EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW - ANgEL`S ShARE

Got Rum?
J U LY 2 0 14
TM
fro m th e g r ass to your gl ass!
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW - Angel’s Share
- bartender’s corner - RUM HISTORIAN RUM IN THE NEWS - Tobacco & Rum
6
16
18
Got Rum ? July 2 0 1 4 - 2
Contents
JuLY
2014
5
From The Editor - Rum’s Coming of Age
6-9
The Angel’s Share - Rum Reviews
10-15EVENT: International Rum Conference
16-17
BARTENDER’S CORNER
18-19
THE RUM HISTORIAN
20-21RUM IN THE NEWS
22-28Exclusive Interview - Mr. Bradley Tuyn,
Founder, Libre Rum & Cola
32-35
PAIRING Tobacco and Rum
32
22
G o t R u m ? J u ly 2 0 14 - 3
Got Rum?
TM
P rin t e d in t h e U. S . A .
A p u b lic a t io n o f R u m R u n n e r P re s s, I n c .
R o u n d R o c k , Te x a s 7 8 6 6 4
Te l/ F a x + 1 (8 5 5 ) R UM -T I P S
© 2 0 1 4 b y R u m R u n n e r P re s s , I n c .
A ll rig h t s re s e rv e d .
July 2014
Edi tor and P ubl i sher:
l ui s@ gotrum.com
Executi ve Edi tor:
margaret@ gotrum. com
Tobacco and Rum:
phi l i p@ gotrum.co m
A ngel ’s Share:paul @ gotrum.com
Rum Hi stori an:
marco@ gotrum.c om
Rum i n the New s:
mi ke@ gotrum.com
A dverti si ng Servi ces:
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Webmaster:w eb@ gotrum.com
Di rector of P hotography:
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re le a s e s , p le a s e f o rwa rd t h e m t o:
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Yo u c a n d o wn lo a d t h e f re e e le c t ro n ic v e r s i o n
o f t h is ma g a z in e , o r p u rc h a s e t h e p r i n t e d
v e rs io n a t :
WWW. GOTR UM . COM
T h e p rin t e d v e rs io n o f “G o t R um ? ” i s
p ro d u c e d wit h F S C-c e rt if ie d p ap e r,
wh ic h me a n s it is f ro m re s p o n si b l y
ma n a g e d f o re s t s a n d v e rif ie d r e c y c l e d
s o u rc e s .
fa cebook.com/GotR u m
@ Got_R u m
On th e cov e r : Lonesome C ocktai l U mbr ella.
INSIDE C OVER: B arrel C offee Tabl e, by
hungari anw orkshop.com.
fro m th e edito r
Rum’s Coming of Age
M
a tu rity a n d a g e a r e te r m s of t en
in te rc h a n g e d w h i l e d e s c r i b i ng a
ru m’s p e r c e i v e d tr a n s fo r mat ions
in sid e a b a r r e l : c o m p a n i e s a g i ng in
hot, tro p ica l w e a th e r to u t th e i r c l i mat es
agg re ssive he a t a n d e v a p o r a ti o n as a
wa y to a ch ie v e m a tu r i ty fa s te r th a n t hos e
agin g in co o ler c l i m a te s . Th i s l a tte r g roup,
howe ve r, cla i m s a m o r e c o n tr o l l e d , al beit
slo we r, a g in g, w h i c h r e q u i r e s p a ti e n c e and
wh ich re wa rds c e l l a r s m a s te r s w i th l ow er
ye a rly e va p or a ti o n r a te s . R e g a r d l es s of
wh ich sch o o l o f th o u g h t y o u b e l o n g t o,
one cle a r fa ct s h o u l d s ta n d o u t: w h en rum
is a g e d p ro pe r l y, th e r e s u l t i s b l i ss f ul ly
ele g a n t.
Last mo n th I o v e r s a w th e l a r g e s t t as t ing
co mp e titio n to - d a te o f th e C o ngres o
Inte rn a cio n a l d e l R o n , a n d o n e t hing
sto o d o u t ver y c l e a r l y : th e r e a r e s ome
r um p ro d u cer s w h o a r e a c h i e v i n g t heir
agin g g o a ls o n l y i n th e i r i m a g i nat i on!
As Co mmissi o n e r G e n e r a l o f th e t as t ing
co mp e titio n , o n m a n y o c c a s i o n s I h ad t o
r ea ssu re ju d g e s d u r i n g th e b l i n d t as t i ng
se ssio n s, th a t i n d e e d a g i v e n r u m w as
su b mitte d b y i ts p r o d u c e r a s h a v i ng t he
age re q u ire d fo r th e c a te g o r y b e i n g tas t ed.
M isle a d in g a g e s ta te m e n ts m a y hav e a
sh o rt-te rm a d v a n ta g e w h e n p r e s ent ing
r ums to u n - e d u c a te d c o n s u m e r s in a
va cu u m, wh e n c o m p a r i s o n s w i th m at ured
r ums o f th e p or tr a y e d a g e a r e n o t p o s s ibl e.
The g re a t d is a d v a n ta g e , h o w e v e r, c omes
in co mp e titio n s w h e r e w e l l e d uc at ed,
pro p e rly tra in e d j u d g e s , k n o w w h at t o
ex p e ct fro m ru m s i n d i ffe r e n t a g e groups
( t a n n ic co n te n t, r o u n d n e s s , c o m p lex it y,
amo n g ma n y o th e r e l e m e n ts ) .
It is in
t his se ttin g t h a t r u m s a u th e n ti c a l l y aged
sta rt to se p a r a te th e m s e l v e s fr o m t hos e
wh o d o n o t rep r e s e n t th e i r a g e o r m at urit y
t ru th fu lly.
I am pl eas ed t o s ee s ome of t he s e r io u s
members of t he rum indus t ry s t art in g t o
c ome t oget her i n at t empt s t o def ine a n d
i mplement wat c hdog polic i es t o pre ve n t
w illf ul or ac c i dent al age mis repres ent a t io n s
by s mall produc ers and/ or pri v at e la b e l
brand ow ners .
T hey are al s o s t a r t in g
t o c ombine t heir purc has i ng pow e r t o
negot iat e barrel ac quis i t i ons t o ens ure t h e
c ont i nuit y of t hei r aging prac t ic es .
I t i s an ex c it i ng t i me t o be in t he r u m
i ndus t ry, as c ompani es , nat ions a n d
mul t i -nat ional regi ons c ome t oget her t o
dis c us s t he f ut ure of rum, w het her i t m a y
be s ubs idi es , barrel s uppl y or qu a lit y
s t andards . C heers !
L ui s Ay al a, E di t or and P ublis her
http://www.linkedin.com/in/rumconsultant
Do you want to learn more about rum but don’t want
to wait until the next issue of “Got Rum?”? Then
join the “Rum Lovers Unite!” group on LinkedIn for
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G o t R u m ? J u ly 2 0 14 - 5
THE A NGEL’S SH A RE
Don Pancho Orígenes 8
M
y f ir st enc ounter w it h t his r um
was dur ing t he b lind t ast ing
c o mp et it i o n at t he M iami Rum
Fe st ival. We later met w it h t he c o mpany
and it s rep re sent at ive s w here t hey
fo r mally int ro duc e d t he judg e s to t heir
reb r anding of t he O r i g ene s line. T hey
announc e d t hat t he p ro duc t line w ill b e
k now n as D o n Panc h o O r i g ene s.
M y nam e i s Paul S e nf t - Rum Rev i ewe r, Tast in g
h o st , J u d g e an d Wr ite r. M y ex p l o r at i o n of Rum s
b e g an by l e ar nin g to c r af t T ik i c o c k t ai l s fo r
f r i e n ds. I qui c k ly l e ar n e d t h at n ot a ll r um s ar e
c r e ate d e qua lly an d t hat t h e uni qu e n e s s of t h e
sp i r it c an b e as va r i e d as t h e l o c al e s t h ey a r e
f r o m. T hi s insp i r e d m e to t r ave l w it h my w i fe
a r o un d t h e C a r ib b e an, C e nt r a l A m e r i c a, an d
U nite d S t ate s v i s it in g di st i ll e r i e s an d l e ar nin g
ab o ut h ow e ac h o n e c r e ate s t h e i r r um s. I have
al s o had t h e p l e asur e of l e a r nin g f r o m bar te n d e r s,
b r an d am bas s ad o r s, an d ot h e r e nt hus i ast s f r o m
ar o un d t h e wo r l d; e ac h o n e p r ov i din g t h e i r ow n
uni qu e p o int of v i ew, ad din g an ot h e r c h apte r to
t h e m o d e r n sto r y of r um.
T h e d e s i r e to sha r e t hi s info r m at i o n l e d m e to
c r e ate w w w. Ru m J o u r n ey.c o m w h e r e I sha r e
my ex p e r i e nc e s an d r ev i ew s in t h e h o p e s t hat I
wo ul d insp i r e ot h e r s in t h e i r ow n ex p l o r at i o ns.
I t i s my w i sh in t h e pag e s of “ G ot Rum? ” to b e
yo ur h o st an d p r ov i d e yo u w it h my im p r e s s i o ns of
r um s avai lab l e in t h e wo r l d m a r ket . H o p ef ully my
t ast in g n ote s w i ll insp i r e yo u to t r y t h e r um s an d
m ake yo ur ow n o p ini o ns. T h e wo r l d i s f ull of g o o d
r um s an d t h e j o ur n ey i s al ways b e st ex p e r i e nc e d
w it h ot h e r s. C h e e r s!
Got Rum ? July 2 0 1 4 - 6
T his 8 year o ld r um is p ro duc e d at t he
L as Cabre s D ist iller y in Panama. It is
ag e d in use d B our b o n bar re ls, b lende d
to 4 0% abv and b ot t le d. O r i g ene s has
b e en available in Euro p e and dur ing t he
fe st ival M ic hae l Linde ll, Ter lato W ine s
Inter nat i o nal East Re gi o n M anag er of
A r t ist S pir it s announc e d t hat t he ent ire
line woul d b e availab le in t he Unite d
S t ate s t his year.
A p p e a r a n c e / Pr e s e n t a t i o n
T he ent ire O r i g ene s p ro duc t line share s
t he s ame dist inguishe d b ot t le de si gn.
T he 75 0 ml b ot t le has a l o ng handl e
w it h a c ut de si gn t hat reminds m e of a
shar p l o o k ing award p laque. It is easy
to sp ot o n t he she lf as t hey are no ot her
b ot t le de si gns like it . T he p last ic c o r k is
se c ure d w it h a b lac k se c ur it y w r ap t hat
de sc ends dow n t he ne c k of t he b ot t l e.
T he dar k amb er li qui d maint ains it s c o l o r
in t he b ot t le and glas s. S w ir ling t he
li qui d p ro duc e s a t hin r ing w it h matc hing
le gs t hat sli de sl ow ly dow n t he si de of
t he glas s.
Nose
W hen I p oure d t he r um in t he glas s I was
sur pr ise d by t he sugar swe et aro ma t hat
f ille d t he air. A s t he r um set t le d I pic ke d
up note s of m o las se s, brow n sugar, and
oak.
Pa l a t e
T he sweet ne s s f ro m t he aro ma is f ro nt
and c enter w hen I sipp e d t he r um. W hile
t he ent r y is sm o ot h, t he sm ok y oak note s
fo r m t he foundat i o n of t he r um w it h t he
sweet c ar ame l, touc h of banana, and
li ght vanilla note s fo r ming t he b o dy. A s
t he f lavo r fade s toward t he f inish t here is
a subt le p epp er p o p and t ic k le of alc o h o l
o n t he to ngue. T his t r ansit i o ns to a li ght
dr y f inish.
Revi ew
I have ex p er i enc e d quite a few of D o n
Panc ho’s r ums over t he year s and w hat
sur pr ise s m e t he m o st ab out t his p ro duc t
is t he simplic it y of t he f lavo r prof ile.
w w w.pilsar ums.c om
W hil e I enj oye d it , I c oul d not he lp
c o mpar ing it to ot her ei ght year o l d
p ro duc t s o n my she lve s and w ishe d t hat
is had b een a bit m o re dy namic . It ’s
sweet sm o ot hne s s make s it a c o mfo r t able
sipp er and t he f lavo r p rof ile p rovi de s a
c o re c o c k t ail ingre di ent fo r mi xo l o gist s
to c reate w it h.
A s m ent i o ne d p revi ously, t his r um sh oul d
b e in t he U.S. mar ket later t his year and
w ill b e pr ic e d around 4 0 do llar s a b ot t le.
I l o ok fo r ward to shar ing my revi ews of
t he ot her O r i g ene s p ro duc t s w it h you in
f uture is sue s of G ot R u m? maga zine.
G o t R u m ? J u ly 2 0 14 - 7
THE A NGEL’S SH A RE
Tiburón Rum
A
c ouple of years ago my wife and I
had the oppor tunit y to visit Belize
and the Travellers Distiller y which
is best known for its O ne Bar rel Rum.
Belize is a beautiful c ountr y and has
some of the most gorgeous sea and
landsc apes that we have enc ountered
in Central A mer ic a. A nother thing they
are known for is great dive sights and
a healthy shar k population. So when I
heard that the Shar k Bait c ompany had
c ollaborated with the Travellers Distiller y
to produc e a r um c alled Tiburón, the
Spanish word for shar k, it c ompletely
made sense to me.
The r um is a molasses based blend that
is blended from a diverse selection of
bar rels then re - c asked and f inished in
Kentuck y Oak Bour bon Bar rels. The
c ompany claims this allows the tannins
to give the r um its c olor and enhanc es
its f lavor prof ile. The youngest r um in
the blend is four years old, giving the
Master Blender the oppor tunit y to hand
craf t a small batch product unique among
the other r ums produc ed in Belize.
App earance/Present at ion
Out of the gate there is a lot about
the packaging of this r um I like. The
shor t necked 750 ml bot tle is secured
with a black wrap that encloses a wood
c ap and plastic c or k. A plastic shar k
tooth hangs from it, drawing the eyes
to the Tiburón logo. Through the body
of the bot tle a shar k glows through
Got Rum ? July 2 0 1 4 - 8
the r um. Br ief infor mation about the
r um is provided on the front and some
background infor mation on the back.
The r um has a pale golden amber c olor in
the bot tle and glass. Swir ling the liquid
I see the light green glimmer around
the edges providing a hint at some of
the age of the r um in the bot tle. The
swir ling lef t behind a thin band around
the per imeter of the glass that for med
sur pr isingly thick legs that rac ed down
the glass.
Nose
When I swir led the liquid I picked up
an initial hit of higher alc ohol and oak
laden cinnamon. Af ter the r um set tled
I quickly picked up dar k choc olate,
vanilla, c aramel and a light grass note.
Palate
First sip provided an upfront swir l of
c aramel and vanilla followed by a nic e
oak y pepper pop. The alc ohol of the r um
tingled pleasantly around the mouth.
The nex t and subsequent sips provided
the same c aramel -vanilla notes upfront,
but I also picked up notes of light honey,
cinnamon and nut t y mar zipan mar r ied
with the oak. The honey- cinnamon note
lingers creating a nic e spicy f inish.
Review
Tiburón r um is a f ine example of what
happens when the Master Blender
gets the freedom to play and create
something new. The blend and balanc e
of the f lavor notes are what I have c ome
to at tr ibute with Belizean r ums, but they
are expressed in such a way that the
exploration is a lot of fun.
While the
bot tle clear ly states that the youngest
r um is four years old, the character and
balanc e of the blend c ould be at tr ibuted
to a more mature spir it.
I think the qualit y of the r um lends
itself to be a solid ingredient in any
recipe that c alls for a gold r um. At 8 0
proof it provides a nic e punch for your
c ock tail but I am also quite c omfor table
rec ommending sipping it neat. Just
pour, give it a few minutes to breathe,
and enjoy; no ic e cube needed. At this
time Tiburón r um is slowly expanding
its distr ibution across the U.S. and has
plac ement in f ive states with pr icing
around $3 4.9 9 a bot tle.
While reviewing the r um I was inspired
to create a new c ock tail:
Swimming with Shar ks
Ingredients:
• 1/2 oz Orgeat
• 1/2oz Dr y Orange Curac ao
• 1/2 oz Lime Juic e
• 1 oz Blue Curac ao
Directions:
Shake in ic e f illed shaker and strain into
Old Fashioned glass f illed with cr ushed
ic e.
w w w.tiburonr um.c om
• 1 oz Tiburón Rum
G o t R u m ? J u ly 2 0 14 - 9
III I n t e r nat iona l RU M
C on f e r e nc e
& Rum Ta sting Compe tition - M adrid
T
h e t hi r d i nst a llm e nt of t h e I nte r n at i o n a l Rum C o nfe r e n c e i n M adr i d,
S p ai n, p r ove d o n c e a g ai n t h at t h e r um i n dust r y wo r l d w i d e i s p o i s e d
f o r g r ow t h, b ot h i n vo lum e a n d i n qu a nt i t y. Q u a li f i e d Rum J u d g e s f r o m
a r o un d t h e wo r l d, a ll w i t h ve r i t a b l e p r ofe s s i o n a l ex p e r i e n c e i n t h e wo r l d of
di st i ll e d b eve r a g e s, we r e sum m o n e d o n c e a g ai n by t h e o r g a nize r s to t aste
a n d r a nk t h e b e st r um s f r o m a r o un d t h e wo r l d.
T h e t ast i n g c o m p et i t i o n was c o n du c te d b li n dly, sup e r v i s e d by M r. Lui s Aya l a,
C o m m i s s i o n e r G e n e r a l, i n c o ll a b o r at i o n w i t h a n i n d e p e n d e nt N ot a r y Pub li c ,
g u a r a nte e i n g t h e ac c ur ac y a n d t r a ns p a r e n c y of t h e c o m p et i t i o n at eve r y l eve l.
S t a t i s t i c s o f m e d a l s a w a r d e d f o r t h e 191 r u m s e n t e r e d: D o ub l e G o l d =
10% , G o l d = 17% , S i l ve r = 2 2% , B r o n c z = 2 3% a n d n o m e da l = 28% .
Impor t an t No t ice : T h e o r gani z er s an d dir ec t or s o f t h e C on gr e s o In t er n acion al del R on do n o t
gu ar an t ee t h a t t h e f ollo w in g r u m s h a v e t h e a ge s r ep r e s en t e d b y t h e r e s p ec t i v e c a t e go r ies . E v er y
(DOUBLE
rSelected
um prBarrel
o ducer
in s t rSingle
u c tCask
e dPort
t oMorant
s u bmi
t inGOLD)
w r i t in g t h e c a t e gor y f or e ach o f t h e r u m s en t er ed in t o
Rum w a s Guyana
Demerara Distilled 1993 50%
t he co m pe t i t ion . TCaroni
h e oDistilled
r gani1997
z er46%s an d dir ec t or s r e s er v e t h e r igh t t o w i t h dr a w an y m e d al s a s sign ed
Rhum Vieux Dzama 1998
Special Harvest Rum
i f in accur acies o r mi s r epr e s en t a t io n s ar e dis co v er e d .
Rum Agricole
Category
Fruit Flavored
Spiced
White Rum
Rum 0-5 Years
Rum 6-10 Years
Rhum Millésimés
Rhum Agricole
Gold and Double Gold
Silver
Bronze
Clement Creole Shrub (DOUBLE GOLD)
Ti arrangés de Ced Mango Passion
NPK Melon
NPK Pineapple
Old Nick Rhum Blanc Traditionnele
Dillon Rhum Blanc 50%
Heritiers Madkaud Rhum Agricole Blanc
Clement Rhum Blanc Agricole (DOUBLE GOLD)
Fighting Spirit Blue
Rhum JM VSOP (DOUBLE GOLD)
Clement Rhum Vieux Agricole Select Barrel
Clement Tres Vieux Rhum Agricole 10 (DOUBLE
GOLD)
Clement Tres Viuex Rhum Agricole 6 Years
Longueteau Rhum Agricole Original Spicy
Reimonenq Rhum Vieux 6 Years
Depaz Rhum Vieux Agricole XO
J. Bally Rhum Vieux Agricole
Saint James Rhum Vieux Agricole
Rhum JM Rhum Vieux Agricole Millesime 2002
Mejor Packaging
Depaz Rhum Vieux Agricole XO
Important Notice:
The organizers and directors of the Congreso Internacional del Ron do not guarantee that the following rums have the ages represented in the categories. Every
rum producer was instructed to submit in writing the category for each of the rums entered into the competition. The organizers and directors reserve the right
to withdraw any medals assigned if inaccuracies or errors are discovered.
Statistics of medals awarded for the 191 rums submitted: Double Gold = 10%, Gold = 17%, Silver = 22%, Broncz = 23% and no medal = 28%.
Got Rum ? July 2 0 1 4 - 1 0
w w w.CongresoDelRon.com
III I n t e r nat iona l RU M
C on f e r e nc e
& Rum Ta sting Compe tition - M adrid
Rum from Molasses & Cane Syrup
Category
White Rum
Rum 0-5 Years
Rum 6-10 Years
Rum 11-15 Years
Rum 16-20 Years
Rum 21 Years or more
Fruit Flavored Rum
Spiced Rum
Spiced Rum - Coffee
Spiced Rum - Honey
Rum Cream
Overproof Rum
Selected Barrel Rum
Special Harvest Rum
Gold and Double Gold
Silver
Bronze
Plantation 3 Estrellas (DOUBLE GOLD)
Flor de Caña Extra Seco (DOUBLE GOLD)
Legendario Añejo Blanco (DOUBLE GOLD)
Wicked Dolphin Silver Rum
Ron Caribe Silver Premium
Carta Vieja Ron Extra Claro
1498 Ron Golden Age (DOUBLE GOLD)
Ron Cubaney 5 Años Solera (DOUBLE GOLD)
Ron Carta Oro Arecha
Ron Ocumare Añejo Especial
Ron El Mondero
Ron Añejo Estelar DeLuxe
Legendario Ron Dorado
New Grove Plantation Rum
1498 Ron Blanco
Ocumare Blanco Especial
Ron Caney Carta Blanca Superior
Vizcaya Cask 12
Banks Rum
Handcrafted Rum I
Diplomático Ron Añejo
Flor de Caña Añejo Clásico
Appleton Estate V/X
Ron Añejo Ocumare Gold
Santa Teresa Añejo Gran Reserva
Ron Añejo Veroes
1498 Ron Añejo Golden Age
Mezan Extra Old Rum X.O. Jamaica
Contra-bando Ron 5 Años
Plantation Original Dark
Dzama Rhum Ambré Cuveé Noire Prestige
Dzama Rhum Cuveé Noire
Ron Santa Teresa Gran Reserva Linaje
Ron Medellín Añejo 3 Años
Nine Leaves Angel’s Half American Oak Cask
Chairman’s Reserve
Ron Caribe Añejo Superior 5 Años
Ron Yacuro Añejo
Ron Añejo Arecha
Diplomático Reserva
Relicario Ron Dominicano
Ron Maja 8 Años
Ron Ocumare Edición Reservada
1498 Ron Añejo (DOUBLE GOLD)
Centenario 9 Años Conmemorativo (DOUBLE GOLD)
R. L. Seale’s Finest Aged Barbados Rum 10 Years
Playa Bavaro Gran Brut Ultra Premium
Roble Viejo Ron Ultra Añejo
English Harbour Reserve 10 Years
Angostura Gran Añejo
Doorly’s XO Fine Old Barbados Rum
Ron Quorum 15 Años Solera (DOUBLE GOLD)
Ron Centenario 12 Años (DOUBLE GOLD)
Club Puntacana Espléndido
Ron Medellín Gran Reserva
Ron Quorum 12 Años Solera
XM Millenium Rum 12 Year Old
Opthimus Oporto 15 Años Solera
Botran Ron Añejo Reserva
Botrán Solera 1893 (DOUBLE GOLD)
Centenario 20 Años Selección Premium
Spiced
White Rum
Rum 0-5 Years
Rum Nation Limited Edition 18 Years Old
Flor de Caña Centenario 18 Single Estate Rum
Carúpano Legendario Ron Añejo (DOUBLE GOLD)
Centenario 25 Años Gran Reserva (DOUBLE GOLD)
Carúpano Ron Añejo XO Antiguas Reservas
Ron Quorum 30 Aniversario
Club Puntacana XOX 50 Aniversario Oporto
Ron Vizcaya Cask 21
Centenario 30 Años Edición Limitada
Opthimus 21 Años Solera
Playa Bavaro Grand Brulée (DOUBLE GOLD)
Cubaney Elixir
Ribera Caribeña Elixir
Arakú Ron y Café
Cubaney Spiced
Guayabita del Pinar Ron Ligero Añejo Dulce
Rum Fire Velvet Jamaican White Overproof
Guyana Single Cask Port Morant (DOUBLE GOLD)
Demerara Distilled 1993 50%
Caroni Distilled 1997 46%
Rum Agricole
Category
Fruit Flavored
Centenario Ron 7 Años Añejo Especial
Ron 100 Fuegos Caribbean Aged Rum
Ron Negrita Top Series
Flor de Caña Gran Reserva 7
Angostura 1919 Premium Rum
Lambreo Ron Añejo 7 Años
Banks Golden 7 Age Rum
Ron Caney Añejo Centuria
Roble Viejo Ron Extra Añejo
Ron Yacuro Viejo
Flor de Caña Centenario 12 Años
Appleton Estate Extra 12 Years
Angostura 1824 Aged 12 Years
Summum 12 Solera Reserva Especial
Juan Valdez Licor de Ron y Café 8 Años
Guantanamera Original Caribbean Rum Cream
Diplomático Ron Antiguo Reserva Exclusiva
Lambreo Ron 12 Años
Legendario 15 Años
Club Puntacana Black Rum 15 Años Solera
Opthimus 18 Años Solera
Carta Vieja Rum Golden Cask Solera 18
Ron Vigia Gran Reserva 18 Años
Zafra Master Reserve Añejo 21 Años
Ron Lambreo 21 Años
Santa Teresa 1796 Ron Antiguo de Solera
Carúpano Ron Añejo Solera Centenaria
Kalani Rum and Coconut
Punch Au Rhum Arecha
Legendario Elixir de Cuba
Vanilla Dzama Vieux Rhum
De Pirathas Black Spiced & Rum
Ron Miel Ribera Caribeña
D’Aristi Liqueur of Honey, Anisette and Rum
Rhum Vieux Dzama 1998
Gold and Double Gold
Silver
Clement Creole Shrub (DOUBLE GOLD)
Ti arrangés de Ced Mango Passion
NPK Melon
Bronze
NPK Pineapple
G o t R u m ? J u ly 2 0 1 4 - 11
w w w.CongresoDelRon.com
Clement Rhum Blanc Agricole (DOUBLE GOLD)
Fighting Spirit Blue
Rhum JM VSOP (DOUBLE GOLD)
Longueteau Rhum Agricole Original Spicy
Old Nick Rhum Blanc Traditionnele
Dillon Rhum Blanc 50%
Heritiers Madkaud Rhum Agricole Blanc
J. Bally Rhum Vieux Agricole
III I n t e r nat iona l RU M
C on f e r e nc e
& Rum Ta sting Compe tition - M adrid
Rum i n dust r y m e m b e r s g at h e r e d i n M adr i d o n c e a g ai n to di s c us s t h e p ast , p r e s e nt a n d
f ut ur e of r um. At te n d e e s a n d p r e s e nte r s t r ave ll e d f r o m a ll c o r n e r s of t h e wo r l d to s h a r e
i d e as a n d eva lu ate t h r e at s to t h e i n dust r y a n d o p p o r t uni t i e s f o r g r ow t h.
Got Rum ? July 2 0 1 4 - 1 2
c o n t i n u e d o n p a g e 14
G o t R u m ? J u ly 2 0 1 4 - 1 3
III I n t e r nat iona l RU M
C on f e r e nc e
& Rum Ta sting Compe tition - M adrid
c o n t i n u e d f r o m p a g e 13
Got Rum
Rum?
? Ju
July
2 0 1 4 -- 14
14
Got
ly 2014
III I n t e r nat iona l RU M
C on f e r e nc e
& Rum Ta sting Compe tition - M adrid
T h e t wo - day fe st i va l s h owc as e d
r um i n a hi g h - c l as s, p r ofe s s i o n a l
a n d e l e g a nt e nv i r o nm e nt .
E x hi b i to r s s e r ve d r um (n e at
o r m i xe d) i n p r o p e r g l as swa r e
p r ov i d e d by t h e o r g a nize r s.
M aste r B l e n d e r s a n d D i st i ll e r s
we r e p r e s e nt to s h a r e t h e i r v i ew s
a n d ex p e r i e n c e w i t h at te n d e e s.
Go
ott R
Ru
um
m?
? JJuuly
ly 22001144 -- 1155
G
B a r t e n d e r ’s C o r n e r
by Dr. Ron A . Ñejo
W
hen study ing t he histo r y
of a c ount r y, so me
sc h o lar s
undoubte dly
head to t he libr ar i e s, to read
and re - read manusc r ipt s of
ye ster year. I, o n t he ot her hand,
prefer to st ar t by ex pl o r ing t he
c ulinar y and mi xo l o gic al le gacy
of t he byg o ne er as: I head to t he
bar s and pubs!
Ear ly
c o l o nial
A mer ic a
was a c o nst ant ly c hanging
landsc ap e.
T he re c ip e s fo r
t heir c o ntemp o r ar y c o o ker y and
dr inker y are a w indow into t hat
t im e.
J oin m e as I j our ney t hrough t he
b e st of w hat has sur vive d, as I
ex pl o re t he dr inks t hat fo rg e d
and sur vive d t he grow t h of t he
A mer i c an nat i o n.
- D r. R o n A . Ñ ej o
Got Rum ? Ju
July
2 0 1 4 - 16
16
ly 2014
Early American Rum Cocktails - Part 7
Early American Rum Cocktails #7: Black Stripe
(Fr o m J er r y T ho mas’ Bar tender s G ui de: H ow To M i x D r inks, 18 62)
Black Stripe
1 W ine - glas s of Sant a Cr uz Rum
1 Table - sp o o nf ul of G r ade A
M o las se s (do NOT use blac kst r ap
o r a gr ade ot her t han A)
Directions
T his dr ink c an eit her b e made in
summ er o r w inter : if in t he fo r mer
seaso n, mi x in 1 t able - sp o o nf ul of
water and c o o l w it h shave d ic e;
i f in t he lat ter, f ill up t he tumbler
w it h b oiling water. G r ate a lit t le
nut m e g o n to p.
C o c k t ai l p h oto f r o m w w w.12b ot t l e ba r.c o m
G o t R u m ? J u ly 2 0 1 4 - 1 7
M arc o Pier
- Rum
Histor ian
THEiniRUM
HISTORIAN
M
y n a m e i s M a r c o Pi e r i n i, I ow n a n d r u n a
s m a l l to u r i st b u s i n e s s i n my s e a s i d e tow n
i n Tu s c a ny, I t a l y. A l o n g t i m e a g o I g ot
a d e g r e e i n Ph i l o s o p hy i n Fl o r e n c e, I t a l y, a n d I
s t u d i e d Po l i t i c a l S c i e n c e i n M a d r i d, S p a i n. B u t my
r e a l p a s s i o n h a s a l way s b e e n H i sto r y. T h r o u g h
H i s to r y I h ave a l way s t r i e d to k n ow t h e wo r l d, a n d
m e n. L i fe b r o u g ht m e to wo r k i n to u r i s m, eve nt
o r g a n i z at i o n a n d vo c at i o n a l t r a i n i n g. A few ye a r s
a g o I d i s c ove r e d r u m a n d i t wa s l ove at f i r st s i g ht .
N ow, w i t h my yo u n g b u s i n e s s p a r t n e r Fr a n c e s c o
Ru f i n i I r u n a b a r o n t h e b e ac h, L a C a s a d e l Ru m
( T h e H o u s e of Ru m), a n d we di st r i b u te Pr e m i u m
Ru m s a c r o s s Tu s c a ny.
A n d m o s t of a l l, f i n a l l y I h ave r et u r n e d b a c k to
my i n i t i a l p a s s i o n: H i sto r y. O n l y, n ow i t i s t h e
H i s to r y of Ru m.
B e c au s e Ru m i s n ot o n l y a g r e at di st i l l ate, i t ’s
a wo r l d. Pr o d u c e d i n s c o r e s of c o u nt r i e s , by
t h o u s a n d s of c o m p a n i e s , w i t h a n ex t r a o r di n a r y
va r i et y of a r o m a s a n d f l avo u r s; i t h a s a te r r i b l e
a n d f a s c i n at i n g h i sto r y, m a d e of s l ave s a n d
p i r ate s , i m p e r i a l f l e et s a n d r evo l u t i o n s. A n d
i t h a s a c o m p l i c ate d, i nte r e st i n g p r e s e nt to o,
m a d e of p o l i t i c a l a n d c o m m e r c i a l wa r s , of b i g
m u l t i n at i o n a l s , b u t a l s o of m a ny s m a l l a n d m e di u m s i ze d e nte r p r i s e s t h at r e s i st t r i v i a l i z at i o n.
I t r y to c ove r a l l of t h i s i n my I t a l i a n b l o g o n Ru m,
w w w.i l s e c o l o d e l r u m.i t
Got Rum ? July 2 0 1 4 - 1 8
WILLS, PROVISIONS AND STILLS
I c a m e t o t h e hy p ot h e s i s o f t h e D u tc h / B r a z i l i a n
o r i g i n s o f r u m by t h i n k i n g ove r w h at R i c h a r d L i g o n
w r ote. T h e n I r e a d ex te n s i ve l y a b o u t t h e We s t
I n d i e s , s u g a r a n d r u m a n d I a l s o we nt o n a s t u d y
t r i p i n B a r b a d o s l o o k i n g f o r ev i d e n c e. I h ave f o u n d
m a ny c l u e s w h i c h c o r r o b o r ate my hy p ot h e s i s , b u t
n ot t h e f i n a l p r o o f, w h at i n c r i m e s t o r i e s t h ey c a l l
t h e “ s m o k i n g g u n”. A s I h ave a l r e a d y w r i t te n, i n
o r d e r t o f i n d i t i t w o u l d b e n e c e s s a r y t o l o o k at
i nve nt o r i e s , w i l l s , p u r c h a s i n g d e e d s , a c c o u nt
b o o ks , etc ... o f s u g a r c a n e p l a nt at i o n s i n B r a z i l
u n d e r D u tc h r u l e. B u t t h i s i s h i s t o r i c a l r e s e a r c h
f o r ex p e r t s , b eyo n d my p o s s i b i l i t i e s .
We l l, m ay b e I h ave f o u n d t h e f i r s t u n d i s p u te d
ev i d e n c e.
S o o n a f te r t h e p u b l i c at i o n o f t h e l a s t a r t i c l e o n my
q u e s t , I r e a d “ L i q u i d Fi r e. A l c o h o l, I d e nt i t y a n d
S o c i a l H i e r a r c hy i n C o l o n i a l B r a z i l ” by Pr o f. J o a o
A zeve d o Fe r n a n d e z. A n i nte r e s t i n g e s s ay, we l l
d o c u m e nte d a n d we l l w r i t te n, f u l l o f ex t r e m e l y
u s ef u l i n f o r m at i o n. I w i l l q u ote j u s t t wo exc e r pt s:
“A l t h o u g h s u g a r c a n e h a d b e e n es t a b l i s h e d i n
B r az i l i n t h e ea r l y 15 3 0 s … , i t i s u n l i ke ly t h a t
t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f a g u a r d i e n te b e g a n i n t h i s e r a ,
b e c a us e s o u r c es d o n o t m e n t i o n s t i l l s o r a ny
d i s t i l l e d b eve r a g es t h r o u g h o u t t h e s ix t e e n t h
c e n tu r y. T h e f i r s t c o n c r e te r e f e r e n c e t o t h e
ex i s te n c e o f s t i l l s c o m es f r o m a 1611 S a o Pa u l o
i nve n t o r y a n d W i l l .”
“ I n 16 3 6 , t h e g ove r n o r- g e n e r a l o f B r az i l , P e d r o d a S i l va , r e l eas e d a p r ov i s i o n p r o h i b i t i n g s u g a r c a n e
a g u a r d i e n t e. T h i s i s a ve r y i n te r es t i n g d o c u m e n t b e c a us e, a m o n g o t h e r r eas o ns , i t s h o ws t h a t t h e
p r o d u c t i o n o f a g u a r d i e n te wa s a l r e a d y c o m m o n p l a c e, b e c a us e ‘ m a ny s t i l l s’ ex i s te d…”
I wa s f l a b b e r g a s te d. A t l o n g l a s t u n d i s p u te d h i s t o r i c a l s o u r c e s , f a c t s , ev i d e n c e, s m o k i n g g u n s .
T h e e s s ay wa s m e nt i o n e d t o m e by P r o f. Fr e d e r i c k H . S m i t h, t h e a u t h o r o f “ C a r i b b e a n Ru m” w h i c h I
r ev i ewe d a f ew m o nt h s a g o. I l o o ke d i t u p o n t h e I nte r n et . I f o u n d t h at P r o f. A zeve d o Fe r n a n d e z i s a we l l k n o w n B r a z i l i a n h i s t o r i a n a n d a nt h r o p o l o g i s t , h e s t u d i e d at t h e U n i ve r s i t y o f Pe r n a m b u c o a n d h e te a c h e s
a t t h e U n i ve r s i t y o f Pa r a i b a . I c o u l d n’ t b e l i eve i t ! Fu l l o f ex p e c t at i o n s , I s e nt h i m a n i nv i t at i o n o n Fa c e b o o k ,
h e a c c e pte d i t i m m e d i a te l y. I f o u n d o u t m o r e a b o u t h i m , h i s r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t s , h i s i nte l l e c t u a l c u r i o s i t y.
D e l i g hte d, I a s ke d h i m t o g i ve m e h i s e m a i l a d d r e s s s o t h at we c o u l d s h a r e i n f o r m at i o n p r o p e r l y. H e s e nt
i t t o m e i m m e d i ate l y. R i g ht t h e n I wa s i n M i a m i f o r t h e Ru m Fe s t i va l, I i nte n d e d t o w r i te t o h i m a s s o o n a s
I g ot b a c k h o m e.
A f ew d ay s l ate r, o n c o n n e c t i n g t o Fa c e b o o k I f o u n d a l ot o f m e s s a g e s c o n c e r n i n g h i m. I d o n’ t s p e a k
Po r t u g u e s e, b u t i t i s a n e o - L a t i n l a n g u a g e, s o w i t h s o m e ef f o r t I m a n a g e t o r e a d i t , m o r e o r l e s s . A t f i r s t
I t h o u g ht i t wa s a j o ke i n b a d t a s te, t h e n, u n f o r t u n ate l y, I h a d t o r e s i g n my s e l f : J o a o A zeve d o Fe r n a n d e z
h a d d i e d. I n h i s e a r l y 5 0 s , h e h a d b e e n s t r u c k d o w n by a h e a r t at t a c k , e a r l y i n t h e m o r n i n g, at h o m e. H e
i s s u r v i ve d by h i s w i f e a n d, I b e l i eve, t w o c h i l d r e n.
Tw o m o nt h s h ave p a s s e d. O n l y n o w a m I a b l e t o w r i te a b o u t i t . I n f r o nt o f t h e g r i ef o f h i s f a m i l y a n d t h e
p e o p l e w h o k n ew h i m , my o w n f e e l i n g s a r e o f c o u r s e o f n o i m p o r t a n c e. B u t I h ave a f e e l i n g o f e m pt i n e s s
i n s i d e, a r e g r et f o r a m e et i n g t h a t h a s n’ t h a p p e n e d a n d w i l l n eve r h a p p e n.
G o t R u m ? J u ly 2 0 1 4 - 1 9
Rum in the news
by M ike Kun et ka
A s we c eleb r ate t he 4t h of J uly here in
A m er ic a, here are so me small ar t is an
dist iller i e s you mi ght have mis se d.
LYONS D I ST I LLI NG
B en Lyo n and par t ner Jaime W indo n
have o p ene d t he se c o nd new dist iller y
in M ar y land in t he last 4 0 year s. T hey
c r af t t heir W hite Rum f ro m a c o mbinat i o n
of c ane sugar, m o las se s and water.
T he W hite is t he basis fo r a seas o nal
c ar am el - f lavo re d r um and an ag e d r um
t hat mature s in A mer ic an - oak, B our b o n
bar rels. Lyo n and W indo n c ho se r um
as t heir f ir st of fer ing b e c ause of t hey
c o nsi der it to b e t he ‘o r i ginal ’ A mer ic an
li quo r. In t he 170 0 ’s, t here were f ive
wo r k ing r um dist iller i e s in M ar y land.
T his may b e rep eate d so o n, as t he S t ate
C o mpt r o ller ’s O f f ic e shows t hat a tot al of
f ive dist iller i e s now have t heir li c ense s
in M ar y land.
J ERSE Y ART I SAN D I ST I LLI NG
A not her new st ar tup, t his o ne t he f ir st
new dist iller y in N ew J er sey, is J er sey
A r t is an D ist illing. B r ant B r aue, a fo r mer
el e c t r i c al engineer, and K r ist a H al ey,
a fo r m er law yer, have j oine d fo rc e s to
pr o duc e Buste d Bar re l Rum. It is made
f ro m Louisiana m o las se s, dist ille d in
t heir c usto m c o pp er st ill and ag e d in
A m er i c an W hite Oak bar re ls. B ot h t heir
S ilver and Dar k r ums were awarde d
S ilver M e dals at t he N ew Yo r k Wo r l d
W ine and Spir it s C o mp et it i o n.
Got Rum
Rum?? July
July 22001144 -- 2200
Got
B ER KSH I RE MO U NTA I N D I ST I LLERS
N ow to M as s ac huset t s, w here t he f ir st
l e gal dist ill er y in t he B er shire s is mak ing
Rag g e d M ount ain Rum. Chr is We l d,
a fo r mer emerg ency ro o m Physic ian
A s sist ant , has had great suc c e s s in
var i ous spir it s b efo re he at tempte d
r um.
Using a hi gh - gr ade b lac kst r ap
m o las se s, he t r ip le - dist ills t he wash and
ag e s it fo r t wo to t hre e year s in use d
Wo o dfo rd B our b o n bar re ls. Chr is’s g oal
was to c reate a sipping r um t hat falls
s o mew here b et we en a heav i er J amaic an
r um and me ll ower S panish r um.
R I CH L AN D RU M
In t he M arc h is sue of “G ot Rum? ”, I
ment i o ne d t hat R ic hland was o ne of t he
few A mer ic an D ist iller s mak ing r um f r o m
f re sh c ane juic e. Sourc ing and pro c e s sing
of
t he
c ane
sy r up,
fer ment at i o n,
dist illing, aging and ult imate ly b ot t ling
are all handle d in h ouse, o r Fi e l d To
G las s, c reat ing a magni f ic ent 8 6 - p r o of
S ingle Est ate Rum. T he r um has not o nly
imp re s se d t he spir it s c r it ic s, but has wo n
sever al g o ld me dals. To he lp ex pand
dist r ibut i o n, R ic hland has now team e d
up w it h TAG USA to pur sue addit i o nal
East C oast M ar ket s.
KO LOA RU M
Ko l oa Rum is ex panding t heir r um
se le c t i o n and t heir fac ilit i e s. T he late st
of fer ing f ro m Ko l oa is a C o c o nut Rum
t hat of fer s a t aste of H awaii in a glas s
T h e s e a r e t h e m o s t r e c e nt a n d n o tew o r t hy h e a d l i n e s i n t h e r u m i n d u s t r y. I f yo u wa nt u s t o s h a r e
yo u r n ew s w i t h o u r r e a d e r s , p l e a s e s e n d a n e m a i l t o M i ke @ g ot r u m.c o m. M i ke Ku n et k a i s a a l a n d l o c ke d r u m e nt h u s i a s t , h e i s b a s e d i n C o l o r a d o, U S A a n d i s o u r n ewe s t c o nt r i b u t o r.
w it h hint s of young c o c o nut , toaste d
c o c o nut and c o c oa f lavo r s w it h a sm o ot h,
natur al t ast ing f inish. Ko l oa Rum is in
t he planning st age of a new fac ilit y in
t he tow n of Ko l oa t hat w ill inc lude 4 5,0 0 0
square feet p ro duc t i o n area, a 3,0 0 0
square - fo ot of f ic e spac e, a 4, 5 0 0 square fo ot t ast ing ro o m, a 3 0,0 0 0 square - fo ot
inter ac t ive garden and a 4, 5 0 0 square fo ot c afé. J ust anot her g o o d reas o n to
st ar t planning t hat t r ip to K aua’i.
A nd now, to t he re st of t he wo r l d...
PA PA’s PI L AR RU M
N am e d af ter Er ne st H emming way ’s
favor ite boat, Papa’s Pilar Dar k and Blonde
r ums are c r af te d to ref le c t H eming way ’s
pas si o ns o n b ot h land and sea. T hey are
a blend of mult iple r ums, hand - se l e c te d
f ro m t he C ar ibb ean, C ent r al A mer ic a and
Fl o r i da. T he r ums are t hen brought to t he
U.S. A . and mar r i e d to get her in a uni que
S o l er a aging and b lending p ro c e s s. T he
sp e c ial b ot t le s have t he fo r m fac to r of
an i c o nic W WII c anteen. Che c k out t he
sp e c ial b ot t l e s at t heir website: w w w.
papaspilar.c o m.
V I SCAYA RU M
V isc aya has adde d t wo new ex p re s si o ns
to t heir line of r ums. V isc aya Cask 12,
a dar k r um t hat p o s se s se s t he s ame
r i c h c har ac ter and hi gh qualit y as VXO P
C ask 21, but w it h a sli ght ly li ghter b o dy
t hat make s it great fo r mi x ing. V isc aya
Cr ist al is made w it h t he s ame de dic at i o n
to det ail as t heir ot her award w inning
r ums. It is dist ille d f ro m t he juic e of
f re shly p re s se d sugar c ane, using t im e h o no re d met h o ds. It is re ste d in c aref ully
se le c te d oak bar re ls, to give it t he
si gnature c o mp l ex it y t hat c har ac ter ize s
all V izc aya r ums.
BU N DA B ERG RU M LI Q U EU R
Bundab erg now has a r um li queur t hat
c o mbine s t heir favo r ite pas si o ns / v ic e s:
r um, c of fe e and c h o c o late. T he nex t
t ime you are dow n under, sto p by t he
Bundab er g dist ill er y and l o o k fo r t he
b row n Bundy b ot t le t hat c laims to have
t he p er fe c t balanc e of r ic h c of fe e, dar k
c h o c o late and, of c our se, Bundy.
BACAR D I
If you have v isite d t he imp re s sive C as a
Bac ardi V isito r C enter in Cat ano, Puer to
R ic o re c ent ly, you have not ic e d t he t wo
lar g e w ind tur bine s. T he se indust r ial
size d tur bine s g ener ate 25 0 K W of
p ower, enough energy to r un t he V isito r
C enter. T hey are par t of Bac ardi ’s G o o d
S pir ite d: Buil ding a Sust ainable Future
Init iat ive. S inc e t he p ro gr am st ar te d in
20 0 6, t hey have re duc e d t heir pac kaging
wei ght by 7% , c ut energy use by 25% ,
and c ut water use by 5 4% . T hey have set
a g oal to o bt ain 4 0% of t heir sugarc ane
ingre di ent s use d to make r um f r o m
c er t if i e d, sust ainable s ourc e s by 2017,
and 10 0 $ by 202 2.
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E xclusive INTERVIEW
I
f i r s t m et M r. B r a d Tu y n a b o u t 2 ye a r s
a g o a n d we d i s c u s s e d “ L i b r e’s” p l a n
f o r a n R T D Ru m & C o l a u s i n g a g e d r u m.
I wa s s u p e r exc i te d! N o w, j u m p i n g i nt o
p r e s e nt t i m e, I a m ve r y h a p py t o i nt r o d u c e
t o yo u “ L i b r e Ru m & C o l a ® ”. Fi n a l l y f o r
t h e f i r s t t i m e eve r, c o n s u m e r s w i l l b e
a b l e t o e n j oy a r u m & c o l a w i t h a g e d r u m
i n s te a d o f w h i te r u m o r eve n m a l t ! I wa nt
t o t h a n k M r. Tu y n f o r t a k i n g t h e t i m e o u t
o f h i s ve r y b u sy s c h e d u l e t o s h a r e w i t h
u s L i b r e’s s t o r y f r o m i n c e pt i o n t o i t s f i n a l
p r o d u c t i o n. I w i s h M r. Tu y n a n d h i s te a m
m u c h s u c c e s s . I l o o k f o r wa r d t o e n j oy i n g
a c a n o f L i b r e o n t h e b e a c h o r by t h e p o o l !
M a r g a r e t Aya l a , P u b l i s h e r
Got Rum ? July 2 0 1 4 - 2 2
Q: W h a t i s yo u r f u l l n a m e , t i t l e , a n d
c o m p a ny n a m e a n d c o m p a ny l o c a t i o n?
B r adl ey Tuy n, Fo un d e r & M a n a g i n g M e m b e r
of T i c o Li b r e H o l di n g s, LLC dba “ Li b r e
Rum & C o l a ® ( “ Li b r e” ) bas e d o ut of Fo r t
L au d e r da l e, Fl o r i da.
Q: W h a t i n s p i r e d yo u t o g e t s t a r t e d i n
the rum industr y?
T h e sto r y of Li b r e b e g a n i n C o st a R i c a
– t hi s i s w h e r e my r um j o ur n ey b e g a n. I
was m a n a g i n g a r e a l e st ate h e d g e f un d
s et up to f i n a n c e s m a ll, ni c h e r e a l e st ate
d eve l o p m e nt s. By t h e t i m e we we r e r e ady
to b r e ak g r o un d o n o ur f i r st o c e a nf r o nt p r oj e c t i n C o st a R i c a i n f a ll of 2 0 0 8 , Le hm a n
B r ot h e r s f i l e d C h a pte r 11 a n d t h e f i n a n c i a l c r i s i s e nsu e d. We we r e a lr e ady o ut of
b us i n e s s.
D ur i n g t h at t i m e we s e r ve d a ve r y p o p ul a r r um & c o l a c o c k t ai l at o ur eve nt s ni c k n a m e d,
“ T i c o Li b r e” – t h e C o st a R i c a n ve r s i o n of t h e f a m o us “ Cuba Li b r e” o r Rum & C o ke as we
k n ow a n d l ove. C o n d o b uye r s a n d i nve sto r s f r o m t h e U. S. a n d C a n ada r ave d a b o ut o ur
T i c o Li b r e. W hy ? We us e d a s p e c i f i c , hi g h qu a li t y, a m b e r a g e d r um, C o ke Z e r o a n d a
t w i st of l e m o n (vs li m e). It was a hi g h e r qu a li t y, l owe r c a l o r i e, b et te r t ast i n g (s o we we r e
to l d) r um & c o l a ex p e r i e n c e.
Fo r eve nt s w h e r e we di dn’ t h ave t i m e to m i x c o c k t ai l s (like g o l f o r h o r s e bac k r i di n g)
we wo ul d t h r ow “ B a m b o o”, a C o st a R i c a n c a nn e d r um & c o l a r e ady - to - dr i nk (RT D) i nto
c o o l e r s w i t h C o st a R i c a’s f a m o us I m p e r i a l B e e r. We ll, to o ur sur p r i s e, a m a j o r i t y of t h e
t i m e o ur b e e r dr i nke r g u e st s wo ul d p i c k up a c a n of r um & c o l a o ut of c ur i o s i t y, e nj oy
t h e b e e r a lte r n at i ve, a n d ac t u a lly r e ac h f o r a s e c o n d. Eve r y t i m e t h ey as ke d t h e s a m e
qu e st i o n – “ H ow c o o l – c a nn e d r um & c o ke, s o r ef r e s hi n g ve r sus a b e e r – w hy d o n’ t
t h ey s e ll t h e s e i n t h e U.S. (o r C a n ada)? ”. A n d s o, as a f o r m e r Re s e a r c h A n a lyst , my
ex p l o r at i o n b e g a n.
O n e sunny af te r n o o n i n C o st a R i c a, o n t h e Pac i f i c s h o r e, we r e o ut of b us i n e s s du e to
t h e f i n a n c i a l c r i s i s, s i t t i n g p o o l s i d e w i t h my r e a l e st ate at to r n ey Le o n a r d o S a l a z a r (t h e
T i c o i n Li b r e) a n d dr i nk i n g o ur s o r r ow s away w i t h a T i c o Li b r e. T i r e d of h av i n g to g et up
a n d m i x a n ot h e r c o c k t ai l, a n d unw i lli n g to dr i nk B a m b o o (a hi g h c a l o r i e, l ow r um qu a li t y
RT D), I t ur n e d to Le o n a r d o a n d s ai d, “ I m a g i n e i f we c o ul d p r o du c e T i c o Li b r e i n a c a n,
m a r ket a n d di st r i b ute wo r l d w i d e, s o a nyo n e li v i n g a ny w h e r e c o ul d e nj oy a hi g h qu a li t y,
l ow c a l o r i e r e a l a g e d r um & c o l a? ”. H e l o o ke d at m e, l au g h e d a n d s ai d, “ t h at ’s ac t u a lly
t h e b e st i d e a yo u’ve h ad s i n c e I ’ve k n ow n yo u.” T h e n ex t day h e c o nt ac te d t h e r um
p r o du c e r i n C e nt r a l A m e r i c a a n d t h e r e st i s hi sto r y. I c l o s e d my i nve st m e nt m a n a g e m e nt
b us i n e s s of 10 + ye a r s, a n d p r o u dly p ut o n my Li b r e j e r s ey.
Fr o m t h at p o i nt o n, I was g r e at ly i ns p i r e d by t h e i nve nto r of S K Y Y Vo dka, M aur i c e K a nba r,
a n d I c a r ef ull y us e d hi s we ll - w r i t te n b o o k , “ S e c r et s f r o m a n I nve nto r ’s N ote b o o k ”, as
f r a m ewo r k f o r o ur b us i n e s s p l a n w hi c h to o k a l ot of M r K a nba r ’s g r as s r o ot s ad v i c e i nto
ac c o unt . L ast Fa ll, I h ad t h e g r e at p l e asur e of M e et i n g hi m at p e r s o n at hi s of f i c e i n S a n
Fr a n c i s c o – a c a r e e r hi g h li g ht f o r sur e. A n d o ut of r e s p e c t f o r t h e g r e at i nve nto r, I wo n’ t
di s c l o s e hi s s e c r et s un l e s s yo u r e ad hi s b o o k !
Q: W h a t p r o d u c t (s) a r e yo u c u r r e n t l y p r o d u c i n g?
Li b r e i s st r u c t ur e d as a qu as i - Re d B ull s i n g l e p r o du c t b us i n e s s m o d e l l eve r a g i n g a n d
s p e c i a lizi n g i n o n e S K U o ut of t h e g ate. M o st p e o p l e d o n’ t r e a lize t h at t h e c o m p a ny o n ly
s o l d “o n e” p r o du c t su c c e s s f ully f o r ove r 15 ye a r s b ef o r e l aun c hi n g t h e i r s e c o n d S K U.
We d o n’ t p l a n to wai t t h at l o n g as we h ave 2 f o ll ow - o n p r o du c t s i n R& D c ur r e nt ly. We d o
h ave 2 f o ll ow - o n p r o du c t s i n t h e p i p e li n e, b ut o ur p r i m a r y f o c us t h e f i r st 12 m o nt h s i s to
g et Li b r e i nto a few key m a r ket s st a r t i n g w i t h S o ut h Fl o r i da. T h e n ex t p r o du c t i s a n ot h e r
uni qu e 1st m ove r RT D – yo u’ll l ove i t !
Q: W hy d i d yo u c h o o s e t o p r o d u c e a “ Re a d y t o D r i n k ” (RT D) a n d w h a t i s u n i q u e
a b o u t “ Li b r e”?
Li b r e was i ns p i r e d by t h e c o nve ni e n c e of a n a lum i num c a n a n d a b s e n c e of h e av y g l as s
– a p o o l d e c k o r b o at ’s wo r st e n e my. We wa nte d to t ake t h e wo r l d ’s m o st p o p ul a r m i xe d
dr i nk i n t h e hi sto r y of dr i nks, t h e Cuba Li b r e, a n d t ur n i t up a n otc h o r t wo v i a s i n g l e s e r ve RT D f o r m.
G o t R u m ? J u ly 2 0 1 4 - 2 3
We c h o s e t h e 12 oz. B a ll 2 07. 5 s l e e k c a n (s a m e as H e i n e ke n Li g ht) as t h e t a ll e r, m o r e
s l e n d e r b o dy p e r s o ni f i e d o ur l ow - c a l o r i e p o s i t i o ni n g. O ur l a r g e st c o nsum e r p r of i l e,
as we k n ow i t t hus f a r, i s a b o ut 6 0% fe m a l e a g e s 25 - 3 5 . H oweve r, m e n a n d wo m e n of
a ll a g e s s e e m to like t h e s h a p e c a n, w hi c h h a p p e ns to b e l e s s t a ll a n d l e s s s k i nny as
t h e 12 oz. Rexa m s l e e k c a n us e d by Re d B ull.
Li b r e’s uni qu e “ t r ad e dr e s s”, t h e l e g a l te r m of a r t f o r t h e c a n d e s i g n,
C o lli ns g l as s of r um & c o l a. N o ot h e r c o m p a ny i n t h e wo r l d h as eve r
a n d o ur l aw ye r s te ll us t h at we’r e p r ote c te d by t h e L a nt h a m Ac t i n t h e
di f f i c ult f o r B a ll to p r i nt t h e hi g h l eve l of d et ai l i n o n ly 5 - c o l o r s, b ut
j o b f o r us l eve r a g i n g t h e i r Eye r i s ® p r i nt i n g te c hn o l o g y.
i s a n i m a g e of a
d o n e t hi s b ef o r e
U.S. I t was ve r y
t h ey di d a g r e at
Q: W hy d i d yo u d e c i d e t o c a l l yo u r RT D “ Li b r e”?
Rum & C o ke ®, as t h e r e ad e r s m ay o r m ay n ot k n ow, i s by d ef i ni t i o n a “ Cuba L i b r e”
ac c o r di n g to t h e l e g e n d of B ac a r di ® – w hi te r um, c o l a & we d g e of li m e. We s i m p ly
i nve nte d t h e “ T i c o Li b r e™”, a hi g h qu a li t y, l ow - c a l o r i e C o st a R i c a n ve r s i o n of t h e Cuba
Li b r e – we us e da r k (o r a m b e r) a g e d r um, ze r o c a l o r i e c o l a w i t h a we d g e of l e m o n vs.
li m e. B ut f o r m a r ket i n g p ur p o s e s, a n d w i t h a ll du e r e s p e c t to T i c o s (a C o st a R i c a n
n at i ve) w h o j ust h ad a n a m a zi n g Wo r l d Cup s o c c e r w i n, we dr o p p e d T i c o to c r e ate
Li b r e Rum & C o l a ®.
Li b r e m e a ns “ f r e e d o m” i n S p a ni s h a n d Fr e n c h –
r um & c o l a c o c k t ai l o r f r e e d o m f r o m unwa nte d
O ur g o a l w i t h t hi s f i r st m ove r p r o du c t i s to h ave
day – “ I ’ll h ave a Li b r e! ” N ot a Cuba Li b r e, n ot
t hi nk f r e e d o m f r o m h av i n g to m i x yo ur
c a l o r i e s (by us i n g ze r o c a l o r i e c o l a).
r um & c o l a f a ns m ake t h e ba r c a ll o n e
r um & C o ke, n ot a r um & c o l a.
Q: W hy w a s i t i m p o r t a n t t o yo u t o d eve l o p a l ow - c a l o r i e RT D? I s t h e r e a h i g h
d e m a n d f r o m c o n su m e r s f o r l ow - c a l o r i e d r i n ks?
H av i n g t r ad e d a n d r e s e a r c h e d C o nsum e r Pr o du c t s c o m p a ni e s f o r m a ny ye a r s, I di d a
l ot of b e dt i m e r e adi n g a n d di s c ove r e d t h at r um was o n e of t h e f aste st g r ow i n g s p i r i t s
a n d l ow - c a l o r i e RT D s we r e a l s o t r e n di n g ve r y st r o n g as ev i d e n c e d f r o m t h e w i l dly
su c c e s s f ul S k i nnyg i r l b r a n d s a l e to B e a m i n 2 011.
I a l s o di s c ove r e d t h at s i n g l e - s e r ve RT D s (vs l a r g e 75 0 ML b ot t l e s) we r e a n ew, e m e r g i n g
c ate g o r y – j ust wa lk i ns i d e a ny li qu o r sto r e a n d c o unt t h e num b e r of s i n g l e - s e r ve
RT D s o n o n e h a n d. I ac t u a lly wa lke d i nto a W i nn - D i x i e li qu o r sto r e i n S o ut h Fl o r i da
to day a n d g u e s s h ow m a ny s i n g l e - s e r ve di st i ll e d s p i r i t s RT D s I c o unte d? 0 – I ’m n ot
k i d di n g. M a ny of t h o s e RT D s I di d s e e o n s h e l ve s r e a lly we r e n’ t l ow - c a l o r i e…. M a ny
b r a n ds c h e at by h av i n g s m a ll, p a r t i a l, 4 oz. s e r v i n g s ize s. A n d m a ny us e c o r n sy r up
vs, r e a l c a n e su g a r. L i b r e’s M i s s i o n S t ate m e nt , by c o m p a r i s o n, i s to a r t f ully c r af t t h e
wo r l d ’s 1st l ow - c a l o r i e a g e d r um & c o l a i n a 12 oz c a n. N o ad d e d su g a r, n o a r t i f i c i a l
swe ete n e r s – l eve r a g i n g o ur c ur r e nt c o - b r a n di n g r e l at i o ns hi p w i t h t h e a m a zi n g a n d
t a l e nte d te a m at C a r g i ll ’s Tr u v i a ® - m ad e f r o m S tev i a l e af ex t r ac t .
We wa nte d 10 0% of Li b r e’s c a l o r i e s to b e d e r i ve d f r o m a s h ot of hi g h qu a li t y, 3 -ye a r
a g e d r um. At 6 . 5% A BV t h at e qu ate s to o n ly 13 0 c a l o r i e s p e r c a n – a b o ut 1/ 3 t h e
c a l o r i e s of ot h e r s o - c a ll e d “ s k i nny ” c o c k t ai l s. Li b r e ve r y r ef r e s hi n g w i t h g r e at m o ut h
fe e l – n o li n g e r i n g su g a r o n t h e to n g u e a n d n o f unk y a r t i f i c i a l swe ete n e r t aste o n t h e
bac k- e n d.
Q: W hy d i d yo u d e c i d e t o g o w i t h a n a g e d r u m?
Got Rum ? July 2 0 1 4 - 2 4
Ph ot o by : M i ke S ye, R o s e l l e, IL
We wa nte d to b e t h e 1st r um & c o l a RT D i n t h e wo r l d to us e a m o r e m at ur e 2+y r a g e d
r um f o r a b et te r t ast i n g, s m o ot h e r f i ni s h – we di dn’ t wa nt to s ac r i f i c e qu a li t y a n d
b e c o m e a n ot h e r c h e a p t ast i n g, f l avo r e d m a lt c o c k t ai l s e e k i n g o n e t hi n g o n ly – hi g h
p r of i t m a r g i ns. We to o k M aur i c e K a nba r ’s ad v i c e, t h e f o un d e r of S K Y Y, a n d s et t l e d
o n m ak i n g a mu c h b et te r p r o du c t f o r c o nsum e r s at a n h o n e st p r of i t m a r g i n.
T h e r um qu a li t y, as yo u a n d Lui s c a n te st i f y b et te r t h a n a nyo n e, m ake s a ll t h e di f fe n e c e
i n t h e wo r l d w h e n m ak i n g a t r adi t i o n a l r um & c o l a (Cuba Li b r e) c o c k t ai l. M o st yo un g,
w hi te r um s te n d to h ave a b i t te r t aste – a n d we wo n’ t m e nt i o n f a m o us b r a n d n a m e s.
D ur i n g t h e f i n a n c i a l c r i s i s we h ad to o mu c h f r e e t i m e o n o ur h a n ds s o we dr a nk o ur
s o r r ow s away a n d te ste d eve r y avai l a b l e b ot t l e of r um s o l d i n C o st a R i c a, o r D ut y
Fr e e, m i xe d w i t h C o ke Z e r o (vs D i et C o ke). We di s c ove r e d t h at ad d e d su g a r o n ly
i nte r fe r e d w i t h t h e t aste a n d qu a li t y of t h e r um, w hi c h, as yo u a n d Lui s k n ow b e st , i s
a s p i r i t d e r i ve d f r o m su g a r c a n e o r m o l as s e s. O f t h e s e d oze ns of exc e ll e nt r um s, we
f o un d a w i nn e r – a s p e c i f i c C e nt r a l A m e r i c a n a g e d, a m b e r r um t h at s e e m e d to b e a
c r owd f avo r i te w h e n m i xe d w i t h c o l a. A n d s o t h at s p e c i f i c r um f l avo r p r of i l e b e c a m e
G o t R u m ? J u ly 2 0 1 4 - 2 5
Lef t t o R i g ht : B r a d l ey Tu y n, s h o w g i r l, D r. Lu ye n
N g u ye n a n d L e o n a r d o S a l a z a r
t h e p i l ot f o r t h e f i n a l 3 -ye a r a g e d r um b l e n d us e d i n eve r y c a n of Li b r e Rum & C o l a.
Q: W h a t w e r e so m e o f t h e c h a l l e n g e s yo u f a c e d w h e n t r y i n g t o p r o d u c e “ Li b r e”?
W h e n we d e b ute d at t h e 2 012 M i a m i Rum Fe st i va l f o r B et a te st i n g, we t h o u g ht we’d
b e r e ady to p r o du c e o ur f i r st r un w i t hi n 12 m o nt hs. S av v y i n dust r y exe c s wa r n e d us
to ex p e c t a b o ut 24 m o nt hs b ef o r e Li b r e i s r e ady f o r s a l e. T h ey we r e s p ot o n a n d we
we r e d e ad w r o n g. I ’d b e a l ai r i f I to l d yo u t h at we di dn’ t h ave a ny c h a ll e n g e s…
D e l ay #1: Li b r e’s f i r st m i s c o n c e pt i o n was – o ur c o nsum e r s w i ll wa nt o n ly 9 9 c a l o r i e s
p e r c a n, a ve r y li g ht c o c k t ai l. We ll, we di s c ove r e d 6 m o nt hs i nto B et a te st i n g t h at
t h ey ac t u a lly wa nte d m o r e r um f o r a b et te r b uz z (as t h ey to l d us) a n d di dn’ t c a r e
a b o ut a n ex t r a 3 0 - 5 0 c a l o r i e s “as l o n g i t s un d e r 2 0 0 c a l o r i e s p e r c a n”. T h at t h r ew of f
f o r mul at i o n ef f o r t s a n d o ur t i m e li n e.
D e l ay # 2: Pac ka g i n g d e s i g n – af te r sur vey i n g c o nsum e r s, we f o un d t h ey like d L i b r e’s
un qi u e ‘c o l a c o lli ns g l as s’ i m a g e b ut di dn’ t c a r e f o r t h e o r i g i n a l l o g o. S o, we l aun c h e d
a c o nte st o n w w w. 9 9 d e s i g ns.c o m a n d h ad o ur Fac e b o o k f a ns c h o o s e t h e f i n a l, w i nni n g
l o g o. M o r e d e l ay.
D e l ay # 3: We st a r te d w i t h a 12 oz. s l e e k Rexa m c a n a n d we r e un ex p e c te dly f o r c e d
to c h a n g e c a n m ake r s (f o r r e as o ns we’d r at h e r n ot p r i nt) to B a ll. We ll, t h at c a n s ize
Got Rum ? July 2 0 1 4 - 2 6
c h a n g e c r e ate d a b i g p r o b l e m f o r Li b r e – we h ad to c h a n g e c o - p ac ke r s s i n c e t h e o r i g i n a l
c o - p ac ke r e qui p m e nt di dn’ t wo r k w i t h t h e n ew c a n di a m ete r. T hi s r e qui r e d L i b r e to a m e n d
i t s w w w.t t b.g ov p a p e r wo r k . M o r e d e l ay.
D e l ay # 4: Fo r mul a m o di f i c at i o n – Li b r e was r e ady to b ot t l e w h e n i t r e c e i ve d a n un ex p e c te d
l et te r f r o m T T B d e m a n di n g t h at L i b r e m o di f y i t s p r ev i o us ly a p p r ove d f o r mul a (f o r r e as o ns
we’d r at h e r n ot p r i nt). Lu c k i ly we we r e a b l e to c o nt i nu e us i s n g t h e 2 0 0,0 0 0 c a ns t h at we r e
p at i e nt ly s i t t i n g at B a ll ’s wa r e h o us e, wai t i n g to g et f i ll e d. H oweve r, t h e c o m muni c at i o n a n d
s et t l e m e nt w i t h T T B s et us bac k a n ot h e r qu a r te r. M o r e d e l ay.
Fi n a lly, a ny st a r t- up c o m p a ny c a n at te st to Li b r e’s l ast c h a ll e n g e – c a p i t a l r ai s i n g ef f o r t s.
We l e a r n e d t h at i t s c r u c i a l to h ave m a ny li n e s i n t h e wate r at a ll t i m e s. W h e n yo u t hi nk
yo u h ave a c a p i t a l s o ur c e li n e d up, p r ete n d yo u n eve r m et t h e m a n d h ave Pl a n B & C i n t h e
wo r ks. Like a n e p i s o d e of “ S h a r k Ta nk ” (ye s, we au di t i o n e d i n O r l a n d o, FL , h ad o ur p h oto s
t ake n, b ut di dn’ t m ake t h e c ut) - eve r y i nve sto r wa nt s to s e e s a l e s a n d p r o of of c o n c e pt .
S e c ur i n g A n g e l c a p i t a l i s n ot a n e asy t as k , b ut we o bv i o us ly su c c e e d e d i n r ai s i n g t h e m o st
di f f i c ult t r a n c h e of c a p i t a l: Pr o du c t D eve l o p m e nt . A f te r 2+ ye a r s, a n d af te r 21+ f o r mul as,
we we nt o nto c o m m e r c i a liz at i o n a n d p r o du c e d L i b r e Run #1 o n J un e 7, 2 014.
Q: W h a t k i n d o f s h e l f l i f e d o e s “ Li b r e” h ave?
Li b r e i s a f i r st m ove r p r o du c t – we’r e t h e f i r st i n t h e wo r l d to c r e ate a n at ur a lly swe ete n e d
l ow - c a l o r i e, (we d o n’ t like t h e wo r d di et) a g e d r um & c o l a RT D. U n like a r um & di et
m ad e w i t h a r t i f i c i a l swe ete n e r s like S u c r a l o s e a n d A s p a r t a m e w i t h l ow s h e l f li fe of a b o ut 6
m o nt h s, o ur f o r mul a h as b e e n te ste d at 18 m o nt hs a n d was st a b l e i n f l avo r.
We g ot ve r y l u c k y w i t h t h e h e lp of o ur c o - b r a n di n g p a r t n e r - A m e r i c a’s l a r g e st p r i vate ly
h e l d c o m p a ny, C a r g i ll, a n d a few of t h e l a r g e st f l avo r h o us e s i n t h e wo r l d. O ur a ll - st a r f o o d
s c i e n c e te a m c r ac ke d t h e c o d e l eve r a g i n g Tr u v i a ® - t h ey c r e ate d a l o n g s h e l f li fe, w hi c h
i s unh e a r d of f o r a r um & di et RT D a n d, m o r e i m p o r t a nt ly, we ad d e d a s e c r et i n g r e di e nt i n
eve r y c a n of Li b r e Rum & C o l a ® to c r e ate a r ef r e s hi n g, su g a r- like, c r e a my m o ut hfe e l. A s
a m a j o r h ote l c h ai n to l d us at t ast i n g m e et i n g – “ Li b r e c a n’ t b e r e p li c ate d. W hy ? Eve r y di et
c o l a we h ave at t h e ba r w i ll c o nt ai n a r t i f i c i a l swe ete n e r s, a n d yo ur s d o e s n’ t ”. H ow c o o l i s
t h at , we t h o u g ht .
Q: W h e r e a r e yo u c u r r e n t l y s e l l i n g “ Li b r e” a n d h ow i s i t b e i n g so l d t o c o n su m e r s , a s
a s i n g l e c a n , p a c k o f 4 c a n s , 6 - p a c k , e t c…?
S i n c e Li b r e i s a di st i ll e d s p i r i t s p r o du c t , we c a n o n ly s e ll i n li qu o r sto r e s i n Fl o r i da, a l o n g
w i t h ‘o n - p r e m i s e’ l o c at i o ns t h at h ave a li qu o r li c e ns e (vs b e e r & w i n e o n ly). O t h e r st ate s,
like C a li f o r ni a a n d I lli n o i s, p e r m i t li qu o r to b e s o l d i n g r o c e r y a n d c o nve ni e n c e sto r e s.
T h o s e s h o ul d b e o ur hi g h e r vo lum e s e lli n g st ate s.
Li b r e w i ll r et ai l as s i n g l e s at a r o un d $2 . 9 9 a n d i n 4 - p ac ks t a r g ete d at $ 9. 9 9. I nste ad of
b uy i n g a 2- li te r of c o l a, a h e av y b ot t l e of r um h o us e d i n unf r i e n dly g l as s, a l e m o n o r li m e
(di d yo u b r i n g t h e k ni fe to t h e b e ac h?) – w hy n ot p i c k up a 4 - p ac k of Li b r e a n d t h r ow i t i n t h e
c o o l e r w i t h yo ur b e e r s, wate r b ot t l e s o r s o da? I t ’s t h e p e r fe c t RT D to b r i n g a l o n g to a p a r t y
a n d f ai r ly p r i c e d f o r a n ult r a - p r e m i um RT D c o c k t ai l (vs a m a lt o r f l avo r e d b e e r p r o du c t).
We’r e ex p l o r i n g t h e ke g as a f ut ur e d e li ve r y m et h o d – f o r (21+) of f - c a m p us p a r t i e s a n d
eve nt s, a n d f o r t h o s e p ub s l o o k i n g to s e r ve a l ow - c a l, b e e r a lte r n at i ve to c usto m e r s.
Q: I k n ow yo u r RT D i s m e a n t t o b e c o n su m e d s t r a i g h t o u t o f t h e c a n , b u t h ave yo u
a l so c o m e u p w i t h so m e f u n a n d exc i t i n g c o c k t a i l s t h a t c o n su m e r s c a n e n j oy w i t h
“ Li b r e”?
G o t R u m ? J u ly 2 0 1 4 - 2 7
Li b r e i s n ot j ust t h e wo r l d ’s m o st p o p ul a r m i xe d dr i nk i n c a n, b ut i t ’s a few n otc h e s a b ove a
t r adi t i o n a l ‘Cuba Li b r e’ c o c k t ai l - us i n g 3 -ye a r a g e d r um a n d o n ly t h e f i n e st n at ur a l f l avo r s
a n d i n g r e di e nt s. T h at b e i n g s ai d, we c e r t ai n ly d o n’ t wa nt Li b r e di lute d i n a c up of i c e! I t s
m e a n to b e s l ow ly s i p p e d r i g ht o ut of t h e c a n. U n like a f l avo r e d b e e r (m a lt) w i t h hi g h swe et
ac i d, i t s li g ht a n d r ef r e s hi n g. S o m e f a ns eve n p o i nt o ut t h e s at i s f y i n g a r o m a of a n e m pt y
c a n of Li b r e – c i t r us a n d a g e d r um n ote s at te st to t h e hi g h qu a li t y i n g r e di e nt s.
S o, t ake yo ur c a n o ut of t h e f r i d g e o r c o o l e r, t h r ow o n a Ko ozi e s o yo ur h a n ds d o n’ t wa r m
up t h e a lum i num c a n, p o p t h e to p a n d i ns e r t i n a c o o l ye ll ow, b e n dy st r aw. S i p a n d e nj oy !
T h e p r o du c t i s g r e at “as - i s” – n o n e e d f o r a r um to p p e r as s h e c o nt ai ns n o ad d e d su g a r
a n d s o m e n at ur a l c af fe i n e i n t h e c o l a bas e. T h e Li b r e b uz z f ac to r (we’r e to l d) i s p r et t y
da r n g o o d vs, a h e av y c r af t b e e r, a n d we wa nt o ur f a ns dr i nk i n g r e s p o ns i b l e a n d n ot dr i v i n g
w hi l e e nj oy i n g t h e i r Li b r e. In f ac t , t h at n ew c o nt r ove r s i a l we b s i te U b e r c o m e s to m i n d!
Q: D o yo u h ave a ny f u t u r e p l a n s o f p r o d u c i n g o t h e r r u m - b a s e d RT D’s?
We h ave 2 f o ll ow - o n p r o du c t s i n t h e p i p e li n e, b ut o ur p r i m a r y f o c us t h e f i r st 12 m o nt hs of
s a l e s i s to g et Li b r e i nto a few key m a r ket s st a r t i n g i n S o ut h Fl o r i da. T h e n ex t p r o du c t i s
a n ot h e r uni qu e 1st m ove r RT D – yo u’ll l ove i t ! Li g ht , r ef r e s hi n g, n ot hi n g a r t i f i c i a l a b o ut i t
m ad e w i t h t h e s a m e 3 -ye a r a g e d r um b l e n d. A s l o n g as o ur sto c k of s e c r et ly sto r e d a g e d
r um i s avai l a b l e, we’ll n eve r c o m p r o m e r um qu a li t y eve n i f i t m e a ns l owe r g r o s s m a r g i ns to
o ur c o m p a ny. B ut a ll of Li b r e’s f o ll ow - o ns w i ll b e r um - bas e d p r o du c t s o n ly.
Q: I f p e o p l e w a n t t o c o n t a c t yo u o r w a n t t o k n ow h ow t o g e t a h o l d o f “ Li b r e”, h ow
m ay t h ey r e a c h yo u?
B e st way to r e ac h us, j ust v i s i t t h e c o nt ac t p a g e at w w w.li b r e r um c o l a.c o m a n d s h o ot us
a m e s s a g e, o r e m ai l us at i nf o @ li b r e r um c o l a.c o m o r di a l 78 6 . 5 6 3 . 3 52 2 . We e n c o ur a g e
s m a ll e r, st ate di st r i b uto r s to wo r k w i t h us a n d wo ul d l ove to h ave r um & c o l a f a ns c o nt ac t
t h e i r l o c a l li qu o r sto r e s a n d r e qu e st Li b r e! Let ’s c r e ate a b uz z. O ur i ni t i a l di st r i b ut i o n i n
S o ut h Fl o r i da w i ll b e w i t h w w w.p a r kst r e et .c o m, a n awe s o m e i m p o r te r, di st r i b uto r, ad v i s o r
a n d bac k- of f i c e s e r v i c e s c o m p a ny bas e d i n M i a m i, Fl o r i da.
Q: I s t h e r e a m e s s a g e o r c o m m e n t yo u wo u l d l i ke t o s h a r e w i t h o u r r e a d e r s?
T h a nks, M a r g a r et . I a p p r e c i ate yo u g i v i n g m e t h e o p p o r t uni t y to te ll o ur sto r y. Li b r e’s Pr o du c t
D eve l o p m e nt p h as e h as b e e n a m a zi n g j o ur n ey a n d we e m b r ac e t h e c o m m e r c i a liz at i o n
p r o c e s s – f r o m a p i p e dr e a m i n C o st a R i c a, to i m p o r t i n g t h e r um ba r r e l s f r o m C e nt r a l
A m e r i c a a n d r e c e nt ly p r o du c i n g o ur f i r st r un h e r e i n t h e U S A . I t ’s st i ll a b lur to m e.
We’d a l s o like to t h a nk o ur Fac e b o o k f a ns a n d t r ad e s h ow c o nsum e r s f o r t h e i r i nva lu a b l e
fe e dbac k – a ll of yo u, n ot a c o nt r o ll e d f o c us g r o up us e d by m o st l a r g e c o r p o r at i o ns, m ad e
Li b r e w h at i t i s to day ! We’r e g r atef ul f o r yo ur sur vey t i m e a n d we ex i st , i n f i n a l f o r m,
b e c aus e of yo u – f r o m t h e l o g o c o nte st , to t h e f i n a l l eve l of r um, swe ete n e r a n d c i t r us i n
e ac h c a n. We di dn’ t hi r e ‘ i n dust r y ex p e r t s’ to d o t hi s f o r us; i t was t h e r um & c o l a c o nsum e r
(like yo u).
A n d to t h o s e e nt r e p r e n e ur s c o nte m p l at i n g a n ew p r o du c t l aun c h, r um - bas e d o r n ot , a n d
t h o s e c ur r e nt ly e n dur i n g g r ow i n g p ai ns w i t h t h e i r n ew b r a n d, as we h ave t h e p ast 2+ ye a r s,
I ’d like to s h a r e a g r e at T h o m as Edi s o n qu ote t h at i ns p i r e d m e to g et o ut of b e d, st ay
f o c us e d a n d m ove t h e ba ll f o r wa r d: “ M a ny of li fe’s f ai lur e s a r e p e o p l e w h o di d n ot r e a lize
h ow c l o s e t h ey we r e to su c c e s s w h e n t h ey g ave up.”
Got
Got Rum
Rum?? July
July 22001144 -- 2288
GGoot t RRuumm?? JJuunly
e 2014 - 29
Got Rum ? July 2 0 1 4 - 3 0
™
The International Leaders in
Rum Training and Consulting
O ur M ost Popul a r Cour se s
The Ar t of Rum Making
(2 Day)
Histor y and Science
of the Barrel (1 Day)
The Ar t of Rum Blending
(2 Day)
Ad di t ional Cour se s
•
T h e C l a s s i f i c at i o n s o f R u m (1 D ay, f o r B r a n d A m b a s s a d o r s , J o u r n a l i s t s , B l o g g e r s a n d R u m A f f i c i o n a d o s).
•
A d va n c e d Ru m M a k i n g f o r C r a f t D i s t i l l e r s (1 D ay, o n l y f o r c u r r e nt d i s t i l l e r s).
•
A d va n c e d Ru m Ta s t i n g Te c h n i q u e s (1 D ay, f o r B r a n d A m b a s s a d o r s , J o u r n a l i s t s , B l o g g e r s a n d R u m
A f f i c i o n a d o s).
•
T h e B u s i n e s s o f Ru m (5 D ay s , f o r c u r r e nt o r f u t u r e C r a f t D i s t i l l e r y O w n e r s).
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D eve l o p i n g a P r i va te L a b e l Ru m (2 D ay s , f o r c u r r e nt o r f u t u r e B r a n d O w n e r s).
•
C u s t o m Tr a i n i n g P r o g r a m s f o r M a s te r B l e n d e r s , A g i n g Wa r e h o u s e M a n a g e r s , L a b o r at o r y Te c h n i c i a n s a n d
ot h e r I n d u s t r y M e m b e r s .
Up c o ming Cour se s
Fo r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , p l e a s e v i s i t:
www.rumuniversity.com
o r c all us at:
+1 8 5 5 RU M -TI PS ex t . 3 (+1- 8 5 5 -78 6 - 8 47 7)
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USA - T h e Ru m U n i ve r s i t y w i l l b e
r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e Ru m s e c t i o n o f t h e
5 - D ay D i s t i l l e r C o u r s e a t t h e M o o n s h i n e
U n i ve r s i t y, J u l y 2 8 t h t o Au g u s t 1.
USA - Au g u s t: S o l d O u t
USA - S e p t e m b e r : S o l d O u t
USA - O c t o b e r : Ava i l a b l e f o r p r i va t e
training
T h e R u m U n i ve r s i t y i s a Re g i s t e r e d Tr a d e m a r k
o f R u m R u n n e r P r e s s I n c . i n b o t h t h e U. S . A . a n d i n
t h e e n t i r e Eu r o p e a n U n i o n . T h e u s e o f t h e “ R u m
U n i ve r s i t y ” n a m e w i t h o u t t h e a p p r ova l o f t h e t r a d e m a r k
h o l d e r w i l l b e l e g a l l y p r o s e c u t e d.
A l l i n - p e r s o n R u m U n i ve r s i t y c o u r s e s a r e
ava i l a b l e i n S p a n i s h a n d i n En g l i s h .
Pairing Tobacco & RUM
Photo gr ap her : D anna B o rdalí
Limited 2013 Cigar Pairing
2014
M
y n a m e i s P h i l i p I l i B a r a ke, S o m m e l i e r by
t r a d e. A s a r e s u l t o f w o r k i n g w i t h s e l e c te d
r e s t a u r a nt s a n d w i n e p r o d u c e r s i n C h i l e, I
s t a r te d d eve l o p i n g a p a s s i o n f o r d i s t i l l e d s p i r i t s
a n d c i g a r s . A s p a r t o f my m o s t r e c e nt j o b, I h a d
t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o v i s i t m a ny C e nt r a l A m e r i c a n
c o u nt r i e s , a s we l l a s , r u m d i s t i l l e r i e s a n d t o b a c c o
g r o we r s .
B u t my p a s s i o n f o r s p i r i t s a n d c i g a r s d i d n ot e n d
t h e r e; i n 2 010 I h a d t h e h o n o r o f r e p r e s e nt i n g
C h i l e at t h e I nte r n a t i o n a l C i g a r S o m m e l i e r
C o m p et i t i o n, w h e r e I w o n f i r s t p l a c e, b e c o m i n g
t h e f i r s t S o u t h A m e r i c a n t o eve r a c h i eve t h at f e at .
Now I face the challenge of impressing the
r e a d e r s o f “ G o t Ru m? ” w i t h w h a t i s p e r h a p s
the toughest task for a Sommelier: discussing
p a i r i n g s w h i l e b e i n g we l l awa r e t h a t t h e r e a r e a s
m a ny i n d i v i d u a l p r ef e r e n c e s a s t h e r e a r e r u m s
a n d c i g a r s i n t h e w o r l d.
I b e l i eve a p a i r i n g i s a n ex p e r i e n c e t h at s h o u l d
n ot b e l i m i te d t o o n l y t w o p r o d u c t s; i t i s s o m et h i n g
t h at c a n b e i n c o r p o r a te d i nt o o u r l i ve s . I h o p e
t o h e l p o u r r e a d e r s d i s c ove r a n d a p p r e c i ate t h e
p l e a s u r e o f t r y i n g n ew t h i n g s (o r ex p e r i e n c i n g
k n o w n t h i n g s i n n ew way s).
Got Rum ? July 2 0 1 4 - 3 2
It to o k alm o st si x m o nt hs f r o m t he
inc ept i o n of t his i dea unt il I was abl e
to exe c ute it . T he p lan was to pair a
sp e c ial e dit i o n r um, re lease d in 2013,
w it h a limite d e dit i o n “ H abano” (10 0%
Cuban c i gar) re lease d in t he s am e
year.
Let ’s st ar t by ex p laining w hat we m ean
by “a sp e c ial e dit i o n r um” w hi c h, in
t he c ase of Z ac apa, is rep re sente d by
t he 3 0,0 0 0 b ot t le s re lease d in 2013
o nly fo r t he Euro p ean mar ket . S inc e
t he mar ket fo r t he se b ot t le s was a
c o mp lete ly di f ferent c o nt inent , we
k new we woul d not se e any of t hem
here in Chile. To make it a di f ferent
r um f ro m t he t r adit i o nal Z ac apa, it was
als o given o ne m o re year of aging, a
se c o nd aging in c har re d bar re ls and
in sher r y bar re ls. It feature s bur nt
c ar ame l note s and a mar ke d swe et ne s s
t hat reminds us of dr y f r uit s and a
c ar ame l reminisc ent of a f re shly- made
c rème b r ule é. To c ap it all, it c o m e s in
a b ot t le w it h a m o re c las sic “ l o o k and
fe e l ”, similar to t he p re sent at i o n of t he
“S tr ai g ht fr o m the C as k ” e dit i o n.
In t he c ase of t he H abano, sinc e
we are dealing w it h a p rote c te d
D eno minat i o n of O r i gin, t he S p e c ial
Edit i o ns have to abi de by c er t ain
r ule s. Fo r examp le, fo r a b r and to p ro duc e a “ S p e c ial
Edit i o n”, t hat c i gar (b lend, shap e and size) c annot
already ex ist w it hin t he b r and ’s c las sic lineup. S inc e
all t he to bac c o c o me s f ro m di f ferent har ve st s, t he se
c i gar s quic k ly b e c o me jewe ls p r aise d by c o lle c to r s.
T he fo r mat , h owever, c an b e rep eate d later o n by t he
p ro duc er. A c lear examp le of t his is t he “ Pir ámi de”
f r o m C o hiba, init ially re lease d in 20 01 and t hen
re lease d again in 20 0 6. A not her t hing t hat c an
happ en is fo r a H abano to f ir st b e re lease d as a
S p e c ial Edit i o n and s o me t ime later it b e c o m e s
a p er manent addit i o n to t he c o mpany ’s c las si c
lineup (an examp le of t his is M agnum 5 0 f r o m
H . Up mann in 20 0 5). O ne last re quirement is
fo r t he w r app er leaf to b e ag e d a minimum of
2 year s, w hic h c o nt r ibute s to mak ing eac h
limite d e dit i o n even m o re sp e c ial.
It is not t ime to make our se lve s c o mfo r t abl e,
to st ar t t he pair ing. W hile in Chile, t here is
no b et ter p lac e to sm o ke a c i gar t han at L a
Cas a de l H abano at t he W H ote l. Fo r t his
o c c asi o n I inv ite d a group of ver y sp e c ial
f r i ends: Cr ist ian B enko, M anag er and Edito r
of Po l o M aga zine, R ic ardo G re llet , a f r i end
and dist ille d spir it s c o lleague at D iag e o and
J o sé M i gue l S alvado r, M anag er of L a Cas a de l
H abano in Chile, al o ng w it h t he sto re manag er
N ic o lás Rojas.
T he Limite d Edit i o n 2013 c i gar I se le c te d was a Ro m e o
y J uli et a, w it h it s “ Ro me o de Luxe”, als o k now n as V ito la de
G aler a “ Capuleto” (52 r ing size by 162 mm in lengt h). At f ir st l o o k
it reminds us of a c las sic py r ami d, but w it h a re gular shap e. T he se
dimensi o ns mean we c an b e l o o k ing at around o ne h our of sm o k ing
enj oy ment , w it h ver y mar ke d t r ansit i o ns.
I st ar te d t he pair ing w it h R ic ardo, sinc e us Chileans are not k now n fo r
our t imeline s s and we di d not want to wait fo r t he re st of t he group to
G o t R u m ? J u ly 2 0 1 4 - 3 3
Photo: Danna Bordalí
show up (t he H abano was sc reaming to b e sm o ke d and we wante d to answer it s
c all!). R i ght away and f ro m t he ver y b e ginning, we b ot h not ic e d an exc e llent dr aw
and t he c r af t smanship t hat went into it s p ro duc t i o n.
J ust as we st ar te d to p our t he r um, t he re st of t he gue st s sh owe d up, just like
t he geni e A laddin would do up o n r ubbing t he b ot t le (o r, in t he c ase of A laddin,
lamp). Ever y b o dy gr abb e d t heir c i gar and quic k ly j o ine d our group. Ever y b o dy ’s
c o mm ent s were t hat t he H abano was at it s p eak of f lavo r, w it h ver y intense note s,
all giving t he c i gar a me dium b o dy w it h ref ine d note s of bur nt wo o d. A ll in all, it
was an exc ellent st ar t to t he sm o k ing end of t he pair ing.
A s we st ar te d to pair t he c i gar w it h t he r um, b ot h p ro duc t s were at t heir p eak, but
we c oul d s ay t hat t he r um was over p ower ing t he c i gar, it was ab ove t he to bac c o
note s. O ne of t he p o int s of a pair ing is to f ind a balanc e, s o met hing t hat e lude d
us at f ir st , but I had c o mp lete fait h in t he evo lut i o n of t he pair ing s o we pushe d
t hr ough.
A s we c o mbine d m o re and m o re t he note s f ro m t he to bac c o and t h o se f r o m t he
c i gar, t he r um kept do minat ing w it h it s b ot anic al and f r uit note s, inc luding junip er
ber r i e s, dr y f i gs and lic o r ic e, all t he se e lement s c o mbine d to remind us of a S panish
so mm e li er f r i end of our s, a landmar k in t he indust r y here in Chile.
Got Rum ? July 2 0 1 4 - 3 4
Photos: Danna Bordalí
(A b ove, f r o m Lef t to R i g ht): C r i st i a n B e nko,
R i c a r d o G r e ll et , Phi li p I li a n d J o s é M i g u e l
S a l vad o r.
A s we reac he d t he se c o nd t hird of t he c i gar,
t he c o nver s at i o n am o ng all p re sent was
t ak ing us in many dif ferent and pleas ant
dire c t i o ns, alm o st mak ing us fo rget t he t ask
at hand. T his means t he balanc e b et we en
t he c i gar and t he r um was c l o ser and m o re har m o ni ous, mak ing it a p leasure to
all ow t he sense s to ex p l o re b ot h p ro duc t s at t heir f ulle st . T he H abano sh owe d
an even st r o ng er prof ile and t he r um, as i f f i ght ing bac k, was sh owc asing a m o re
p ro l o nge d and ling er ing af ter t aste.
A s I ’ve m ent i o ne d in previ ous o c c asi o ns, a pair ing is not o nly ab out w it ne s sing
t he inter ac t i o n b et ween a dr ink and it s c ounter par t . A pair ing is als o ab out t he
at m o sphere c reate d by t he p e o ple invo lve d and, t ak ing all t he se fac to r s into
c o nsi der at i o n, t his pair ing was abso lute ly p er fe c t!
Che er s,
Philip Ili Bar ake
Philip @g ot r um.c o m
G o t R u m ? J u ly 2 0 1 4 - 3 5
Got Rum ? July 2 0 1 4 - 3 6