Rum in the News
ST. LUCIA DISTILLERS
St. Lucia newspaper The Voice reported that St Lucia Distillers, which is currently supplying ALCOSAN Rubbing Alcohol as a low-cost sanitizer, has been assisted by its parent company, GBH, in providing additional support in the fight against COVID-19, through the donation of 100,000 medical face masks to St Lucia’s frontline workers. Having been made aware of the need for personal protective equipment and the challenge of obtaining an adequate supply due to scarcity worldwide, the decision was taken to source and supply 30,000 N95 masks and 70,000 surgical masks. “As a corporate citizen, we have to do our part during the COVID-19 pandemic to help our nation. Being aware of the particularly high risk of infection faced by our courageous front-line workers, we saw sourcing and providing this protective gear for their safety, as nothing short of our national duty,” said Margaret Monplaisir, Chief Executive Officer of St. Lucia Distillers.
The 30,000 N95 masks were delivered and presented to Saint Lucia’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Sharon Belmar-George on April 23, 2020. The remaining 70,000 surgical masks were scheduled to be delivered in late May to the Saint Lucian authorities for distribution to the frontline workers. St Lucia Distillers and parent company GBH would like to thank all the teams (purchasing, logistics, etc) who helped to organize this operation in the spirit of solidarity and collective effort, in order to support the tremendous commitment of Saint Lucia’s frontline workers against the virus and its spread. http://www.saintluciarums.com/
ANOGOSTURA
In keeping with Angostura’s efforts to assist Trinidad and Tobago during this difficult period, employees, represented by the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union, came up with an idea on how they can help families financially impacted by the pandemic. In an unprecedented display of goodwill, they decided to donate some of their vacation days to create a pool of funds that will be used to purchase food items for the most vulnerable who are financially impacted by the novel coronavirus. The management, executives and board of directors have also financially supported the drive. This employee-driven initiative saw 341 Angostura employees giving up a total of 1,074 vacation days, valued at $1,000,000.00. Commenting on why he donated his vacation days, Engineering and Maintenance Supervisor, Victor Francis says, “I give because to me it’s the best thing that one can do at a time like this.” Technical Assistant, Sean C. Alleyne says, “I truly believe that any act or gesture of kindness and compassion would go a long way.” Industrial Relations Officer, Diane Henderson says, “Gratitude is understanding what you have and finding the freedom to give to others.” The generosity and selflessness from employees at all levels of the company have been tremendous and some have even given up all their vacation amounts for the year. This says a lot about the Angostura staff and the values of the company which they all live by, which are, Togetherness, Tenacity, Passion and Integrity. The employees’ initiative entitled, “From Our Angostura Family To Yours” is a gift of their kindness to the country. Angostura is extremely proud of all its employees for conceptualizing this idea and driving this initiative with a huge goal in mind. Staff members will be distributing food hampers to families. On March 20th, 2020, Angostura announced that it was embarking on a donation drive to produce hand sanitizer for first responders, communities and businesses with frontline staff. Since then the Company has given out 70,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to front-liners including police officers, prison officers, healthcare and social development workers and to our fence-line communities in Laventille/Morvant. Angostura will continue to assist those in need during this unprecedented time of uncertainty.
In addition, Angostura employees distributed $1Million worth of food hampers within a three-day period to families who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 10th, the company announced that their employees were embarking on a food drive after giving up their paid vacation entitlements to assist families in need. The company’s management, executives and the board of directors also financially donated to the food drive. Employees created a pool of funds valued at $1Million towards their initiative entitled “From Our Angostura Family To Yours”. In fact, employees sourced, ordered and purchased all the food items themselves using the money they donated from their benefits. Every employee was given the opportunity to select families across the country who need help and they personally delivered the food hampers to them. Hampers were also given out to several NGOs including the Loveuntil Foundation, Serving Women and Youth, as well as, National Family Services and bartenders. Other groups collecting hampers were councilors from the Morvant/Laventille communities, the Inter-Agency Task Force and the North Eastern Division Community Policing Unit. Each food hamper consisted of over 60 items including canned foods, dry goods, fresh produce, meats, dairy products, cleaning supplies and toiletries. Many suppliers contributed to the employees’ food drive by donating additional items, and as a result, the employees were able to give families at least a month’s worth of groceries Angostura is very proud of its team and their commitment to helping vulnerable families at this crucial time. Employees were able to put a smile on the faces of many families across Trinidad & Tobago. The employees’ initiative is the first of its kind in T&T and comes off the back of hand sanitizer project in March when Angostura donated 70,000 bottles to first responders, communities and businesses with frontline staff. The Angostura family will continue to lend support in whatever way they can during this dreaded pandemic. http://www.angostura.com/
SAILOR JERRY
Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum continues its ongoing partnership with the United Service Organizations (USO) with the release of a limited-edition commemorative bottle, in conjunction with their partnership and military appreciation month. To show support of the USO efforts, Sailor Jerry and Anchor Media are donating $150,000, adding to Sailor Jerry’s total contribution of $1,000,000 supporting the USO and other military organizations since 2016. With a suggested retail value of $14.99, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum’s limited-edition bottle wrap exemplifies Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins spirit and the servicemen and women’s dedication to serving our country. The partnership is special to Sailor Jerry, as it pays homage to the brand’s namesake, Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins who served in the Navy himself. Both blended and bottled in America, the limited-edition bottle is hitting the shelves before Memorial Day and will be available at national and local liquor stores across the U.S. all summer. “We are honored to continue our partnership with the USO, to serve as a Force Behind the Forces® and to show support to the troops who serve our country,” said Josh Hayes, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum Senior Brand Manager. “The limited-edition bottle wrap is a bold representation of Collins’ iconic flash artwork and is a must-have collectable for any Sailor Jerry fan.” The USO partnership reflects a special passion point for Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, which was created to honor the late Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins. Collins was born January 14, 1911, and quickly found his aptitude for tattooing while traveling the country. After a stint in the Navy, Collins made World War II-era Honolulu his home and continued honing his skills as a tattoo artist. Sailors on shore leave in Honolulu would wait in line for hours outside Collins’ Hotel Street tattoo shop to be inked by the master himself. Collins greatly influenced the tattoo world through groundbreaking innovations. “We are thankful to continue our partnership with Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum and have been excited to see the partnership grow year after year,” said Chad Hartman, USO Vice President, Development and Corporate Alliances. “The Sailor Jerry team has helped us to host great events that express our appreciation for our troops and the company also helps rally other military supporters to give thanks and give back to service members and their families.” The connection between Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum and the USO started in 2016, when Sailor Jerry partnered with Fleet Week New York, throwing a party on U.S.S. Intrepid to toast the troops. Since then, Sailor Jerry has invited celebrities such as Norman Reedus, Glen Powell, and Alabama Shakes to toast the troops at Fleet Week events in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The brand took this opportunity to raise awareness and funds for military organizations that help the servicemen and women who sacrifice their lives for our country every day. Since then, Sailor Jerry has been able to raise $1,000,000 for military organizations and will be donating the largest amount yet to the USO with $150,000 this year. www.sailorjerry.com
HOLMES CAY
New limited editions of Fiji 2004 and Guyana Port Mourant Demerara 2005 rums will reach the shelves from ultra-premium importer, Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum, this month. Following up its acclaimed first edition, the Barbados 2005, these releases enable Holmes Cay to make good on its promise to bring a variety of international rums to US spirits lovers. “We have selected two rums that are classic examples of 100 percent pot still rums, but each is different, a unique rum expression. Our goal with each Holmes Cay edition is to celebrate a great rum distillery. Holmes Cay exists to show spirits lovers the exciting diversity of quality rum at cask strength through the distinct flavor and character of each cask,” said founder Eric Kaye. Holmes Cay Fiji 2004 is an exceptional example of the classic Fijian rum profile. Tropically aged in an ex-bourbon barrel for 12 years with a further 4 years maturation in the UK in American oak casks, this 100% pot still rum was distilled in 2004 at the South Pacific Distilleries of Fiji and bottled in New York State. No sugar, no color and no other flavors were added in the making of the Fiji 2004, bottled at cask strength or 58% alcohol by volume. Holmes Cay Guyana - Port Mourant Demerara 2005 is a product of the legendary Port Mourant double wooden pot still. Now nearly 300 years old, it’s the only functioning double wooden pot still in existence. This 100% pure pot still rum was distilled at Demerara Distillers in Guyana in 2005 and bottled in New York State. Aged for 15 years in the UK in American oak recycled rum casks, no sugar, no color and no other flavors were added in the making of this rum. A single cask of the Guyana Port Mourant Demerara 2005 has been bottled at full cask strength of 56.4% alcohol by volume. “These rums at cask strength are the peers of the best aged Scotch whiskeys or bourbons, despite being neither as well known nor as easily available here in the US,” said Kaye. “Holmes Cay was created to celebrate the world’s best rums for distilling artistry and production transparency. There are few opportunities in the United States to enjoy pure aged rum at full cask strength. Our goal is to make it a bit easier to find these treasures.” Each Holmes Cay edition is chosen as an outstanding example of its type, from distilleries committed to the traditional distilling process, answering the call from sophisticated spirits consumers for high quality, unadulterated rums. www.holmescay.com
BAYOU RUM DISTILLERY
Long before rum became associated with the Caribbean, a big chunk of the economy of colonial America was rooted in turning molasses imported from that region into rum. One could argue that New England-made rum was America’s original industrial product. These days, American rum is closely associated with places that still grow sugarcane, such as Louisiana. You don’t need to go there to see for yourself, though: Bayou Rum Distillery has a video and an amazing Google Maps-based 360-degree tour, creating a complete education package. https://bayourum.com/
KOHANA RUM
Kohana announced that all of their rums are now available for immediate shipping to certain states as some laws have been loosened to help small businesses like ours navigate through the pandemic. Now they are able to ship directly to folks in California, New York, Texas, Colorado, Washington, Florida, Illinois, Idaho, Ohio, New Mexico, Nebraska, Virginia and Washington DC. Currently, they are offering free shipping on purchases if three bottles or more.https://www.kohanarum.com/
MONTANYA DISTILLERS
From closing the public facing parts of their business to figuring how to support their staff during the coronavirus outbreak, Montanya Distillers has been in a continual state of adaptation. One bright spot last month was the arrival of their new still form from Bridgetown Brew Systems in Portland, Oregon. Their old stills were hand built for them in Portugal. When they started looking to expand production, and the makers of their traditional, alembic stills weren’t able to meet their size requirements, they set out looking for an alternative. Luckily Bridgetown Brew Systems were able to maintain many of the characteristics Montanya loves, a copper pot, for example, while allowing for increased capacity. The new still is a 500 gallon copper still, compared to the two 100-gallon stills we have been using. The maker was able to maintain a 100% copper pot and build a custom lentil head. This allows the new distilling process to resemble their old distilling process as closely as possible while still increasing capacity. On their current system, they produce about 100 bottles a day on each of their two existing stills. The new still will allow them to make 3,200 bottles a week. Both systems paired up will allow Montanya to handle tremendous growth. The new still is fitted with a stainless steel steam jacket on the outside, which will heat the still; their current stills are heated over a direct flame. This will reduce the heat-up time from an hour and a half to 30-40 minutes.
Montanya has partnered with Skylark Spirits to expand its distribution. This makes it easier to get all four of Montanya’s rums (Platino, Oro, Exclusiva and Valentia) across the U.K. and Europe. Karen Hoskin, Montanya’s founder, first connected with Skylark more than a year ago at the Miami Rum Congress and from there a friendship and partnership emerged. “From the start, they’ve had almost as much excitement about Montanya as we do, and their rum expertise blew me away,” said Hoskin. “They have developed a model for distribution that I wish the world would follow and I’m thrilled to have their partnership to continue the expansion of Montanya overseas.” Skylark Spirits, based in London, is an importer and distributor of fine cane spirits. It will initially help expand distribution in England but they also immediately connected Montanya to the EU. Through Master of Malt, anyone in Europe may have Montanya shipped to their door. As bars and restaurants begin to re-open and distribution expands in liquor stores, consumers will start to see Montanya rums on more shelves and back bars. “Montanya is an authentic and unique craft rum brand with an incredible story that we now get to share,” said Jaz Anand, director at Skylark Spirits. “Montanya not only makes delicious rums, but it also proves you can do business while taking care of the essentials like the environment, diversity, community, and philanthropy. As a certified B Corp, Montanya is a company others look to as a role model. We’re honored to be their partner.” https://www.montanyarum.com/
IN CLOSING – SOME GOOD READS
Ah, summertime…sitting by the pool with a good drink in one hand and a good book in the other. Here are some suggestions for the poolside read:
SPIRITS OF LATIN AMERICA
James Beard Award-nominated bartender explores the history and culture of Latin American spirits in this stunningly photographed travelogue, with 100+ irresistible cocktails featuring tequila, rum, pisco, and more. “Ivy’s unique combination of taste, talent, and tenacity make her the ideal ‘spirit’ guide.”—Steven Soderbergh, filmmaker, professional drinker, and owner of Singani 63. Through its in-depth look at drinking culture throughout Latin America, this gorgeous book offers a rich cultural and historical context for understanding Latin spirits. Ivy Mix has dedicated years to traveling south, getting to know Latin culture, in part through what the locals drink. What she details in this book is the discovery that Latin spirits echo the Latin palate, which echoes Latin life, emphasizing spiciness, vivaciousness, strength, and variation. After digging into tequila and Mexico’s other traditional spirits, Ivy Mix follows the sugar trail through the Caribbean and beyond, winding up in Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, where grape-based spirits like pisco and singani have been made for generations. With more than 100 recipes that have garnered acclaim at her Brooklyn bar, Leyenda, including fun spins on traditional cocktails such as the Pisco Sour, Margarita, and Mojito, plus drinks inspired by Ivy’s travels, like the Tia Mia (which combines mezcal, rum, and orange curacao, with a splash of lime and almond orgeat) or the Sonambula (which features jalapeño-infused tequila, lemon juice, chamomile syrup, and a dash of Peychaud’s bitters), along with mouthwatering photos and gorgeous travel images, this is the ultimate book on Latin American spirits. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/600316/spirits-of-latin-america-by-ivy-mix/
EASY TIKI
60 recipes inspired by the history of tiki, as well as the modern revival that’s putting a fresh spin on tropical tiki drinks--all simplified for the home bartender from cocktail authority PUNCH. Tiki is the dream of escape, a tropical vacation complete with warm ocean water, island music, and beachside dinners. Kicking back with a tiki cocktail may be the epitome of easy living, but ironically, tiki drinks are among the hardest to make, often requiring eight or more ingredients. Now Easy Tiki is here to solve that problem! Easy Tiki examines the modern tiki revival offering sixty transporting recipes that re-jigger the classics with minimal ingredients while still maintaining the delicious balance, spices, and stunning garnishes that define tiki cocktails. Drinks include classics such as the Beachcomber’s Gold and Fog Cutter and modern cocktails such as Elusive Dreams and Paradise Lost. Easy Tiki also includes an overview of the origins of the tiki genre, from Don the Beachcomber and the mid-century tiki craze to Trader Vic’s and beyond.https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/606720/easy-tiki-by-chloe-frechette/
