist.

 

Global Rum Masters Awards Announced

     The competition took place at The Jugged Hare in London’s Chiswell Street, where the day’s judging was accompanied by a lively and apt soundtrack of reggae, as the genre of choice for venue-owner ETM. This year the entries rolled in thick and fast, so in order to accurately examine each submission our judges were split into two panels under the charge of chairman Becky Paskin, editor of The Spirits Business, and co-chairman Adam McCulloch, bar manager at The Cadogan Arms. In Paskin’s team sat Pepijn Vanden Abeele, bar manager of Coburg Bar at The Connaught; Georgi Radev, bar manager of Mahiki; and independent rum judge John Gibbons, while McCulloch’s squad was comprised of rum writer Peter Holland; Luca Cordiglieri, bar manager at China Tang; Jamie Kimber, bar manager of Trailer Happiness; and Elliot Ball, co-owner of the Cocktail Trading Company.

Read More about the competition at http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2015/03/the-global-rum-masters-2015-results/

     This is an annual even that has had some of the most interesting  judges, and always provides us with some the best rums anywhere.  Here are the results of this years competition. 

 

 

 

Company	Product	Medal
White Rum
Havana Club	Havana Club 3yo Rum	Gold
Angostura Ltd	Angostura Reserva	Gold
Louisiana Spirits	Bayou Rum Silver	Silver
CB Products	Rum Botran Reserva Blanca	Silver
Joseph Banks	Banks 5 Island Blend	Silver
Don Q	Don Q Caliche Rum	Silver
Elements Eight	Platinum Rum	Silver
St Nicholas Abbey	St Nicholas Abbey White	Silver
Gold up to 7yo
Tortuga International Holdings	Tortuga 5 Year Old	Gold
Joseph Banks	Banks 7 Golden Age Blend	Gold
Grays Inc Ltd	New Grove Old Tradition 5yo	Gold
The Westbourne Drinks Company	The Duppy Share Rum	Silver
Grupo Caballero	Ron Contrabando	Silver
La Martiniquaise	Saint James Heritage Caribbean Rum	Silver
Don Q	Don Q Gold	Silver
Gold 8-12yo
Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky	Caribbean Blended Rum 2001 12yo	Gold
La Martiniquaise	Saint James Reserve Caribbean Rum	Gold
Edrington	Brugal XV	Silver
St Nicholas Abbey	St Nicholas Abbey 10yo	Silver
Elements Eight	Elements Eight Gold Rum	Silver

 

Company	Product	Medal
Gold over 12yo
La Hechicera	La Hechicera	Master
St Nicholas Abbey	St Nicholas Abbey 15yo	Gold
Santa Teresa	Santa Teresa 1796	Gold
Dark up to 7yo
William Grant & Sons	Wood’s 100 Navy Rum	Gold
M.S Walker	Famous Newfoundland Screech Rum	Gold
Westerhall Estate	Westerhall Dark 7yo	Gold
Facile & Co AB	Noble Selected	Gold
Pusser’s Rum	Pusser’s Blue Label	Gold
Blackwell Rum	Blackwell Black Gold Rum	Gold
Paradise Beverages (Fiji)	Ratu Dark Rum 5yo	Silver
William Grant & Sons	Old Vatted Demerara Rum	Silver
Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners	Jeffersons 1785 Extra Fine Dark Rum	Silver
Angostura Ltd	Angostura Gran Añejo 7yo	Silver
Wild Geese	The Wild Geese Premium Rum	Silver

 

Dark 8-12yo
Banks DIH	XM VXO Royal 7yo	Master
Westerhall Estate	Westerhall Vintage Rum	Silver
Banks DIH	XM Royal 10yo	Silver
Dark over 12yo
Banks DIH	XM Supreme 15yo Rum	Master
Joseph Banks	Connoisseur’s Cut Guyanian Cognac Cask	Master
Havana Club	Havana Club Añejo 15yo	Gold
CB Products	Rum Botran Reserva	Gold
Pusser’s Rum	Pusser’s Navy Rum 15yo	Silver
Joseph Banks	Connoisseur’s Cut Guyanian Whisky Cask	Silver
Angostura Ltd	Angostura 1824	Silver
Premium
Beam Suntory	Cruzan Black Strap Rum	Silver
Beam Suntory	Cruzan Estate Diamond Dark Rum	Silver
Super Premium
Beam Suntory	Cruzan Single Barrel Rum	Master
Edrington	Brugal 1888	Master
La Hechicera	La Hechicera	Gold
Berry Bros. & Rudd	Penny Blue XO Mauritian Rum Batch #4	Gold
The Westbourne Drinks Company	The Duppy Share	Gold
Rémy Cointreau	Mount Gay XO	Gold
Santa Teresa	Santa Teresa 1796	Silver
Ultra Premium
Harbour Island Rum Company	Afrohead XO 15yo	Gold
Berry Bros. & Rudd	Penny Blue Single Cask	Silver
Angostura Ltd	Angostura 1824	Silver
Rhum Agricole
Rhum Clément	Très Vieux Rhum J.M XO	Master
Rhum Clément	Rhum Blanc Damoiseau Pure Cane	Gold
Rhum Clément	Rhum Vieux J.M VSOP	Gold
Rhum Clément	Trieux Rhum J.M Multimillésime	Gold
Rhum Clément	Rhum Blanc Clément Première Canne	Silver
Rhum Clément	Rhum Vieux Clément Select Barrel	Silver
Rhum Clément	Rhum Vieux VSOP	Silver
Rhum Clément	Très Vieux Rhum Clément XO	Silver

 

Company	Product	Medal
Rum Liqueurs
Quintessential Brands	Toussaint Coffee Rum Liqueur	Master
Worthy Park Estate	Rum-Bar Cream Liqueur	Gold
Spiced Rum
Louisiana	Spirits Bayou Spiced Rum	Gold
Pusser’s Rum	Pusser’s Spiced Rum	Gold
William Grant & Sons	Sailor Jerry	Gold
Berry Bros. & Rudd	Pink Pigeon	Silver
Paradise Beverages (Fiji)	Ratu Dark Spiced Rum 5yo	Silver
Overproof White
Worthy Park Estate	Rum-Bar White Overproof Rum	Master
Overproof Aged
Green Island Ltd	Tilambic Overproof 151 75.5%	Gold
Paradise Beverages (Fiji)	Lautoka Overproof Dark Rum 12yo 58%	Silver
Westerhall Estate	Westerhall Jack Iron Rum 70%	Silver
William Grant & Sons	Wood’s 100 Navy Rum 57%	Silver

     I hope your favorite made the list, but this is a very strong list of very good rums that did score medals this year.  ;o)