Rum in the News
WEST INDIES RUM PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION
The West Indies Rum Producers Association (WIRSPA), the grouping of Caribbean rum producers, last week welcomed several new members into the WIRSPA ‘family’ at the Annual General Meeting. The association, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, welcomed St. Vincent Distillers representing St. Vincent and the Grenadines as a full member, and the Bahamas Distilling Company, representing the Bahamas, as an associate member. WIRSPA members also welcomed Copal Tree Distillery of Belize, to the Belize Rum Producers Association. Chairman Komal Samaroo stated, “Our growth in membership with Grenada, Haiti and Belize becoming full members last year, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines this year, as well as the re-entry of the Bahamas into WIRSPA, is evidence of the increasing relevance of the association to the industry in the region. Producers see a clear advantage in being part of a grouping that shares common rules, a philosophy of quality and authentic provenance, and strength in numbers.” The producers from across the Caribbean exchanged views on domestic and international trade and market developments, and especially discussed the challenges raised by the rapidly increasing price of raw materials, energy and packaging. CEO Vaughn Renwick said, “Major input costs including molasses and fuel have risen considerably, in some cases by more than 50%.” Further increases seem set to continue, as post-Covid demand for molasses grows, exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine and a lack of shipping containers and vessels both for inputs and exports. These issues were placing a significant resource strain on producers said Renwick, adding, “A shortage of glass bottles from regional suppliers, as well as delays in sourcing extra regional supplies are also causing major production and export challenges.” The producers, also recognizing the relaxation of covid restrictions and the return of festivals in the region, underscored the urgent need for additional messaging to consumers on reducing harmful and excessive drinking. According to Chairman Samaroo, “We are pleased to see that virtually all rum producers have now upgraded product labels to carry our agreed advisory logos against underage drinking, drinking and driving and drinking during pregnancy.” Many others, he added, had also implemented the use of serving size information – number of servings per bottle and calories per serving, which were required to be printed in large type to guarantee that the information is conspicuous and legible. https://www.wirspa.com/
COPALLI RUM
After a disappointing harvest in 2021, Copalli has announced that the 2022 harvest turned out to be one of their best. Copalli’s last harvest day was July 1, and as of that day they had harvested, milled, fermented and distilled 2,600 tons of sugar cane. The most ever! Sugar content started off a little low as the rainy season hung on a bit longer in February and early March, but once the rains let up, the sugar cane plants used all of that sunshine and the magic of photosynthesis to make lots of sugar, bringing the overall sugar content back up to expected levels. The pot still rum is of very high quality, and they expect the 2022 vintage aged rums to be exceptional. https://copallirum.com/
ANGOSTURA
Angostura® has launched a rare, ultra-premium rum, Angostura® Zenith. This latest limited-edition rum will join Angostura’s esteemed Private Cask Collection. The company has only produced one hundred and ninety-five (195) bottles globally. Chairman of Angostura Holdings Limited, Mr. Terrence Bharath says, “In keeping with our ongoing corporate social responsibility initiatives, we are pleased to announce that part proceeds from the sale of the 195 bottles of Zenith will go towards providing a scholarship for a deserving young person to be given the opportunity to pursue studies in music or art. We feel that it is our social duty to help those underprivileged communities where there are persons who possess the inherent creative gifts to rise above their circumstances and soar in reaching their goals.”The one of a kind distinguished flavors of this rum are derived from two of Trinidad and Tobago’s most iconic distilleries – Caroni 1975 Limited and Angostura Limited. Aged in charred American oak casks that were once used for bourbon, Angostura® Zenith combines flavors of sweet and smoky depths, delivering a fine character with a unique blend of Angostura® and Caroni aged rums ranging from 20 to 23 years old. Zenith takes Angostura® Private Cask Collection to new heights with the last of the best of the legendary House of Caroni. Established in 1923 on the site of the old Caroni sugar factory, the now defunct Caroni Distillery produced highly sought-after rums notable for a distinctive heavy profile, rich, earthy, and smoky. Produced with the last of Caroni’s treasured molasses, tasting notes include rich aromas of cocoa, oaky notes with hints of raisins on the palate and subtle apple notes, complete with warm aged notes of sherry with a lasting dry, crisp finish, the perfect proportions to achieve absolute depth and balance. Rich gold in color, as befits such a rare release, Angostura® Zenith has a deeply complex character, brimming over with sweet tropical fruits, warm vanilla toffee, indulgent cocoa and a dry, crisp oak smokiness. Angostura® Private Cask collection consists of a range of Limited-Edition mature rums originating from specially selected casks with a dedication to artistry and craftsmanship. It captures the aging process of Angostura® award-winning rums, while highlighting the journey of the rums from cane field to the shelf. Today, Angostura® is the only rum distillery in Trinidad and Tobago, making the launch of Angostura® Zenith a unique opportunity for rum lovers around the world. In fact, Angostura’s distillery is the only remaining one of the once 50-plus rum distilleries in Trinidad and Tobago. The Company’s much-awarded signature style stems from time-honored techniques. Angostura® rum is always made with only the finest molasses, fermented using the distillery’s own bespoke yeast culture, distilled in continuous column stills and aged in charred American oak first-fill bourbon casks. Mr. Bharath says, “After 3 years in development, we’re delighted to extend our Private Cask Collection with the launch of Angostura® Zenith, making our rum offering one of the most unique in the world. We are constantly striving to bring the spirit of Trinidad and Tobago to rum connoisseurs around the world and the launch of Angostura® Zenith demonstrates our commitment to producing world class rums.” https://www.angostura.com/
ROMERO DISTILLING COMPANY
Romero Distilling Company (became the verified GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ holder for the Largest Cuba Libre Cocktail. Surpassing the previous record-holder of 132 gallons, Romero more than satisfied the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ attempt with a 264-gallon Cuba Libre Cocktail. As Western Canada’s premier craft rum producer, Romero is dedicated to continuous improvement through determination, hard work and innovation. Romero uses top-quality Canadian ingredients, including molasses and glacier-fed water from the Rockies to craft their rums and cocktails. All of the distilling equipment Romero uses is also Canadian made. The distiller has perfected a dark, amber, and spiced rum that are all distilled in copper pot stills and matured in once-used Kentucky bourbon barrels. “Romero’s GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ Largest Cuba Libre Cocktail, which filled the four-foot cubed glass, was made with the perfect ratio of Romero’s award-winning rum, lime juice and cola,” says co-owner, Tom Romero. “By using quality locally-sourced ingredients, we have not only made the world’s Largest Cuba Libre Cocktail, but also quite possibly the most delicious one yet.” “As the only rum-driven distillery in Western Canada, Romero has afforded many, including myself, the unique opportunity to enjoy quality, locally-crafted rum,” says Romero Ambassador and WWE Hall of Famer, Bret Hart. “Whether you are enjoying a bottle of their award-winning dark rum or visiting Romero’s prohibition-inspired cocktail bar, you can always count on a luxurious experience.” Romero is built on a rich and mostly untold history of rum-running during Prohibition from the Blairmore Hotel in the Crowsnest Pass. People that are interested in learning more about their rich history are encouraged to visit their cocktail bar in Calgary, Alberta at Suite 300, 688 Heritage Drive SE. www.romerodistilling.com
KULEANA RUM WORKS
Kuleana’s newest award-winning rum, Hōkūlei, is now available for online purchase. Hōkūlei is a blend of seven rums sourced from around the world, including their own Aged Hawaiian Rum Agricole, to create a sublime sipping rum that rivals the world’s finest spirits. They have blended rums aged between 18-month and 18 years and all are unadulterated: no colors, flavors or sugars. Hōkūlei (HOH-koo-lay) is a sublime sipping rum created to rival the world’s finest spirits. Tasting notes include: ripe banana, saltwater taffy, toasted pineapple, lime zest, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, Caribbean jerk spices, mangosteen, lilikoi, Medjool dates, dry sherry, rum soaked raisin, and toasted oak with hints of koji mushrooms. https://kuleanarum.com/
TANDUAY
Iconic Philippine rum brand Tanduay recently released a collection of cocktail recipes featuring its different rums. “Whatever your taste preference is, we’ve got a fine selection that can keep up with you. From simple classics to uniquely modern concoctions, this rum cocktail book showcases our Tanduay Rums like you’ve never tasted before as we highlight our rums’ versatility in cocktails and their compatibility with a variety of ingredients,” Tanduay said in the foreword of Cocktail Culture. “We came up with the book so that both new and long-time customers can experience and appreciate Tanduay in different ways,” said Marc Ngo, Tanduay Distillers, Inc. International Business Development Manager and Senior Brand Manager. The cocktails’ taste and colors reflect the Philippines’ beautiful beaches and sunsets. Some of the recipes in the book include those of Tropical Queen featuring the Tanduay Asian Rum Gold, Tranquil Waters featuring the Boracay Cappuccino Rum, Beach Blonde with the Tanduay Dark Rum, and Sun-kissed Mango with Tanduay White Rum. Customers can easily follow the preparations, said Ngo, and enjoy their Tanduay-infused cocktails without the fuss. The book also contains recipes for the home-made syrups that will be used in the cocktails. Tanduay continues to gain new customers as it expands its export business. It is now present in 12 U.S. states and the territory of Guam, as well as in the countries of China, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom. Cocktail Culture is available in e-book format and can be accessed via the Tanduay website, www.global.tanduay.com
BLACK + DECKER COCKTAIL MAKER
BLACK+DECKER®, a global leader in home and lifestyle product innovation and a Stanley Black & Decker brand (NYSE: SWK), announced the highly anticipated retail launch of the BLACK+DECKER™ Cocktail Maker, the latest product innovation released by the brand. The new single-serve cocktail maker gives users the ability to make custom cocktails at the touch of a button. Now you can Cheers To The Moment™ with delicious craft cocktails from home. “As a part of our expanded home and lifestyle line, we are delighted to bring innovation to countertops and bar carts this summer with the BLACK+DECKER™ Cocktail Maker,” said Allison Lawrence, President of BLACK+DECKER. “This product innovation delivers on BLACK+DECKER’s brand promise to make life easier at home. We encourage you to cheer to any occasion worth celebrating with the new single-serve cocktail maker, available for purchase now.”BLACK+DECKER™ Cocktail Maker product features include:
- Delicious mixologist-crafted cocktails dispensed in approximately 30 seconds.
- An easy-load liquor system which connects up to five standard 750ml bottles of your preferred liquor*. There are labeled locations for five liquors: gin, vodka, tequila, rum, whiskey and the included glass water bottle.
- Customize drink strength with the turn of a dial, the BLACK+DECKER™ Cocktail Maker has four drink strength levels: mocktail, light, regular and strong.
- LEDs beneath the bottles illuminate and prominently display the liquor being served.
- “Party mode” feature with various LED sequences to add a unique fun factor.
The cocktail maker works exclusively with Bartesian®’s growing assortment of premium cocktail capsules, ranging from a Long Island iced tea to a spicy margarita. The intuitive cocktail maker works by scanning the barcode on the lid of the capsule to draw from the corresponding spirit. Shaker icon on the front of the machine which lights up when it is recommended to dispense a drink over a shaker with ice. Beginning this fall, a pack of five glass bottles will be sold separately for users that desire a uniform look. Recognized for its ease-of-use, simplistic design and innovation, the cocktail maker has received several accolades to date, including a “2022 Gadget Award” from Popular Mechanics for “Best Cocktail Machine”. https://www.blackanddecker.com/solutions/bev, https://bartesian.com/
SANTA TERESA 1796
At the 2022 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, SANTA TERESA 1796 was awarded a 92 point rating (certified as an excellent and highly recommended rum) and the Tried and True award. A product of the artisanal Solera Method, SANTA TERESA 1796 is created with a complex blend of rums aged for up to 35 years. The Solera Method, adopted from Spanish Sherry producers, ensures that every bottle of Santa Teresa 1796 features some of the very first “Ron Madre” or Mother Rum. Since the barrels were first filled in 1992, the Solera casks have never fully emptied. Instead, each time a bottle is drawn, the Solera is topped up with a slightly younger rum blend, guaranteeing that every bottle has exceptional richness and a little bit of the Mother Rum. A credit to the rum’s meticulous craftsmanship, this award celebrates the product’s over 220 years of production on the Hacienda Santa Teresa. Recognized as one of the most prestigious judges of the spirits industry, the Ultimate Spirits Challenge has given SANTA TERESA 1796 its stamp of approval, noting its rich taste and aroma. Tasters were drawn in by the scent of caramel and baking spices and hooked by the bold and smooth finish. The unique flavor was another selling point, with the competition highlighting the taste of, “burnt sugar, cigar box spice, dark chocolate, and dried plantain chips.”
This award comes on the heels of the announcement of several other accolades awarded to SANTA TERESA 1796. The brand was awarded several gold medals at the International Spirits Challenge, The Spirits Business Rum & Cachaça Masters, the USA Spirits Ratings, the Berlin International Spirits Competition, Virtus Lisboa, and the London Spirits Competition as well as the Chilled 100 Bartender Seal of Approval with the signature dark rum receiving a 95 point rating. SANTA TERESA is an independent, family-owned distillery in Venezuela built on over 220 years of tradition and unexpected thinking in blended and aged rums, making it the third oldest rum producer in the world. Steeped in tradition, every SANTA TERESA product is sourced from their single-estate, the Hacienda Santa Teresa. “We are incredibly excited to see SANTA TERESA 1796 receiving recognition by all of these wonderful agencies. As the rum market continues to expand, these accolades are a testament to our centuries long heritage, commitment to fine craftsmanship and dedication to producing only the finest rum possible. These endorsements also solidify SANTA TERESA 1796’s place as both a staple spirit and a premium base for a cocktail. Throughout the past year, our consumer base has continued to grow and we’re looking forward to expanding to an even larger audience in the upcoming year,” said Edwin Hincapie, Brand Director, SANTA TERESA 1796. www.santateresarum.com/
BLACK TOT RUM
For 2022’s Master Blender’s Reserve blend, Black Tot drew inspiration from historical rums in their collection and the unique flavor profiles they exhibited over half a century ago. These rums, since lost in the rum world, were rich with notes of baked banana, dusty chocolate, mocha milkshakes, honey, tobacco, leather, licorice and spice. These flavors were mapped out and became their guide. Black Tot began, as always, with rum drawn from their perpetual blend, the Master Blender’s Reserve from last year, which has been aging in Sherry casks since last Black Tot Day. Mitch Wilson, an ambassador for Black Tot, said: “This year, we’ve lined up a whole host of events across Europe to celebrate bringing great people and great rum back together again. We’re delighted to welcome many of the friends we’ve made at our virtual events over the past two years and share a glass of Black Tot in real life.” This year’s edition is composed of blends from distilleries in Jamaica, Guyana, Barbados and Trinidad:
- 29% is a blend of four rums from Demerara Distillers in Guyana, both column and pot still
- 25% is a blend of three rums from Mount Gay and Foursquare in Barbados, all column and pot still blends
- 7% is a blend of six rums from the New Yarmouth, Clarendon and Long Pond distilleries in Jamaica
- 22% is a blend of five rums from Trinidad Distillers and the closed Caroni Distillery in Trinidad
- 7% is the Perpetual Blend Component of Master Blender’s Reserve 2021 and the Original Navy Rum Blend
Oliver Chilton, master blender at Black Tot, said: “Black Tot Master Blender’s Reserve is our opportunity to explore the art of rum blending pioneered by the British Royal Navy. In the 2022 edition we looked to accentuate flavors of baked banana, chocolate and mocha milkshakes, balanced against classic navy rum notes of tobacco, leather and licorice. This has resulted in a layered and balanced rum full of cocoa and spice which should create a lot of enthusiasm amongst Black Tot fans.” The rums are added to a reserve of Master Blender’s Reserve 2021 which has been aging in Sherry casks since last year’s Black Tot Day. The 2022 release also includes a small amount of the original Royal Navy flagons, the rum blended and held in wooden vats by the Royal Navy until July 31, 1970. https://blacktot.com/
ST. LUCIA RUM EXPERIENCE
St. Lucia Distillers has launched the Saint Lucia Rum Experience, which will take visitors on a tour through its facility, Roseau Valley, and all the way down to the beach. The new attraction will include a scenic pond, sugarcane fields, and improved access roads leading to the beach, as well as a variety of investments to help the local Roseau community. Since its acquisition by the Bernard Hayot Group in 2016, the family-owned group has, in 2021, inaugurated three new buildings designed to increase aging capacity at the distillery to more than 12,000 casks. Chief Executive Officer Margaret Monplaisir says this is the manifestation of a dream project of Laurie Barnard – the former chairman of the Distillery and the namesake of its leading brand, Chairman’s Reserve. Monplaisir notes that Laurie Barnard who helmed St. Lucia Distillers from 1988 –2012 would be proud of recent developments. https://www.stluciadistillers.com/
