Rum Sales Leader Board Changes Again

     Philippine brand Tanduay has overtaken Bacardi to become the world’s best-selling rum brand after reporting 17.5% growth last year.  The Asian rum’s sales hit 19.5 million cases in 2017, while Bacardi’s fell 2.7% to 16.8 million cases, according to Brand Champions data published by The Spirits Business magazine.  In 2016, Bacardi lead the world in sales with 2 million cases, while Tanduay was in second place with 16.6 million cases.  In recent years, Bacardi has shifted its focus to more premium positioning, in April this year.

     The Brand Champions report analyses the case sales of the world’s best-selling spirits, awarding the ‘Brand Champion’ title to high-performing products within each category. Data published in the report shows a mixed performance for brands across the rum category in 2017.  According to figures from market researcher provider Euromonitor, total rum sales increased 0.7% in 2017 to 144m cases.

Rum

 (Figures in million 9 liter case sales)

BRAND	OWNER	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	%+/­
Tanduay	Tanduay Distillers	14.0	17.0	16.5	16.6	19.5	17.5%
Bacardí	Bacardi	19.1	18.2	17.4	17.2	16.8	-2.7%
McDowell’s No.1 Rum	United Spirits	16.2	16.6	16.2	14.9	12.5	-16.1%
Captain Morgan	Diageo	10.3	10.4	10.3	10.7	11.7	9.3%
Havana Club	Pernod Ricard	3.9	4.0	4.0	4.2	4.4	4.8%
Barceló	Ron Barceló	2.1	2.2	2.0	2.1	2.2	6.3%
Contessa	Radico Khaitan	2.6	2.7	2.7	2.0	1.8	-10.1%
Ron Medellin	Fabrica de Alcoholes y Licores de Antioquia	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.4	1.6	15.7%
Old Port Rum	Amrut Distillers	1.5	1.8	1.9	1.7	1.3	-22.3%
Appleton Estate	Gruppo Campari	1.2	1.2	1.3	1.2	1.2	0.0%
Božkov	Stock Spirits Group	0.9	0.9	1.2	1.1	1.1	3.5%
Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum	William Grant & Sons	0.9	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	-2.0%
Cacique	Diageo	2.2	1.2	1.1	1.0	1.0	0.0%
Negrita	La Martiniquaise-­Bardinet	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	-2.0%

Read More at https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/brand-champions/

Auténtico Nativo Announces Its Inaugural Rums

Francisco "Don Pancho" Fernandez

     Auténtico Nativo is a new Panama-based rum brand that has launched its first three aged expressions. Headquartered in Panama City, Panama, Aloha Assets Corp. is committed to supplying the market with the finest high-quality rums. These rums are known for their near-perfect balance, a testament to the fine art of the master blender.   This is another of the fine rums in a long line of creations of Francisco "Don Pancho" Fernandez . 

      Aloha’s seasoned professionals have successful histories in the exportation and promotion of wine and spirits.  Auténtico Nativo 15 Years is available in select European Markets now.   Auténtico Nativo 15 Years, Auténtico Nativo 20 Years and Auténtico Nativo Overproof, 108 abv, have been launched by the brand, which is the result of a partnership between Ultra Premium Brands and Aloha Assets Corp.

   On the nose, the Nativo’s Overproof expression is “nicely balanced with toffee, vanilla, and dark fruits”, while the 15-year-old expression has notes of toasted nuts and oak. The 20-year-old rum’s aroma is described as “dark roasted nuts, caramelized peaches and bananas”, with a flavor of “whole nuts, toasted cedar and oak”.  The brand’s 15- and 20- year-old expressions have been aged in barrels that formerly held Kentucky Bourbon.

     The branding for Auténtico Nativo is said to represent the rum’s authentic production, while the label emphasizes its “contemporary identity”.  Bottled at 40% abv, Auténtico Nativo 15 Years is available now in select European markets. The entire portfolio will be available later this year.  The rums will be distributed by Ultra Premium Brands in the Czech Republic and other selected markets.

Tariff Retaliation Looms on the Horizon

     The United States brought in tariffs on 1 June, levying a 25% import duty on steel and a 10% on Aluminum brought into the United States.  Many nations throughout the world accused the US of protectionism.  On Wednesday (6 June), the European Commission will be introducing tariffs on US goods ranging from Bourbon to motorcycles, including a 25% tariff on American whiskey as soon as July 20^th.The 25% tariff on American whiskey could be imposed as early as 20 July.  June 5^th, Mexico imposed a 25% tariff on Bourbon on July 1, Canada proposed 10% retaliatory tariffs.   Turkey has also proposed a 40% tariff on all US distilled spirits, set to come into force on 21 June.  China has already announced that it will hit American Imports of Whiskey with a 25% tariff whiskey in response to punitive US measures.

     In a letter to commerce secretary Wilbur Ross, the Distilled Spirits Council said it is “extremely concerned about the increasing likelihood” that the EU, Canada, Turkey and China will go through with previously stated trade threats.  The group said that US spirits exports are worth an estimated $759 million to these markets. If imposed, tariffs “would severely harm” producers, farmers, distribution, logistic providers and packaging suppliers.   Distilled Spirits Council said that around 65% of global US whiskey exports are also at risk of retaliatory tariffs.   Retaliatory tariffs could “seriously impede the export process that has benefited our sector”, the Distilled Spirits Council said.

     The Spirits industry in general could take a huge hit if these retaliatory tariffs are imposed.  The nation needs to keep on top of this issue and do what is necessary to prevent this political move that was proven that protectionism doesn’t work back in the 1920’s and 30’s.  American leaders imposed dramatically high tariffs before with an infamous act of Congress passed in 1930, the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act. In the late 1920’s, more than a thousand economists warned American leaders against hiking tariffs on more than 20,000 imported goods to as much as 60%.  Remember this was a part of the beginning of the Great Depression.  We don’t need to repeat history again.

Bahama Bob's Special Low Calorie Daiquiri

     I keep hearing people wanting cocktails that taste good and are truly low in calories.  First of all most straight spirits are about 90 calories.  Unless you add a bunch of high calorie stuff to the mix 90 calories per cocktail is about as low as you will find.  Even light beer is not any lower in general.

     Lime juice and my special simple syrup add no calories to your cocktail.   Give this one a try I feel like you will really enjoy it if you are a fan of lime juice.


Bahama Bob's Low Calorie Daiquiri

• 1 1/2 oz. Good Quality White Rum
• 1/2 oz. Lime Juice
• 3/4 oz. Bahama Bob’s Zero Calorie Syrup

Preparation: Mix all ingredients in a shaker on the rocks. Add more or less syrup to suit your taste.  Shake vigorously. Strain into a coupe glass without ice.

Bahama Bob’s Zero Calorie Syrup

• 1 Cup of Stevia in the Raw
• 1 Cup of Water

Place the water in a sauce pan and bring to a boil.  Stir in the Stevia in the Raw and lower heat to a slow boil.  Simmer at a low boil for about 5 to 10 minutes.  Allow to cool and put into a dispenser to use.

Why Does America Still Have "Dry" Counties?

     June 5, 2018 was National Moonshine Day, when American tipplers lift a mason jar to the illegal liquor that got them through Prohibition. For most drinkers, that world of bootleggers and secret stills is just a part of history. But roughly 18 million Americans still live in "dry" counties or municipalities, where the sale of alcohol is banned by law. How have these holdouts survived into modern times, and what are the consequences for people who live there?  There are parts of the United States that were dry even before Prohibition began.

     Statewide bans on alcohol have finally disappeared in the United States.   10% of the country, by area, maintains local restrictions on the sale of alcohol.  The South as of last year, six counties in Texas and 35 in Arkansas were still dry, there are Rules in parts of Alaska are so strict that the mere possession of alcohol is illegal.  Desperate tactics are unsurprising: Prohibition still offers space for unscrupulous vendors to get rich.   People in dry areas will travel for a fix, and the areas drunk-driving accidents are far more common than in wet areas.  Many of these dry counties have locals that head into the woods and manufacture their very special spirits and bootleg them into town where they ae sold from under the counters of many places.


     Researchers at the University of Louisville found that dry counties in Kentucky were nearly twice as likely to be caught hosting illegal meth labs as their wet neighbors. No wonder punters from Kansas to Maryland have voted to relax prohibition in recent years. If for no other reason, letting in the booze makes financial sense. One study from 2014 found that turning three dry Arkansas counties wet could bring in over $30m a year to the local economy-good cause for cracking open a bottle or three.

Cruising to the British Virgin Islands in My Mind

     Thinking about out next destination off of the rock here in Key West and We've been thinking about going back to the Virgin Islands.  Gorda Sound at the end of the Sir Francis Drake Channel is always a beautiful place and spawns memories that put smiles on my face.  The British Virgin Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands have so many wonderful spots to hang out.

The Beautiful Gorda Sound in the British Virgin Islands

Where is Your Beach?

     With summer fast approaching, I got thinking about beaches and where I should be heading to find a great one to spend some time on.  Key West is not known for its beaches, so it is to the south that my mind thinks about when I think about a beach.

 

 

     The first place that comes to mind is the out islands of the Abacos in the Bahamas.   Places like Treasure Cay and Great Guana Cay come to mind.  These are the eastern most cays of the Bahama chain of islands and are right up against the Atlantic Ocean.  The deep blue colors of the waters on the eastern side of the cays and the “crystal bay” waters between them make for an absolutely beautiful beach environment.

 

     The Virgin Islands also have some really wonderful beaches to share with you as well, places like Honeymoon Beach, White Bay, Cane Garden Bay and so many more.  One of my favorites is to find a hammock on White Bay and relax in front of the Soggy Dollar with a “Painkiller” and enjoy.

 

    Grenada’s Grand Anse is another of the long beautiful beaches that are really great to walk along, especially in the afternoon.  This is a beach that seems to go on for miles and miles as you roam from beach bar to beach bar and enjoy yourself.

     There are so many fabulous beaches throughout the Caribbean and Southern Atlantic that come to mind and these are only a few of them.  There are terrific beaches in Barbados, Cayman Islands, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Antigua, St. Lucia just to name a few.  So this summer just get out there and find your beach and enjoy the sun and surf, but be safe when you do, the sun can be very dangerous especially in the lower lattitudes.

    

"The Paul Castronovo Show" Comes to Hemingway Rum Company Distillery Today Live

     Presents

Paul Castronovo

     Popular South Florida radio wise guy Paul Castronovo and his team of guests will be broadcasting live from the Hemingway Rum Company Distillery this morning from 6 am when the doors open to let the fun begin until the end of the show at 10 am.    “The Paul Castronovo Show” debuted on January 2, 2018 after 26 years, when he and straight man Ron Brewer parted ways.  The Big 105.9's manic master of morning-drive radio will be bringing his own special kind of madness to Key West this morning at the Margaritaville Resort, Papa’s Pilar Rum and iHeart MEDIA sponsored event.

    

     Come by and join us, talk to the crew of Hemingway Rum Company Distillery while you enjoy the morning listening to Paul Castronovo and all his guests on the air.  Of Course, there will be rum tasting and the “Trading Post” will be open for your enjoyment.