May 2016 - Rum In The News

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May 2016 - Rum In The News

ANGOSTURA

Known for their iconic bitters and rum-making heritage, The House of Angostura, the only rum distillery in Trinidad, has announced the complete repackaging of its international rum range at Rhum Fest in Paris, France. “It’s a big, brave move for us,” says Executive Manager – International Sales & Marketing, Genevieve Jodhan, “and we are confident that our new, modern and sophisticated packaging captures the more than 190 years of heritage and history that inform the proud traditions of The House of Angostura.” They have changed the packaging for all five of their highly acclaimed international rums: Angostura 1824, Angostura 1919, Angostura 7 Year Old, Angostura 5 Year Old, and Angostura Reserva. The labels include new typography which is streamlined, stylish and evocative of luxury. The iconic butterfly logo of The House of Angostura has been centered at the top of the front label, and two new brand icons have been added — a map of Trinidad and Tobago on the left, and an illustration of a butterfly and molasses on the right. These images tell the distinctive story of the brand. Butterflies have been associated with Angostura’s rums from time immemorial, and The House of Angostura is home to the Barcant Collection of more than 5,000 butterflies. All the rums that are made at Angostura’s distillery in Trinidad use the highest quality molasses. In addition to changes to the labels, Angostura’s three premium rums, Angostura 1824, Angostura 1919, Angostura 7 Year Old, are presented in a heavy, sensuous bottle with a thick glass base. Beautifully shaped with rounded curves, the bottles also use a new “orchid closure system” which is both easy to open, yet safely secured for the customer ’s protection. All five bottles are ergonomically balanced and shaped to facilitate storage and usage at the bar. The signature of Dr. J.G.B. Seigert, the founder of Angostura, and the crest of the House of Angostura are also emblazoned on all the bottles.

HOPKING RUM RECALL

Britain’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued a request that white and dark rum sold in Asda and Aldi grocery stores in England under the Hopking label be returned. Glen Turner Co. Ltd, supplier of the rum, is recalling bottles of dark and white rum products produced for the two major supermarkets Aldi and Asda as they may contain small fragments of glass. Specific labels recalled include Carta Blanca Superior White Rum, Refined Dark Navy Rum, Liberty Ship Superior Dark Rum, Liberty Ship Superior White Rum, Old Hopking Dark Rum and Old Hopking White Rum. Glen Turner said the measure was being taken on a “precautionary basis” due to a “manufacturing defect and that point-of-sale notices will be displayed in Asda and Aldi stores selling these rums.

POTOMAC DISTILLING COMPANY

The Wharf, a new mixed-used development that will include more than 20 restaurants and bars on the Southwest Water front of Washington, DC will include Potomac Distilling, a rum distillery and Tiki bar. There is a long history of rum in early America, and what better place for a rum distillery than along the Potomac River. Potomac Distilling is a new project for the Eat Good Food Group, which owns the local Restaurant Eve and a bar called PX. PX’s current mixmaster, Todd Thrasher, will head up the bar and manage a 200 gallon still. He is planning four rums at this point: a white rum, a traditional spiced rum, a rum for aging and a non-traditional spiced rum, flavored with green herbs, that he hopes will appeal to gin drinkers. Potomac Distilling will include three bars, including one situated on a grassy fire pit. Restaurant Eve chef Cathal Armstrong will produce a small, 15-to-20- item bar menu that will pair with the rum-based cocktails. Bottles of Potomac rums will be available for purchase on site. Opening is planned for Fall of 2017.

RON DIPLMATICO

Rum Diplomático announced a partnership with Fenway Park, home of the 8-time World Champion Boston Red Sox. The partnership joins Fenway Park and Diplomático Rum, recognized as one of the finest sipping rums in the world, to celebrate the passion that Americans and Venezuelans share for baseball, the national sport in Venezuela. “While looking for a partner, it was essential for us to find a company that shares the same values: excellence and passion. We feel honored to be associated with such an important landmark like Fenway Park, one of the most famous baseball stadiums of all time,” said Nino Curbelo, Diplomático’s Export Manager in North America. Red Sox Executive Vice President Troup Parkinson said “We are pleased to partner with Diplomático and introduce our fans to one of the finest rums in the world. We look forward to sharing an exciting season at Fenway Park with Diplomático and welcome them to the Red Sox family.”

KOLOA RUM

All seven Koloa rums won medals at the recent Rum XP Competition in Miami. Amazingly, they earned Gold Medals in the Premium White, Gold, Dark and Spiced categories. If that wasn’t enough, they had a double-hitter in the Flavored category. Their Coconut Rum won a Gold Medal and the Koloa Coffee won Best in Class in Flavored Rums. Koloa continues to expand into new markets, but, unfortunately has not reached Colorado. sigh………

WOOD’S OLD NAVY RUM

William Grant & Sons has turned to the folks at Purple Creative to redesign the packaging for Their legendary Wood’s Old Navy Rum. Purple Creative Founding Partner & Creative Director, Steve Bewick, mentions, “Our objective was to make the Wood’s bottle and packaging more premium, iconic and memorable. We conducted extensive research into the history and heritage of Wood’s, including unearthing some previously unknown facts about the brand inspired by its rich naval heritage and traditions. We gave the Wood’s bottle an overhaul – a stronger, sturdier bottle with thicker glass to represent the strength of the liquid (57% ABV) and the toughness of sailors in the British Navy in the eighteenth century when they were given their daily ration of rum. We added a cork to make it more premium and more authentic, as original bottles on board would have had corks.” The packaging has changed, but the recipe has not. It was created in 1887 and is still made to the original navy recipe. It uses rum from the world’s only single wooden pot still; up to 250 years old, the still is made of green heart, a local hardwood that imparts complex flavors. It is still bottled at 57%, the minimum strength of rums originally served on board British Navy ships. Wood’s is a blend of three Guyana rums made from Demerara black strap molasses.

DENTED BRICK DISTILLERY

In February, I wrote about Distillery 36 opening in Utah. They joined Kirk Sedgwick’s Outlaw Distillery and James Fowler’s Sugar House Distillery in the movement to bring local rum to Utah. The latest to join that effort is Dented Brick Distillery. Founders Marc Christensen and Celeste Royal have built a new 14,000 square foot distillery in an industrial area of South Salt Lake that just happened to have a natural artesian well on the property. They have hired Ethan Miller, formerly of High West Distillery in Park City and New Deal Distillery in Oregon to master the new 28 foot Vendome still. Their first product will be a white rum which they are calling Antelope Island Rum. Christensen describes it like this: “Antelope Island Rum is a white rum, made from molasses and a green cane sugar blend. It’s organic and we’re practicing with some yeast right now, so I’m not sure which yeast we’re going to use, but it should be very tasty.”

RON BOTRAN

Licoreras de Guatamala, the parent company of Botran Rum, has chosen Shaw-Ross International as the exclusive importer of the brand in the United States. Shaw-Ross will focus on three rums. Botran Solera 1893 is a blend of rums up to 18 years old, matured is a Solera System in the mountains of Guatemala in American whiskey oak barrels that previously held sherry and port wines. Botran Reserva gets a similar Solera treatment and is made up of rums that have aged up to 15 years. Reserva Blanca is a white rum that has matured in barrels for up to 3 years. “At our core, we are still a small, family company, and as we expand our footprint, we want to do it as organically as possible,” said Jaime Botran, president of Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala. “We feel that Shaw-Ross has the potential to help our brand reach more premium rum drinkers across the U.S. We’re very excited about our new alliance.”

BACARDI RUM COCKTAIL

Flashback to 1936 during the economic upheaval of the Great Depression in the United States. Prohibition had recently ended, and BACARDÍ rum was very popular. During this struggling time, a few bars and restaurants in New York City tried to take advantage of consumers by substituting lesser quality rums for BACARDÍ for when they asked for BACARDÍ cocktails. Standing up for the consumer’s right to get what was ordered and to protect the quality of cocktails, family owned Bacardi, now the largest privately held spirits company in the world, took legal action against these bars and restaurants. Straight from the original court transcripts safeguarded in The Bacardi Archives, the case was originally ruled on April 28, 1936— 80 years ago—and ultimately affirmed by the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court one year later. Bacardi attorneys called the judge’s bar tender to testify and asked him what rum he used in the judge’s favorite BACARDÍ cocktail. He answered only “BACARDÍ rum.” Some other bar tenders testified they used the handiest bottle of any rum available to make BACARDÍ cocktails. With that, then-Justice John L. Walsh ruled: “Beyond a reasonable doubt subterfuge and a fraud is subjected on the purchaser when BACARDÍ rum is left out of a drink listed as a BACARDÍ cocktail.”

HAVANA CLUB

In an attempt to emphasize its Cuban roots, Pernod Ricard has redesigned the label on its 7 Year Old Havana Club rum. A more traditional, sturdy cylindrical bottle will feature a new label with the traditional Havana Club logo and a colorful trim. Neck tags will “encourage consumers to discover” the craftsman behind Havana Club rum. And the back label will carry an image of Havana Club creator Jose Navarro. “As the leading 100% authentic Cuban rum brand available globally, we are very excited to unveil a new look for Havana Club Añejo 7 Años that speaks of our proud Cuban roots and the people behind this revered rum,” said Nick Blacknell, marketing director at Havana Club.

VISCAYA RUM

Hardy USA will introduce a new Viscaya rum in the United States. Joining Viscaya VXOP Cask 21, Visacaya Cask 12 and Viscaya Cristal will be Viscaya Black. Created in small batches in the Dominican Republic using the traditional Guarapa method, Vizcaya Black Rum features pressed sugar cane juices as the primary ingredient, not molasses that is used for producing other rums. The ingredients are carefully blended, then aged for 12 to 21 years in premium char red oak barrels. The aging time determines the richness of the rum’s dark color.