May 2020 - Rum In The News

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                                 CAPTAIN MORGAN

This summer’s limited release from Captain Morgan is Orange Vanilla Twist. The summery drink can of course be enjoyed on the rocks to sip and savor, or it can be served with a common mixer like club soda. The Orange Vanilla Twist has a 30 percent ABV which would make for a very session-able poolside drink. Adult creamsicles anyone?  Spirit News reported that in Europe and the UK, Captain Morgan introduced a tiki-inspired spirit drink, bottled at 25% ABV. The new Captain Morgan Tiki is a tropical rum-based spirit drink, said to be “packed with pineapple and mango flavors”. Nick Payman, head of Captain Morgan Europe, said “We know our customers are looking to experiment and try different spirit taste combinations. Captain Morgan Tiki offers something completely new to consumers.” The rum is inspired by the “adventures of the captain through the South Pacific islands”. The bottle has been designed to “bring the tiki concept to life” with embossed detailing to stand out on shelves and behind the bar. https://www.captainmorgan.com/

                                     FLOR de CAÑA

Flor de Caña rum has postponed the Global Finale of its Sustainable Cocktail Challenge.  Bartenders from over 40 countries would have traveled to Nicaragua to compete in Flor de Caña’s Sustainable Cocktail Challenge final round. The competition centers around sustainable cocktail ingredients, challenging bartenders to get creative while being eco-conscious. Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus, Flor de Caña made the responsible decision to postpone the competition, planning to reschedule when it’s safe to do so. Wanting to give competitors something to look forward to, the brand announced the judging line up, which features the maestro Salvatore Calabrese, legendary bartender credited with inventing the modern Breakfast Martini and president of the UK Bartenders’ Guild; Julio Cabrera, co-owner of Miami’s Cafe La Trova and Bartender of the Year at last year’s Spirited Awards; and Hannah Sharman-Cox, managing director of London Cocktail Week. This star-studded line up of judges will be evaluating bartenders on their ability to combine creativity and sustainable ingredients. Flor de Caña prides itself on its commitment to sustainability, and the Sustainable Cocktail Challenge is its way of celebrating and sharing these values with bartenders from around the world. The rum is sustainably produced, from field to bottle, and Fair Trade certified, which guarantees compliance with over 300 stringent labor, social and environmental standards. Some of Flor de Caña’s environmental actions include planting 50,000 trees each year (which it’s been doing since 2005); distilling its rum with 100 per cent renewable energy (something the distillery has implemented for over 10 years); and capturing and recycling all CO2 emissions generated by fermentation. https://flordecanachallenge.com/

                                   MATUSALEM RUM

Matusalem believes that striving for excellence is not an easy task and they love to support the ones that have the same mission, specifically when this task is related to helping others. When they decided this year to partner with Jose Andres and the World Central Kitchen NGO for 2020, they had no idea where this year would take them, let alone could they have foreseen the drastic impact that this most recent pandemic is having on life as we know it. As proud corporate partners, they wanted to use their platforms to highlight and help as much as they can the incredible work WCK is doing in the face of the ongoing global pandemic. From the Bronx, to the bay area to the shores of Japan and including its recent contribution in Spain too; WCK have become the first responders to provide edible, economical & emotional support for those suffering from the devastating impacts of COVID19 on our world’s communities. They could not be more honored to be a sponsored partner. If, after finishing your gratitude checklist and checking in on your beloved ones, you find yourself needing a cocktail or a drink, be aware that every bottle of Matusalem Gran Reserva has provided funds to support WCK efforts. As well, you are more than welcome to donate directly thru your personal involvement in this site: https://donate.wck.org/give/236738/#!/donation/checkout  After arriving in Cuba from their native Spain, Benjamin and Eduardo Camp, along with partner, Evaristo Alvarez, founded Matusalem Rum in 1872 in Santiago de Cuba. Matusalem’s reputation spread the world over when Cuba became the destination of choice for celebrities and trendsetters from the 1930’s through the 1950’s. With the rise of the Fidel Castro Revolution, Ron Matusalem manufacturing was eventually moved to the Dominican Republic, where the climate and soil conditions are very similar to that of Cuba. Known as the cognac of rums, Ron Matusalem is produced using the original recipe. Distillation and blending principles come from the Solera Aging System, originally developed for the production of sherry and brandy. Ron Matusalem remains unchanged as it is still produced in the same Cuban tradition, using the original family secret formula.  www.matusalem.com

                                      HAVANA CLUB

Havana Club has unveiled its much anticipated limited-edition, ultra-prestige rum Havana Club Tributo 2020. This will be the fifth anniversary of the Tributo Collection. The latest installment in the range was released last month at the Habanos Festival (Havana, Cuba) with a limited release of 2,500 bottles globally.  The Tributo Collection is a series of annual limited editions created with the finest aged rum reserves to pay tribute to the unrivaled excellence in Cuban Rum production whilst also showcasing the variety and richness in flavor, colors and aromas within authentic Cuban rum. Unveiled for the first time in 2016, each edition highlights a specific element of traditional Cuban rum making process, reflecting the knowledge and passion of the Masters of Cuban rum. This year, the Havana Club Tributo 2020 edition pays homage to the unique successive ageing and blending process used in Cuban rum, carefully carried out according to the Cuban traditions handed down by the Masters of Cuban Rum After each batch of Havana Club is blended, part of the blend is reserved aside and returned to casks for future rum production. To create Tributo 2020, Asbel Morales, Master of Cuban rum, hand-selected a small quantity of exquisite rum reserves from previous Tributo releases which had been kept and re-aged, and then blended them with a unique rum drawn from an extraordinary batch of 100 exclusive casks that have not been sold commercially. The result is a fine, luxurious spirit of astounding depth and complexity with an intense and rich hint of smoke derived from the Tributo 2018 release bases as well as notes of dark chocolate, coffee and spice. The bottle is presented in a luxury box with art-deco style references, which will entice rum connoisseurs, spirits drinkers and cigar lovers alike. Both the outer packaging and the label evoke the splendorous years of the 1920’s, a century before the birth of a grand rum – Havana Club Tributo 2020. Each bottle is numbered, and each box is personalized with the signature of the Havana Club Master of Cuban rum as a guarantee of quality and excellence. Asbel Morales, Havana Club’s Maestro del Ron Cubano, commented: “This year we celebrate an important milestone in the Tributo Collection, with the fifth edition in the range. It has been a great honor to be involved in the creation of all the spectacular Tributo editions, with each one paying tribute to different elements of Cuban rum production process. Today, I am thrilled to present Tributo 2020, a rum created with rum reserves kept from the previous Tributo creations which have been re-aged and blended with other rum bases that have never been used before. This year’s edition is a tribute to the Cuban rum process of continuous ageing and blending, which I am confident that cigar aficionados, rum collectors and discerning drinkers will enjoy!” Nick Blacknell, Global Marketing Director at Havana Club International, added: “We are proud to present the fifth edition of the Tributo Collection, created with some of the most precious, rare and unique rum reserves from Havana Club. With only 2,500 bottles being released, we expect the Havana Club Tributo 2020 to elicit excitement amongst whisky and rum connoisseurs, top high-end bars and specialist drinks suppliers around the world and to sell out very soon, as many more collectors are adding prestige, ultra-premium rum to their drink collections.” https://havana-club.com/

                        NEW HOLLAND RUM PUNCH

In early 2002, New Holland Brewing Co-Founder & President Brett VanderKamp visited the Caribbean with the intention of enjoying sun, sand and waves. Instead, he found world-class rum, and a lifelong obsession with fine craft spirits was born. He returned to Holland, MI with a mission: to create spirits that live up to his artful way of life and to share them with the world. In 2019, New Holland Spirits made home bartending a cinch when they released their ready-to-drink Rum Punch. Fans immediately took to the delicious blend of Freshwater Rum mixed with passionfruit, orange, pineapple and coconut flavors, and now, after taking home Best in Class at this year’s American Distillers Institute (ADI) awards, Rum Punch has the accolades to back the hype. Founder and President, Brett Vanderkamp, expressed pride in receiving this prestigious award. “Winning Best-In-Class at ADI is an incredible honor and is a testament to the hard work and talent of our distilling team,” Vanderkamp said. For brand manager Adam Dickerson, the secrets to their success are quality and inclusivity. “At New Holland, we do our best to make something for every person and every palate, any way we can,” Dickerson said. “The rum punch has enough complex rum flavor for a rum critic to enjoy but is balanced with the fruit, making it very refreshing and approachable.” https://www.newhollandbrew.com/spirits/ 

         AUSTRALIA LIFTS ALCOHOL PURCHASE LIMITS

In March, Retail Drinks Australia, a trade body representing alcohol retailers in the country, announced a voluntary national initiative to place temporary limits on the number of liquor products shoppers could purchase in one transaction. The initiative restricted shoppers to buying two bottles of spirits (not exceeding two liters in total), twelve bottles of wine, and two cases each of beer, cider or pre-mixed spirits/ready-to-drink products. Consumers could purchase up to the total limit in any two product categories at one time. Retail Drinks CEO Julie Ryan said the guideline was developed following concerns being raised by government that customers could change their purchasing behaviors and cause supply interruptions as seen within the grocery market. On April 28th, these temporary measures were lifted. Julie Ryan stated “After monitoring data closely over the last month, we can report that despite early elevated purchasing following initial announcements of Covid-19-related restrictions, we have seen purchasing trends flatten and return to near-normal. Retail liquor trading has returned to 2019 levels, and in many cases is actually significantly lower.” https://www.retaildrinks.org.au/

                                      KOLOA RUM

Koloa Rum Company announced that the distillery has expanded production capabilities to produce hand sanitizer in response to the needs of first responders and healthcare organizations in the County of Kaua`i. Koloa Rum Company has been moving quickly to develop and produce hand sanitizers in accordance with FDA guidelines. In mid-March, the company produced and donated an initial 15-gallon batch of sanitizer to Kaua`i County first responders and essential workers at Kaua`i Coffee Company. Soon after the initial batch was produced, new guidelines for hand sanitizer production were released by the FDA and TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau), which required the company to suspend production until necessary ingredients were received and protocols were put in place. Koloa Rum Company has since obtained all necessary information and required ingredients, has registered with the FDA as a producer, and has received assigned NDCs (National Drug Codes) for each bottle size in production. The company is also working closely with Brian Carter, compounding pharmacist and principal of Westside Pharmacy on Kaua`i to ensure that production processes, ingredients and protocols are in accordance with FDA guidelines and standards. Koloa Rum has resumed hand sanitizer production late last month, producing 500 gallons of hand sanitizer that will be bottled in 1.75 liter and 200ml plastic bottles with tamper evident screwcaps. Koloa Kaua`i Sanitizer will be donated to local health care providers, care homes, first responders, and county workers, and Koloa Rum Company will continue to produce and distribute product as long as there is a critical need. Depending on the need from the community of Kaua`i and surrounding Hawaiian Islands, the company is also considering increasing production and broadening distribution to meet those needs. Koloa Rum Company President and CEO Bob Gunter asks that Kaua`i County organizations in need of donations connect with him directly by emailing Bob@KoloaRum.com. “We are honored and grateful to be in a position where we can support our community by producing a product critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19,” said Gunter. “Our focus is on meeting the needs of Kaua`i’s first responders and front-line workers that are so selflessly serving our community during this time.”  www.koloarum.com. 

                                  WICKED DOLPHIN

Wicked Dolphin Distillery is answering the call for emergency supplies to combat COVID-19 and is now joined by Florida Crystals Corporation and Fort Myers Brewery in its efforts to produce and donate free hand and surface sanitizer to first responders, hospitals, nursing homes, food banks, animal shelters and members of the community. Because supplies of hand sanitizer are extremely difficult to find, Wicked Dolphin has switched gears to help meet the demand for personal safety and protection. The distillery is following the instructions of the World Health Organization and is using high-proof alcohol (144-180 proof) as well as the additional recommended active ingredients in its solution.  Wicked Dolphin President JoAnn Elardo said, “We wanted to do something big for our community, so we reached out to Florida Crystals, whose sugar we use in our award-winning rum, to see if they would be interested in donating sugar for an entirely different recipe. They agreed without hesitation. Making the volumes of sanitizer we are creating is a lot of work and time, and our distillery is not a huge manufacturing plant, so we also reached out to a great source: the beer community. Fort Myers Brewery jumped in and is helping us by making the wash at their brewery. We then transport it back to the distillery for distillation, mixing and bottling into the sanitizer. This is truly a huge effort, and it makes our whole team so proud to be a part of it.”  After joining the effort, Florida Crystals carried out a production run at its refinery in Palm Beach County to meet the volume and specification of dark brown sugar required by the distillery. The next day, the sugar company transported 42,500 pounds of donated sugar to Wicked Dolphin for the important COVID-19 emergency relief efforts.  Pepe Fanjul, Jr., Executive Vice President of family-owned Florida Crystals, said, “This pandemic has affected us all, and we want to do our part to help protect members of our community, especially the brave men and women of our first responders and the medical professionals whose efforts we count on each day to pull us through this crisis. We are proud to partner with Wicked Dolphin in this critical relief effort, and we thank them for their leadership role in supporting the community.”  Wicked Dolphin Distillery will be opening its doors on Saturday, May 2 at 10 am to the public and donating the FREE Hand & Surface Sanitizer to families in the community. They will have volunteers handing out four free bottles to each car that pulls up. Larger gallons will continue to be donated to first responders and healthcare professionals throughout Southwest and Southeast Florida.  State Rep. Dane Eagle said, “JoAnn Elardo and her team at Wicked Dolphin represent the American spirit. She recognized the need in our community for hand sanitizer and immediately transformed her business to produce this product and donate it to those who need it most. I am grateful to Florida Crystals and their farmers for their willingness to step up and provide the product she needs. It is truly remarkable how our community is coming together for the greater good during these difficult times.” https://wickeddolphinrum.com/ 

                        HAPPY RAPTOR DISTILLING

Happy Raptor has joined the ranks of local distilleries to produce hand sanitizer and provide essential services to our community in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Opening its doors in time for the first uptown Mardi Gras parades on February 14th, Happy Raptor (located at 1512 Carondelet Street) only celebrated one month in business before the stay-at-home mandate was issued in Orleans parish. Aptly labeled “Go Away Covid”, the distillery’s hand sanitizer marks an important cornerstone in its efforts to give back to the community during COVID-19. Over the last month, Happy Raptor has reached deep into its services to provide aid to the community. It will donate 100% of its tips during the shutdown and, once the tasting room re-opens, from tours throughout the remainder of 2020 to local nonprofits assisting those most impacted by this disaster. In addition to major discounts on products and services for community members on the front lines, the distillery is also considering how it can help fellow local businesses recover after the shutdown. “Our event space is totally free for nonprofit organizations. It has been from day one, but we never got a chance to use it!” says co-founder and chief brand officer, Meagen Moreland-Taliancich. “We would never exist without our community and the support of other local businesses. In a time when we’re all worried about the impact of cancelling so many events and fundraisers, I hope we’re able to help nonprofits recoup crucial funds to assist our community, if even in this small way.” Like many small distilleries around the country, the effort to adapt production to hand sanitizer was significant. “Six months ago, no one considered if their still should be equipped to produce hand sanitizer,” says co-founder and chief operating officer Peter Rivera, “Our still is designed for a lower-proof, flavorful Caribbean rum that didn’t initially comply with federal guidelines. Over time, we managed to quickly undergo research, acquire resources and ingredients, and guidelines were adjusted to make it easier for more distilleries to participate in the process. We’re very lucky to be open and in a position to assist with this monumental effort.” Happy Raptor’s hand sanitizer is FDA-approved for both consumer and healthcare professionals. It is currently offered in sixteen-ounce bottles available for pick-up in the tasting room. Pick-up appointments are available Monday through Saturday (3PM-7PM) and should be made in advance at www.happyraptor.com.

                      IN CLOSING – A GREAT VIEW

If you are stuck at home and just made yourself a Painkiller (dark rum, cream of coconut, and juices, sprinkled with fresh grated nutmeg), you may not be feeling the beach bar vibe.  Go to https://www.soggydollar.com/webcam to see the live webcam from the Soggy Dollar Bar in Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands. The Soggy Dollar is a favorite with sailors because until recently the only way you could get here was to swim ashore from a boat, often resulting in wet cash. The Painkiller originated at the Soggy Dollar Bar in the 1970’s; this smooth and is considered by some to be the essence of Caribbean imbibing. The correct concoction of premium dark rum, cream of coconut, pineapple and orange juice (proportions are secret), topped with fresh grated Grenadian nutmeg makes the swim (no dock) to the Soggy Dollar Bar worth the effort. Perhaps it’s the setting of White Bay, the thirst from the swim, the perfect blend, or just because of the tradition of the original Painkiller at the Soggy Dollar…Enjoy and stay safe!