Rum in the News
VIDA CAÑA RUM
Vida Caña Rum, a Texas-based brand, recently won Best in Class: Overproof Rum at the prestigious 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Alongside this top honor, Vida Caña’s 18-Year Panama Rum, finished in a bourbon barrel for 16 months and proofed at 62%, also earned a Double Gold Medal and a 97-point taste score. Inspired by the laid-back, coastal lifestyle of the world’s great rum regions, Vida Caña’s passion for exceptional rum led to the first annual release of its Single Barrel Finishing Series in 2022, further elevating the brand’s standing among spirits enthusiasts of all types. In keeping with its mission, Vida Caña contributes $1 per bottle sold to conservation and wildlife rehabilitation efforts, donating over $28,000 since 2019. “Our mission has always been to make an impact far beyond the bottle,” says Bryan Tierce, co-owner of Vida Caña Rum. “Creating an exceptional brand that not only stands out for its quality but also supports coastal causes is something we’re deeply proud of. The awards are a testament to this journey.” Founded in 2019, the aged rum portfolio consists of four main products: USVI + American Craft (aged 2 years), Andean Blend (aged 8 years), Dominican Republic (aged 9 years), and Panama (aged 18 years), along with special annual releases like the Single Barrel Finishing Series. https://vidacana.com/
MEYERS’S RUM
Myers’s Rum announced two new collections comprising six spirits: the Signature Legends Collection, with its inaugural “Legacy Blend #1” created in partnership with Foursquare Rum’s Master Blender Richard Seale; and the Signature Cask Collection, featuring five aged rums, each finished in barrels previously used to mature the iconic whiskeys from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Each release embodies Myers’s Rum’s rich history and centuries-old tradition of sourcing, distilling and blending the best rums from around the world. Each of the six new expressions have been crafted by Sazerac Master Blender Drew Mayville, who has worked with all the award-winning products from Buffalo Trace Distillery. “In crafting these rums, we focused on sourcing and experimenting with outstanding spirits and producers to create category-redefining products,” said Drew Mayville, Sazerac Master Blender. “With these new collections, we’re crossing spirit categories to see how the flavors interact, challenging ourselves to think creatively to develop products that entice consumers to try something they may not have previously considered. The results are truly exceptional.” The Myers’s Signature Legends Collection is a curated selection of rare, limited-release rums that showcase innovative techniques and collaborative blends crafted in partnership with industry legends. For its inaugural release, Mayville turned to Richard Seale, Master Distiller and Blender of Foursquare Rum Distillery, to create “Legacy Blend #1.” Together, they drew on their 70+ years of combined industry experience to create this masterful blend of Jamaican and Barbados rum that celebrates Myers’s heritage and honors the dedication of all who strive to craft exceptional rums. Legacy Blend #1 is bottled at 94 proof. The Myers’s Rum Signature Cask Collection features five expressions that finish Myers’s Original Dark Rum in barrels previously used for aging whiskey from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC), renowned for its distillation and aging excellence, including George T. Stagg, William Larue Weller, Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old, Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye and Eagle Rare 17 Year Old. Bottled at varying proof points to showcase the unique impact of each barrel, these rums offer an unmatched taste experience, blending the distinct character of Myers’s Original Dark Rum with the subtle influence of each barrel.
Myers’s Rum Signature Cask Collection - Finished in George T. Stagg Barrels: Finished in a barrel that previously held George T. Stagg, a 15 year old barrel-proof bourbon, and bottled at 100 proof.
Myers’s Rum Signature Cask Collection - Finished in William Larue Weller Barrels: Finished in a barrel that previously held William Larue Weller, a 12 year old wheated-bourbon, and bottled at 83 proof.
Myers’s Rum Signature Cask Collection - Finished in Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old Barrels: Finished in a barrel that previously held Sazerac 18 Year Old, a straight rye whiskey, and bottled at 86 proof.
Myers’s Rum Signature Cask Collection - Finished in Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye Barrels: Finished in a barrel that previously held Thomas H. Handy Sazerac, a 6 year old unfiltered rye whiskey, and bottled at 84.5 proof.
Myers’s Rum Signature Cask Collection - Finished in Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Barrels: Finished in a barrel that previously held Eagle Rare 17 Year Old, a Kentucky Straight Bourbon, and bottled at 86 proof. https://www.myerssrum.com/
BRANDS FOR FANS - SKID ROW RUM
Multi-platinum American rock band Skid Row, known for their electrifying performances and timeless hits, are taking their passion for music and fan connection to a whole new level by venturing into the world of spirits.
In honor of the 35th anniversary of “18 & Life,” the band has launched “Skid Row 18 And Life” Single Origin Ultra Premium Rum. It’s a tribute to the band’s enduring legacy, providing fans with a taste of the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.
The beverage was in development for a year, and ultimately, it’s a natural extension of the band’s creativity, offering fans and spirit enthusiasts alike a chance to experience the same level of intensity and quality they’ve come to expect from Skid Row’s music. The distinct product is a unique and captivating 18-year expression combining the artistry of Guyanese rum distillation with European aging methods. After being housed in American oak barrels in Guyana, the rum was finished in rare teak wood leggers in Europe. Skid Row 18 was bottled at 45% ABV.
“The idea of having our own brand of liquor has been floating around our collective minds for quite some time,” says guitarist Snake. “Upon meeting the fine folks at Brands for Fans, we realized that the time was now. From their rich history, their association with iconic artists to their attention to detail we knew this idea would finally come to fruition. We’ve been involved with every stage of this process from beginning to end to make sure that the highest quality and character are achieved with every bottle. And we hope that you will enjoy these offerings as much as we do! As always, thank you for your support. Drink responsibly and celebrate life!!” Bassist Rachel Bolan concurs, saying, “Skid Row Spirits are not products that we just put our name on the label then slapped on a bottle, they’re products we took pride in creating for our fans to like. We have worked closely with Brands For Fans to develop great tasting spirits that will be enjoyed by both the casual drinker as well as the most discerning palette.” Brands for Fans has previously created two premium rums for the band Motorhead, Black Diamond Premium Rum and Detroit Rock Rum. Next month the company will release its fourth rum for the band Kiss called Hotter than Hell Rum. https://brandsforfans.com/en/https://imotorhead.com/
RHUM BARBANCOURT
Rhum Barbancourt, the 163-year-old signature rum producer of Haiti, has won a coveted double gold medal at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) for its new Overproof White Rum, aptly named “Haitian Proof”. SFWSC awardees are judged on their quality, production technique and craftsmanship. A Double Gold rating signifies that the entrant received a gold medal rating from all members of the judging panel. “It is an honor to be recognized for our unique craftmanship and high standards at one of the world’s most intense competitions that features over 5,500 entries and 70 seasoned judges who determine the best of the best”, stated the CEO, Delphine Gardère. “This award validates our vision to step into the overproof category and craft a remarkable white rum showcasing our distillation methods and emphasizing our unique sugarcane selected for its aromatic prowess. We are immensely proud to deliver a premium product that reflects the rich flavors and essence of Haiti’s terroir for connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike.” The honor comes on the heels of Barbancourt revamping its signature line of rums with fresh premium packaging and launching the new Overproof White expression. This marks a significant milestone as the company recently faced important challenges operating through general unrest in its homeland of Haiti.
https://barbancourt.com/en
BRUGAL
Continuing a long legacy of innovation and excellence, Dominican ultra-premium rum brand, Brugal, unveiled the second iteration of its limited-edition sipping rum collection, Colección Visionaria Edición 02, Coffee. The launch of the collection in August 2023 started a wonderous journey, detailing Brugal’s 135-year history of exceptional rum craftsmanship through a series of bespoke rum releases, where each edition is inspired by a unique ingredient indigenous to the Dominican Republic. Colección Visionaria Edición 02, Coffee builds upon the success of Edición 01, Cacao, by featuring rare Dominican Arabica coffee and Brugal’s Aromatic Cask Toasting technique, developed by fifth generation Maestra Ronera, Jassil Villanueva Quintana. The finest Arabica coffee beans, known for their vibrant acidity and rich chocolaty undertones, are sourced from the Dominican Republic’s rich and fertile soils. These beans are then used to toast Brugal’s finest virgin French Oak casks, infusing the rum with robust, aromatic notes without direct contact with the liquid. The result is an exceptionally smooth, balanced, and authentic Dominican rum with notes of dried fruits, rich mocha, and sweet cloves balanced by smoky wood. Deeply inspired by the land and Dominican Republic’s rich tradition of coffee culture, Jassil Villanueva Quintana sought to create a rum that embodies the cherished ‘cafecito’ moment – a ritual celebrated in the Dominican Republic where friends, family, and community come together to pause and savor life’s moments. “Many stories and laughs have been shared over a cherished cafecito in the Dominican Republic. It is these warm moments and nostalgic aromas that we wanted to recreate in Colección Visionaria Edición 02,” said Jassil Villanueva Quintana. “This new rum is a celebration of shared moments and memories, an invitation to enjoy the warmth of good company and the rich, inviting flavors of our homeland.”
https://www.brugal-rum.com/en-us
QUEENSLAND RUM CONSORTIUM LIMITED EDITION BLEND
For the first time in the Sunshine State’s history, four much-loved Australian rum distilleries put friendly competition aside and united to create a truly Queensland rum. The unique liquids of Bundaberg Rum, Beenleigh Rum, Nil Desperandum and Kalki Moon were blended together to create The Rum Consortium, a special limited-edition drop designed to celebrate all that is great about Queensland sugarcane, the rum that’s produced from it, and the Queenslanders who enjoy it. This one-of-a-kind blend combines the finest aged rums from all 4 distilleries, aged from 4 to 12 years, capturing some of Queensland’s finest rum parcels in one blend. The Rum Consortium’s 2024 Limited Edition Blend will be available from the Kalki Moon, Nil Desperandum, Beenleigh Rum and Bundaberg Rum websites from 10.00am on Wednesday 30th October and, subject to availability, from the distillery cellar doors from 10.00am on Saturday 2nd November (QLD RUM DAY).
https://qldrum.com.au/, https://www.bundabergrum.com.au/, https://www.beenleighrum.com.au/
https://nildesperandum.com.au/https://kalkimoon.com/
ROSALIE BAY DISTILLERY
When Hurricane Maria swept through the Caribbean in 2017, tiny Dominica was hit particularly hard. Howling winds and torrential rain damaged or destroyed 95 percent of the country’s housing stock. Similarly, Oceans Forward, a Dominica-based conservation organization focused on community-centered projects, lost most of its buildings and equipment. “Everything we had was destroyed,” says Jake Levenson, the founder of Oceans Forward. In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, Levenson says his first move was to help organize a relief mission, chartering a cargo plane to bring supplies into the battered country. Then he started thinking about how to rebuild Oceans Forward’s conservation projects. At the best of times, financing for conservation projects is hard to come by in Dominica, Levenson says. Few people have heard of the country or they confuse it with the better-known Dominican Republic. In the wake of so much destruction and financial turmoil, Levenson turned his attention to devising a more sustainable way to keep the money flowing in. He hit on what even he admits was a crazy idea: starting a rum distillery. “We have all the ingredients,” he says. “We have a fertile Caribbean island, sugar cane grows everywhere.” Many Oceans Forward employees are farmers, he adds. “We just didn’t have the know-how or infrastructure.” With advice from Jaime Windon, from Lyon Rum in Maryland, Levenson and his team spent the past five years climbing the “really steep learning curve” of building a distillery and creating a rum from scratch. The project cost around US $4-million Funding came from a few private foundations and around 400 individual donors. Earlier this summer, the small Rosalie Bay Distillery produced its first 781 bottles. The hope, says Levenson, is that a successful distillery will fund conservation projects on the island for decades to come. “You’ve got turtles that aren’t reproductively mature until they are in their 20s. You have coral reefs that live for thousands of years. We need to plan for conservation on a timescale that’s not a one-year grant cycle,” says Levenson. “Long-term financial sustainability is not something a lot of organizations think about,” Levenson says. But he’s encouraging other conservation organizations to consider launching similar projects to insure themselves against the vagaries of philanthropic funding and tourism income. Rosalie Bay’s rum, called the Sperm Whale Reserve, will soon be available for sale online and at select liquor stores in the United States as well as in Dominica itself. Closer to a French rhum agricole than a typical rum, the beverage is made from fresh sugar cane juice rather than refined sugar cane. Making Rosalie Bay rum is a community effort. From farm to flask, the talented people of Dominica are growing sugar cane and crafting the rum. The distillery gives community members additional income and opportunities for long-term employment. Since Rosalie Bay Distilling contributes to sustainable livelihoods while supporting ocean conservation, it is a win-win for the people and marine animals of Dominica.
https://rosaliebaydistillery.com/
HAVANA CLUB (CUBA) vs HAVANA CLUB (PUERTO RICO)
Reuter’s News Agency reported that a Washington, D.C., Federal Court has ruled the U.S. Trade Embargo against Cuba prevents a Cuba-owned company from suing Bacardi in the United States for infringing trademarks covering “Havana Club” rum in a long-running dispute over the brand name. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan said that Cubaexport, which sells Havana Club outside of the United States with French liquor maker Pernod Ricard, cannot accuse Bacardi of infringement in the United States, where Bacardi sells a separate Havana Club rum. Cubaexport attorney David Bernstein said in a statement on Wednesday that the company was disappointed but “confident that the Court will ultimately agree” that it is the mark’s “rightful owner.” Attorneys and a spokesperson for Bacardi did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment. Bacardi claims the country’s government unlawfully seized the Havana Club name and assets from Jose Arechabala SA in 1960. Bacardi bought Jose Arechabala’s brand and started selling Havana Club rum in the United States in 1995 Cubaexport first registered its U.S. Havana Club trademark in 1976. Bacardi sued Cubaexport in Washington in 2004 after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office denied its request to cancel the mark. The case was paused from 2007 to 2016, when the USPTO granted Cubaexport’s request to renew the mark. Bacardi has sued the USPTO over the renewal in a separate case that a U.S. appeals court revived earlier this year. Cubaexport countersued Bacardi for trademark infringement in Washington over its Havana Club rum last year. Sullivan dismissed the claim and said that Cubaexport could not enforce its trademark rights against Bacardi in the U.S. because of the embargo.
https://havana-club.com/en/https://www.therealhavanaclub.com/us/en/
BLACK TOT
Black Tot Rum has added Historic Solera Rum as a permanent member to its core range. The new blend combines rums from Guyana, Barbados and Jamaica and ages them using an authentic three-tiered, 70-year-old Sherry cask solera system. The new rum boasts deep, nuanced flavors which cannot be replicated using newer, seasoned casks. Black Tot’s Historic Solera Rum consists of 40% 3-5 year rum from Guyana, 35% 5 year rum from Barbados, 20% unaged rum from Guyana and 5% 3 year high-ester rum from Jamaica. Before entering their 46-strong sherry butt solera, Black Tot ages the blend in both Oloroso and PX Sherry casks for up to 2 years. From this aging alone, the rum develops rich flavors such as dried fruit and winter spices. The blend is then added to their three-tier solera. After spending a year in each criadera (tier), a portion of the oldest rum is drawn for bottling. The cask is then replenished with rum from the next tier, allowing the process to continue seamlessly through the tiers. The final criadera, known as the solera, always retains a portion of the original rum, ensuring that each bottle is a blend of rums of various ages. This method adds depth, complexity, and the unique flavors of Jerez, resulting in a consistently high-quality rum that tastes unlike any other. Oliver Chilton, Master Blender of Black Tot Rum, told Spirits Business Magazine “Historic Solera started life as a passion project. We sought to elevate our Black Tot rum blend with the richer, dark fruit notes associated with Sherry, but traditional finishing methods fell short. After visiting Jerez, I fell in love with Solera blending, and the regular movement between the layers helped create consistency. We’ve achieved a seamless integration of flavors. I am so pleased with what we have created in Historic Solera and look forward to sharing it with the world.”
https://blacktot.com/
