Rum in the News
FOUR MONKEY DISTILLERY
Gary Ellam produces no less than eight rums at his small distillery in tiny Elgin, Arizona. His 9 Triple 3 rum is a molasses based rum that is distilled using all three components of his hybrid still called Tallulah (which means leaping waters). It is aged in three different barrels and is bottled at 93.33 proof. 9 Triple 3 just won a Spirit Gold Medal at the International Wine & Spirits Competition. His other rums have won numerous awards, including the Best of Class and Best in Show at the American Craft Spirits Association’s Competition in 2018 and the Best Dark/Gold Rum at the World Spirits Competition in San Francisco that same year. I hope to interview Dr. Ellam in an upcoming issue of Got Rum. https://www.elginwd.com/
BLACK TOT RUM
Black Tot Rum has launched the second annual limited-edition expression of its Master Blender’s Reserve. The 2021 bottling was released on Black Tot Day, July 21st. The back label clearly breaks down the blend: three rums from Trinidad Distillers, aged between 10 and 24 years; a 10-year-old rum from Foursquare; a 17 year old rum from Demerara Distillers; a 9 year old rum from Hampden Estates; and a 14 year old rum from Beenleigh in Australia. Oliver Chilton, Master Blender, also took a third of last year’s Black Tot 50th Anniversary blend as a base and re-casked it into ex-sherry butts and barrels, mirroring the traditional process that was used by the Navy to create rum for sailors. The blend also incorporates some of the original British Royal Navy rum blend itself. Chilton said: “Master Blender’s Reserve takes inspiration from the Royal Navy tradition of perpetual blending, adding new rums to old, each year molding and developing the rum style and flavor. For 2021, we have aimed to find a tropical citrus quality that we hope people will be able to share with friends and loved ones around the world.’’ https://blacktot.com/
HAVANA CLUB
Havana Club launched the Tributo Series in 2016 to celebrate the “unrivalled excellence” of Cuban rum. For the 2021 edition, Havana Club’s Master of Cuban Rum, Asbel Morales combined reserves from previous Tributo releases and blended them with a rum taken from a batch of 100 exclusive casks that have never been made available commercially. It was then finished in white port casks from the Douro Valley, Portugal and bottled at 40% ABV. Morales said “Havana Club Tributo 2021 is an aromatic, smooth rum that uncovers the art and charm of Cuba with every sip. This year’s edition, finished in wood-aged white port casks, celebrates a step change within the series that showcases the craftsmanship and expertise at Havana Club, from distillation and aging, to perfect the final blend. It has been a privilege to craft this expression, and pay homage to the Masters of Cuban Rum, both past and present.” Anne Martin, Marketing Director at Havana Club, added “We are delighted to introduce the sixth edition of our highly coveted Tributo Collection, expertly crafted using some of the most precious rum reserves from the Havana Club cellars. This is the ultimate collector’s range, and communicates the authentic story and history surrounding Cuban rum production.”https://havana-club.com
FLOR de CAÑA
Flor de Caña, a carbon neutral and sustainably produced premium rum, has launched a global initiative called “Zero Waste Month” that invites eco-conscious bars, restaurants and consumers around the world to join forces to reduce food waste, one sustainable cocktail at a time. Through this initiative, part Flor de Caña’s broader sustainability program “Together for a Greener Future”, the brand is working hand in hand with the bartending community in more than 30 countries to create delicious zero waste cocktails that consumers will be able to enjoy. The sustainable cocktails are made with Flor de Caña rum, which is Carbon Neutral and Fair Trade certified, and with ingredients derived from re-purposed food scraps or leftovers from the local community. Global personalities such as Georgi Radev (UK), Remy Savage (UK), Patrick Pistolesi (Italy), Yeray Monforte (Spain), Bastien Ciocca (China), Ashish Sharma (Kuala Lumpur) and Julio Cabrera (USA) have joined the Zero Waste Month initiative as Sustainability Ambassadors. They are working alongside Flor de Caña to raise awareness through social media on the issue of food waste and inspire bars, restaurants and consumers to become agents of change and help reduce food waste in their own communities. https://flordecana.com/, https://www.zerowastecocktails.com)
DON PAPA
The Bleeding Heart Rum Company, owner of Don Papa Rum, recently announced that Don Papa Rum, the original small-batch, aged rum from the Philippines, is the fastest-growing super premium rum brand in the United States. According to new sales data from IWSR, one of the leading authorities on the global beverage alcohol industry, Don Papa Rum increased its US volume by 3 times in 2020 over 2019. The brand credits this progress to bringing new drinkers into quality rum, as well as its partnership with U.S. importer Zamora Company USA which started in August 2020. Since then, Zamora has distributed Don Papa through its strong national network of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits & Horizon Beverage. “We are proud that our award-winning rum has experienced such strong growth in the U.S., especially given the huge disruption to the on trade brought by covid. As markets reopen, we are seeing that this positive growth continuing,” says Chris Rigby, North American Managing Director at Don Papa Rum. https://www.donpaparum.com/
SPIRIT BUSINESS TOP SELLING RUMS
Internet site Spirit Business recently published the top selling rums in the world. Philippine rum Tanduay was at the top of the list with over 23 million cases sold in 2020. In second place was Bacardi with over 17 million cases. Next came Captain Morgan with over 11 million cases. In fourth place was India’s McDowell with 8 million cases. Fifth place went to Havana Club with 4 million cases. Next was Barcelo with 2 million cases. Amrut Distiller’s Old Port Rum took seventh place with 1.8 million cases. Czech rum Božkov was next with 1.2 million cases. Ninth place went to Diageo’s Kenya Cane rum brand with 1 million cases. Campari Group’s Appleton Estate brand rounded out the top ten with 1 million cases. https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/
BACARDI
BACARDÍ rum is taking a cue from its Caribbean roots this summer by introducing its most mixable flavor innovation yet with the launch of BACARDÍ Tropical, a limited-edition flavored rum. Like the other flavored rums in the BACARDÍ portfolio, BACARDÍ Tropical begins with a base of BACARDÍ white rum and is infused with all-natural pineapple, coconut, and guava fruit flavors. BACARDÍ Tropical contains no artificial sweeteners, is gluten-free, and only 100 calories per ounce and a half of liquid. “At BACARDÍ, we know that flavored rum is the fastest growing segment in the category. To give people a delicious new flavored rum option and get them excited about what is sure to be an unforgettable summer, we created BACARDÍ Tropical,” said Maria Galis, Marketing Director, BACARDÍ for North America. “It brings the natural fruit flavors of the Caribbean to classic rum cocktails like the Piña Colada, Mojito, or the Tropical Sunset, which is our take on the Hurricane. It is also just as versatile and delicious when mixed with juices or soda for an easy, vacation-worthy sip.” https://www.bacardi.com
COCONUT CARTEL
Coconut Cartel Special Añejo, the premium Guatemalan rum proofed with fresh coconut water, has announced new distribution into seven new markets statewide. Marking the brand’s next stage of expansion, after launching in Georgia earlier this year, Coconut Cartel will be exclusively distributed in Texas by Green Light Distribution; North Star Spirits in Idaho; M.S. Walker in Rhode Island; Murphy Distributors in Connecticut; and Bacchus Imports in D.C., Maryland, and Delaware. “2021 is just the beginning of our growth and U.S. expansion!” Says Dani Zig, CEO and cofounder of Coconut Cartel. “We have spent the past two years building our brand in our home state of Florida, and throughout the pandemic, connecting with customers across the country via e-commerce and social media. We have learned more about who our customers are and where they live, and now we get to hit the road to bring Coconut Cartel to shelves near them.”Coconut Cartel is now distributed in twelve U.S. markets including California, New York, New Jersey, Georgia, and Florida, as well as international markets including the Bahamas and U.S. Virgin Islands. Further distribution markets are to be announced later this year. https://www.coconutcartel.co
BRUGAL
Casa Brugal has just presented in the Dominican market Doble Reserva, the most recent creation of its master rum-makers. It is a surprising rum where aged rums are mixed from two types of barrels to achieve complex flavors and aromas, and the double character that defines it. Francis Lora, Marketing Director, said that the new rum preserves the heritage that characterizes Brugal rums by the predominance of American whiskey barrels, and that it is complemented by the contribution of sherry barrels. “Our House has been perfecting the art of making rum for over 130 years. Generation after generation, we have paid special attention to how to distill, choose the barrels and select the aged ones. This has allowed us to always make the best rum possible and offer the best of every occasion,” said Francis Lora. https://www.brugal-rum.com/
MacNAIR’S EXPLORATION RUM
The GlenAllachie Distillers Company has expanded their range of offerings by introducing three rums. The new spirits will be the first in a range of small-batch rums released under the company’s MacNair’s brand and will be called Exploration Rum. They will be crafted by master blender Billy Walker and sourced from stocks in Panama. They will include a 7 Years Old Peated, a 7 Years Old, and a 15 Years Old. Each expression was initially matured in American oak in Panama before being transported to The GlenAllachie Distillery in Speyside. The 7 Years Old Peated rum went through a second maturation in casks that previously held heavily peated whisky distilled at GlenAllachie. The 7 Years Old and 15 Years Old, meanwhile, were filled into red wine, virgin oak and ex-Bourbon casks for more than two years, and both are bottled at 46% ABV. “I’ve long held a desire to explore and apply my expertise to a new spirit category, curious as to what the outcome could be,” said Walker. “Rum was an exciting prospect as, in a similar vein to whisky, it allows for greater scope of innovation and experimentation, particularly in regard to maturation. “I’ve spent a great deal of time sampling and tracking down what I deem to be the finest rums from across the world to bring to my lab at the GlenAllachie Distillery and put my own distinctive twist on. The result in this first batch of Panama experiences is what I believe to be a trio of really exciting and unique rums which explore the influence of wood, but also the impact of maturation in a cooler climate.” https://macnairs.com/rum/
CARIBBEAN RUM AWARDS – ST. BARTH
This year’s fourth annual edition of the Caribbean Rum Awards will be held from Nov. 2-7, with an unmatched collection of rum and rhum agricole and a slate of marvelous rum experiences. The festival includes the rum competition, a series of master classes, tastings and special events, along with several gastronomic rum-pairing dinners at the Quarter Kitchen and Cocktail Lab, the island’s hottest restaurant. “We are back in St Barth for the fourth edition of an unparalleled global celebration of rum,” said Alexander Britell, editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal and co-founder of the Caribbean Rum Awards. “From the Caribbean’s leading rum makers to rum expressions you simply won’t find anywhere else, this is a must-visit experience for all rum lovers.” It’s all focused at the Rhum Room, home to the largest selection of fine rhum of any bar in the world, led by international rum expert Christopher Davis. “We look forward to a new season and the 4th Annual Caribbean Rum Awards. We are increasing the Master Classes by world-renowned rum producers to provide more education to the ever-hungry rum collectors and amateurs alike,” said Davis, proprietor of the Rhum Room and co-founder of the Caribbean Rum Awards and St Barth Rum Festival. https://www.caribbeanrumawards.com/
TAKAMAKA
Seychelles rum brand Takamaka is introducing its Seychelles Series to Europe this month. Made up of five rums, the Seychelles Series will feature a new bottle designed to capture the unique identity of Takamaka, and its Indian Ocean origin, as the brand increases its international distribution. Brand design agency Pearlfisher created the new look around the flag of the Seychelles, which is made up of five segments that each carry their own distinctive meaning.
The five rums in this new series are all made from molasses in a continuous column still and diluted with natural spring water from Takamaka’s water source in the Seychelles National Park. Last year, the Takamaka distillery underwent an extensive renovation and expansion. It is now the site of the first molasses distillery in the Seychelles, thanks to the installation of a new column still, bringing production to more than 200,000 liters per year. The producer’s cane distillery was also upgraded, as two new pot stills were added to increase production to 4,500 liters per year. https://takamakarum.com/
NOVO FOGO
Novo Fogo Cachaça has released a new, high-proof silver cachaça in a 1-liter bottle format designed for the bar community. This expression embodies the best characteristics of their standard Silver Cachaça, banana, passion fruit, lime blossoms, sweet red peppers, and sea salt, and intensifies them in a 43% ABV rum. The result is a potent but clean cachaça that takes the leading role in a broad range of cocktails, from sours to tiki drinks and twists on classics. Novo Fogo Bar Strength Silver Cachaça has been reformulated to allow the service industry to find the elusive intersection between high-quality spirits and cocktail menu costs. The bottle redesign features a smaller, circular footprint, a taller neck and a slimmer midsection that fits ideally in the well and is easier to handle throughout busy shifts. In addition to its functional benefits for bars and bartenders, Novo Fogo Bar Strength Cachaça was created to be an exceptional distilled spirit with a minimal environmental impact. Novo Fogo is a carbon-negative company. Through its business practices of waste minimization, organic production, the ownership and management of forested land, a growing reforestation project for threatened tree species and the purchase of carbon offsets, Novo Fogo absorbs more CO2 than it emits. https://www.novofogo.com/
BOMBARDA RUMS
Bombarda Rums are a salute to the commanders, privateers and buccaneers that were victorious at sea through the ages. Their rums are privately sourced from the finest distilleries in the West Indies, masterfully blended & double aged in bourbon, whiskey or armagnac casks for furious flavor. Their initial offerings include:
Culverin, named after a deadly canon of the 16th century, is a blend of rums, aged 5 to 8 years, from the Dominican Republic, Panama and Barbados. The rums are aged in select white oak casks under the tropical sun of the Caribbean, then off to the Old World, where they mature in fine ex bourbon casks.
Falconet, named after another famous canon from the 16th century, is a blend of 8 to 15 year old rums from the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Trinidad and Panama. Falconet also spends time aging in the Caribbean and Europe.
Formidable, named after Admiral George Rodney’s famous ship, the HMS Formidable, is 18 year old rum from Barbados. It is double aged in white oak & ex bourbon casks under the tropical Caribbean sun. https://bombardarum.com/
