Rum in the News
RUM and PEPSI
For over 100 years, rum and cola has been one of the most popular cocktails in the world, delighting fans everywhere with the spicy notes of rum and sweet delightful fizz of cola. Somewhere along the way, people mistakenly began ordering rum with the other cola, causing them to miss out on the optimal experience for tasting the cocktail. Ahead of National Rum Month, Pepsi proudly raises a glass to its bold future and invites consumers to elevate their cocktail game by experiencing how rum is #BetterWithPepsi. Whether slow sipping to stay cool beachside, toasting to friends new and old at the bar or just enjoying the company of family and friends at home, one thing is clear no matter where you find yourself, Pepsi enhances the taste of rum. In a recent consumer preference study, 56% of participants enjoyed mixing their spiced rum with Pepsi compared to Coke. “Rum tends to evoke warm, sweet flavors reminiscent of caramel and vanilla, a result of the oak barrel aging progress,” explained Chef Kyle Shadix, CRC, MS, RD, renowned former Chopped contestant, and PepsiCo’s Corporate Executive Research Chef for Global Beverages. “The crisp, sweet and citrusy notes in Pepsi bring perfect balance to the warm spice notes of rum, like cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, creating a smooth, well rounded taste profile for a perfect summer cocktail!” Rum and Pepsi is the latest iteration of the brand’s #BetterWithPepsi creative campaign, launched in 2021 with the award winning #BetterWithPepsi Burgers campaign and extended into Pizza in 2022 and Hot Dogs last month. Better With Pepsi is more than a tagline for the brand; it’s an unapologetic reinforcement of how consumers enjoy Pepsi every day with their favorite foods. “For far too long people have gotten the bar call wrong when ordering the world’s most popular rum cocktail, quite often people order ‘rum and Coke’ out of conformity vs. taste preference, as our data shows that people actually prefer the taste of ‘rum and Pepsi,” said Todd Kaplan, Chief Marketing Officer, Pepsi. “We have known for years that the sweet and delicious taste profile of Pepsi pairs perfectly with the taste of rum, so we wanted to give people the opportunity to finally get it right by comping their Pepsi whenever they order rum in celebration of National Rum Month. By revealing the fact that our logo is already hidden within some of the most iconic rum brands was a fun way to bring this truth to life – after all, while Pepsi may not always be behind the bar, it should always be in the picture!” Rum and Pepsi will be supported by a robust media buy including key print publications and a variety of out-of-home throughout Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami and New Orleans and New York City in addition to social media platforms and search engine optimization.
OLD ROAD RUM
The Old Road Rum Company is driven by a desire to celebrate the cultural history of St. Kitts through new efforts that will see rum production return to this historically important location. Rum first flowed from the Old Road Distillery in 1681, making it the oldest surviving rum distillery in the Caribbean, dated by the records of Christopher Jefferson, the owner at that time and ancestor of America’s third President Thomas Jefferson. Today, the former rum distillery at Wingfield Estate in St Kitts is a newly-unearthed remnant of a lost age. It’s a walkable museum in the modern day, thanks to impressive reconstruction and conservation efforts. The plan is to build a full-fledged distillery here. For now, the company has launched Old Road Rum, a 12-year-old rum sourced from Barbados that has been tropically aged in Ex-Bourbon casks to present a pure expression of rum craft distilling with no colors, sugars or flavors added during the production process. Old Road Rum is hand bottled on the site of the Old Road Distillery by founder Jack Widdowson, a proud Kittitian committed to re-igniting small-batch rum production on the island he loves. https://www.oldroadrum.com/
BLACK TOT
Black Tot Day, July 31st, marks the historic event in 1970 when the British Navy discontinued the daily rum ration, a tradition that had been in place since the early 1800s. For the fourth year, Black Tot has celebrated this day with the release of a Master Blender’s Reserve rum. The Master Blender editions are made using a modern-day adaptation of an old blending practice which appears to be similar to the Solera method. Black Tot calls this blending method a “perpetual blend”; one-third of a blend is held back for another year and blended again with the heart of the blend always consistent. For Master Blender’s Reserve 2023, Master Blender Oliver Chilton has looked to create a blend that is closer to the original Navy rum with a heavier mouth feel and rich notes of wood smoke, espresso and cacao. As always, he has looked to put his own spin on the blend, this year including a rum from Grenada, distilled in 1993, to add depth and accentuate a rich orange oil notes from our perpetual reserve. He began, as always with rum drawn from the perpetual blend, the Master Blender’s Reserve from last year. Casks were then selected from Trinidad, Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and Grenada. A higher proportion of the Guyana component was included in this year’s Master Blender’s Reserve and was comprised of six rums, both pot and column, aged from 8 to 31 years old. The Barbados portion has four rums, all pot/column blends, ranging in age from 8 to 27 years old. The Jamaican addition was made up of two rums, the Trinidad contribution included four rums and, finally, there is the 28-year-old rum from Grenada. These five unique country blends were then brought together and married with the perpetual reserve, layered and perfectly balanced, to create the Master Blender’s Reserve 2023. Black Tot is one of the most transparent bottlers today. Their website is a pleasure to read for any rum nerd as it has details of the historical process behind the original Navy Blend, as well as the current process, sourced rums and blending techniques. https://blacktot.com/
RON BARCELÓ
The renowned Dominican rum brand Ron Barceló, mostly owned by the Spanish spirits company Grupo Varma, has achieved a significant milestone by maintaining its leadership within the spirits market in Spain during 2022. For the second year in a row, its flagship brand, Barceló Añejo, was positioned as the absolute leader in volume and value in the category. According to International Wine & Spirits Research (IWSR), during 2022 Varma sold 1,310,900 8.4-litre cases of Barceló Añejo, with an estimated value over 224 million euros. Carlos Peralta, General Director of Varma’s spirits business area, expressed his excitement in this outstanding achievement: “In 2022, Varma has identified new opportunities and channels, intensifying our work in the on-trade, off-premise and e-commerce channels. Despite the uncertain macroeconomic and geopolitical environment, we have surpassed 1.3 million cases, further consolidating Ron Barceló’s leadership in the sector”. Ron Barceló’s continued success is due to its commitment to quality, excellence, environment, and innovation. With more than 50 years of experience in the industry, the brand has perfected its production process and is the only Dominican rum made from 100% sugar cane juice. Ron Barceló is as well a Carbon Neutral company, certified in 2019 by the SGS Group for both the life cycle of their products and the organization. In addition, with the achievement of this milestone, it has become the first rum in the world to boast Carbon Neutral and ISO14067 certification, as well as the first to hold the Bilan Carbone® license. https://ronbarcelo.com/
BRUGAL
Dominican Today reported that Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader visited the site where Casa Brugal is building its new aging complex and unique facilities in the industry that will support his ambition to make Brugal the number one ultra-premium rum in the world. On an 80,000 square meter site located in the municipality of Villa Montellano, Puerto Plata, four aging cellars will be built, with a capacity of 20,000 barrels each, and an operations building, where the alcohol reception, filling, and emptying of barrels, as well as the dispatch of aged products will take place. Augusto Ramírez, president of Casa Brugal, emphasized that the investment is possible thanks to the confidence of the company and its shareholders in the Dominican Republic in its stability and the level of legality that the alcoholic beverage market has reached in the country. “We are very proud of Brugal, its quality, and its position in the world, and we want to continue developing the country’s rum industry. As a government, we will continue strengthening stability and legal security and advancing in the fight against illegality,” said President Luis Abinader. Ramírez said that having a stable and secure market of origin will be fundamental for a brand that has set out to conquer the world of luxury and the most demanding consumers. “We are on our way to becoming the number one ultra-premium rum in the world. That will be our greatest gesture of gratitude to the country that believed in Brugal and chose it as a sign of its identity,” he said. The president of Casa Brugal emphasized that although the new facilities are a significant milestone in the company’s history, they are also an important milestone for the Dominican Republic, which will have a valuable leading global brand. “That is a pending matter in our country, to create brands of great value, which demonstrate the quality and authenticity that we are capable of achieving,” he added. This new aging complex will put Casa Brugal on the map of distillate producers with the most modern aging facilities globally. This new aging complex will put Casa Brugal on the map of distillate producers with the most modern aging facilities globally. For this project, the company was advised by leading architectural design and liquid operations process firms, such as Luckett & Farley and Allen Associates, allowing it to incorporate best practices and state-of-the-art technologies. Dominican companies Hageco and Garcia-Goico also play an essential role in the project. Hageco, as the main contractor, was in charge of the execution of the civil works, while García-Goico was in charge of adapting the architectural and engineering design master plan to ensure compliance with Dominican regulations. https://www.brugal-rum.com/
FLOR de CAÑA
Flor de Caña Rum, the world’s first Carbon Neutral and Fair-Trade certified spirit made using 100% renewable energy, is launching the third edition of the Sustainable Cocktail Challenge, a global cocktail competition that aims to inspire bars and bartenders to be more eco-friendly and integrate sustainable practices into their everyday operations. With this initiative, Flor de Caña is joining forces with bars to set new standards for sustainability, leading the way to a greener future for the spirits category. The Sustainable Cocktail Challenge encourages bartenders to create completely sustainable cocktails with Flor de Caña Rum to generate conversation around sustainable bar practices and create change. “What sets the Sustainable Cocktail Challenge apart from other cocktail competitions is that the competition doesn’t end when the contest does,” said Dan Nevsky, a globally renowned mixologist, who has partnered with Flor de Caña to promote the Sustainable Cocktail Challenge. “Talking about sustainability practices is only the first step in a longer path to a better future.” Flor de Caña works closely with bartenders to highlight the importance and benefits of adopting sustainable practices beyond the competition. Registration is open until August 15th by visiting the website below and completing the online form for bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts who are interested. The site includes detailed information on the competition criteria, guidelines, and conditions. Giving back and leaving a legacy that future generations will value is embedded in the Flor de Caña DNA. The brand has offered education to workers and their families since 1913 and healthcare since 1958. The environment is also a major priority. Since 2005, the company has planted 50,000 trees every year moving it into the realm of carbon-negative status. Flor de Caña is more than what is in the bottle, it is a benefactor to future generations – and that’s exactly what the Sustainable Cocktail Challenges aims to highlight. https://www.flordecanachallenge.com/
PAPA’S PILAR
Papa’s Pilar Rum, the worldly-sourced and Florida-finished rum brand inspired by legendary novelist Ernest Hemingway, announced the rarest offering in the brand’s ten-year history, Ernest. Launched on Friday, July 21, which is also the birthday of ‘Papa’ Hemingway, the limited-edition rum exemplifies the brand’s decade-long commitment to creating premium, high-quality rums with innovation at the forefront. Only 400 bottles of Ernest were created. Ernest is a harmonious blend of hand-selected rums sourced from countries in South and Central America by 7th Generation Master Distiller, Ron Call. The blended rums were then put into new, heavy toasted American Oak barrels made of new 36-month-old, air-dried staves, and then double finished in both Cognac and Armagnac casks. The end result is a 100-proof rum with a refined and nuanced aroma of roses, violets, hazelnuts and burnt citrus peel. The initial subtlety is then overcome by a bold and complex flavor profile including notes of burnt citrus peel, turned earth, toasted hazelnut, green tea, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, vanilla bean, and dark chocolate on the palate. The finish is particularly noteworthy with its extraordinary length and complexity that creates notes of green tea, vanilla bean and burnt citrus for a notable finish. “With each new release, we prioritize showcasing our high-quality rums and for Ernest, we really wanted to push the envelope on what the category has been seen before,” said Papa’s Pilar Master Distiller, Ron Call. “This is what led to our decision to double finish the rum in new heavy-toasted American White Oak barrels made of 36-month air-dried staves, a process that enhances the deep natural vanilla and slight cocoa notes that carry over into our rum and create an extraordinary sensory experience.” The bottle for Ernest is inspired by the beautiful, circular decanter seen in a photo of Hemingway taken circa 1940 at Finca Vigia, the novelist’s home located in Cuba just southeast of Havana, most well known as the location where he wrote portions of his famed novels “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “The Old Man and the Sea.” The crystal decanter bottle was designed to double as a collector’s piece, coming encased in a teal display box embossed with golden foil, wood siding, cream stitching, and gold riveted piping. When opened it reveals a removable leather valet to display the elegant collectable bottle filled with golden rum and marked with Hemingway’s signature, with the image of Hemingway at Finca Vigia as its backdrop. The box also includes a crystal decanter top made to replace the wood and gold ‘travel cork.’ Papa’s Pilar consulted with Hemingway historian, author and friend, Philip Greene to ensure the decanter-style bottle was historically accurate and identical to Hemingway’s. “Since we founded Papa’s Pilar ten years ago, we have aimed to be at the cutting edge of innovation in both the rum category and the ultra-premium spirits industry as a whole,” said Papa’s Pilar’s founder and CEO, Steve Groth. “Ernest shows how we are letting our expert craftsman do what they do best and lead the way with limited run, curated, collectable releases. We have found that driving our business through the lens of craftsmanship has been key to truly exceptional results.” https://www.papaspilar.com
ANGOSTURA
Angostura® distributed over $40,000 in prizes at a ceremony for its first Secondary Schools’ Art Competition which was held on June 30 at the House of Angostura. Students were asked to submit an original piece of art using any medium: drawing, painting, digital art piece, collage or mixed media, based on the theme, My Community. Submissions were received from schools across T&T including Toco, Rio Claro, Point Fortin, Penal, Marabella, Couva, Arima, Chaguanas, St Augustine, Moruga, Angostura’s fence line community of Laventille/Morvant, Scarborough and Speyside. Twelve finalists were selected by an independent panel of judges. This competition, entitled “The Art In Us”, was launched in commemoration of World Art Day which was celebrated on April 15. It was opened to students in Forms 1 to 6 and divided into two categories, Forms 1 – 3 and Forms 4 – 6. Angostura’s Executive Manager, Marketing, Mrs. Sophie Charles-Barber said the prize-giving ceremony was a celebration of the boundless creativity and artistic brilliance of our young talents who have transformed their visions into captivating masterpieces. Mrs. Charles-Barber said, “The students were all very expressive in bringing forth the message and the feeling of community in each piece created. Not only were there several realistic paintings which portrayed children playing together in a park or village scenes showing community togetherness, but there were also several pieces done in abstract and expressionism styles which evoked feelings of togetherness and strength.” Head Judge of the Competition, Mrs. Dominique Gordon-Fanovich said, “There was a wide selection of artwork, and we had a hard time selecting only 12 finalists as the young artists proved to be of a high standard producing excellent quality work.” Delivering the feature address at the ceremony, the Honorable Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Minister of Education said, “I want to thank Angostura from the start with regard to what you do, not only in your fenceline community but you are always willing to expand and help.” Angostura® believes that supporting our young talent at this stage in their development helps to ensure that their creativity and innovation is protected, nurtured and allowed to grow to its fullest potential. https://www.angostura.com/
WHISKEY EXCHANGE and HAVANA CLUB
Havana Club 11-Year-Old is a special bottling created by Havana Club’s Maestro del Ron Cubano Asbel Morales, exclusively for The Whisky Exchange. This is the first time that Havana Club has produced a special expression for a single retailer. Morales told Spirit Business “This partnership has enabled us to embark on a truly exceptional project.Creating Havana Club 11-Year-Old required us to draw on our knowledge and exemplary stock to bring The Whisky Exchange’s vision to life while remaining true to the Havana Club taste everyone knows and loves. It exemplifies our commitment to continually push the boundaries of creativity and deliver truly distinctive expressions. Our Icónica Collection, comprised of ultra-premium rums crafted by our Maestros del Ron Cubano, is an example of this, and we are excited to present this exclusive rum to connoisseurs and enthusiasts who value exceptional craftsmanship.” Havana Club is owned by Corporación Cuba Ron, a joint venture of the Cuban government and French conglomerate, Pernod Ricard. In 2021, Pernod Ricard purchased The Whiskey exchange. “We’re delighted to be working alongside Havana Club,” said Dawn Davies MW, buying director at The Whisky Exchange. “As part of the Pernod Ricard family, we’re fortunate to be able to collaborate with some of the world’s most iconic brands to create truly special expressions for our engaged and educated customers. There are some incredible things happening in Cuban rum today and for us this project embodies what makes Havana Club’s rums so unique. It is a testament to the knowledge and skill of the Maestros del Ron that deliver the heritage and quality of the liquid we get to enjoy today.” https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/, https://havana-club.com/
