Rum in the News
February 2018- Rum in the News
These are the most recent and noteworthy headlines in the rum industry. If you want us to
share your news with our readers, please send an email to Mike@gotrum.com. Mike Kunetka
is a land-locked rum enthusiast, he is based in Colorado, USA.
KOLOA
Hawaii’s award-winning Koloa Rum Company has announced the launch of its first-ever Kauai Reserve Three-Year Aged Hawaiian Rum. Artfully crafted in single-batches at its Kalaheo distillery, Kauai Reserve is made from the finest Hawaii sugar cane and fresh island water that was slowly filtered through volcanic strataa before reaching vast underground aquifers. Kauai Reserve is carefully aged for a minimum of three years in select American white oak barrels and contains no added sugar, color or other ingredients. “We are thrilled to be launching our newest rum at the dawn of the new year,” said Koloa Rum Company President and CEO Bob Gunter. “Kauai Reserve pours elegantly from the bottle, with a warm golden hue and a bouquet of mellow oak, orange peel and toasted vanilla. It’s remarkably smooth with rich, complex flavors that linger long after the last sip.” Each of Kauai Reserve’s 12-barrel batches yields approximately 3,500 bottles that are carefully filled, inspected and numbered to meet the exacting standards for quality and taste that Koloa Rum Company is renown. According to Gunter, the release of Kauai Reserve is the culmination of more than five years of intensive research and experimentation by Koloa Rum’s distillery team as the protocols necessary for the proper aging of rum in Hawaii’s tropical environment is not found in manuals, but rather learnedby-doing. “Kauai Reserve is perfect to warm winter’s chill and is best enjoyed neat or on the rocks,” he added. Kauai Reserve Three-Year Aged Hawaiian Rum will be sold in California and other West Coast markets in February. In Hawaii, it is now being sold at the Koloa Rum Tasting Room and Company Store at Kilohana Plantation on Kauai and select retail outlets. Kauai Reserve retail price starts at $49.99 per 750ml bottle. Established in 2009, Koloa Rum Company produces artisanal, single batch Hawaiian rum and ready-to-drink cocktails at its distillery in Kalaheo, Kauai and operates the island’s first and only distilled spirits Tasting Room and Company Store. The company’s award winning portfolio includes its premium Kauai White, Gold, Dark, Spice, Coconut and Coffee rums. Products are available for purchase online, at select retailers nationwide, as well as in Australia, Canada, France and Japan.
FOURSQUARE RUM DISTILLERY
Richard Seale has announced three new releases from his Exceptional Cask Series. The first is 2005, a blend of both artisanal pot and twin column distilled rums from 2005 that have been aged in ex-bourbon casks for twelve years. 2005 is bottled at 59% ABV. Next there is Premise, again a blend of both artisanal pot and twin column distilled rums, this time aged for ten years in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. Premise is bottled at 46% ABV. Finally, there is Dominus, bottled at 56%. This blend of pot still and column still rums has been aged for three years in ex- bourbon casks, followed by seven years in ex-cognac casks.
JOY SPENCE APPLETON ESTATE RUM EXPERIENCE
The Jamaican News reported that Appleton hopes to quadruple the number of Appleton visitors this year with the opening of its Joy Spence Appleton Estate Rum Experience. The new Experience, which is named for the company’s master blender is expected to serve as a gateway to the rising tourism boom on the island’s Southern Coast. “This investment will provide additional entrepreneurial opportunities for Jamaicans living in Siloah and neighbouring communities,” declared J Wray & Nephew Limited’s chairman Clement “Jimmy” Lawrence. “The team at J Wray & Nephew Limited and our principals, Campari Group, are excited about the new opportunities that this project represents for the South Coast of Jamaica. The new Rum Experience can accommodate over 200,000 visitors per year, which augurs positively for the tourism product in the region. ”The Joy Spence Appleton Estate Rum Experience will take visitors on a journey through the history of rum where they will “feel and taste the essence of Appleton whilst learning about the complexity and sophistication of rum” said Lawrence. J Wray and Nephew Limited and its parent company, Campari Group, has invested US $7.2M in the upgrade of the Joy Spence Appleton Estate Rum Experience. “This is another demonstration of the Campari Group’s commitment to the Appleton Estate brand and by extension Brand Jamaica,” stated Lawrence. “JS-AERE is truly a world class tourist attraction nestled right here in the heart of Jamaica,” Lawrence continued. The upgrade includes the renovation of the existing property and surrounding landscape, and the addition of modern tasting rooms to support education about rums.
YOLO RUM TEAMS UP WITM MEXCOR
Yolo Rum is delighted to announce a new distribution partnership with Mexcor International Wine and Spirits in Florida. The distributor will carry the three Yolo Rum signature lines, Yolo Rum Gold, Yolo Rum Silver and Yolo Rum Clear. Looking to expand its footprint in Florida and other states in 2018, Yolo Rum execs see the new partnership as a crucial next step. “We eagerly anticipate an amazing future with Mexcor,” said Yolo Rum founder Philip Guerin. “We believe Yolo Rum is the best rum in the world, we support our brand with the positivity, vigor and pride it demands, and Mexcor brings the same passion and commitment to their endeavor. It’s a perfect partnership.” Since its founding in 1989, Mexcor International has grown, expanding operations on a near-annual basis. They carry over one hundred of the finest spirit brands from all over the world, and today the Company has a substantial national sales network extending to 46 states including Texas, California and Florida. Yolo Rum is the ideal synthesis of ancient crafts and modern tastes. At the heart of the operation is master distiller Francisco “Don Pancho” Fernandez. Born in Cuba and operating out of the Republic of Panama, Don Pancho is the world’s most-respected and honored ronero (that’s “rum blender,” for the layman). The recipient of hundreds of awards, Don Pancho starts with rare sugar cane strains found only in Central America and the Caribbean and utilizes a complex, five-stage series of fermenting and distilling. Don Pancho then goes to work, dictating how and how long the rum is stored before choosing the blends he crafts into dark or light spirits. Aging in charred American white oak barrels does the rest.
REAL McCOY RUM
The Real McCoy recently announced that Constellation Brands acquired a minority stake in the copper pot distilled, American bourbon barrel aged rum. Constellation will also handle distribution for the brand throughout the United States, and provide assistance with marketing and operations. The Real McCoy will continue to be managed by CEO , Bailey Pryor, and all distribution partners outside the United States will remain the same. “We are excited about working with Constellation Brands because they clearly understand the marketplace and know how to build brands from the ground up, while maintaining product integrity,” said Bailey Pryor, a six time Emmy award winning documentary producer who was inspired to start The Real McCoy rum while producing a film about rum runner Bill McCoy for PBS. “With Constellation’s investment and strategic counsel, we look forward to fully achieving our vision of expanding The Real McCoy’s reach throughout the United States,” said Master Distiller, Richard Seale. All senior executive positions in the company remain the same with CMO, Jennifer Pryor, COO, John Esposito and CFO, Walter Brunner remaining in their roles. Vice Presidents Mac Jones, Abbi Miller and Linda Lofstrom also remain in place with greater focus on key account management and expansion into new states. “This doesn’t change who we are or how we go to market. The collaboration with Constellation allows us to reach new consumers, expand distribution and grow brand awareness, all while maintaining the integrity of what The Real McCoy is all about,” said COO, John Esposito. “We look forward to working with Bailey, Jennifer, Richard, John and The Real McCoy team,” said Constellation Brands’ Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Bill Newlands. “The spirits category represents a significant growth opportunity for Constellation, and continued investments in artisan brands like The Real McCoy are part of our overall Total Beverage Alcohol strategy.”
CANE LAND DISTILLING
Baton Rouge-based Cane Land Distilling Company hosted a launch party last month for its seasonal batch of rum. Their Signature Rhum Agricole is produced once a year during the sugarcane harvest season. Alma plantation has cultivated sugarcane for centuries and selects the perfect fields of sugarcane to make into Rhum. The sugarcane is harvested at the optimal time, washed, and pressed into juice in small batches. This fresh juice is transported to Cane Land daily within 24 hours of harvesting, where it is fermented, distilled, and bottled. Cane Land’s Rhum Agricole is a true expression of south Louisiana’s delta soil, which makes for an earthy and complex profile that is perfectly unique.
CARIBBEAN RUM AWARDS
The first-ever Caribbean Rum Awards was held in Saint Lucia this weekend, and the winners have been selected. The awards, curated by Caribbean Journal and a team of nine judges, covered six categories, including white rum, white rhum agricole, best rum, best rhum agricole, spiced rum and gold rum, all judged in a blind tasting held at The Landings resort. Guyana’s El Dorado 12 took home the crown as the Best Rum, while Martinique’s Rhum JM VO took home the top honors for Best Rhum Agricole.Barbados’ Doorly’s Macaw won best white rum, while Florida’s Siesta Key won for best spiced rum and St. Lucia’s own Bounty Premium Gold won the award for best gold rum.“ It was an incredibly competitive field of 32 rums for this first annual Caribbean Rum Awards,” said Alexander Britell, editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal.
“The rums were a remarkably diverse portfolio, and just about every category was neck and neck. We can’t wait for next year’s field.” The Caribbean Rum Awards were produced in partnership with the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority as part of the Saint Lucia Food and Rum Festival headlined by world-renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson. Special thanks to the international judges, who included St Barth’s Christopher Davis, the Bahamas’ Toby Tyler, the United States’ Steven Shaw and Martinique’s Guy Ferdinand.
The full list of winners and medalists are below:
White Rum
• Best White Rum: Doorly’s Macaw (Barbados)
• Double Gold: Bounty Premium White Rum (Saint Lucia)
• Gold: Brugal Special Extra Dry (Dominican Republic)
Best Rum
• Best Rum: El Dorado 12 (Guyana)
• Double Gold: 1931 by St Lucia Distillers (Saint Lucia)
• Gold: Chairman’s Reserve The Forgotten Casks (Saint Lucia)
Best White Rhum Agricole
• Best: Rhum Neisson Bio 52.5 (Martinique)
• Double Gold: Rhum Dillon Ti’ Fle’ Ble’ (Martinique)
• Gold: Rhum Clement Canne Bleue (Martinique)
Best Rhum Agricole
• Best: Rhum JM VO
• Double Gold: Rhum Depaz XO
• Gold: Rhum Clement 10 Ans
Best Spiced Rum
• Best: Siesta Key Spiced Rum (Florida)
• Double Gold: Chairman’s Reserve Spiced Rum (Saint Lucia)
• Gold: Clifton Estate Rum (Nevis)
Best Gold Rum
• Best: Bounty Premium Gold (Saint Lucia)
• Double Gold: Island Company Rum (Trinidad)
• Gold: Siesta Key Gold (Florida)