Rum in the News
BACARDI
In response to the war in Ukraine, Bacardi has released the following statement:
At Bacardi Limited, our priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of our people, especially those directly affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine. We are supporting our people in Ukraine with resources and services necessary during this time of great need. We have committed USD 1 million to Red Cross and Mercy Corps to support humanitarian efforts on the ground. Our donation will enable distribution of food, medicine, and other critical care items, along with first aid training, work to reunite separated families, emergency cash and other resources and networks to help those in need. In addition, we paused exports to Russia and froze advertising investments in the market.
In other news, Bacardi is raising the bar for cocktails-at-home with the launch of TAILS COCKTAILS. This is the first time this new range of premium batched cocktails from TAILS will be available for consumers to enjoy at home. The brand was originally created for the hospitality industry, offering a hassle-free solution for serving premium quality cocktails easily, quickly and consistently. “Over the last two years, cocktail awareness has boomed as people served up daiquiris, espresso martini cocktails and mojitos to make staying-in feel extra special,” said Evert-Jan Bos, General Manager of TAILS. “Now, as the on-trade reopens, consumers are enjoying the experience of being back in the bar and they’re ordering cocktails more than ever before.” To tap into this thriving cocktail culture, TAILS is bringing a taste of the bar home with new-look packaging and new recipes. Made using the Bacardi portfolio of premium brands blended with top quality ingredients, the pre-batched cocktail range is perfectly positioned for the rise in entertaining at home. There are five TAILS COCKTAILS - the ‘Rum Daiquiri’ made with BACARDÍ® rum; the ‘Whisky Sour’ with DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky; the ‘Gin Gimlet’ with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin; and the ‘Espresso Martini Cocktail’ and ‘Passion Fruit Martini Cocktail’, both made with 42BELOW® vodka. www.bacardilimited.com, www.tailscocktails.com
CASALÙ
Casalú, a rum-based hard seltzer focused on delivering a feeling of home and heritage, while inviting others to share Latino culture, is set to launch across Miami later this month. It will be made with dark, aged rum and will be packaged at 5.9% ABV. Crisp and balanced with the perfect amount of buzz, Casalú’s first offering, “Limón”, brings authentic Latino roots to the hard seltzer market. “From day one, it was clear that something was missing in the seltzer market. Despite all the noise about new brands appearing, none seemed able to truly speak on behalf of Latino culture and express it authentically. Casalú was born to pay homage to our culture and invite everyone to share it. We took dark aged rum, our spirit of choice, and used it as a base. We had not seen it widely used in the seltzer space, which for us didn’t make any sense. Using rum as our base, we created a refreshing and crisp seltzer that both the new generation of drinkers and our grandparents can enjoy together. That’s why we are so proud to bring Casalú to the world,” says Ricardo Sucre, co-founder of Casalú. Sucre, who was born in the United States and then lived in Venezuela for 20 years, along with Casalu´ co-founders Gabriel Gonzalez of Venezuela and Gustavo Darquea of Ecuador, first met while attending North Carolina State University. Sucre and Darquea received degrees in Industrial Engineering and Gonzalez in Business & Entrepreneurship. It was throughout college that the three friends began sharing their drink of choice: Rum. “The idea for Casalú began with Ricardo and his dislike for beer. Since we’ve known each other, Ricardo looked for any option that wasn’t beer and when the seltzer boom started, he found his drink, although, none spoke to him and used rum the way he liked it. Ricardo started experimenting at home with dark aged rum and a SodaStream and the first version of Casalú was born. He gave it to everyone, and I was one of the first to try it. It just clicked. For us, it didn’t make any sense that we could identify a brand with clear Latin roots in every alcohol and liquor category, but none that resonated in the seltzer space. So, a few months after I tried the earliest version of Casalú we decided to finally get together and launch the company to bring an authentically Latino seltzer to the market,” says co-founder Gabriel Gonzalez. https://casalu.com/
CAPTAIN MORGAN
Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum is revealing its unique take on a classic combination of flavors with the launch of its newest offering, Cherry Vanilla. Available on shelves for a limited time, Captain Morgan Cherry Vanilla blends the signature taste of our spiced rum with the sweetness of dark cherries, the notes of rich creamy vanilla and a hint of spice to create a contemporary twist on a timeless classic. “Captain Morgan has a history of experimenting with new flavors. For Cherry Vanilla we used inspiration from the past to create something new,” said Sam Salameh, Vice President, Captain Morgan. “We wanted to give people the comfort of a flavor they love, our spiced rum, with a twist that would inspire experimentation, whether an ice cream float or their own personal creation.” Captain Morgan is challenging everyone 21+ to free their imaginations and bring their own unique spice to the new flavor with delicious cocktail creations and share on social, using #MyCherryVanillaCreation. Because whether you’re the Cherry-Vanilla-Bombshell-shaken-not stirred-garnished-with-exactly-four-cherries type or a Cherry-Vanilla-and-Cola-soda-fountain-inspired-float, there’s no wrong way to enjoy a Captain Morgan Cherry Vanilla. Prefer to keep things simple yet delicious? Enjoy Captain Morgan Cherry Vanilla with Cola over ice. The possibilities are endless. www.CaptainMorgan.com.
ROCK SOUND RUM
Austin-based spirits company ROCK SOUND Rum crafted up a Texas-sized 110 Gallon Tiki tank full of one of the most iconic cocktails and set the record for the world’s largest Daiquiri at 5:50pm CST on February 25, 2022. To build the massive cocktail, ROCK SOUND Rum teamed up with the CHIVE media group at their Headquarters in downtown Austin to build the drink and shatter the old record of ninety-five gallons set in 2016. It took four hours for Co-Founder, Joel Lackovich, to construct the Daiquiri, exhausting exactly 275 750mL bottles of ROCK SOUND Original Light Rum, 27.5 gallons of fresh simple syrup and 27.5 gallons of fresh lime juice. “Breaking the record for the world’s largest Daiquiri was a very special moment, but my favorite part of the event was seeing our brand come to life with making every sip fiercely fun and memorable,” said Tracey Lackovich, CEO and Co-Founder of ROCK SOUND Rum. “Hearing the word ‘delicious’ come out of John Resig’s mouth, CEO of the Chive Media Group, after his first sip was the garnish on the cocktail for me” she said. Over 150 people witnessed the memorable event and were able to participate by enjoying the drink in a commemorative ROCK SOUND Rum Tiki mug. “Everyone was asking where they can get their hands on ROCK SOUND Rum, “said Joel Lackovich. “It was love at first taste and now everyone can grab a bottle of ROCK SOUND Rum at any Austin-area Spec’s store!” ROCK SOUND Rum began with a love for adventure, phenomenal rum cocktails and the ultimate experience of Rock Sound, Bahamas, a spot where the company’s founders’ favorite bands would retreat to for libations and relaxation after recording music. Their thirst for iconic rum cocktails and tiki drinks, combined with eighteen months of R&D, led to the development of the most delicious rum the world had yet to taste. Today, ROCK SOUND Rum is an affordable premium rum, coconut husk-filtered and hand crafted with natural ingredients and a whole lotta yum! In his “spare” time, Joel writes the well-written Cocktail Scientist Column for “Got Rum?” Magazine. www.rocksoundrum.com
ZACAPA
Furthering its commitment to women in craft, and in celebration of Women’s History Month, Guatemalan-made Zacapa Rum supported nonprofit fair-trade shop and partner, The Little Market, with the launch of the Made in Guatemala Collection. Available exclusively on thelittlemarket.com, each item in the collection is made by female artisans in Guatemala and hand-selected by Zacapa Rum Brand Ambassador and The Little Market Council Member, Jordana Brewster. Purchases of these items will support The Little Market’s ongoing commitment to creating employment opportunities for artisans in underserved communities, celebrating cultural techniques and traditions, and bringing attention to social justice and human rights issues. “I am thrilled to curate this very special collection with my two trusted partners, Zacapa Rum and The Little Market, and help continue their endeavors to uplift female crafters,” explains Brewster. “The purchase of these goods allows artisans in Guatemala to grow their businesses, express their heritage and move towards financial independence. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Women’s History Month.” A spirit rooted in craft and steeped in the artistry of its female network, Zacapa Rum is inspired by The Little Market and its mission to create work for women in underserved communities locally, nationally and globally. With liquid expertly blended by Master Blender, Lorena Vásquez and handwoven petate bands that encircle each bottle, Zacapa Rum, like the exquisite creations by the makers on The Little Market, is a work of art thoughtfully and expertly crafted by female hands. www.zacaparum.com/. www.thelittlemarket.com/
CAPE FEAR RUM
Cape Fear Distillery announced that their Cape Fear Rum has been selected to sail on Carnival Cruise Line starting March 22nd of this year. Cape Fear Rum will onboard 22 Carnival ships to start the spring cruise season on the “World’s Most Popular Cruise Line.” According to Zachary Sulkes, Carolinas Cruise Line’s Director of Beverage Operations, Carnival discovered Cape Fear Rum at the 2021 PROOFs Awards in Las Vegas, which has become the largest spirits competition in America. According to Sulkes, “Carnival chose only three new rum brands to onboard this year and we chose Cape Fear Rum because of its smooth, tropical taste and nautical branding, which is perfect for our ships’ bars.” The process to get Cape Fear Rum aboard Carnival has taken about a year, but Alex Munroe, owner of Cape Fear Distillery, says that “everyone at Carnival has been very supportive to work with.” https://www.capefeardistillery.com/
MOUNT GAY
Mount Gay, the world’s oldest running rum distillery will be back once again to provide sailors at the BVI Spring Regatta with their much-loved post-race tipple after a great day out on the water. Long-standing supporters of the event, Mount Gay’s 300+ year heritage dates to 1703 and is deeply connected to the ocean and sailing. Their fabled Mount Gay Rum Red Cap has become much-coveted memorabilia by all those who take part. The organizers of the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival are proud to announce that the Mount Gay Race Day on Friday 1st April will kick off proceedings for the 49th edition of this popular regatta which has over 80 boats from around the world taking part. “We are very happy to have the support of Mount Gay Rum yet again, as they have been close partners and supporters of the regatta since it began. We know how much the sailors taking part look forward to the Mount Gay Race Day which starts off three days of competitive racing following the Sailing Festival warm-up. Our sponsors at Mount Gay are thrilled to continue their support and are looking forward to connecting with the all the sailors participating in the regatta, as well as all the non-sailors and visitors who support the event,” says Regatta Director, Judy Petz. Raphaël Grisoni, Managing Director at Mount Gay Rum comments: “We have been on a shared journey with sailing from the very beginning, from the 17th to the 20th century, as the original means of transport for our rum to the region, the United States and England to the drink of choice for sailors and the maritime industry as a whole, and then with our support of regattas which began around the mid-20th Century. More recently we have partnered with World Sailing and the eSailing platform during the global pandemic and now we are setting course on a new sustainable chapter that will continue to strengthen our deep relationship with sailing as we head towards our 320th Anniversary in 2023, and beyond.” https://bvispringregatta.org https://www.mountgayrum.com
RON JEREMY BECOMES HELL OR HIGH WATER RUM
It’s quite a story. In 2004, Olli Hietalahti & Jouko Laune were sitting at a bar in Amsterdam. There was a nice rum poster on the wall with a picture of a bottle and text that read Ron de Something or Other. They realized ron is the Spanish word for rum. A few seconds later it hit them: Ron de Jeremy. While the world is full of Rons, the world’s most famous pornstar Ron Jeremy was one of the most recognizable. They thought that was hilarious. It was a joke for 6 years until they founded the Ron de Jeremy rum brand and the first bottles came out in 2011. They expanded quickly to 25 countries. In 2018 Ron de Jeremy was voted one of the Top Ten trending rums in the world by Drinks International magazine’s Brands Report which surveys the 106 best bars in the world. But as the great novelist Margaret Atwood once said, “If everything is perfect all the time, there is no story”. There was a fire that destroyed the production facility and burned their USA dreams down. There were mistakes, an earthquake, backstabbing, betrayal and almost death. A dozen times they were on the verge of bankruptcy. But, they also smiled a lot and made lifelong friends. With an unhealthy dose of hopeless optimism, Olli and Jouko stayed on the rollercoaster ride and kept on banging their heads against the wall. Somehow, they always survived. The brand kept growing and was voted Top Ten Trending Rum in 2018. Then, on June 23, 2020, Ron Jeremy was charged with very serious crimes and arrested. The boogie nights were over. The brand based on humor was done; it was not fun anymore. After the initial shock and fearing bankruptcy once again, they decided to fight. They realized that after a decade of hard work they had built something of value, wonderful products and a great network of business friends and colleagues. They simply refused to quit. They were entrepreneurs and loved the rum world. So, they created a new brand, whose heart and soul reflect their journey. Two idiots stumbling from one hardship to another. You fall 7 times, get up 8. The rum is now called Hell or High Water. For those not familiar with the expression “come Hell or High Water” means you are willing to do whatever it takes to overcome difficulties or obstacles. You never give up. Hell or High Water is a rum for those who laugh in the face of adversity, the hopelessly optimistic, the quietly confident whose spirit will triumph. It is a rum blended with persistence and determination. A rough journey makes a smooth rum. https://www.hellorhighwaterrum.com/
BAHAMAS DISTILLERY
The Bahamas Tribune reported that the newly established Bahamas Distillery Company opened its doors in Freeport and has started production of two rum offerings, a spice rum called Floating Pig, and a coconut rum called Hammered. The distillery is located in a 6,500 square foot warehouse on Oak Street and Settlers Way. They currently have three large copper pot stills that were made in the 1950’s. According to Allan Bassett, President and CEO, “They were used for production in France, Portugal and South Africa, and we shipped them over to Freeport and recommissioned them to make rum. They have travelled the world and have now found a home in Grand Bahama. We are really excited with what we have done so far. We have three stills and we are hoping it can be a destination distillery. We want to create a facility that is not only functional and makes rum, but something that has a feel to be a tourist destination.” The equipment, he said, is still a work in progress and more still needs to come in. Future rums include an overproof rum, a raspberry rum, a white rum and a gold rum. https://bahamasdistilling.com/
ROYAL CANE CASK COMPANY
The Royal Cane Cask Company is dedicated to search the world for Ultra Rare and Old casks that remain from past times. Each Rum they release is limited to one cask. A cask with its own history, its own identity and its own style. The full curriculum vitae of each cask, from the moment of distillation, through years of aging, up until it’s in the bottle, will be published on their website. The Royal Cane Cask Company’s first release is distilled at the New Yarmouth Estate, a rather mysterious distillery located in Clarendon Parish on the southern tip of Jamaica. Not much is known about this distillery, and few people have ever been allowed a visit. This first release is a Wedderburn style Rum, made from sugarcane molasses, that underwent a longer fermentation and subsequent distillation in a double column still. It has been tropically aged in Jamaica in ex-bourbon American white oak casks for a spectacular 24 years. Aging rum in the tropics for this long is very rare, due to the high evaporation. In 2018 the cask traveled the Atlantic Ocean towards the United Kingdom for an additional 3 years maturation in the historic docks of Liverpool. The Rum is bottled at cask strength (60.3%) and without any coloring or other additives. In the next 12 months they will be launching some magnificent casks from countries like Barbados, Fiji, Trinidad, El Salvador, Guadeloupe and Panama. www.royalcanerum.com.
