Spirited Coverage: 2016 Tales of the Cocktail

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Spirited Coverage: 2016 Tales of the Cocktail

July 19th I arrived in New Orleans to attend the 2016 Tales of the Cocktail, ready to cover all matters Rum related for “Got Rum?” Magazine. Different adjectives are used for this event, but my favorite is “Maelstrom”. You have to come to the Tales of the Cocktail with at least an outline of a plan with the full realization that the pull of opportunities, curiosities and alcohol will lay your plans asunder faster than you ever thought possible.

So in preparation I actually did create a schedule of events ranked as “Have to”, “Would like

to”, and “if you can, do it”. This actually worked out fairly well, allowing me to make the most of opportunities while the “Have to” events kept me on course for the job at hand of covering this event.

For the early birds who were there on Tuesday, the schedule provided lots for someone who appreciates rum to do. There were distillery tours at Celebration Distillery, makers of Old New Orleans Rum, as well as Donner-Peltier Distillers, makers of Rougaroux rums. Bayou rum kicked things off in the afternoon with a “Welcome to the Bayou” party bringing their special brand of Louisiana fun to the roof top pool at the Monteleone hotel.

Later in the afternoon, Mike Dolan, Global CEO of Bacardi Ltd., spoke about the changing landscape of the spirits industry and the need for brands to innovate and connect with their consumers especially the millennial generation. When his talk turned toward Cuba and the 154 year old legacy of the Bacardi family the tone became a bit more somber. Mr. Dolan discussed how Bacardi was the “Original Craft Spirit of Cuba”, the family’s history with the Castros, their exile, losses and eventual rise. He detailed why the company believes they have a legitimate right to the Havana Club name. After having all of their assets seized, the Arechabala family the creators of the original Havana Club rum, founded in 1878 - fled Cuba and eventually sold the original recipe and rights to the Havana Club brand to the Bacardi family. This sets the stage for the trademark battle between the Bacardi Corporation and the Pernod Ricard Corporation who has their own vested interest in the world market and the Havana Club brand. In closing, Mr. Dolan encouraged the audience to join the company in celebrating National Daiquiri Day with a toast later that night at the Ace Hotel.

As luck would have it, before that toast there was a National Daiquiri Day tour around New Orleans. Participants gathered at the Ace Hotel and traveled to bars and restaurants around the city. We found ourselves at Café Henri, El Libre, Kingfish, the Palace Café, Victory, with a final toast on the roof top of the Ace Hotel. Each stop provided us with a different inspired incarnation of the Daiquiri cocktail, good music and lively conversation. As I departed the Ace and returned to the French Quarter all I could think was WOW this was only the first day!

Wednesday, what many considered the first official day of Tales, kicked off with the “When is a Rum Not a Rum? The Big Rum Debate” seminar. This panel of some of the most respected people in the industry discussed hot button issues such as transparency in the industry, dosage, additives, and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) mistake of calling “Colorado Rum.” This lively discussion was educational and informative, as the different points of views of the manufacturers were detailed. I think in the end everyone wished that the seminar had been longer as there was so much left to discuss.

Next up for rum lovers was the premiere of a new product by Plantation rum with the official

launch of Plantation’s over proof rum O.F.T.D. (Old Fashioned Traditional Dark). Coming in at 138 proof it is a blend of rums from Jamaica, Guyana and Barbados that was created in partnership with Jeff Berry, writer and owner of Latitude 29, Martin Cate , writer and owner of Smuggler’s Cove, Paul McFadyen of Trailer Happiness, Paul McGee of Lost Lake, Scotty Schuder of Dirty Dick (Paris), David Wondrich, Cocktail historian and author, and Alexandre Gabriel, Master Blender of Cognac Ferrand and Plantation rums. Look for this new release to begin hitting the shelves in September.

Rounding out the day was the New American Rum Revolution seminar where 10 craft rums from across the United States were discussed and explored. Participants were able to sample rums from Taildragger rum from Illinois, St. George rum from California, St. Augustine rum from Florida, Montanya rum from Colorado, Maggie’s Farm rum from Pennsylvania, Richland rum from Georgia, Siesta Key rum from Florida, Koloa rum from Hawaii, Gubba rum liqueur from Colorado, and closing with Bayou rum from Louisiana.

After Wednesday’s festivities the rum exploration continued for the rest of the week in the form of private tastings and Craft Distiller showcases featuring brands such as Bayou, Montanya, Rational Spirits, and Wicked Dolphin. Rhum Barbancourt, Blue Chair Bay rums, El Dorado rums, and Mezan rum all provided opportunities to sample their line of products; some in formal seminar settings or at tasting events located around the Monteleone Hotel.

All too soon Saturday afternoon arrived and I found myself having one last meal with friends at Latitude 29 before my flight home. I had completed my first Tales of the Cocktail experience and was leaving New Orleans with a new appreciation for the industry and the hard working people who make the magic happen behind the bar. As I wrote this I reviewed my notes, looked at pictures, and cannot help but smile. Many thanks to the organizers, volunteers, staff and brands who helped create such a great experience for so many people. I hope to see you all again in 2017.

-Article written by Paul Senft-

My name is Paul Senft - Rum Reviewer, Tasting host, Judge and Writer. My exploration of Rums began by learning to craft Tiki cocktails for friends. I quickly learned that not all rums are created equally and that the uniqueness of the spirit can be as varied as the locales they are from. This inspired me to travel with my wife around the Caribbean, Central America, and United States visiting distilleries and learning about how each one creates their rums. I have also had the pleasure of learning from bar tenders, brand ambassadors, and other enthusiasts from around the world; each one providing their own unique point of view, adding another chapter to the modern story of rum. The desire to share this information led me to create www.RumJourney.com where I share my experiences and reviews in the hopes that I would inspire others in their own explorations. It is my wish in the pages of “Got Rum?” to be your host and provide you with my impressions of rums available in the world market. Hopefully my tasting notes will inspire you to tr y the rums and make your own opinions. The world is full of good rums and the journey is always best experienced with others. Cheers!