Rum in the News
MONTANYA DISTILLERS
Montanya Distillers in Crested Butte, Colorado will be releasing their new rum, Montanya Fuerza (which means strength), on March 8 in celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. Fuerza is a four-year-aged overproof rum, finished in an Uncle Nearest barrel. Montanya Fuerza will only be available at the Montanya Tasting Room in Crested Butte. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Crested Butte’s own Melanin Mountain Project and the label features artwork from BIPOC artist Amethyst McDowell. Karen Hoskins, Montanya’s CEO and owner, was one of six individuals in the rum industry named The Ultimate & Most Admirable CEO 2023 by The Ultimate Awards and The Rum Lab. See paragraph below. https://www.montanyarum.com/
THE ULTIMATE AND MOST ADMIRABLE CEO AWARDS
The Ultimate Awards and The Rum Lab recognized the contributions of six rum industry Chief Executive Officers for their exceptional performance and meritorious contributions to society in 2022. In a ceremony at the Miami Rum Congress, the six were presented with The Ultimate and Most Admirable CEO Award. The recognized CEOs were:
- Martha Miller, CEO of National Rums of Jamaica. Miller broke ground by being the first woman to hold this position in the Jamaican rum sector. She is responsible for overseeing the operations of National Rums of Jamaica, a corporation comprised of five divisions and two distilleries.
- Jose Álvarez, CEO and Founder of San Juan Artisan Distillers. When Álvarez’s landscaping business floundered with the economic collapse of 2008, he decided to grow sugarcane and make rum. Then, in 2017, Hurricane Maria wiped out the cane fields he had worked so hard to cultivate. He persevered and now TresClavos Rum is his bestselling rum.
- Jose R. Ballesteros, CEO of Destilerias Unidas. José Rafael, who was raised in the field of distilling and manufacturing spirits, took over the family firm and turned it around. In 2002, they purchased Licoreras Unidas (LUSA) and several of its brands, including the renowned Ron Diplomático, to his great delight.
- Karen Hoskins, CEO of Montanya Distillers. Karen started Montanya Distillers in Silverton, Colorado in 2008, at a time when the industry was dominated by men. She had to fight to be taken seriously for her first decade in business. She is passionate about gender equality and environmental sustainability. Montanya was the world’s first certified B Corp rum distillery.
- Alexandre Gabriel, CEO of Maison Ferrand. Gabriel started Maison Ferrand in 1989 with a mission to preserve age-old, craft production methods that capture the true expression of the spirit. In 1996, he created Citadelle Gin, the Gin de France, spearheading the movement for French gins. Alexandre then introduced Plantation Rum in 1999, reflecting his passion for old rum-making techniques and introducing his trademark double-ageing process.
- Steve Jefferson, CEO and Co-founder of Kuleana Rum. On a family trip, Steve noticed the similarities between Martinique and his home state of Hawaii. After discovering the existence of Hawaiian heirloom sugarcane varietals, Steve decided to make rum from fresh pressed sugarcane juice. See my article on Steve and Kuleana Rum on page 48.
https://therumlab.com/ https://theultimateawards.com/
WAREHOUSE #1
Czech Republic independent bottler, Warehouse#1, has released a line of rums that are all unaged white spirits from iconic Jamaican distilleries, bottled at 63%. They include:
- Warehouse #1 Overproof White Rum HLCF - HLCF or “Hampden Light Continental Flavored” is the result of traditional wild fermentation and distillation that has been maintained in Jamaica’s Trelawny area for centuries. With an ester content between 500-600, this rum is not as intense as other rums produced by the Hampden distillery, but it is still funky, fruity and aromatic.
- Warehouse #1 Overproof White Rum STCHE - This rum originated in Jamaica’s Long Pond Distillery, which was founded in 1753 and is famous for its distinctive, funky rums that are created through an authentic distillation process. The abbreviation STCE or “Simon Thompson Cambridge Estate” refers to the ester content classification used by the Cambridge distillery, which disappeared in 1947. The ester content in this rum varies between 550-700 g/hLPA..
- Warehouse #1 Overproof White Rum River Mumma Edition WP/CJN – The “mumma” is a creature that combines a mermaid and a jellyfish and protects the fresh waters of Jamaica’s rivers. This Worthy Park contribution is said to be made from fresh cane juice from their own plantation.
- Warehouse #1 Overproof White Rum Anansi Edition NYE/HM - New Yarmouth Estate is a mysterious distillery standing in the Clarendon area near Clarendon Distillery and Monymusk Sugarworks. The owners of the distillery are extremely secretive, information is scarce, and therefore even independent fillings are very rare. This heavy, fruity rum is bottled at a typically Jamaican ABV of 63% with an ester content between 500-700g/HLPA.
- Warehouse #1 Overproof White Rum John Crow Edition DOC – This offering comes from Hampden Estate, a fabled distillery nestled between the mountains of Cockpit Country and the sea at Trelawny. Legend has it that Jamaican brandy was stolen here by members of a criminal gang from Trelawny. The brandy was named John Crow, because a person had to have a stomach as strong as a vulture, which is called “John Crow” in Jamaica, in order to drink it. DOK, or Dermot Owen Kelly, Hampden Estate rum brand with the highest ester content, hovering around 1600g/bl.
- Warehouse #1 Overproof White Rum Rolling Calf Edition TECA – The Rolling Calf is a mythical creature from Jamaican folk culture that belongs to the so-called Duppies or ghosts. The Rolling Calf is said to be the spirit of a dead person who has taken the form of an animal that roams the night looking for troubled souls. The TECA Wild Rum from Long Pond Distillery has an ester content of 1300 g/ml.
https://www.warehouse1.cz/
PAPA’S PILAR
Chief Conservation Officer, Mike Myatt, recently visited the I.CARE organization in Islamorada, FL to donate $25,000 to support reef restoration, conservation and education efforts. Key West Rum Maker and marine biologist, Shawn Martin, joined the I.CARE folks for their Dive & Transplant Day, helping to transplant coral and monitor the health of previously transplanted corals. I.CARE is dedicated to restoring the reefs of Islamorada, including the world-famous Alligator Reef.
https://www.papaspilar.com/ https://www.icareaboutcoral.org/
MATUGGA DISTILLERY
A new age of rum-distilling is on the horizon for Scotland, as the award-winning Matugga Distillery launches its private cask ownership program to the public. Inspired by the success of Scotch whisky, the distillery is offering people the chance to tap into the emerging market of rum cask ownership and to be ‘part of Scotland’s distilling history’. Revered whisky expert Charles MacLean, MBE believes the move will ‘put Scottish rum on the map’. A limited number of casks are available for an initial investment of £3,300 each. The result will be circa 350 bottles of 3-year-old rum per ex-Bourbon cask, produced using a 2,000-litre copper pot still by head distiller and leading craft rum expert, Paul Rutasikwa. The exclusive cask ownership is available on a first come, first filled basis in what Paul describes as “a milestone moment for Scottish rum”. Paul said: “This is an opportunity like no other to join us on a very special journey. Scotland has a little known and very deep rum heritage linked to the Age of Imperialism. Now, in 2023, we’re part of Scotland’s exciting new wave of rum distillers and there’s a real opportunity for us to create history and take Scottish rum worldwide.” Matugga was one of the first UK businesses to produce rums distilled from scratch. Alongside his wife Jacine, Paul set-up the Livingston-based distillery in 2018. Their artisanal cask-aged and spiced rums have won multiple international awards, including two Gold medals at the Rum and Cachaça Masters.
https://www.matuggarum.com/
CANE ISLAND
Cane Island Rum offers an authentic range of rums from selected Caribbean and Central American countries. These rums truly represent the style and tradition of the origins and distilleries. The rum selection of Cane Island Rum consists of Single Island Blends and Single Estate Rums. The Single Island Blends are blends of rum coming from different distilleries from one island. The Single Estate Rums are sourced from one single distillery. Their recent 12-year Nicaragua Single Estate is one of those rums and has an interesting story. The label says 100% Tropical Aged, but there is a twist. In 2006, the Compañía Licorera de Nicaragua sold a big batch of freshly distilled bulk rum to a company in the Philippines, along with enough staves of ex-bourbon barrels to start the aging of the rum. Twelve years later, Cane Island bought the whole batch from the company in the Philippines through a rum broker. Compañía Licorera de Nicaragua has long since stopped selling bulk rum, as their own brands have grown, and it is now very difficult to find Nicaragua rum from independent bottlers. The rum’s 12-year-old history has spanned the globe, and just like all their Single Estates, the age statement refers entirely to tropical aging, albeit the tropical climate of the Philippines, not Nicaragua.
https://www.caneisland-rum.com/
DON THE BEACHCOMBER
Last year, 23 Restaurant Services acquired and added the iconic Don the Beachcomber restaurant brand to its already impressive portfolio. Last month, in honor of Donn’s birthday (February 22), the Tampa-based hospitality company has moved forward with an expansive growth strategy for its new tiki-themed restaurant brand. According to Marc Brown, President of 23 Restaurant Services, there are currently two Don the Beachcomber restaurants and bars under development in Central Florida, with the first slated to open by the end of the year. Each of the restaurants will feature the eccentric, Polynesian-inspired design and flamboyant, rum-based drinks that have become synonymous with Don the Beachcomber locations for more than 90 years. “Don the Beachcomber is the most iconic brand in tiki history, so it’s impossible to overstate how excited we are about what lies ahead,” said Brown. “We look forward to leveraging our expertise in management and operational excellence to reintroduce the world to the legend that is Don the Beachcomber.” The expansion is being supported by a newly assembled advisory board made up of some of the most influential voices in tiki culture over the last 30 years. They are:
- Tim “Swanky” Glazner – Donn Beach historian currently working on a book and documentary about Donn Beach. Author of Mai-Kai: History and Mystery of the Iconic Tiki restaurant.
- Martin Cate – Author of Smuggler’s Cove, as well as the owner of the bar by the same name.
- Sven Kirsten – Tiki historian and author of four tiki books, including The Book of Tiki, which is touted as a veritable bible within the genre.
- John Mulder – Famous tiki mug designer and owner of Eekum Bookum Tiki Mugs.
- Danny “Tiki Diablo” Gallardo – Famous designer of tiki carvings, ceramic cocktail mugs and complete tiki bar interiors.
Marie King, former Beverage Director and General Manager of Tonga Hut in Hollywood, California, has joined the 23 Restaurant Services team as Director of Beverage. “Assembling this dynamic and legendary group of experts to serve as our advisory board was the first step in developing a plan to share and represent the history and life of Don the Beachcomber with the utmost authenticity,” said Brown. “We could not be more excited to share the work we are doing together to bring Don the Beachcomber back to life.” Don the Beachcomber was founded by Donn Beach (born Ernest Raymond Gantt), an American adventurer, businessman, and World War II veteran. After traveling in the South Pacific and the Caribbean, he worked as a valet, dish washer, bootlegger, and movie advisor for a number of years. In the early 1930s, Beach opened the very first Don the Beachcomber in Hollywood, California, a block off Hollywood Boulevard. Inspired by his travels and the South Seas movies, he filled the new place with a collection of odds and ends he found and imported during his excursions (bamboo, fishing floats, grass mattings, etc.).
https://www.23restaurants.com/
MOUNT GAY RUM
Mount Gay Rum is celebrating its 320th birthday this year with the launch of Black Barrel Cask Strength Rum. The brand claims that it is the oldest-running rum-producing distillery, having been established in 1703. “The year is monumental for Mount Gay,” noted Antoine Couvreur, Managing Director for Mount Gay, according to Spirit’s Business. “As we celebrate 320 years of heritage and tradition, we also keep our pioneering spirit and have tasked ourselves with being the industry leader in sustainability. We must give back to the land we use and the people who live on it to ensure its future. This year also honors the expertise of our incredible team with new and limited releases coming out throughout the year. Stay tuned.” The anniversary rum is distilled in copper pot and column stills, matured in American whiskey casks and finished in charred Bourbon casks much like the famous Black Barrel. However, this new expression is bottled at cask strength with a 66% ABV. This new edition to the Mount Gay lineup is a distillery exclusive. The special release of around 1,500 bottles is only available at the Mount Gay Distillery and Visitor Center in Barbados.
https://www.mountgayrum.com/
CAPTAIN MORGAN
Captain Morgan will unveil its new label this month. The new design builds on the Spice On campaign which celebrates the spice of Captain Morgan’s liquid and ‘spice’ as the individuality people bring to social situations. The new pack puts the quality, flavor and most importantly the spice of the liquid at the forefront of the design. The design features a bold color palette and the addition of a dynamic and expressive gold brush stroke that reflects the golden spice and smoothness of the drink. Samori Gambrah, Global Brand Director of Captain Morgan, told Label & Labeling ‘This new pack design heroes the delicious spice of our liquid and character as a brand. It will allow us the flexibility we need to show up in a dynamic way in our sponsorships, live events, collaborations, and packaging around the world. This launch comes at an exciting time of transformation for Captain Morgan, as we evolve how we communicate with our consumers.’ The new pack also includes a refreshed version of the brand’s famous Captain icon, maintaining recognizability while allowing the liquid to shine through as the hero – reinforcing the brand’s enduring smooth and delicious taste amid an explosion of flavor innovations within the spirits category over recent years.
https://www.captainmorgan.com/
BRIX DISTILLERS
Spirit Business reported that Australian rum producer Brix Distillers is aiming to raise AU$15 million to build a new distillery in Sydney. Established in 2017, the premium rum brand is looking to ‘reinvent Australian rum culture’, as consumer demand for premium rum increases. This new funding round will be put towards the full construction of a new ‘state-of-the-art’ rum distillery in Sydney that will hopefully see production capacity reach one million liters of rum annually to meet ‘surging’ local and international demand. Brix Distillers currently produces premium rum at its distillery in Surry Hills, Sydney. In the past four years the producer has seen its revenue growth rate reach 60% per year. Brix White Cane Spirit is crafted in Surry Hills from premium Australian molasses, sourced from the cane-fields of Queensland and Northern NSW. Brix announced their second Sydney aged Brix rum, The Select Cask Series - Tawny Finish Release. This handcrafted rum has been matured in French oak casks, sourced from Brokenwood & Thomas Wines, two world-class wineries in the Hunter Valley, NSW.
https://www.brixdistillers.com/
KIRK and SWEENEY
3 Badge Beverage Corporation announced the launch of its Kirk and Sweeney Gran Reserva Superior Rum barrel program. This program offers a special opportunity for trade buyers to taste Kirk and Sweeney Gran Reserva Superior Rum samples finished in a variety of cask influences, including, but not limited to bourbon, sauternes and sherry barrels. Trade accounts can then select a custom barrel-finished product exclusively tailored for their customers.“ We are thrilled to launch this barrel program for Kirk and Sweeney, considering it is our largest global brand,” said August Sebastiani, President of 3 Badge Beverage Corporation. “This program reflects the adventurous spirit of this label, as well as our commitment to keeping up with demand, all while still offering the ultra-premium, handcrafted Dominican rum our clients and consumers have come to expect.” Each bottle will feature a limited-edition gold neck made of sleek metal that prominently displays “Single Barrel” for differentiation from the existing Gran Reserva Superior offering. A custom-printed tag that includes the barrel type, finish time, bottle number, and account name is also included with each purchased bottle. Additionally, each account will receive the barrel head from the barrel selection. Barrels will be offered on limited availability. Handcrafted in the Dominican Republic, Kirk and Sweeney Rum adheres to the very strict regulations to be called “Dominican Rum.” The process begins with hand-harvested, high-quality sugarcane that is pure. The byproduct of the sugarcane, “Blackstrap Molasses,” is then carefully fermented and distilled. The rum is then aged in a variety of American and French oak barrels, with the distiller conducting various steps of dumping, blending, and re-barreling through the years. The final blend for Kirk and Sweeney Gran Reserva Superior is aged on average between 6 and 25 years. The secondary barrel finish time will vary in length.
https://www.kirkandsweeneyrum.com/spirits/reserva-superior/
