"Got Rum?" December 2025

Got Rum? D E C E M B E R 2025

®

f r o m t h e g r a s s t o yo u r g l a s s , s i n ce 20 01!

COOKING WITH RUM - Angel’s Share CIGAR AND RUM PAIRING - The RUM MIXOLOGIST The Rum Historian - The Rum Library RUM IN THE NEWS - THE SWEET BUSINESS OF SUGAR THE RUM LABORATORY - GOT RUM? TEAM INTERVIEW

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22 Got Rum R um ? Dece mber 2025 - 2

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Contents

DECEMBER 2025 5 From The Editor 6-9 T h e A n g e l’ s S h a r e - R u m R e v i e w s 10-13 C OO K ING WI T H RUM 14-17 T HE r u m m i x o l o g i s t 18-19 T HE RUM UNIVERSI T Y ® LI B R A R Y 22-25 T h e r u m h i s t o r i a n 26-29 T HE r UM l ab o r at o r y 30-33 RUM IN T HE NEWS 34-49 T HE SWEE T B USINESS O F SUG A R 50-57 T h e s u g a r m i l l : o r i g i n s a n d e v o l u t i o n 58-67 GO T RUM ? T E A M IN T ERVIEW 68-71 C IG A R A ND RUM PA IRING

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G o t Ru m ? De c e mb e r 2 0 25 - 3

® Got Rum? Printed in the U.S.A. A publication of Rum Runner Press, Inc. Taylor, Texas 76574 - U.S.A. Tel/Fax +1 (855) RUM-TIPS © 2025 by Rum Runner Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

December 2025 Edi tor and P ubl i sher:

l ui s@ gotrum.com

Executi ve Edi tor:

margaret@ gotrum. com

C i gar 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

C ooki ng w i th Rum:

sue@ gotrum.com

Webmaster: w eb@ gotrum.com Di rector of P hotography:

art@ gotrum.com

If you would like to submit news or press releases, please forward them to:

n e w s @g o tr u m . c o m You can download the free electronic version (low-res) of this magazine, or purchase the high resolution printed version at:

WWW. GOTRU M. CO M The printed version of “Got Rum?” is produced with FSC-certified paper, which means it is from responsibly managed forests and verified recycled sources.

F RON T C OVER : Merry Ol d Fashi oned INSIDE S P RE A D : Radi ant Rum Revel ing

F ROM T HE EDI T OR

State of the Beverage Industry - Update If you are a member of the distilled spirits industry in the USA, or if you have been keeping up with related headlines, then you already know that distillers and brand owners are facing numerous challenges: •

Consumer preferences are changing.

Some consumer groups are moving away from hard liquor and towards THC, but changing legislature will impact the availability of these products in late 2026 and beyond.

•

Exports of bottled products have sharply fal len because of tariffs and related political posturing.

•

Many distilleries have been forced to close their doors and to liquidate their assets.

•

Barrel brokers/investors are facing the reality that their inventories do not have the value they expected.

•

The prices for glass bottles, metal cans, corks/stoppers for bottles and even cardboard have skyrocketed, due to tariffs and transportation increases.

In August 2024, there were 3,069 active craft distilleries in the USA. In August 2025, the number was 2,282, representing a casualty rate of 25%!

This is very bad news for the companies involved and for their employees, and the consequences reach far beyond the confines of their distilled spirits plants.

Equipment suppliers are now facing overstock and increased production cost scenarios that will affect their cash flows and long-term survival as well.

Is there a silver lining hidden beyond these dark clouds? There is one indeed: many companies can still re-invent themselves, cater to the emerging consumer trends, follow the market into new areas. New players seeking to enter the industry are

also facing good news: there is an ample supply of used equipment available for a fraction of what it used to cost just 12 months before. There is also a large pool of skilled workers eager to continue their journey in this industry.

The past 12 months have been very challenging, but postponing the implementation of solutions to these challenges is likely to result in even larger obstacles to overcome: the time to plan and act is now! Reach out to me if you need help defining or implementing a roadmap to survival.

Cheers!

Luis Ayala, Editor and Publisher 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 updates, previews, Q&A and exclusive material.

G o t Ru m ? De c e mb e r 2 0 25 - 5

T HE A NGEL’ S SH A RE

by Paul S e nf t

Havana Club Selección de Maestros H ava n a C l u b r u m s , w h i l e n ot ava i l a b l e f o r s a l e i n t h e U n i te d S t ate s , c a n u s u a l l y b e f o u n d w h e n t r ave l i n g o u t s i d e t h e c o u nt r y, a n d ove r t h e ye a r s a r e c u r r i n g q u e s t i o n h a s b e e n a s ke d c o n c e r n i n g i f t h ey a r e w o r t h t h e s u i tc a s e s p a c e. T h e b r a n d i t s e l f i s p o l a r i z i n g due to political reasons, as ownership of the H ava n a C l u b b r a n d i s s p l i t b et we e n t h e C u b a n g ove r n m e nt t h r o u g h t h e M i n i s t r y o f Fo o d u n d e r t h e n a m e C u b a R o n a n d Pe r n o d R i c a r d, e a c h c a r r y i n g a 5 0 - 5 0 s t a ke i n i t .

M y nam e i s Paul S enf t - Rum Rev i ewer, Tast ing h o st , J udg e and Wr iter. M y ex p l o r at i o n of Rums b e gan by l ear ning to c r af t T ik i c o c k t ails fo r f r i ends. I qui c k ly l ear ne d t hat n ot all r ums are c reate d e qually and t hat t he uni quene s s of t he spir it c an b e as var i e d as t he l o c al e s t hey are f r o m. T hi s inspire d m e to t r ave l w it h my w i fe ar ound t he C ar ibb ean, C ent r al A m er i c a, and U nite d S t ate s v i sit ing di st ill er i e s and l ear ning ab out h ow eac h o ne c reate s t heir r ums. I have als o had t he p l easure of l ear ning f r o m bar tender s, b r and ambas s ado r s, and ot her ent husiast s f r o m ar ound t he wo r l d; eac h o ne p r ov i ding t heir ow n uni que p o int of v i ew, adding an ot her c hapter to t he m o der n sto r y of r um.

T he de sire to share t hi s info r mat i o n l e d m e to c reate w w w. Ru m Jo u r n ey.c o m w here I share my ex p er i enc e s and rev i ews in t he h o p e s t hat I woul d inspire ot her s in t heir ow n ex p l o r at i o ns.

It i s my w i sh in t he pag e s of “ G ot Rum? ” to b e your h o st and p r ov i de you w it h my imp re s si o ns of r ums availab l e in t he wo r l d mar ket . H o p ef ully my t ast ing n ote s w ill inspire you to t r y t he r ums and make your ow n o pini o ns. T he wo r l d i s f ull of g o o d r ums and t he j our ney i s al ways b e st ex p er i enc e d w it h ot her s.

Che er s!

Got R um ? Dece mber 2025 - 6

A l l t h e r u m s u s e d t o c r e ate t h i s p r o d u c t a r e m o l a s s e s - b a s e d c o l u m n s t i l l r u m s t h at h ave b e e n p r o d u c e d at d i f f e r e nt d i s t i l l e r i e s a r o u n d t h e i s l a n d. T h e d i f f e r e nt M a e s t r o R o n e r o s for the distilleries select rums from their a g i n g f a c i l i t i e s t o b e i n c l u d e d i n t h i s b l e n d.

T h e s e l e c te d r u m s g o t h r o u g h a t r i p l e a g i n g p r o c e s s u s i n g u s e d w h i te o a k b o u r b o n b a r r e l s .

A f te r t h i s a g i n g p r o c e s s , t h e M a e s t r o Ro n e r o s s e l e c t t h e f i n a l r u m s t h at w i l l b e p a r t o f t h e b l e n d. W h i c h i s w hy t h e r u m i s f i t t i n g l y c a l l e d S e l e c c i ó n d e M a e s t r o s . N o a g e s t ate m e nt i s p r ov i d e d, b u t t h e r u m s a r e b l e n d e d a n d b ot t l e d at 4 5% A BV. Appearance The rum is sold with and without a brown tube t h at p r ov i d e s s o m e d et a i l s a b o u t t h e r u m .

T h e b ot t l e i s a t a l l c u s t o m 70 0 m l d e s i g n w i t h t h e w o r d s “ El R o n D e C u b a” e m b o s s e d b e l o w t h e n e c k . T h e f r o nt a n d b a c k l a b e l s p r ov i d e a m i n i m u m a m o u nt o f i n f o r m at i o n a b o u t t h e r u m a n d s e e m by d e s i g n t o wa nt t h e c o n s u m e r t o f o c u s o n t h e g o l d e n h u e d b u r nt u m b e r l i q u i d.

T h e H ava n a C l u b b r a n d e d p l a s t i c c a p h o l d s a sy nt h et i c c o r k a n d i s s e c u r e d t o t h e b o t t l e w i t h a black security wrap with the words “Selección d e M a e s t r o s” w r a p p e d a r o u n d t h e n e c k . T h e l i q u i d l i g hte n s s l i g ht l y i n t h e g l a s s . A f te r I s w i r l e d t h e l i q u i d, a t h i n b a n d f o r m e d t h at s l o w l y t h i c ke n e d a n d r e l e a s e d a s i n g l e wave o f e q u a l l y s l o w l e g s b ef o r e eva p o r at i n g w i t h o n l y a f ew b e a d s o f l i q u i d r e m a i n i n g a r o u n d t h e glass.

Nose T h e a s t r i n g e nt p u n c h o f t h e et h a n o l l e a d s t h e way, q u i c k l y f o l l o we d by n o te s o f c a r a m e l, r o a s te d n u t s (a c o m b i n a t i o n o f t o a s te d a l m o n d s a n d p e c a n s), r a i s i n s , l e m o n ze s t , a n d cardamom.

Pa l a t e L i ke t h e a r o m a , t h e r u m’s f l avo r l e a d s w i t h a n a s t r i n g e nt p u n c h o f c h a r r e d o a k a n d a l c o h o l.

A d d i t i o n a l s i p s r eve a l n o te s o f r a i s i n s , b r o w n s u g a r, a n d va n i l l a , a n d t h e n a s w i r l o f s p i c e s m a n i f e s t i n g m i d p a l a te — c i n n a m o n, n u t m e g, a n d c a r d a m o m . A s t h e p a l a te i s c o n d i t i o n e d t o t h e rum, the nuttiness from the aroma manifests as c a r a m e l i ze d s u g a r p e c a n s a n d t o a s te d a l m o n d s and coconut, with rich cacao and dried tobacco l e a f. T h i s t o b a c c o n o te g e nt l y t r a n s i t i o n s t h e r u m i nt o a c h a r r e d o a k m i n e r a l - r i c h f i n i s h t h at l i n g e r s f o r q u i te s o m e t i m e.

Fo r m a ny ye a r s t h i s r u m ex p r e s s i o n wa s c o n s i d e r e d t h e p i n n a c l e o f t h e H ava n a C l u b l i n e. Re c e nt l y, t h e c o m p a ny h a s r e l e a s e d ot h e r ex p r e s s i o n s t h a t m ay m a ke t h a t c o n s i d e r a t i o n o u t d ate d, b u t s o f a r, t h o s e r u m s a p p e a r t o b e l i m i te d o u t s i d e t h e i s l a n d. T h i s i s a r u m t h at m u s t b e s i p p e d s l o w l y a n d s avo r e d a s t h e f l avo r s u n f o l d o n t h e p a l a te. W h i l e t h e r u m d o e s n ot h ave a v i nt a g e o r a g e s t a te m e nt , t h e r e a r e s u bt l e c h a n g e s t o t h e f l avo r p r o f i l e ove r t h e ye a r s a s d i f f e r e nt r u m s a r e u s e d i n t h e b l e n d. T h e r e h ave a l way s b e e n r e p o r t s o f s m a l l - l eve l a d d i t i ve u s a g e w i t h t h i s b r a n d, w i t h r e c e nt r e p o r t s s t a t i n g t h a t u p t o 10 g r a m s p e r l i te r h ave b e e n d ete c te d. I d o n o t b e l i eve t h e a d d i t i ve s m a ke t h e r u m ove r l y s we et a n d f o u n d i t t o b e a n e n j oya b l e s i p p e r t h a t f u n c t i o n e d we l l in a range of classic cocktails and shined in a f ew t r o p i c a l d r i n ks . To a n s we r t h e o p e n i n g q u e s t i o n, ye s , i f yo u l i ke w h a t yo u r e a d i n t h i s r ev i ew, t h e n H ava n a C l u b S e l e c c i ó n d e M a e s t r o s i s wo r t h t h e r o o m i n yo u r s u i tc a s e.

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R ev i e w

G o t Ru m ? De c e mb e r 2 0 25 - 7

T HE A NGEL’ S SH A RE

by Paul S e nf t

Ron Diplomatic o Reser va E xclusiva T hi s r um was c r e ate d as a t r i b ute to t h e c o m p a ny ’s 18 t h - c e nt ur y f o un d e r, D o n J u a n c h o N i eto M e l é n d ez, w h o was k n ow n as a r um c o ll e c to r w h o e nj oye d di s c ove r i n g i nte r e st i n g r um s a n d c ur at i n g qui te a c o l l e c t i o n. I t was t hi s s e a r c h t h at eve nt u a lly l e d hi m to f o un di n g D e st i l e r i as U ni das, S. A . Re l e as e d i n 2 0 0 4, D i p l o m at i c o Re s e r va E xc lus i va i s t h e c r e at i o n of M aste r B l e n d e r T i to C o r d e r o.

To m ake t hi s r um, t h e c o m p a ny fe r m e nte d a c o m b i n at i o n of su g a r c a n e j ui c e a n d m o l as s e s. T h e r um i s c o m p r i s e d of a b l e n d of 2 0% c o lum n st i ll a n d 8 0% p ot st i ll t h at i s a g e d up to 12 ye a r s i n us e d b o ur b o n a n d m a lt w hi s key c as ks at t h e di st i ll e r y p r o p e r t y i n Ve n ezu e l a. B ef o r e t h e b l e n di n g p r o c e s s, t h e c o m p a ny ad ds c a n e su g a r (2 9 g r a m s p e r b ot t l e) to t h e r um to a m p li f y t h e f l avo r s of t h e p r o du c t . T h e f i n a l p r o du c t i s b l e n d e d to 4 0% A BV a n d s o l d i n t h e U ni te d S t ate s i n 75 0 m l b ot t l e s. T h ey st ate t h at t h ey d o n ot ad d a ny c o l o r i n g a g e nt s to t h e i r r um.

Appearance T h e b ot to m h e av y f r o ste d g r e e n b ot t l e c o n c e a l s t h e c o l o r of t h e r um a n d i s s e a l e d w i t h a p l ast i c s c r ew c a p. T h e l a b e l p r ov i d e s t h e bas i c i nf o r m at i o n a b o ut t h e r um a n d fe at ur e s a p o r t r ai t of D a n J u a n c h o N i eto M e l é n d ez. O n e t hi n g of n ote i s t h at t h e r e i s n o a g e o r v i nt a g e i nf o r m at i o n o n t h e b ot t l e.

I n t h e g l as s, t h e r um h as a r uby - hu e d c h e st nut b r ow n c o l o r. S w i r li n g t h e li qui d c r e ate s a m e di um ba n d t h at r e l e as e s a c o up l e of wave s of f ast- m ov i n g l e g s a n d t h e n r e l e as e s a wave of s l ow - m ov i n g l e g s t h at t ake qui te a b i t of t i m e to d e s c e n d o n t h e s i d e of t h e g l as s.

Got R um ? Dece mber 2025 - 8

Nose T h e a r o m a l e ads w i t h c a r a m e lize d va ni ll a a n d i s f o ll owe d by a sw i r l of swe et p r un e s, r a n d o m s p i c e s, m i lk c h o c o l ate, c h a r r e d o ak , ac eto n e, a n d b l ac k c h e r r y.

Pa l a t e T h e f i r st s i p i s a sw i r l of b r ow n su g a r, p r un e s, tof fe e, a n d t h e h e at of a l c o h o l.

Ad di t i o n a l s i p s r eve a l a ni s e, c a n di e d o r a n g e, m o c h a l at te, c ur r y s p i c e, ast r i n g e nt o ak c h a r, dr i e d to bac c o, a n d ac eto n e. T h e s e f l avo r s m e r g e a n d li n g e r i n a swe et a n d s p i c y m i n e r a l - r i c h f i ni s h.

Rev i ew O ve r t h e p ast d e c ad e, D i p l o m at i c o Re s e r va E xc lus i va h as b e c o m e t h e f l a g s hi p p r o du c t of t h e D i p l o m at i c o li n e. I t i s a s o li d s i p p e r, e s p e c i a lly f o r t h o s e w h o e nj oy swe et r um s, a n d i t i s qui te ve r s at i l e i n a l a r g e r a n g e of c o c k t ai l s. I t i s n ot un c o m m o n to s p ot i t o n a r e st aur a nt t ast i n g m e nu a n d to s e e i t us e d i n a few of t h e c o c k t ai l s.

A s ot h e r p r o du c t s i n t h e b r a n d p o r t f o li o h ave b e e n up date d a n d r ef o r mul ate d, t hi s o n e h as r e m ai n e d r e l at i ve ly un c h a n g e d. I wo ul d n ot r e c o m m e n d t hi s p r o du c t f o r r um e nt hus i ast s t h at d o n ot e nj oy swe ete n e d r um s. H oweve r, ove r t h e ye a r s I h ave di s c ove r e d qui te a few ba r te n d e r s a n d ot h e r i m b i b e r s w h o e nj oy i t , e s p e c i a lly as a n af te r- di nn e r s i p p i n g r um. Fo r m e, i t was a n af f o r da b l e g ateway i nto un d e r st a n di n g t h e b r a n d, a n d i t i s a f un o n e to s h a r e w i t h w hi s key e nt hus i ast s o r t h o s e c o nsum e r s w h o a r e c ur i o us a b o ut t r y i n g di f fe r e nt k i n ds of r um s.

Would you like to see your r um reviewed here?

We don’t charge fees to review r ums. You don’t even have to adver tise.

w w w.rondiplomatic o.c om

So... what are you waiting for ???

For more infor mation, please send an email to: margaret@gotr um.c om

G o t Ru m ? De c e mb e r 2 0 25 - 9

COOKING WITH RUM Bringing the Spirit of the Cane Into the Hear t of the Kitchen!

by Chef Susan W hitley

Got Got Rum R um?? Dece December mber 2025 2025 -- 1100

G Goott Ru Rum m?? De Decceemb mbeerr 22002255 -- 11 11

Crockpot (Slow Cooker) Turkey Chili I n g r e d i e n t s: •

2 T b s p. O li ve O i l, di v i d e d

•

1 ½ lb s. G r o un d Tur key

•

•

2 C a ns (14 oz. e ac h) Fi r e - r o aste d D i c e d To m ato e s

2 M e di um W hi te O ni o ns, c h o p p e d

•

4 t s p. C hi li Powd e r

•

1 M e di um Re d B e ll Pe p p e r, chopped

•

1 t s p. G r o un d Cum i n

•

1 t s p. D r i e d O r e g a n o

•

1 M e di um G r e e n B e ll Pe p p e r, chopped

•

½ t s p. S a lt

•

5 G a r li c C l ove s, m i n c e d

•

1 ½ oz. D a r k Rum

•

1 J a l a p e ñ o Pe p p e r, f i n e ly c h o p p e d

•

2 T b s p. Ketc hup

D i r e c t i o n s: 1. H e at o n e t a b l e s p o o n of o li ve o i l i n a l a r g e s k i ll et ove r m e di um - hi g h h e at .

Ad d g r o un d t ur key a n d c o o k f o r a b o ut 7- 8 m i nute s b r e ak i n g up t h e m e at i nto s m a ll e r p i e c e s. O n c e c o o ke d, p l ac e i ns i d e c r o c k p ot .

2. I n t h e s a m e s k i ll et , h e at t h e r e m ai ni n g o n e t a b l e s p o o n of o li ve o i l. Ad d o ni o ns, b e ll p e p p e r s, g a r li c a n d j a l a p e ñ o p e p p e r. C o o k unt i l s of te n e d (a b o ut 4 - 5 m i nute s). S t i r i n t h e to m ato e s, c hi li p owd e r, c um i n, o r e g a n o, s a lt , r um a n d ketc hup a n d c o o k f o r a b o ut a m i nute. Pl ac e m i x t ur e i nto c r o c k p ot , m i x w i t h m e at . C ove r a n d c o o k o n LOW f o r 6 h o ur s.

Y i e l d: 6 s e r v i n g s.

P h o t o c r e d i t : w w w.t h e t r ave l p a l a t e.c o m

Got Got Rum R um?? Dece December mber 2025 2025 -- 1122

Crockpot (Slow Cooker) Brioche and Rum Custard I n g r e d i e n t s: • • • • • • • • •

2 T b s p. U n s a l te d B u t te r, m e l te d 3 ½ C. W h i p p i n g C r e a m 4 Eg g s ½ C. B r ow n S u g a r, p ac ke d 1/ 3 C. G o l d Ru m 2 t s p. Va n i l l a 1 ½ l b. B r i o c h e B r e a d, to r n i nto p i e c e s 1/ 3 C. Pe c a n s , c o a r s e l y c h o p p e d C a r a m e l o r B u t te r s c otc h to p p i n g, o pt i o n a l

D i r e c t i o n s: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

C o at t h e i n s i d e of c r o c k p ot w i t h m e l te d b u t te r.

I n a l a r g e b ow l, c o m b i n e c r e a m, e g g s , b r ow n s u g a r, r u m, a n d va n i l l a , st i r we l l.

M o u n d a f o u r t h of b r i o c h e p i e c e s i n t h e b ot to m of c r o c k p ot . L a d l e a f o u r t h of t h e c r e a m m i x t u r e ove r t h e b r i o c h e. S p r i n k l e a t h i r d of t h e p e c a n s ove r c r e a m.

Re p e at t h e s e ste p s w i t h t h e r e m a i n i n g b r i o c h e, c r e a m m i x t u r e a n d p e c a n s u nt i l a l l i n g r e di e nt s h ave b e e n u s e d u p.

C ove r c r o c k p ot w i t h l i d a n d c o o k o n LOW f o r 3 to 3 ½ h o u r s (o r o n HIGH f o r 1 ½ to 2 h o u r s). C o o k c u st a r d u nt i l to ot h p i c k i n s e r te d i nto t h e c e nte r c o m e s o u t c l e a n.

S e r ve wa r m. O pt i o n a l: D r i z z l e w i t h c a r a m e l o r b u t te r s c otc h to p p i n g.

Y i e l d: 4 - 6 s e r v i n g s.

P h o t o c r e d i t : w w w. i n s t a n t p o t .c o m

G Goott Ru Rum m?? De Decceemb mbeerr 22002255 -- 1133

TH E RUM

M i xo l o g i s t A spac e devoted to the exploration of c las sic and new r um c oc k t ails

R um ? Dece mber 2025 - 1 4 Got Rum

What Is Mixology?

M i xo l o g y i s t h e st u dy a n d s k i ll of i nve nt i n g, p r e p a r i n g a n d s e r v i n g c o c k t ai l s a n d ot h e r m i xe d dr i nks. M i xo l o g i st s a r e ex p e r t s i n t hi s f i e l d, b ut m i xo l o g i st s’ k n ow l e d g e g o e s b eyo n d m e m o r izi n g bas i c c o c k t ai l r e c i p e s: i t i n c lu d e s hi sto r i c a l i nf o r m at i o n, bas i c c h e m i st r y b e hi n d f l avo r c o m b i n at i o ns a n d a c a p ac i t y f o r c o m b i ni n g c o m m o n i n g r e di e nt s i n n ew ways.

J o i n us, as we ex p l o r e t h e e s s e nt i a l c o ll e c t i o n of r um c o c k t ai l r e c i p e s t h at eve r y m i xo l o g i st n e e ds to m aste r.

G o t Ru m ? De c e mb e r 2 0 2 5 - 1 5

Got R um ? Dece mber 2025 - 1 6

TH E RUM

M i xo l o g i s t This M onth’s C oc k t ail: Easy Rum Eggno g About Rum Eggnog

Rum eggnog is a delicious and satisf ying holiday cocktail, but most traditional recipes can be a bit time- consuming. Here is an easyto -follow, simplified version, for those who prefer to spend more time drinking eggnog and less time making it!

Easy Rum Eggnog I n g r e d i e n t s: •

1 1/ 2 o u n c e s a ñ e j o r u m

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1 1/ 2 o u n c e s r u by p o r t

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1/ 2 o u n c e s i m p l e sy r u p

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1 large egg

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G r ate d n u t m e g, f o r g a r n i s h

D i r e c t i o n s: 1.

I n a c o c k t a i l s h a ke r, c o m b i n e t h e r u m , r u by p o r t , s i m p l e sy r u p, a n d e g g.

2.

D r y s h a ke (w i t h o u t i c e) t o c o m b i n e t h e i n g r e d i e nt s .

3.

A d d i c e a n d s h a ke v i g o r o u s l y a s e c o n d t i m e.

4.

S t r a i n i nt o a w h i te w i n e g l a s s a n d d u s t w i t h n u t m e g. S e r ve a n d e n j oy.

R a w E g g Wa r n i n g: C o n s u m i n g r aw a n d l i g ht l y c o o ke d e g g s p o s e s a r i s k f o r f o o d - b o r n e i l l n e s s . M a ke s u r e yo u r e g g i s f r e s h by p l a c i n g t h e e g g i n a g l a s s o f wate r ; i f i t s i n ks , i t ’s f r e s h a n d w i l l b e s a f e t o d r i n k . Eg g s t h at f l o at t o t h e t o p a r e t o o o l d a n d s h o u l d b e d i s c a r d e d.

G o t Ru m ? De c e mb e r 2 0 2 5 - 1 7

LI BR A RY Rev i ew s of b o o ks r e l ate d to su g a r c a n e, m i lli n g, fe r m e nt at i o n, di st i ll at i o n, a g i n g, b l e n di n g a n d ot h e r to p i c s r e l ate d to t h e p r o du c t i o n o r hi sto r y of r um. w w w. Rum U ni ve r s i t y.c o m

Got R um ? Dece mber 2025 - 1 8

The Art of Mixology - Making Spirits Bright: Toast the Season with More than 75 Christmas Cocktail Recipes

by Parragon Books (Author) and Joella Morris (Illustrator) ( P u b l i s h e r ’s Rev i ew) Fr o m t h e c r e a t o r s o f t h e b e s t s e l l i n g a n d c l a s s i c f avo r i te T h e A r t o f M i xo l o g y c o c k t a i l b o o k c o m e s o u r h o l i d ay t i t l e, M a k i n g S p i r i t s B r i g ht .

Cheers to the Spirits of the Christmas S e a s o n! T h i s c o l l e c t i o n o f d e l i c i o u s d r i n k r e c i p e s f e a t u r e s c oz y o l d i e s l i ke Eg g n o g a n d M u l l e d W i n e, b u t a l s o n ew c l a s s i c s l i ke J i n g l e J u i c e a n d C i n n a m o n B a s i l M o j i t o s . B a r te n d e r s o f eve r y l eve l o f ex p e r i e n c e w i l l l ove t h i s h o l i d ay h a n d b o o k ! S o w h et h e r yo u’r e a n ew m i xo l o g i s t o r a t h o r o u g h l y s e a s o n e d S a nt a , t h i s c o l l e c t i o n w i l l g et eve r yo n e r o c k i n’ a r o u n d t h e C h r i s t m a s Tr e e! B e a u t i f u l p h ot o s o f c o c k t a i l s w i l l i n s p i r e yo u r i m a g i n at i o n - - a n d te c h n i q u e s , b a r wa r e, a n d i n g r e d i e nt s a r e s u p e r e a sy t o f o l l o w. D i d s o m e o n e a s k f o r a m o c k t a i l? N o p r o b l e m ! Re c i p e s a r e e a s i l y c o nve r te d t o n o n a l c o h o l i c c h o i c e s . G r e a t h o l i d ay h o s t a n d h o s te s s g i f t !

Explore the chemistr y of cocktails and mocktails with The Ar t of M i xo l o g y. B e c o m e yo u r o w n b a r te n d e r a n d c r e a te n ew, d e l i c i o u s concoctions using the best of t r a d i t i o n a l a n d c o nte m p o r a r y r e c i p e s .

H ave f u n a n d m a ke yo u r s e l f a d r i n k !

C o l l e c t a l l o f t h e t i t l e s i n o u r M i xo l o g y s e r i e s - T h e O r i g i n a l M i xo l o g y B o o k , B o u r b o n & W h i s key, G i n, Ru m , a n d n o w i n c l u d i n g Wo r d S e a r c h I nt ox i c a t i n g P u z z l e s , M o c k t a i l s , a n d T h e E s s e nt i a l G u i d e t o C o c k t a i l s .

C L A SSI C A ND C ON T EM P OR A RY C O C K TA ILS: A l c o h o l i c a n d n o n - a l c o h o l i c d r i n ks a l i ke f o r t h e h o l i d ay s e a s o n! I n c l u d e s m o r e t h a n 75 C h r i s t m a s c o c k t a i l s t o c h e e r s t h e h o l i d ay s e a s o n, w i t h d r i n ks l i ke a M e r r y M a i Ta i o r a M i s t l et o e M a r t i n i.

AC C OMMODAT ES A LL LEVELS: T h i s u l t i m ate cocktail recipe book is made for beginners, ex p e r t s , a n d eve r yo n e i n b et we e n, f e a t u r i n g m i xe d d r i n ks w i t h a va r i et y o f a l c o h o l f avo r i te s i n c l u d i n g w h i s key, g i n a n d vo d k a .

REC I PES & PHOTOS: 19 2 p a g e s f u l l o f beautiful images of cocktail recipes will i n s p i r e a ny b a r te n d e r f o r t h e h o l i d ay s . M i x eve r y t h i n g f r o m a t r a d i t i o n a l H ot To d d y t o a f r e s h, m o d e r n C i n n a m o n B a s i l M o j i t o.

T E AC HES T HE B A SI C S: Re c i p e s a r e e a sy t o f o l l o w f o r eve n t h e m o s t n ov i c e m i xo l o g i s t . ​M A K ES A GRE AT GI F T: M a ke s a g r e at stocking stuf fer or gif t to the host during the h o l i d ay s e a s o n.

P u b l i s h e r : C ot t a g e D o o r P r e s s P u b l i c at i o n d ate: J u l y 3 , 2 0 2 3 L a n g u a g e: En g l i s h P r i nt l e n g t h: 19 2 p a g e s IS B N -10: 16 4 6 3 8 879 8 IS B N -13: 978 -16 4 6 3 8 879 0

G o t Ru m ? De c e mb e r 2 0 2 5 - 1 9

Got Got R Rum um?? De Dece cemb mber e r 22025 0 2 5 -- 20 20

Your O n e - Stop Shop fo r Ag ed Rum s in Bulk!

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C olumn - D istilled, Pot- D istilled or Blends High C ongener (Inc luding High Ester s), Low C ongener or Blends

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Aged in A mer ic an or Frenc h Oak Bar rels

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Aged in Rye W hiskey, Bour bon, Tequila, A r magnac, Por t, Sher r y and W ine Bar rels

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Single Bar rels and Sec ond Aging / Finish

D istilled in the USA , C entral A mer ic a, South A mer ic a or in the Car ibbean O ver 15 0 M ar ks /St yles Available, plus Custom Blends Low M inimums and Fast Tur naround, Wor ldwide Shipping

w w w.RumCentral.com G Goott Ru Rum m?? De Decceem mb ber 2025 - 21

TH E R U M HISTO R IAN

by M arc o Pi er ini I was b o r n i n 19 5 4 i n a li t t l e tow n i n Tus c a ny (I t a ly) w h e r e I st i ll li ve. I n my yo ut h, I g ot a d e g r e e i n Phi l o s o p hy i n Fl o r e n c e a n d I st u di e d Po li t i c a l S c i e n c e i n M adr i d, b ut my r e a l p as s i o n h as a l ways b e e n H i sto r y a n d t h r o u g h H i sto r y I h ave a l ways t r i e d to un d e r st a n d t h e wo r l d, a n d m e n. Li fe b r o u g ht m e to wo r k i n to ur i s m, eve nt o r g a niz at i o n a n d vo c at i o n a l t r ai ni n g, t h e n, a lr e ady i n my f i f t i e s I di s c ove r e d r um a n d I fe ll i n l ove w i t h i t .

I h ave v i s i te d di st i ll e r i e s, m et r um p e o p l e, at te n d e d r um Fe st i va l s a n d j o i n e d t h e Rum Fa m i ly. I h ave st u di e d to o, b e c aus e Rum i s n ot o n ly a g r e at di st i ll ate, i t ’s a wo r l d.

Pr o du c e d i n s c o r e s of c o unt r i e s, by t h o us a n ds of c o m p a ni 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 as a n d f l avo r s, i t i s a f as c i n at i n g f i e l d of st u di e s. I b e g a n to un d e r st a n d s o m et hi n g a b o ut su g a r c a n e, fe r m e nt at i o n, di st i ll at i o n, a g e i n g a n d s o o n.

S o o n, I di s c ove r e d t h at r um h as a l s o a te r r i b l e a n d r i c h H i sto r y, m ad e of voya g e s a n d c o n qu e st s, b l o o d a n d swe at , i m p e r i a l f l e et s a n d r evo lut i o ns. I s o o n r e a lize d t h at t hi s H i sto r y d e s e r ve d to b e r e s e a r c h e d p r o p e r ly a n d I d e c i d e d to d evote mys e l f to i t w i t h a ll my p as s i o n a n d w i t h t h e h e lp of t h e bas i c s c h o l a r ly to o l s I h ad l e a r nt dur i n g my o l d uni ve r s i t y ye a r s.

I n 2 017 I p ub li s h e d t h e b o o k “A MERI CA N RUM – A S h o r t H i sto r y of Rum i n E a r ly A m e r i c a” I n 2 019 I b e g a n to r un a B l o g: w w w. t h e r um hi sto r i a n.c o m I n 2 0 2 0, w i t h my s o n C l au di o, I h ave p ub li s h e d a n ew b o o k “ FREN C H RUM – A H i sto r y 16 3 9 -19 0 2 ”.

I a m c ur r e nt ly d o i n g n ew r e s e a r c h o n t h e H i sto r y of Cuba n Rum.

Got Rum R um ? Dece mber 2025 - 2 2

CU B A N RUM: 29. MORE LIGH T ON H AVA N A C LU B B o r n i n 174 9, J o h a nn Wo l f g a n g vo n G o et h e was a G e r m a n p o et , p l ay w r i g ht , n ove li st , a n d s c i e nt i st w h o s e i nf lu e n c e s h a p e d Eur o p e a n c ult ur e. H i s e a r ly, hu g e a n d l o n g - l ast i n g su c c e s s c a m e w i t h “T h e S o r r ows o f Yo u ng Wer th er ” (17 74), a n ove l t h at c a pt ur e d t h e s p i r i t of Ro m a nt i c i s m, e m p h as izi n g e m ot i o n a n d i n di v i du a li s m a n d t h e i m p o r t a n c e of l ove i n o ur li ve s. I n 18 32, o n hi s d e at hb e d, hi s l ast wo r ds s e e m to h ave b e e n: “ m o r e li g ht ”. S i n c e t h e n, p e o p l e h ave b e e n d e bat i n g w h et h e r i t was s i m p ly a r e qu e st to o p e n t h e w i n d ow, o r a r efe r e n c e to hi s i llum i ni st p as s i o n f o r t h e t r ut h, o r t h e d e s i r e to k n ow, to k n ow m o r e.

S i pa r va l i c et, L a V izc aya, A r e c h a ba l a a n d H ava n a C lub a r e to day to o li t t l e k n ow n c o m p a r e d to t h e i r g r e at i m p o r t a n c e i n t h e hi sto r y a n d eve n t h e p r e s e nt of r um. We n e e d to k n ow m o r e a n d f o r t un ate ly n ow, at l e ast i n p a r t , t h at i s p o s s i b l e.

Re c e nt ly I h ave r e ad t wo wo r ks t h at s h e d m o r e li g ht o n t h e hi sto r y of Cuba n r um i n g e n e r a l a n d o n A r e c h a ba l a i n p a r t i c ul a r.

I n 2 0 2 3 , M a r ía V i c to r i a A r e c h a ba l a Fe r n á n d ez, a d e s c e n da nt of t h e f a m i ly, a n d A nto nío S a nt a m a r ía G a r cía, a r e n ow n e d S p a ni s h H i sto r i a n, p ub li s h e d

t h e c as e of J o s é A r e c h a ba l a, w h o i n 187 7 s et up hi s ow n b us i n e s s af te r wo r k i n g f o ur ye a r s f o r J uli á n d e Zulu et a a n d r ai s i n g t h e c a p i t a l n e c e s s a r y to e st a b li s h hi s ow n b us i n e s s i n C á r d e n as. A r e c h a ba l a was d e di c ate d to t h e sto r a g e a n d t r ad e of su g a r a n d h o n ey, a n ac t i v i t y t h at h e k n ew we ll ...”

T h e f o ll ow i n g ye a r, i n 1878 , h e b o u g ht a st i ll “ t h a nks to t h e p ay m e nt f ac i li t i e s of fe r e d by i t s ow n e r s” w h o a l s o o r i g i n ate d f r o m hi s n at i ve tow n, G o r d oj u e l a. T hi s i s a n ot h e r exa m p l e of t h e i m p o r t a n c e of t h e n et wo r ks of r e l at i o ns b et we e n i m m i g r a nt s t h at we t a lke d a b o ut i n t h e N ove m b e r a r t i c l e. Ev i d e nt ly t h e b us i n e s s we nt we ll, b e c aus e a lr e ady i n 18 8 0, h e m a n a g e d to p ay t h e e nt i r e d e bt a n d r e m ai n s o l e ow n e r of hi s c o m p a ny.

G r ow t h was r a p i d, p r of i t s i n c r e as e d a n d D o n J o s é i nve ste d h e av i ly i n m o d e r nizi n g a n d di ve r s i f y i n g hi s c o m p a ny.

“A R EC H A B A L A A zú c a r y R o n ”. I o n ly f o un d o ut l ast s p r i n g a n d, af te r t h e sum m e r b r e ak dur i n g w hi c h I a l s o h ave to wo r k f o r a li v i n g, I h ave f i n a lly r e ad i t .

I t i s a l a r g e vo lum e, a b e aut i f ul o b j e c t , f ull of f a m i ly sto r i e s, p e r i o d p h oto s, r a r e d o c um e nt s, a n d a we a lt h of i nf o r m at i o n, w hi c h s o m et i m e s di f fe r s f r o m m ai nst r e a m n a r r at i ve s. A ll t h e qu ot at i o ns i n t hi s a r t i c l e a r e t ake n f r o m t hi s b o o k . T h e t r a ns l at i o n i s m i n e, a n d I a p o l o g ize i n ad va n c e to t h e aut h o r s a n d o ur r e ad e r s.

A l s o, t h e aut h o r s we r e k i n d e n o u g h to a nswe r my qu e st i o ns a n d g ave m e t h e o p p o r t uni t y to f i n a lly r e ad a b o o k I h ad b e e n s e a r c hi n g f o r ye a r s, M a nu e l B o n e r a M i r a n da’s “O R O B L A N C O U na H is to r ia Em p r es a r ia l d e l R o n C u ba n o ”, 2 .0 0 0. I wa nt to p ub li c ly t h a nk t h e m h e r e.

H av i n g s ai d t hi s, l et ’s st a r t f r o m t h e b e g i nni n g, t h at i s, f r o m t h e ve r y f o un dat i o n of t h e c o m p a ny. “ T h ey e m e r g e d i n Cuba f r o m t h e r a nks of e m p l oye e s, e nt r e p r e n e ur s i n a r e as w h e r e a l a r g e i nve st m e nt was n ot n e e d e d. T hi s was

I n 18 91 “ t h e A r e c h a ba l a f ac to r y p o s s e s s e d - as p a r t of i t s m ac hi n e r y - t wo of t h e m o st m o d e r n c o lum ns ex i st i n g i n Cuba, a n a n a ly ze r a n d a r e c t i f i e r f o r a l c o h o l s.

T h a nks to a n i n g e ni o us d e s i g n, w hi c h us e d h e at exc h a n g e p hys i c s, t h e fe r m e nt at i o n i s s e p a r ate d i nto i t s c o nst i t u e nt va p o r s w i t h t h e f i r st a p p a r at us a n d t h e n s e l e c t i ve ly c o n d e ns e d i n t h e s e c o n d. T h e te c hn o l o g y us e d i n L a V izc aya m ad e i t p o s s i b l e to c o nt r o l t h e st r e n g t h of t h e r um s p r o c e s s e d, s i n c e t h e s p i r i t c o ul d b e r e m ove d f r o m t h e r e c t i f i e r at va r i o us h e i g ht s - t h e hi g h e r, t h e st r o n g e r t h e li qu o r - s o t h at i t was p o s s i b l e to ac hi eve, w h e n eve r d e s i r e d, a di st i ll ate w i t h 9 5 p e r c e nt a l c o h o l p e r vo lum e of li qui d p r o c e s s e d.”

I t p r o du c e d a r o un d 70 p i pas (a ba r r e l of c i r c a 470 li te r s) of r um a n d 2 . 5 0 0 g a ll o ns of a l c o h o l p e r day.

I n t hi s way, “ L a V izc aya c o m p l ete d i t s i m p r ove m e nt p r o c e s s, w hi c h b e g a n i n 18 8 5 w h e n t h e ow n e r d e c i d e d to c o nve r t i t i nto a m o d e r n f ac to r y. B atc h di st i ll at i o n i n t h e p ot st i ll, w hi c h was t h e m o st t r adi t i o n a l a n d a n c i e nt p r ac t i c e of o bt ai ni n g a l c o h o l a n d r um, was l ef t b e hi n d f o r eve r, to b e d o n e by c o nt i nu o us di st i ll at i o n i n a c o lum n. T hi s te c hni qu e h ad b e e n i nt r o du c e d i n Cuba i n t h e s e c o n d h a l f of t h e ni n ete e nt h c e nt ur y a n d was t h e m o st w i d e ly us e d, ef fe c t i ve

G o t Ru m ? De c e mb e r 2 0 2 5 - 2 3

a n d e c o n o m i c a l m et h o d to o bt ai n a st r o n g a n d p ur e li qu o r. W i t h t h e i nst a ll at i o n, i n 18 91, of t h e ef f i c i e nt a l c o h o l r e c t i f i e r, J o s é A r e c h a ba l a s h owe d hi m s e l f as a n e nt r e p r e n e ur i nte r e ste d i n t h e c ut t i n g e d g e te c hn o l o g i c a l ad va n c e s of hi s t i m e, e s p e c i a lly t h o s e c o m i n g f r o m t h e U ni te d S t ate s.”

S o, n ow we k n ow t h at yo un g J o s é A r e c h a ba l a h ad st a r te d w i t h a t r adi t i o n a l p ot st i ll, a n d t h at o n ly l ate r, i n 18 91, t h a nks to hi s su c c e s s a n d m o r e r e s o ur c e s at hi s di s p o s a l, di d h e b uy m o d e r n c o lum ns of c o nt i nu o us di st i ll at i o n.

A s hi s c o m p a ny g r ew, s o di d D o n J o s é’s p e r s o n a l p r e st i g e a n d s o c i a l a n d p o li t i c a l r o l e. M e a nw hi l e, B i g H i sto r y we nt o n.

Re l at i o ns b et we e n S p ai n a n d Cuba we r e g et t i n g wo r s e. I n t h e l ast ye a r s of t h e ni n ete e nt h c e nt ur y, t h e S p a ni s h t a x b ur d e n o n Cuba a n d i n p a r t i c ul a r o n i t s r um i n dust r y was c o nst a nt ly g r ow i n g. T h e Cuba n p r o du c e r s r e ac te d w i t h p r ote st s a n d p et i t i o ns. D o n J o s é was n ow o n e of t h e l e adi n g f i g ur e s of hi s tow n a n d h ad a l e adi n g r o l e i n t r y i n g to m ake t h e g ove r nm e nt of M adr i d un d e r st a n d t h e r e as o ns of t h e Cuba n p r o du c e r s. I t was a d e c i s i ve m o m e nt i n t h e hi sto r y of Cuba, i n w hi c h p e r h a p s t h ey c o ul d st i ll h ave avo i d e d t h e b r e ak w i t h S p ai n a n d to w hi c h I w i ll p r o ba b ly d e di c ate a f ut ur e a r t i c l e. Fo r n ow, i t i s su f f i c i e nt to s ay t h at hi s ef f o r t s we r e n ot su c c e s s f ul a n d t h e g a p b et we e n Cuba a n d S p ai n c o nt i nu e d to w i d e n unt i l t h e o ut b r e ak of t h e s e c o n d g r e at Wa r of I n d e p e n d e n c e i n 18 9 5, w hi c h e n d e d w i t h t h e i nte r ve nt i o n of t h e U ni te d S t ate s i n 18 9 8 . (S e e 13 . TOWA RDS INDEPENDEN C E: SUG A R , WA RS A ND T HE US, i n t h e Au g ust 2 0 2 3 i s su e).

A s we k n ow, t h e wa r was ve r y h a r s h, b ut C á r d e n as, L a V izc aya a n d t h e A r e c h a ba l a f a m i ly su f fe r e d r e l at i ve ly li t t l e f r o m i t a n d we r e r e ady to st a r t a g ai n as s o o n as i t e n d e d. At t h e e n d of t h e wa r, Cuba h ad j ust un d e r 2,0 0 0,0 0 0 i nh a b i t a nt s a n d i t s e c o n o my was i n r ui ns. B ut t hi n g s i m p r ove d r a p i dly. “... a g r e at m a ny S p a ni a r ds we nt bac k to S p ai n dur i n g t h e Wa r of I n d e p e n d e n c e, t ak i n g t h e i r m o n ey w i t h t h e m, b ut o n ly f o r a s h o r t p e r i o d, s i n c e i n 19 0 0 t h ey b e g a n to

Got R um ? Dece mber 2025 - 2 4

r et ur n to Cuba, s o t h at t h e num b e r of t h e t h e n ex- m et r o p o li t a ns c o m i n g bac k to t h e I s l a n d s o o n exc e e d e d t h e num b e r of t h o s e w h o h ad f l e d b e c aus e of t h e c o nf li c t . Pe ac e t r e at y a g r e e m e nt s g u a r a nte e d t h at t h e r e wo ul d b e n o ex p r o p r i at i o ns ... T h e p o stwa r r e c o nst r u c t i o n, i n te r m s of r e sto r i n g bas i c li v i n g c o n di t i o ns a n d p r o du c i n g su g a r, Cubas’ m ai n ex p o r t , was l a r g e ly du e to t h e ef f o r t s of t h e p o p ul at i o n a n d to p r i vate c a p i t a l, b ot h i nsul a r a n d S p a ni s h.”

T h e Cuba n e c o n o my r e c ove r e d, a n d i n a few ye a r s b o un c e d bac k to t h e l eve l s b ef o r e t h e wa r a n d t h e n di d n ot c e as e to g r ow, a l s o h e lp e d by t h e r e c o n c i li at i o n b et we e n t h e f i g hte r s of t h e t wo s i d e s. T h e p r o du c e r s of a l c o h o li c b eve r a g e s a n d r um p l aye d a n i m p o r t a nt p a r t i n t h e r e c ove r y: i n t h e e a r ly 19 0 0 s t h ey ac c o unte d f o r a b o ut 15% of a ll i n dust r i a l e nte r p r i s e s. “ T h e f ac to r i e s of B ac a r dí a n d A r e c h a ba l a a n d ot h e r s i n S a nt i a g o a n d C á r d e n a s ex p a n d e d a n d i m p r ove d t h e i r te c hn o l o g y, a n d t h e H ava n a r um f i r m s f o r m e d a n as s o c i at i o n to d efe n d t h e i r i nte r e st s a n d c o o p e r ate i n m a nu f ac t ur i n g a n d m a r ket i n g.

B e s i d e s, t h a nks to c o c k t ai l s like M oji to, Cuba Li b r e a n d D ai qui r i t h e d e m a n d f o r r um ex p a n d e d to t h e we ll - of f a n d fe m a l e p o p ul at i o n.” (S e e HISTORY O F CU B A N RUM 16 . T HE RON LIGERO CU B A NO i n t h e Fe b r u a r y 2 0 24 i s su e) A r e c h a ba l a wo n a s i l ve r m e da l i n t h e Pa r i s I nte r n at i o n a l E x p o s i t i o n of 19 0 0 a n d l ate r b o u g ht a l s o s o m e su g a r p l a nt at i o ns, as f a r I k n ow a uni qu e c as e i n t h e Cuba n r um wo r l d. T h e c o m p a ny c o nt i nu e d to g r ow a n d i n 19 21 i t was t r a ns f o r m e d i nto a m o d e r n c o r p o r at i o n, JAS A , t h at i s, J o s é A r ec ha ba la S o c i e da d A n o n i m a.

A s we k n ow, t h e Fi r st Wo r d Wa r (1914 1918) di s r upte d t h e Eur o p e a n su g a r b e et c ult i vat i o n w hi l e t h e d e m a n d f o r su g a r to m a nu f ac t ur e a l c o h o l f o r wa r p ur p o s e s g r ew e n o r m o us ly, s o t h e p r i c e of su g a r s k y r o c kete d. T hi s s i t u at i o n g ave Cuba a su d d e n a n d g i g a nt i c b o n a nz a: t h e c u lt i vat i o n of su g a r c a n e g r ew e n o r m o us ly, eve n at t h e ex p e ns e of t h e f o r e st h e r i t a g e, a n d m o n ey, a l ot of m o n ey, f l owe d i nto Cuba i n t h e s o c a ll e d “ D a n c e of t h e M i lli o ns”. B ut t h e n t h e

wa r e n d e d, i n a few ye a r s t h e su g a r m a r ket r et ur n e d to n o r m a l, p r i c e s c o ll a p s e d a n d t h e i s l a n d ex p e r i e n c e d a s e r i o us e c o n o m i c c r i s i s. To g i ve yo u a n i d e a of t h e m a g ni t u d e of t h e c at ast r o p h e, t wo f i g ur e s a r e e n o u g h: t h e p r i c e of su g a r fe ll i n a few we e ks f r o m 2 2 . 5 to 4 c e nt s a p o un d. A te r r i b l e b l ow f o r t h e w h o l e i s l a n d, a n d r ui n f o r t h e m a ny p l a nte r s w h o h ad b o r r owe d m o n ey to i n c r e as e p r o du c t i o n i n t h e f at c ow ye a r s a n d f o r t h e ba nks t h at h ad f i n a n c e d t h e m. “ T h e c r i s i s c aus e d by t h e s h a r p dr o p i n t h e p r i c e of su g a r c o nst i t ute d a r e a l c at ac lys m ... Pa ni c e nsu e d a n d t h e ba nks d e c l a r e d ba nk r uptc y o n e af te r a n ot h e r, a c at ast r o p h e to w hi c h o n ly t h e A m e r i c a n ba nks sur v i ve d, b e c aus e t h ey h ad st r o n g sup p o r t f r o m t h e i r p a r e nt c o m p a ni e s. M o st of t h e i n d e bte d p r o p e r t i e s p as s e d i nto t h e h a n ds of t h e s e ba nks, i n c lu di n g d oze ns of su g a r p l a nt at i o ns ... T h e c r as h of 19 2 0 r e p r e s e nte d a te r r i b l e b l ow f o r t h e Cuba n a n d a l s o t h e S p a ni s h c a p i t a li st s, s i n c e t h e l at te r st i ll p r e d o m i n ate d i n t r ad e a n d c e r t ai n m a nu f ac t ur e s. A n d a b ove a ll, i t c a m e to s h ow t h e f r a g i l e f o un dat i o n of n at i o n a l p r o s p e r i t y.”

I n t hi s dr a m at i c p i c t ur e, JAS A h e l d up b et te r t h a n ot h e r c o m p a ni e s f o r i t s f i n a n c i a l st r e n g t h, i t s di ve r s i f i c at i o n i nto m a ny di f fe r e nt s e c to r s a n d a l s o b e c aus e t h e d o m e st i c m a r ket of di st i ll ate s e n dur e d, a l s o t h a nks to t h e i nf lu x of m a ny t hi r st y A m e r i c a n to ur i st s o n t h e r un f r o m Pr o hi b i t i o n. (S e e HISTORY O F CU B A N RUM 21. UN C LE S A M ’ S BOOZ E C O PS i n t h e Au g ust 2 0 24’s i s su e) I n 19 2 3 , D o n J o s é di e d a n d t h e f o ll ow i n g ye a r a n ot h e r un ex p e c te d l o s s st r u c k t h e c o m p a ny: hi s su c c e s s o r J o s é A r e c h a ba l a S ai nz was mur d e r e d by a f o r m e r wo r ke r w h o h ad b e e n s ac ke d, w h o t h e n f l e d a n d c o m m i t te d sui c i d e. I n t h e f o ll ow i n g ye a r s, t h e f a m i ly r e m ai n e d ow n e r, b ut n o l o n g e r d e a lt w i t h t h e day - to - day m a n a g e m e nt of t h e c o m p a ny, m a ny s h a r e h o l d e r s m ove d a b r o ad a n d a n ew m a n a g e m e nt to o k ove r.

Ac c o r di n g to t h e s o ur c e s, i t s e e m s t h at i n t h e 19 2 0 s t h e m o st i m p o r t a nt ac t i v i t i e s of t h e c o m p a ny we r e t h e r ef i ni n g, sto r a g e a n d ex p o r t of b ot h r aw a n d r ef i n e d su g a r, a n d

t h e sto r a g e a n d ex p o r t of m o l as s e s, w h e r e as i nste ad t h e p r o du c t i o n of r um was r at h e r l ow.

N o wo n d e r to o. A s we k n ow, JAS A c o nt r o ll e d t h e e nt i r e p r o c e s s i n g c yc l e of su g a r c a n e a n d i t s d e r i vat i ve s. I t was t h e r ef o r e a b l e to p r o du c e su g a r, b ot h r aw a n d r ef i n e d, m o l as s e s of va r i o us qu a li t i e s, a l c o h o l f o r i n dust r i a l us e s a n d r um. I n t h e 19 2 0 s su g a r p r i c e s we r e e r r at i c , c o nst a nt ly c h a n g i n g. Fo r exa m p l e, f o r d e c ad e s Cuba ex p o r te d o n ly r aw su g a r to t h e U ni te d S t ate s, w hi c h was t h e n r ef i n e d l o c a lly, b e c aus e t h e r e was a hi g h dut y o n t h e i m p o r t of r ef i n e d su g a r. T h e n, at a c e r t ai n p o i nt i n t h e 19 2 0 s, t h e i m p o r t dut y o n r aw su g a r r o s e s h a r p ly, t h e r ef o r e JAS A f o c us e d o n t h e s a l e of r ef i n e d su g a r i nste ad. Fo r w h at li t t l e I k n ow, t hi s t r e n d st i ll ex i st s i n t h e (few) c o m p a ni e s t h at c o nt r o l t h e c o m p l ete c yc l e of c a n e p r o c e s s i n g. I r e m e m b e r, f o r exa m p l e, t h at dur i n g a b e aut i f ul t r i p to M aur i t i us m o r e t h a n 10 ye a r s a g o, s o m e p r o du c e r s ex p l ai n e d to m e t h at f r o m ye a r to ye a r t h ey c h o s e to m ake m o r e su g a r a n d l e s s r um o r t h e ot h e r way a r o un d, d e p e n di n g o n t h e va g a r i e s of t h e m a r ket .

H oweve r, i n 19 25 t h e n ew m a n a g e m e nt of JAS A d e c i d e d to f o c us a g ai n o n r um. T h ey i nve ste d a l ot of m o n ey to i m p r ove t h e qu a nt i t y a n d qu a li t y of fe r m e nt at i o n a n d sto r e d l a r g e qu a nt i t i e s of r um f o r a g i n g.

Ev i d e nt ly, t h ey we r e l ay i n g t h e g r o un d f o r s o m et hi n g n ew, a n d b i g. A s we w i ll s e e.

P OST SCR I P TU M M ike Kun e k t a, w h o eve r y m o nt h ke e p s us p o ste d a b o ut t h e n ew s i n t h e wo r l d of r um a n d w h o I t h a nk b e c aus e h e h as r e p e ate dly di r e c te d m e to wo r ks I h ad n ot k n ow n b ef o r e, as ke d m e h ow f a r I wo ul d like to g o o n w i t h t h e hi sto r y of Cuba n r um. We ll, I wo ul d like to r e ac h t h e p r e s e nt day. A day t h at , I a nt i c i p ate, s e e s g r e at su c c e s s e s, b ut a l s o g r e at r i s ks. T h e r e w i ll t h e r ef o r e b e m a ny m o r e a r t i c l e s, b ut f r o m t i m e to t i m e I w i ll i nte r r upt t h e s e r i e s to te ll yo u a b o ut ot h e r as p e c t s of t h e hi sto r y of r um.

M a r c o Pi e r i ni

G o t Ru m ? De c e mb e r 2 0 2 5 - 2 5

Got Got Rum R um?? Dece December mber 2025 2025 -- 226 6

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Jo in u s a s we exp lo re t h e wo r l d of r u m sp ic e s and f l avo r s!

I n t hi s se r i e s you w ill l ea r n to f l avo r your ow n Rum s and to c reat e your ow n Liqu eur s and Crea m s.

G o t Ru m ? De c e mb e r 2 0 2 5 - 2 7

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Cinnamon Coffee Rum Liqueur I n g r e di e nt s: • • • • • • •

2 1/ 2 C u p s Wate r, D i v i d e d 6 T b s H e av y Ro a ste d C of fe e, C o a r s e l y Ground 3 Cups Sugar 2 C i n n a m o n S t i c ks 1 t s p Pu r e Va n i l l a E x t r a c t 2 1/ 2 C u p s L i g ht Ru m at 4 0 % A BV (8 0 - Pr o of ) 1 C u p H e av y (Pot S t i l l e d) Ru m, p r ef e r a b l y aged

D i r e c t i o n s: C o m b i n e t h e 1 1/ 2 c u p s of h ot wate r a n d t h e c of fe e to m a ke a st r o n g b r ew, r e m ove t h e c of fe e g r o u n d s (Fr e n c h Pr e s s o r m e s h f i l te r) a n d s et i t a s i d e. C o m b i n e r e m a i n i n g c u p of wate r a n d t h e w h i te s u g a r i n a m e di u m s au c e p a n, st i r r i n g u nt i l a l l t h e s u g a r h a s d i s s o l ve d. B r i n g t h e m i x t u r e to a b o i l ove r m e d i u m h e at . Re m ove f r o m t h e h e at a n d a l l ow i t to c o o l.

A d d t h e va n i l l a a n d c of fe e to t h e s i m p l e sy r u p, t r a n s fe r to a 2- q u a r t c o nt a i n e r a n d a d d t h e l i g ht a n d h e av y r u m s , p l a c e t h e c i n n a m o n st i c ks i n s i d e. C ove r t h e c o nt a i n e r a n d l et i t r e st i n a d a r k , c o o l p l a c e f o r 4 - 6 we e ks .

Got Rum R um ? Dece mber 2025 - 2 8

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O n e s t u d y f o u n d j u st h a l f a te a s p o o n of c i n n a m o n p e r d ay c a n s i g n i f i c a nt l y r e d u c e blood sugar l eve l s , t r i g l yc e r i d e s , LDL c h o l e s te r o l, a n d tot a l c h o l e ste r o l l eve l s i n p e o p l e w i t h t y p e 2 di a b ete s. B u t f o r t h o s e w h o d o n’ t h ave to wo r r y s o s e r i o u s l y a b o u t i n s u l i n l eve l s , c i n n a m o n h a s a l s o b e e n s h ow n to h ave m a ny ot h e r b e n ef i t s: C i n n a m o n c a n s l ow t h e s p e e d at w h i c h t h e s to m a c h e m pt i e s f o l l ow i n g a m e a l, w h i c h c a n h e l p c o nt r o l s h a r p r i s e s a n d f a l l s i n b l o o d s u g a r l eve l s . S of te n i n g t h e s e s u g a r s p i ke s c a n t h e o r et i c a l l y r e d u c e c r av i n g s.

C i n n a m o n c a n e n h a n c e t h e way a nt i ox i d a nt s f r o m ot h e r f o o d s h e l p t h e b o d y d ef e n d i t s e l f, s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e i m m u n e sy ste m.

S o u r c e: h t t p: //g r e a t i s t . c o m / h e a l t h / t r y - c i n n a m o n - y o u r- c o f f e e - i n s t e a d - c r e a m - a n d - s u g a r

G o t Ru m ? De c e mb e r 2 0 2 5 - 2 9

R u m i n t h e n ew s

by M ike Kun et ka

M OUNT GAY

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 m e a n e m a i l t o: M i ke @ g o t r u m .c o m.

Got R um ? Dece mber 2025 - 3 0

M o u nt G ay a n n o u n c e d t h a t i t s i c o n i c M o u nt G ay S i l ve r i s o n c e a g a i n ava i l a b l e i n t h e US .

M et i c u l o u s l y c r a f te d by M a s te r B l e n d e r Tr u d i a n n B r a n ke r, t h i s exc e pt i o n a l p r o d u c t m a r ks M o u nt G ay ’s w h i te r u m e nt r y i nt o t h e o n - t r a d e m a r ket , h o n o r i n g B a r b a d o s’ p a s s i o n f o r p r e m i u m w h i te r u m . T h i s l a u n c h r e - i nt r o d u c e s M o u nt G ay S i l ve r t o b a r te n d e r s , p r ov i d i n g t h e m w i t h t h e u n p a r a l l e l e d o p p o r t u n i t y t o e n h a n c e t h e i r w h i te r u m c o c k t a i l s .

C e l e b r a t i n g B a r b a d i a n r u m c u l t u r e a n d ove r 3 2 0 ye a r s o f r u m - m a k i n g ex p e r t i s e, S i l ve r p r o u d l y u p h o l d s M o u nt G ay ’s t r a d i t i o n a l i d e nt i t y. I t i s a blend of pot and columns still rums, distinguishing i t f r o m m o s t o t h e r w h i te r u m s i n t h e c a te g o r y, w h i c h u s e c o l u m n s t i l l o n l y. W h i l e t h e c o l u m n s t i l l c o m p o n e nt o f t h e b l e n d i s u n a g e d, t h e p o t s t i l l p o r t i o n i s a g e d f o r t w o ye a r s i n ex- A m e r i c a n W h i s key c a s ks . T h e s e c r et t o t h e c r y s t a l - c l e a r l i q u i d i s d o u b l e f i l t r a t i o n, o n e o f w h i c h c o n s i s t s i n a f i l t r a t i o n t h r o u g h c h a r c o a l, w h i c h r e m ove s t h e c o l o r a n d a d d s t o t h e e l e g a nt f l avo r. “ M o u nt G ay S i l ve r i s a c l a s s i c I d e e p l y c h e r i s h, r o o te d i n t h e h e a r t o f B a r b a d o s a n d t h e C a r i b b e a n. I ’m t h r i l l e d t o s e e o u r b e l ove d w h i te r u m l a u n c h i n t h e US o n - t r a d e,

e m p o we r i n g b a r t e n d e r s t o e l eva t e w h i te r u m c o c k t a i l s a n d ex te n d i n g o u r a u t h e nt i c i s l a n d c r a f t t o eve n b r o a d e r h o r i z o n s ,” s a i d Tr u d i a n n B r a n ke r, M o u nt G ay M a s t e r B l e n d e r. M o u nt G ay S i l ve r i s b o t t l e d a t 4 0 % A BV. I t i s ava i l a b l e i n key m a r ket s a c r o s s t h e US i n 1L s i ze. w w w. m o u nt g ay r u m .c o m .

TO P T E N STAT E S FO R R U M SAL E S Pa r k S t r e et , u s i n g c o n s u m pt i o n d a t a f r o m B eve r a g e I n f o r m a t i o n G r o u p, r e c e nt l y c o m p i l e d a l i s t o f t h e t o p t e n s t a te s f o r r u m s a l e s . T h e r e p o r t s h o w s a m i x o f t r a d i t i o n a l p o we r h o u s e s a n d e m e r g i n g m a r ket s d o m i n a t i n g t o t a l vo l u m e, w i t h F l o r i d a a n d C a l i f o r n i a m a i nt a i n i n g t h e i r c o m m a n d i n g p o s i t i o n s . T h e p e r c a p i t a r a n k i n g s r eve a l i nt r i g u i n g r e g i o n a l p r ef e r e n c e s , w i t h N o r t h e r n a n d c o a s t a l s t a te s d e m o n s t r a t i n g p a r t i c u l a r l y s t r o n g i n d i v i d u a l c o n s u m pt i o n p a t te r n s t h a t r ef l e c t d i ve r s e d r i n k i n g cultures and seasonal tourism impacts.

T h e t o p te n s t a te s r a n ke d by t o t a l c o n s u m pt i o n a r e: 1. F l o r i d a: 2 . 6 m i l l i o n C a s e s 2 . C a l i f o r n i a: 2 . 0 m i l l i o n C a s e s 3 . N ew Yo r k : 1. 5 m i l l i o n C a s e s 4. N ew J e r s ey : 918 k C a s e s 5 . Tex a s: 8 8 3 k C a s e s 6 . I l l i n o i s: 8 6 5 k C a s e s 7. M i c h i g a n: 8 3 5 k C a s e s 8 . Pe n n sy l va n i a: 8 3 3 k C a s e s 9. W i s c o n s i n: 6 5 0 k C a s e s 10. M i n n e s o t a: 6 3 8 k C a s e s T h e p e r c a p i t a d a t a r eve a l a f a s c i n a t i n g p a t t e r n, w i t h N o r t h e r n s t a te s u n ex p e c t e d l y d o m i n a t i n g t h e rankings alongside predictable coastal leaders. The s t r o n g s h o w i n g by U p p e r M i d we s t s t a te s l i ke N o r t h D a ko t a , M i n n e s o t a , a n d W i s c o n s i n s u g g e s t s t h a t r u m c o n s u m pt i o n t r a n s c e n d s c l i m a te s te r e o t y p e s , w i t h r e g i o n a l d r i n k i n g c u l t u r e s a n d t r a d i t i o n s p l ay i n g s i g n i f i c a nt r o l e s b eyo n d s i m p l e we a t h e r p a t te r n s .

T h e t o p te n s t a te s r a n ke d by p e r C a p i t a c o n s u m pt i o n a r e: 1. N ew H a m p s h i r e: 2 3 2 c a s e s p e r 1, 0 0 0 r e s i d e nt s 2 . N o r t h D a ko t a: 178 c a s e s p e r 1, 0 0 0 r e s i d e nt s 3 . A l a s k a: 16 5 c a s e s p e r 1, 0 0 0 r e s i d e nt s 4. M i n n e s o t a: 15 0 c a s e s p e r 1, 0 0 0 r e s i d e nt s 5 .W i s c o n s i n: 14 6 c a s e s p e r 1, 0 0 0 r e s i d e nt s 6 . M a i n e: 14 4 c a s e s p e r 1, 0 0 0 r e s i d e nt s 7. F l o r i d a: 142 c a s e s p e r 1, 0 0 0 r e s i d e nt s 8 . N ew J e r s ey : 12 9 c a s e s p e r 1, 0 0 0 r e s i d e nt s 9. H awa i i: 124 c a s e s p e r 1, 0 0 0 r e s i d e nt s 10. I o wa: 12 0 c a s e s p e r 1, 0 0 0 r e s i d e nt s ht t p s: // w w w. p a r ks t r e et .c o m /, ht t p s: // b ev i n f o g r o u p.c o m / D ON Q D o n Q h a s l a u n c h e d D o u b l e - A g e d Pe d r o X i m é n e z C a s k Fi n i s h Ru m , a n e l e g a nt n ew a d d i t i o n t o i t s a c c l a i m e d S e l e c c i ó n E xc l u s i va p r o g r a m . C r a f te d w i t h p r e c i s i o n a n d p a s s i o n f o r d i s c e r n i n g r u m e nt h u s i a s t s , this limited- edition release of only 2,000 bottles h a r m o n i ze s t h e b o l d c h a r a c te r o f P u e r t o R i c a n r u m w i t h t h e r ef i n e d c o m p l ex i t y o f Eu r o p e a n c a s k- a g i n g

t r a d i t i o n. T h i s s i p p i n g r u m b e g i n s i t s j o u r n ey i n A m e r i c a n w h i te o a k ex- b o u r b o n b a r r e l s , w h e r e i t r e s t s a n d m a t u r e s f o r a m i n i m u m o f s eve n ye a r s .

A f te r t h i s i n i t i a l a g i n g , t h e r u m i s t h e n f i n i s h e d f o r 11 a d d i t i o n a l m o nt h s i n Pe d r o X i m é n e z s h e r r y c a s ks , i m p o r te d d i r e c t l y f r o m S p a i n, i n f u s i n g t h e s p i r i t w i t h a r i c h, ve l vet y c o m p l ex i t y a n d s i g n a t u r e n o te s o f d r i e d f r u i t a n d h o n eye d wa r m t h. “A t D e s t i l e r ía S e r r a l l é s , we’r e a l way s s e e k i n g way s t o h o n o r t r a d i t i o n w h i l e e m b r a c i n g i n n ova t i o n,” s ay s S i l v i a S a nt i a g o, M a s t e r B l e n d e r a n d S e n i o r V i c e P r e s i d e nt o f M a n u f a c t u r i n g a t D e s t i l e r ía S e r r a l l é s , I n c . “ W i t h t h e Pe d r o X i m é n e z D o u b l e C a s k Fi n i s h, we’ ve c r a f te d a n ex p r e s s i o n t h a t r ef l e c t s t h e d e pt h and elegance possible when Puer to Rican rum i s p a i r e d w i t h t h e c o m p l ex i t y o f Eu r o p e a n c a s k a g i n g . T h i s r e l e a s e i s a te s t a m e nt t o o u r te a m’s d e d i c a t i o n, a n d I ’m p r o u d t o s h a r e t h i s r i c h, b e a u t i f u l l y f i n i s h e d r u m w i t h e nt h u s i a s t s a r o u n d t h e w o r l d.” ht t p s: //d o n q.c o m / C O PALLI O RGANI C R U M C o p a l l i O r g a n i c Ru m h a s b e e n awa r d e d f o u r distinguished accolades at the 2025 Global D r i n ks I nt e l ESG Awa r d s , i n c l u d i n g t h e c ovete d A l ex a n d e r S m i t h G r a n d P r i x Awa r d f o r ESG S p i r i t s P r o d u c e r o f t h e Ye a r. T h e b r a n d a l s o r e c e i ve d t h e awa r d s f o r S u s t a i n a b l e S p i r i t s P r o d u c t o f t h e Ye a r, Wa te r P r e s e r va t i o n A c h i eve m e nt o f t h e Ye a r, a n d G r e e n h o u s e G a s Re d u c t i o n A c h i eve m e nt o f t h e Ye a r. T h e awa r d s r e p r e s e nt t h e h i g h e s t i nte r n a t i o n a l r e c o g n i t i o n f o r s u s t a i n a b i l i t y i n t h e s p i r i t s i n d u s t r y, j u d g e d by ex p e r t s a c r o s s b u s i n e s s , s c i e n c e a n d e nv i r o n m e nt a l g ove r n a n c e. “ I t ’s a n h o n o r t o b e r e c o g n i ze d by s u c h a p r e s t i g i o u s , g l o b a l o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r o u r c o m m i t m e nt t o t a k i n g care of our people while creating an incredible p r o d u c t t h a t c e l e b r a t e s a n d n u r t u r e s o u r p l a n et ,” s ay s W i l M a h e i a , C h i ef S u s t a i n a b i l i t y O f f i c e r a t C o p a l l i O r g a n i c Ru m . C o p a l l i O r g a n i c Ru m’s f o c u s o n r e g e n e r a t i ve a g r i c u l t u r e, w a te r p r e s e r va t i o n p r a c t i c e s , c l o s e d l o o p wa s te m a n a g e m e nt , a n d r e g i o n a l c o n s e r va t i o n ef f o r t s c r e a t e s a p r e m i u m p r o d u c t w h i l e s et t i n g n ew i n d u s t r y s t a n d a r d s f o r e nv i r o n m e nt a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y. I n a w o r l d f u l l o f s u s t a i n a b i l i t y c l a i m s , C o p a l l i O r g a n i c Ru m r e l i e s o n t h i r d - p a r t y ex p e r t s a n d ve r i f i e r s t o e n s u r e t h e h i g h e s t s t a n d a r d s a r e m et . W i n n i n g a c r o s s m u l t i p l e c a t e g o r i e s p o s i t i o n s C o p a l l i O r g a n i c Ru m n o t o n l y a s a p r o d u c e r o f exc e pt i o n a l r u m , b u t a s a g l o b a l b e n c h m a r k f o r e nv i r o n m e nt a l l y r e s p o n s i b l e d i s t i l l i n g , p r ov i n g t h a t p r e m i u m c r a f t s m a n s h i p a n d s u s t a i n a b i l i t y c a n g o h a n d - i n - h a n d. w w w.c o p a l l i r u m .c o m .

C HA R L E S S . TO B IAS , FOUN D E R OF PUSS E R ’ S R U M C h a r l e s To b i a s , t h e f o u n d e r o f P u s s e r ’s Ru m , p a s s e d away o n O c t o b e r 14t h a t t h e a g e o f 91. B o r n i n C a n a d a , C h a r l e s e a r n e d a n a t h l et i c s c h o l a r s h i p

G o t Ru m ? De c e mb e r 2 0 2 5 - 3 1

t o t h e U n i ve r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a , w h e r e h e graduated with dual degrees in aeronautical and m e c h a n i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g , A f te r c o l l e g e, h e e n l i s te d i n t h e U. S . M a r i n e C o r p s . H e s e r ve d t w o t o u r s i n V i et n a m , T h e f i r s t wa s a b o a r d a n a i r c r a f t c a r r i e r, t h e n i n s p e c i a l o p e r a t i o n s f l y i n g T-2 8 s a s h o r e.

D u r i n g h i s s e c o n d t o u r, h e wa s s h o t d o w n ove r t h e M e ko n g D e l t a a n d r e s c u e d by N av y SE A L s . A f te r h i s s e r v i c e, C h a r l e s r et u r n e d t o C a l i f o r n i a a n d f o u n d e d Ve r a d y n e, I n c . i n S a nt a M o n i c a , a i m i n g t o c o u nte r s u r f a c e - t o - a i r m i s s i l e t h r e a t s . H e s e c u r e d a g ove r n m e nt c o nt r a c t t o d eve l o p s i l i c o n t r a n s i s t o r s a n d r a d a r- j a m m i n g te c h n o l o g y, b u i l d i n g Ve r a d y n e i nt o a $10 0 m i l l i o n e nt e r p r i s e b ef o r e m e r g i n g w i t h Fa i r c h i l d S e m i c o n d u c t o r.

C h a r l e s’s l ove f o r s a i l i n g t o o k r o o t a f t e r h i s t i m e a t s e a i n t h e M a r i n e s . T h o u g h h i s f a m i l y n eve r owned a boat, he purchased a small one and q u i c k l y f e l l i n l ove w i t h t h e wa t e r. H e b e g a n r a c i n g , u p g r a d i n g ve s s e l s , a n d eve nt u a l l y s et h i s s i g ht s o n c i r c u m n av i g a t i n g t h e g l o b e. O n e d ay, s t u c k i n t r a f f i c o n h i s way t o t h e b a n k , h e c a l l e d h i s a s s i s t a nt , c a n c e l e d h i s m e et i n g s , a n d m a d e t h e d e c i s i o n t o s et s a i l. H e e m b a r ke d o n a f i ve - ye a r voya g e a b o a r d M a r, a 5 7- f o o t w o o d e n ketc h b u i l t f o r i c y wa te r s , w i t h 2 ¾ - i n c h l a r c h p l a n k i n g a n d 12 t o n s o f l e a d i n t h e ke e l. W h i l e d o c ke d i n G i b r a l t a r searching for a boat par t, Charles boarded a British N av y wa r s h i p. T h e c a pt a i n g i f t e d h i m a f l a g o n o f d a r k n av y r u m f o r t h e n ex t l e g o f h i s j o u r n ey.

T h o u g h t h e d a i l y t o t h a d b e e n d i s c o nt i n u e d, s h i p s still carried rum for ceremonial occasions known as “ S p l i c e t h e M a i n b r a c e.”

O ve r t h e n ex t 15 d ay s a t s e a , C h a r l e s a n d h i s c r ew f i n i s h e d t h e f l a g o n a n d a n ew i d e a wa s b o r n.

D et e r m i n e d t o r ev i ve t h e l e g e n d a r y n ava l s p i r i t , C h a r l e s a p p r o a c h e d t h e B r i t i s h R oya l N av y f o r p e r m i s s i o n t o u s e t h e i r r u m b l e n d a n d t h e W h i te En s i g n. W i t h s u p p o r t f r o m G e n e r a l A r t h u r B .

H a n s o n, h e s e c u r e d a m e et i n g w i t h S e c o n d S e a L o r d A d m i r a l S i r G o r d o n Ta i t . A f t e r n av i g a t i n g t h e n e c e s s a r y c h a n n e l s , h e wa s g r a nte d a c c e s s t o t h e o r i g i n a l A d m i r a l t y b l e n d, t h o u g h t h e n a m e “ R oya l N av y P u s s e r ’s Ru m” wa s d e c l i n e d a n d r e p l a c e d w i t h “ B r i t i s h N av y P u s s e r ’s Ru m .” A s a g e s t u r e o f g r a t i t u d e, C h a r l e s p l e d g e d o n g o i n g s u p p o r t t o t h e R oya l N av y S a i l o r ’s Fu n d, k n o w n a s t h e “ To t ” Fu n d.

O ve r t h e ye a r s , t h e b r a n d h o n o r e d t h a t p r o m i s e, c o nt r i b u t i n g m o r e t h a n € 2 5 0, 0 0 0 t o t h e f u n d, w h i c h wa s l a t e r c o n s o l i d a te d i nt o T h e R oya l N av y a n d R oya l M a r i n e s C h a r i t i e s ( RNRM C). I n r e c o g n i t i o n o f h i s c h a r i t a b l e ef f o r t s , C h a r l e s wa s awa r d e d a n M B E ( M e m b e r o f t h e O r d e r o f t h e B r i t i s h Em p i r e) i n t h e Q u e e n’s 2 011 N ew Ye a r H o n o r s l i s t . C h a r l e s p a r t n e r e d w i t h Tr i n i d a d D i s t i l l e r s Lt d., w o r k i n g w i t h m a s te r b l e n d e r R o b e r t Wo n g t o s o u r c e a n d b l e n d t h e d i s t i l l a te s t o A d m i r a l t y s p e c i f i c a t i o n s .

H e f o u n d e d P u s s e r ’s Lt d. o n To r t o l a i n t h e B r i t i s h V i r g i n I s l a n d s , w h e r e t h e r u m wa s b l e n d e d a n d b o t t l e d, m a k i n g t h e p u r s e r ’s r u m c o m m e r c i a l l y ava i l a b l e f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e i n h i s t o r y.

Got R um ? Dece mber 2025 - 3 2

LA M AISON & V E LI E R a n d HA M PD E N E STAT E L a M a i s o n & Ve l i e r i s s u e d t h e f o l l o w i n g u p d a te a b o u t t h e d i s t i l l e r y a t H a m p d e n E s t a te: I n O c t o b e r, H u r r i c a n e M e l i s s a , t h e m o s t p o we r f u l s t o r m i n r e c o r d e d h i s t o r y, s et i t s p a t h d i r e c t l y ove r We s t e r n J a m a i c a , i n c l u d i n g H a m p d e n’s h o m e i n Tr e l aw ny Pa r i s h. I n g o o d n ew s , t h e t e a m a t H a m p d e n E s t a te i s s a f e a n d u n h a r m e d. T h e f u l l ex te nt o f t h e d a m a g e i s s t i l l b e i n g a s s e s s e d, b u t t h e i m p a c t o n t h e s t a f f, t h e i r f a m i l i e s a n d c o m m u n i t y i s i m m e n s e. H o m e s h ave b e e n d e s t r oye d a n d t h e infrastructure that connects the local community h a s b e e n s i g n i f i c a nt l y a f f e c te d. H a m p d e n E s t a te h a s e s t a b l i s h e d t h e Tr e l aw ny H u r r i c a n e Re l i ef Fu n d t o r a i s e m o n ey f o r t h e l o c a l c o m m u n i t y i n o r d e r t o s t a b i l i ze f a m i l i e s , r e p a i r d a m a g e s t o t h e l o c a l c o m m u n i t y s p a c e s , s c h o o l s a n d c h u r c h. T h e Tr e l aw ny H u r r i c a n e Re l i ef Fu n d a i m s t o h e l p r e b u i l d t h e l i ve s o f t h e p e o p l e w h o a r e t h e h e a r t a n d s o u l o f t h i s l e g e n d a r y e s t a t e. 10 0 % o f d o n a t i o n s w i l l g o d i r e c t l y t o p r ov i d i n g i m m e d i a te a n d l o n g - te r m a i d t o e m p l oye e s , t h e i r f a m i l i e s , a n d t h e s u r r o u n d i n g c o m m u n i t y i n Tr e l aw ny.

Fu n d s w i l l b e u s e d f o r : • U r g e nt S u p p l i e s: P r ov i d i n g c l e a n wa t e r, f o o d, and medical supplies.

• Re b u i l d i n g H o m e s: S e c u r i n g r o o f s , w i n d o w s , a n d e s s e nt i a l h o m e r e p a i r s f o r t e a m a n d c o m m u n i t y m e m b e r s w h o h ave b e e n a f f e c te d.

• Community Suppor t: Assisting with debris r e m ova l a n d t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f e s s e nt i a l s e r v i c e s l i ke c h u r c h e s a n d s c h o o l s i n t h e l o c a l a r e a .

D o n a t i o n s i n a ny a m o u nt a r e i m m e n s e l y h e l p f u l a n d w i l l g o t o r e b u i l d i n g t h e l i ve s a n d h o m e s o f t h e p e o p l e, f a m i l i e s a n d c o m m u n i t i e s w h o p o we r t h i s i c o n i c p i e c e o f J a m a i c a n h e r i t a g e. ht t p s: // t h e a f j. a p p. n e o n c r m .c o m / f u n d r a i s e r/ e m p l oye e s o f h a m p d e n W O R THY PA R K E STAT E I n a n i n d u s t r y i n c r e a s i n g l y d o m i n a te d by m u l t i n a t i o n a l g i a nt s , Wo r t hy Pa r k E s t a te s t a n d s a s a te s t a m e nt t o w h a t f a m i l y o w n e r s h i p a n d c o m p l et e c o nt r o l c a n a c h i eve. T h e J a m a i c a n d i s t i l l e r y h a s w o n t h e IWS C ’s 2 0 2 5 Ru m P r o d u c e r Tr o p hy, c e l e b r a t i n g 2 8 4 ye a r s o f r u m p r o d u c t i o n t h a t b e g a n i n 1741 o n t h e i r e s t a te i n t h e i s l a n d ’s i nt e r i o r. I nt e r n a t i o n a l W i n e & S p i r i t C o m p et i t i o n S p i r i t s J u d g i n g C o m m i t te e m e m b e r, D aw n D av i e s p r a i s e d t h e i r u nwave r i n g a p p r o a c h: “ Wo r t hy Pa r k i s a r e a l d e s e r ve d w i n n e r t h i s ye a r. T h ey h ave c o n s i s t e nt l y c o m e t o t h e t a b l e w i t h g r e a t p r o d u c t . T h ey a r e a b o u t q u a l i t y. T h e i r sustainability program, the cane -to - glass principle - i t a l l c o m e s t h r o u g h i n t h e r u m .” W h a t s et s Wo r t hy Pa r k a p a r t i s t h e i r c o m p l et e ve r t i c a l i nte g r a t i o n. A s J a m a i c a’s l a s t r e m a i n i n g s i n g l e e s t a te p r o d u c e r, t h ey g r o w s u g a r c a n e, c r u s h i t , m a ke s u g a r a n d m o l a s s e s , t h e n f e r m e nt , d i s t i l i n d o u b l e r et o r t p o t s t i l l s , a g e, b l e n d a n d b o t t l e e nt i r e l y o n - s i t e. N o s h o r tc u t s , n o o u t s o u r c i n g , j u s t u n c o m p r o m i s i n g c o nt r o l ove r eve r y s t a g e. T h e i r 2 0 2 5 p o r t f o l i o

d e m o n s t r a te d r e m a r k a b l e r a n g e a n d c o n s i s te n c y.

Wo r t hy Pa r k 10 9 e a r n e d a G o l d O u t s t a n d i n g (9 8 p o i nt s), w h i l s t t h e i r 12-Ye a r- O l d a n d O ve r p r o o f ex p r e s s i o n s b o t h s e c u r e d G o l d m e d a l s (9 5 p o i nt s e a c h). J u d g e O l i v i e r Wa r d p r a i s e d t h e i r c o n s i s t e nt p e r f o r m a n c e a t t h i s ye a r ’s awa r d s , n o t i n g h o w t h ey we r e a t t h e t o p o f t h e r u m c a t e g o r y. I n n ova t i o n h a s n’ t c o m p r o m i s e d t r a d i t i o n. T h ey ’r e ex p e r i m e nt i n g with cane juice distillates alongside traditional molasses bases - a rarity in Jamaican rum - whilst ex p l o r i n g d i ve r s e c a s k f i n i s h e s f r o m M a d e i r a a n d Po r t t o C a l va d o s a n d C o g n a c . T h e i r s u s t a i n a b i l i t y r u n s d e e p e r t h a n m a r ket i n g: b a g a s s e (c r u s h e d c a n e f i b r e) f u e l s t h e i r b o i l e r s , g r av i t y f e e d s t h e i r wa t e r sy s te m s a n d v i n a s s e (d i s t i l l a t i o n wa s t e) b e c o m e s f i e l d f e r t i l i s e r. Fo r a n i n d e p e n d e nt o p e r a t i o n o f 8 5 0 e m p l oye e s c o m p et i n g a g a i n s t g l o b a l b r a n d s , t h i s t r o p hy va l i d a t e s t h e i r b e l i ef t h a t a u t h e nt i c i t y a n d exc e l l e n c e c a n t h r i ve w i t h o u t c o m p r o m i s e. ht t p s: // w o r t hy p a r ke s t a t e.c o m / FLO R d e CA Ň A A t 13 5 ye a r s o l d, F l o r d e C a ñ a s t a n d s a s o n e o f t h e o l d e s t c o m p a n i e s i n C e nt r a l A m e r i c a .

H o weve r, t h e b r a n d i s f a r f r o m s t a n d i n g s t i l l. To c e l e b r a t e i t s b i r t h d ay t h i s ye a r, t h e f a m i l y - o w n e d rum distiller y has released what is said to be its m o s t ex t r a o r d i n a r y c r e a t i o n a n d o l d e s t r e l e a s e t o d a te: F l o r d e C a ñ a 3 5 Ye a r Ru m . T h e ex p r e s s i o n r ef l e c t s t h e b r a n d ’s d e d i c a t i o n t o s u s t a i n a b i l i t y, exc e l l e n c e a n d q u a l i t y, a n d a l e g a c y n u r t u r e d by f i ve g e n e r a t i o n s s i n c e 18 9 0 – t h r e e o f w h o m we r e d i r e c t l y i nvo l ve d i n t h e c r e a t i o n o f t h i s r u m . T h e t h i r d g e n e r a t i o n wa s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r i t s d i s t i l l a t i o n; t h e f o u r t h f o r i t s p r e s e r va t i o n; a n d, f i n a l l y, t h e f i f t h a n d c u r r e nt f o r i t s i nt r o d u c t i o n t o t h e w o r l d. T h e r u m wa s a g e d n a t u r a l l y a n d s u s t a i n a b l y f o r 3 5 ye a r s i n A m e r i c a n w h i te o a k b a r r e l s i n t h e f a m i l y ’s p r i va te r e s e r ve, b e n ef i t i n g f r o m N i c a r a g u a’s u n i q u e vo l c a n i c te r r o i r. T h e d i s t i l l e r y ’s b a s e, r e s t i n g b et we e n t h e m a j e s t i c S a n C r i s t ó b a l vo l c a n o a n d t h e Pa c i f i c O c e a n, i s s a i d t o b e s t o w a c o m p l ex f l avo r p r o f i l e a n d a n exq u i s i t e l y s m o o t h f i n i s h o n t h e r u m . “ F l o r d e C a ñ a 3 5 Ye a r Ru m e m b o d i e s t h e e s s e n c e, va l u e s , a n d a r t i s t r y t h a t h ave d ef i n e d o u r b r a n d f o r 13 5 ye a r s . M o r e t h a n a c o l l e c t o r ’s i te m , i t i s a r a r e t r e a s u r e o f t i m e, c r a f te d f o r t h o s e w h o va l u e a u t h e nt i c i t y, l e g a c y, a n d exc e l l e n c e,” s a i d To m á s C a n o, w h o h a s b e e n F l o r d e C a ñ a’s M a e s t r o R o n e r o for almost four decades. w w w.f l o r d e c a n a .c o m / 3 5 - ye a r GOL D B E LLY & GOSLINGS T h e h o l i d ay s e a s o n h a s a l way s c a r r i e d a n u n d e n i a b l e c o n n e c t i o n t o f l avo r, m e m o r y, a n d t r a d i t i o n, a n d t h i s ye a r, G o l d b e l l y i nt r o d u c e d a collaboration that aligned those ideas with a touch o f i s l a n d n o s t a l g i a . Pa r t n e r i n g w i t h G o s l i n g s Ru m , t h e r e n o w n e d B e r m u d i a n s p i r i t s h o u s e, G o l d b e l l y u nve i l e d a t r i o o f r u m c a ke s t h a t c e l e b r a te d t h e essence of Bermuda while making it accessible to h o u s e h o l d s a c r o s s t h e c o u nt r y. T h e p a r t n e r s h i p

m a r ke d t h e f i r s t t i m e G o s l i n g s b r o u g ht i t s r u m i n f u s e d b a ke d g o o d s t o a n a t i o nw i d e a u d i e n c e, o f f e r i n g a n ew way t o ex p e r i e n c e t h e b r a n d ’s h e r i t a g e t h r o u g h t ex t u r e, a r o m a , a n d c u l i n a r y s t o r y te l l i n g . Fo r t h o s e w h o a s s o c i a t e w i nte r g a t h e r i n g s w i t h i n d u l g e n c e, wa r m t h, a n d s e n s o r y c o m f o r t , t h e c o l l a b o r a t i o n a r r i ve d a t t h e i d e a l m o m e nt , b l e n d i n g c u l i n a r y c r a f t s m a n s h i p w i t h a s p i r i t - s te e p e d l i n e a g e t h a t s p a n s g e n e r a t i o n s .

G o l d b e l l y h a s e a r n e d i t s r e p u t a t i o n by c o n n e c t i n g people with iconic regional foods, and Goslings Ru m c a r r i e d a l e g a c y f i r m l y c o n n e c te d t o B e r m u d a’s i d e nt i t y, m a k i n g t h i s p a r t n e r s h i p a n a t u r a l a l i g n m e nt .

G o l d b e l l y w i l l b e o f f e r i n g t h r e e c a ke s: • T h e S i g n a t u r e D a r k ‘n S t o r my Ru m C a ke - A m o n g t h e r e l e a s e s , t h e D a r k ‘n S t o r my Ru m C a ke e m e r g e d a s t h e m o s t e m b l e m a t i c , c a pt u r i n g t h e e s s e n c e o f B e r m u d a’s n a t i o n a l c o c k t a i l.

• T h e Ru m S w i z z l e C a ke a n d I t s Tr o p i c a l H e r i t a g e - I f t h e D a r k ‘n S t o r my s e r ve d a s B e r m u d a’s n a t i o n a l c o c k t a i l, t h e Ru m S w i z z l e s t o o d a s i t s f e s t i ve c o u nt e r p a r t , a v i b r a nt , f r u i t - f o r wa r d d r i n k c e nt r a l t o c e l e b r a t i o n s , g a t h e r i n g s , a n d b e a c h f r o nt l e i s u r e.

• T h e D o u b l e C h o c o l a te Ru m C a ke f o r I n d u l g e nt Pa l a t e s - Fo r t h o s e s e e k i n g d e pt h a n d r i c h n e s s , t h e D o u b l e C h o c o l a te Ru m C a ke s t o o d a p a r t a s t h e m o s t d e c a d e nt o f f e r i n g i n t h e c o l l e c t i o n. ht t p s: // w w w.g o l d b e l l y.c o m /, ht t p s: //g o s l i n g s .c o m / SA M A ROLI Eve r y ye a r- e n d, S a m a r o l i u nve i l s a n ew exc e pt i o n a l c o l l e c t i o n, p l a c i n g p o et r y a t t h e s e r v i c e o f r u m m o r e t h a n eve r b ef o r e. T h i s ye a r ’s o f f e r i n g i n c l u d e s: • S a m a r o l i D i a m o n d SXG 2 0 Ye a r O l d - D i s t i l l e d f r o m m o l a s s e s i n a s i m p l e w o o d e n s t i l l, u s i n g a t r a d i t i o n a l m et h o d s p e c i f i c t o t h e D i a m o n d d i s t i l l e r y. A g e d f o r 2 0 ye a r s a n d b o t t l e d i n S c o t l a n d i n 2 0 24, t h i s u n i q u e c a s k r eve a l s a l l t h e d e pt h a n d p o et r y o f t h e D e m e r a r a s t y l e. I t i s b o t t l e d a t 51% A BV, • S a m a r o l i - J a m a i c a Ru m 2 012 - D i s t i l l e d i n 2 012 a t H a m p d e n E s t a te i n J a m a i c a , t h i s r u m c o m e s f r o m m o l a s s e s t h a t i s n a t u r a l l y f e r m e nte d b ef o r e b e i n g d i s t i l l e d i n a p o t s t i l l. I t h a s b e e n a g e d f o r 5 ye a r s i n a t r o p i c a l c l i m a te a n d t h e n f o r 7 ye a r s i n Eu r o p e, i n ex- b o u r b o n b a r r e l s , g i v i n g r i s e t o a p r o f i l e o f g r e a t c o m p l ex i t y. I t i s b o t t l e d a t 5 7 % A BV. • S a m a r o l i - Tr i n i d a d Ru m 19 9 9 - D i s t i l l e d a t Tr i n i d a d D i s t i l l e r s L i m i t e d ( Fe r n a n d e s s t y l e) f r o m m o l a s s e s , t h i s r u m h a s r e s te d f o r 2 5 ye a r s i n ex- b o u r b o n c a s ks , d eve l o p i n g a c o m p l ex a n d h a r m o n i o u s s t r u c t u r e.

• S a m a r o l i - C o l o m b i a Ru m – 2 0 0 2 - M a d e f r o m s u g a r c a n e h o n ey a n d d i s t i l l e d u s i n g a p r o c e s s c o m b i n i n g c o l u m n a n d i r o n, t h i s r u m h a s m a t u r e d f o r 2 2 ye a r s i n a t r o p i c a l c l i m a te i n ex- b o u r b o n b a r r e l s . I t i s b o t t l e d a t 5 5% A BV ht t p s: //s a m a r o l i.c o m /

G o t Ru m ? De c e mb e r 2 0 2 5 - 3 3

The Sweet Business of Sugar

Got R um ? De Dece cemb mber er 2 2025 0 2 5 - 3344

Philippines

Re g a r dl e s s of di st i ll at i o n e qui p m e nt , fe r m e nt at i o n m et h o d, a g i n g o r b l e n di n g te c hni qu e s, a ll r um p r o du c e r s h ave o n e t hi n g i n c o m m o n: su g a r c a n e.

W i t h o ut su g a r c a n e we wo ul d n ot h ave su g a r m i ll s, c o unt l e s s f a r m e r s wo ul d n ot h ave a p r of i t a b l e c r o p a n d we wo ul d n ot h ave r um!

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Presents

The Sugar Mill: Origins and Evolution

Got Got Rum R um?? Dece December mber 2025 2025 -- 550 0

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Introduction S u g a r c a n e (S ac c ha r u m o f f i c i na r u m) i s a p e r e nni a l g r as s of t h e f a m i ly Poac eae. I t i s p r i m a r i ly c ult i vate d f o r i t s j ui c e, f r o m w hi c h a l c o h o l (t h r o u g h fe r m e nt at i o n a n d di st i ll at i o n) a n d su g a r (t h r o u g h d e hi dr at i o n a n d r ef i ni n g) c a n b e o bt ai n e d. M o st of t h e wo r l d ’s su g a r c a n e i s g r ow n i n subt r o p i c a l a n d t r o p i c a l a r e as.

I t i s c o m m o n ly ac c e pte d to day t h at su g a r c a n e o r i g i n ate d i n Pa p u a, N ew G ui n e a, w h e r e i t was i ni t i a lly d o m e st i c ate d. T h e p l a nt was t h e n t ake n to ot h e r l a n ds by t r ad e r s, w h e r e i t s swe et v i r t u e s qui c k ly m ad e i t a s o u g ht- af te r c o m m o di t y.

I t i s a l s o c o m m o n ly ac c e pte d t h at a r o un d 10,0 0 0 ye a r s a g o, t h e o r i g i n a l i nh a b i t a nt s of Pa p u a di d n ot h ave to o l s to p r o c e s s t h e c a n e, m e a ni n g t h at t h ey like ly c h ewe d i t r aw to ex t r ac t t h e j ui c e, w hi c h was c o nsum e d as - i s (N o ë l D e e r r, T h e H is to r y o f S u g a r : Vo lu m e O ne).

N ot mu c h w r i t te n hi sto r y ex i st s t h at d o c um e nt s t h e e a r ly ex t r ac t i o n of t h e j ui c e f o r t h e p ur p o s e of d e hydr at i o n a n d f o r m at i o n of su g a r c r yst a l s unt i l t h e p ub li c at i o n of D e M a ter ia M e d i c a, a p h a r m ac o p o e i a of m e di c i n a l p l a nt s a n d t h e m e di c i n e s t h at c a n b e o bt ai n e d f r o m t h e m, w hi c h was w r i t te n b et we e n t h e ye a r s 5 0 a n d 70 of t h e c ur r e nt e r a by Pe da ni us D i o s c o r i d e s, a G r e e k p hys i c i a n i n t h e Ro m a n a r my. T hi s i s t h e o l d e st r e c o r d d o c um e nt i n g t h e ex i ste n c e of c r yst a lize d su g a r, w hi c h was us e d at t h e t i m e to “ t r e at i n di g e st i o n a n d sto m ac h ai lm e nt s.”

H ow di d p e o p l e m a n a g e to ex t r ac t t h e di s s o l ve d su g a r f r o m t h e j ui c e?

T h e a nswe r s to t hi s qu e st i o n a r e at t h e c o r e of t hi s s e r i e s. S o j o i n us, as we ex p l o r e t hi s f as c i n at i n g to p i c !

Got Got R Rum um?? De Dece cemb mber e r 22025 0 2 5 -- 5522

Par t 12: Heav y weight Dominance M any of t he c ane mill de si gns we’ve se en t hr ough out t his ser i e s ex ist b e c ause t heir de si gner s mastere d t he sk ills / te c hno l o gy re quire d to p ro duc e t hem p rof it ab ly. A f fo rdab le p ro duc t s are, af ter all, easi er to se ll t han t heir m o re ex p ensive c ounter par t s. M ac hine s t hat are easy to p ro duc e and easy to se ll, h owever, are not al ways easy to maint ain o r c apable of p ro duc ing t he hi ghe st y i e l ds p o s sib le.

T he B ly myer Iro n Wo r ks C o mpany, f ro m Cinc innat i O hi o put it b e st in it s 18 9 2 c o mpany c at al o g: “ T he of f ic e (pu r p os e) of a c ane mi l l b ei ng to pr ess ou t the ju ic e, i t is a l l i m p o r tant that i t pr ess ou t the lar g es t p oss i b le p er c entag e ther e of. O n ly a heav y mi l l of the b es t c o ns tr uc ti o n wi l l do this . M i l ls wi th c as t s haf ts , o r u ntu r ned r o l ls , o r wi th r o l ls i n wo o den fr ames , and t wo - r o l l mi l ls , ar e a l l mer e makes hi f ts , and wi l l leave a lar g e p er c entag e of ju ic e i n the bagass e.

Flexi b le mi l ls , o r thos e wi th r o l ls ar r ang ed to yield u nder pr ess u r e . . . ar e a ls o was tefu l of ju ic e. T he loss of ju ic e by the b es t f lexi b le m i l l over a g o o d r i g id mi l l is no t less than 10 % and i n g ener a l, the loss is 2 0 % - 3 0 % .”

A s you c an imagine f ro m t he ab ove, t he B ly myer mills were heav y and we ll - c o nst r uc te d. T he h o r izo nt al p lac ement of t he t hre e ro ller s meant t hat t he to p ro ller would natur ally exer t great p re s sure o n t he b ot to m ro ller s, to ac hi eve t he ma x imum y i e l ds.

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S how n o n t he o pp o site pag e and ab ove are sever al of t he ho r izo nt al t hre e ro ller mills pro duc e d by t he B ly myer Iro n Wo r ks C o.

Te st am ent to t he ef f ic i ency of t heir appr oac h c an b e seen around t he wo r l d, in lar g e - sc ale c o mmerc ial / indust r ial sugar mills t hat st ill emp l oy t his ho r izo nt al ro ller ar r angement .

In t his ser i e s we’ve t aken a j our ney t hr ough t he evo lut i o n of t he di f ferent sugarc ane juic e ex t r ac t i o n implement s.

T he sugar mill indust r y has b e en in de c line fo r t he past sever al de c ade s, w it h fewer and fewer mills in o p er at i o n remaining ever y year. W ill c o nt inuing c l o sure s af fe c t t he sugar mar ket , dr iving up t he p r ic e and, i f so, w ill t he p otent ially inc rease d prof it margins dr ive f uture inve st ment in innovat i o n?

O r have we se en t he “end of t he road ” in ter ms of sugarc ane mill te c hno l o gy ?

W ill we se e a retur n to smaller mills t hat c an b e o p er ate d to supp ly small c o mmunit i e s o r even h ouseh o lds? W ill we se e a new g ener at i o n of invento r s de si gn mills p owere d by renewable sourc e s of energy ?

O nly t ime w ill te ll. But o ne t hing remains c lear : as l o ng as we have a de sire fo r sugar and as l o ng as we are ab le to grow t he swe et gr as s, p e o p le w ill c o nt inue to ex p l o re ways to ex t r ac t it s ne c t ar !

We h o p e t hat you enj oye d t his ser i e s ab out t he o r i gins and evo lut i o n of t he sugar mill!. Please st ay tune d fo r m o re mater ial f ro m T he Rum Univer sit y ® !

G o t Ru m ? De c e mb e r 2 0 2 5 - 5 5

Got Rum R um?? De Dece mber 56 Got cemb e r 22025 0 2 5 -- 56

Sug a r M ill Sp ot li ght Yul e e S u g a r M i ll Rui ns H i sto r i c S t ate Pa r k . T hi s s i te was o n c e p a r t of a t h r i v i n g su g a r p l a nt at i o n ow n e d by D av i d Lev y Yul e e. Yul e e was a m e m b e r of t h e Te r r i to r i a l Le g i s l at i ve C o un c i l, a n d h e s e r ve d i n t h e U. S. H o us e of Re p r e s e nt at i ve s a n d S e n ate af te r Fl o r i da st ate h o o d.

T h e p a r k c o nt ai ns r e m n a nt s of t h e o n c e t h r i v i n g, 5,10 0 - ac r e su g a r p l a nt at i o n, i n c lu di n g a 4 0 - f o ot li m e sto n e m as o nr y c hi m n ey, i r o n g e a r s a n d a c a n e p r e s s. T h e ste a m - dr i ve n m i ll o p e r ate d f r o m 18 51 to 18 6 4 a n d s e r ve d as a sup p li e r of su g a r p r o du c t s f o r S o ut h e r n t r o o p s dur i n g t h e Ci v i l Wa r.

T h e p a r k i s l o c ate d a p p r ox i m ate ly 3 m i l e s we st of t h e c i t y of H o m o s as s a S p r i n g s, Fl o r i da, US A .

G Goott Ru Rum m?? De Decce m mb be r 2 0 2 5 - 5 7

“GO t R U M?” T E A M INT E R V I E W

by M a r g a r et Aya l a

T h i s i s s u e i s l ov i n g l y d e d i c ate d to o u r te a m of “ G ot Ru m? ” c o l l a b o r ato r s , to Ru m C e nt r a l ’s O p e r at i o n s a n d B ot t l i n g te a m s , to a l l of o u r s u p p l i e r s a n d, of c o u r s e, our bulk rum and c o n s u l t i n g c l i e nt s!

T h e r u m i n d u st r y i s AWESOME b e c au s e of a l l of yo u! Lu i s a n d I c o u l d n ot h ave m a d e i t t h i s f a r w i t h o u t eve r yo n e’s h e l p. We a r e l o o k i n g f o r wa r d to a n ot h e r ye a r of p e r s o n a l a n d p r ofe s s i o n a l g r ow t h, w h i l e we c o nt i n u e to s e r ve t h e r u m i n d u st r y.

M a r g a r et Aya l a , Pu b l i s h e r

Got R um ? Dece mber 2025 - 5 8

Put t i n g to g et h e r a m o nt h ly m a g a zi n e i s n ot a n e asy t as k . T h a nk f ully f o r us at “ G ot Rum? ”, we h ave t h e wo r l d ’s b e st c o nt r i b ut i n g w r i te r s, w h o t i r e l e s s ly p r o du c e c o nte nt f o r us, m o nt h af te r m o nt h!

I t i s e asy, h oweve r, f o r r e ad e r s to l o s e t r ac k of t h e p e o p l e b e hi n d t h e sto r i e s, s o e ac h D e c e m b e r we r e s e r ve s p ac e f o r o ur c o nt r i b uto r s to s h a r e a b i t of i nf o r m at i o n a b o ut t h e m s e l ve s, t h e i r ac hi eve m e nt s, g o a l s a n d o b s e r vat i o ns.

H e r e i s a qui c k up date f r o m Lui s a n d m e: •

“ G ot Rum? ” h as b e e n a r o un d f o r 24 ye a r s a n d we a r e g r atef ul to h ave su c h a l oya l r e ad e r s hi p. We a r e a l ways ke e n to h e a r w hi c h to p i c s a r e m o st a n d

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f i ni s hi n g c as ks (A r m a g n ac , Po r t , S h e r r y, Te m p r a ni ll o, etc .)

l e ast i nte r e st i n g, s o p l e as e c o nt i nu e to te ll us a b o ut yo ur i nte r e st s /n e e ds!

•

A s st ate d i n Lui s’ c o lum n o n p a g e 5, t h e a l c o h o l b eve r a g e i n dust r y c o nt i nu e s to h ave a r o u g h t i m e. We a r e p l e as e d to r e p o r t , h oweve r, t h at we’ve ac t i ve ly h e lp e d s eve r a l di st i ll e r i e s sur v i ve, t h r o u g h st r ate g i c p l a nni n g a n d t h at we’r e wo r k i n g w i t h m a ny m o r e.

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I n r e s p o ns e to o ur c li e nt s’ n e e ds, Rum C e nt r a l h as i n c r e as e d i t s r o l e as a sup p li e r of b ulk s p i r i t s, of fe r i n g s n ow i n c lu d e Te qui l a, B r a n dy, Rum a n d Vo dka. G i n a n d W hi s key w i ll b e ad d e d to o ur p o r t f o li o i n 2 0 2 6 .

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I n 2 0 25 we a l s o c o m p l ete d a l a r g e i nve st m e nt to ex p a n d o ur f i ni s hi n g ba r r e l s o pt i o ns. We n ow h ave A m b ur a n a, B r a n dy, C o g n ac , N a r a nj a a n d To ka ji, i n ad di t i o n to o ur st a n da r d

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Rum C e nt r a l ’s c o - p ac k i n g s e r v i c e s p e r f o r m e d exc e e di n g ly we ll. We g ai n e d num e r o us n ew b r a n ds, a n d we c o nt i nu e to of fe r st r ate g i c p ac k i n g o pt i o ns to o ur c li e nt s.

•

T h e Rum U ni ve r s i t y ’s n ew c a m p us, at Rum C e nt r a l i n Texas, h as a ll owe d us to ex p a n d o ur c o ur s e of fe r i n g s to di st i ll e r y ow n e r s a n d o p e r ato r s, i n ad di t i o n to t h e c l as s e s we te ac h at M o o ns hi n e U ni ve r s i t y i n Ke nt u c k y. S t ay t un e d f o r t h e 2 0 2 6 C o ur s e S c h e dul e!

I w i s h a ll a ve r y h a p py h o li day s e as o n a n d h o p e t h at 2 0 2 6 b r i n g s us a ll b et te r n ew s a b o ut o ur b e l ove d r um i n dust r y !

M a r g a r et Aya l a

G o t Ru m ? De c e mb e r 2 0 2 5 - 5 9

T E A M INT E R V I E W: PAUL S E NFT

by M a r g a r et Aya l a

1. O f a l l t h e r u m s yo u r ev i e w e d t h i s ye a r, i s t h e r e a p a r t i c u l a r o n e t h a t s t o o d o u t , a n d w hy ?

T h e H o l m e s C ay H e r i t a g e b l e n d m a d e s u c h a p o s i t i ve i m p r e s s i o n t h at I a m u s i n g i t a s o n e of my g o - to h o u s e r u m s. I t i s a n e a sy s i p p e r a n d i s ve r s at i l e i n a w i d e r a n g e of c o c k t a i l s , s o I d e c i d e d to ke e p t h e ex p r e s s i o n i n sto c k .

2 . H ave yo u a d d e d a ny r u m s t o yo u r “ f avo r i t e” l i s t t h i s ye a r (eve n i f yo u d i d n’ t r ev i e w t h e m f o r t h e m a g a z i n e)?

D i p l o m át i c o Ru m S e l e c c i ó n D e Fa m i l i a , w h i c h I r ev i ewe d l a st D e c e m b e r, h a s b e c o m e a f avo r i te of t h at b r a n d ’s p o r t f o l i o. H a m i l to n B r e e zeway Ru m b e c a m e a g o - to p r o d u c t f o r D a i q u i r i s a n d T i k i / t r o p i c a l c o c k t a i l s.

3 . H ave yo u n o t i c e d a ny c o n s u m e r t r e n d s t h i s ye a r t h a t a r e d i f f e r e n t f r o m p r ev i o u s ye a r s?

T h e r e i s a s p l i t h a p p e n i n g a m o n g s p i r i t c o n s u m e r s. W i t h t h e c h a l l e n g e s of t h e U. S . e c o n o my, I h ave s e e n t h e f at i g u e w i t h h i g h p r i c e d r u m s c o nt i n u e to g r ow. W i t h eve r y t h i n g c o s t i n g m o r e, c o n s u m e r s a r e b e i n g m o r e s av v y a b o u t t h e i r p u r c h a s e s a n d g et t i n g t h e m o s t f o r t h e i r m o n ey. I h ave s e e n r e s e nt m e nt g r ow towa r d b r a n d s r e l e a s i n g h i g h - e n d p r o d u c t s t h at c o st m o r e t h a n a h o u s e o r c a r p ay m e nt .

4 . D o yo u h ave r u m - r e l a t e d t r ave l p l a n s o r a c t i v i t i e s f o r n ex t ye a r ?

I h o p e to v i s i t s o m e di st i l l e r i e s a n d at te n d a c o u p l e of fe st i va l s a n d c o nfe r e n c e s i f my s c h e d u l e p e r m i t s t h e m.

5 . I s t h e r e a ny t h i n g e l s e t h a t yo u ’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?

I wo u l d l i ke to ex te n d my g r at i t u d e to t h e r e a d e r s a n d h o p e t h ey c o nt i n u e to e n j oy t h e r ev i ew s a n d c o nte nt of t h e m a g a z i n e.

W i s h i n g eve r yo n e h a p py h o l i d ay s a n d a wo n d e r f u l n ew ye a r.

Got Got R Rum um? ? De Dece cemb mber e r 22025 0 2 5 -- 6600

G Goott Ru Rum m?? De Decceemb mbeerr 22002255 -- 6611

T E A M INT E R V I E W: P HILI P ILI B A R A K E

by M a r g a r et Aya l a

I f eve r y t h i n g t u r n s o u t a c c o r d i n g t o my p l a n s , s o o n I w i l l i d e nt i f y t h e t h i r d a n d f i n a l p a r t n e r a n d we’l l b e a b l e t o b r i n g t h i s m a j e s t i c p r o j e c t t o l i f e, c u l m i n at i n g i n t h e s o u t h e r n m o s t d i s t i l l e r y i n t h e e nt i r e c o nt i n e nt .

L a s t l y, t o s m o ke n o w I h ave t o f i n d t h e r i g ht t i m e a n d p l a c e, d ay s w i t h l i t t l e w i n d a n d w h e n my p ate r n a l d u t i e s a l l o w. A t t h e e n d, I h o p e t o b e a b l e t o l e ave s o m et h i n g b e h i n d f o r J o a q u i n, s o m et h i n g t h at I m a n a g e d t o a c h i eve i n my s h o r t l i f e.

2 . A ny h i g h l i g h t s yo u c a n s h a r e a b o u t the spirits and hospitality industr y in Ch i l e?

1. T h i s h a s b e e n a n exc i t i n g a n d w o n d e r f u l ye a r f o r yo u , m ov i n g t o Pu n t a A r e n a s a n d b e c o m i n g a D a d f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e . C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s! H o w h ave yo u b e e n d o i n g s e t t l i n g i n t o yo u r n e w r o l e?

Ye s , i t h a s b e e n a ye a r f u l l o f h i g h s a n d l o w s! A t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e ye a r I a c c e pte d a c h a l l e n g e t o o p e n a n ew r e s t a u r a nt i n P u nt a A r e n a s . I s p e nt a w h o l e ye a r ove r s e e i n g t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n and opening of the building. At the e n d, h o weve r, I m a d e t h e c o nt r ove r s i a l d e c i s i o n t o l e ave t h e p r o j e c t , s o t h at I c o u l d s p e n d m o r e t i m e w i t h my s o n, J o a q u i n, w h o w i l l s o o n c e l e b r a te h i s 1 b i r t h d ay. I a m a m a ze d by h o w m u c h h e c h a n g e s o n a d a i l y b a s i s a n d I j u s t d o n’ t wa nt t o m i s s a ny o f i t .

A t t h e s a m e t i m e, I c a n d evo te m o r e t i m e t o t h e m a i n r e a s o n b e h i n d my d e c i s i o n t o a c c e pt t h e r e s t a u r a nt c h a l l e n g e i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e: t o f i n d t h e p e r f e c t l o c a t i o n f o r a d i s t i l l e r y i n Pa t a g o n i a , b o t h f o r a g i n g a n d f o r d i s t i l l i n g. T h e f o c u s w i l l b e o n p r e m i u m r u m s , a g e d f o r a ve r y l o n g t i m e.

T h e l o w te m p e r a t u r e a n d d o m i n a nt w i n d s w i l l p l ay a key r o l e i n t h i s s p e c i a l p r o j e c t .

Rum? Got R um ? Dece mber 2025 - 662 2

I c a n d e s c r i b e t o yo u i n m o r e d et a i l t h e a r e a w h e r e I l i ve n o w. I t i s a n exc e l l e nt t o u r i s t d e s t i n at i o n, f o r at l e a s t 5 m o nt h s e a c h ye a r. T h e m a i n t w o d e s t i n at i o n s a r e: t h e f i r s t o n e i s To r r e s d e l Pa i n e Pa r k a n d t h e s e c o n d o n e, w h i c h i s c o n s i s te nt l y b e c o m i n g m o r e p o p u l a r, i s a s a l a u n c h i n g p o i nt f o r A nt a r c t i c t o u r i s m.

P u nt a A r e n a s h a s p o s i t i ve a n d n e g at i ve s i d e s , a s i t r e l ate s t o t o u r i s m: i t i s a b e a u t i f u l c i t y, t h e r e s i d e nt s a r e p r i m a r i l y f r o m t h i s zo n e t o t h e ex te nt t h at t h ey f e e l i s o l ate d f r o m t h e r e s t o f t h e c o u nt r y. O n t h e ot h e r h a n d, t h e c i t y n e e d s t o b e m o r e r e c e pt i ve t o t h e n e e d s o f t h e t o u r i s t s , s u c h a s , h av i n g m o r e r e s t a u r a nt s a l o n g t h e S t r a i g ht o f M a g e l l a n c o a s t l i n e a n d h av i n g m o r e b u s i n e s s e s o p e n o n S u n d ay s .

A d d r e s s i n g t h e s e p o i nt s , p l u s h av i n g a f ew m o r e t o u r i s t at t r a c t i o n s , w o u l d m a ke P u nt a A r e n a s a s t r o n g e r, b et te r p r e p a r e d c i t y. I f eve r y t h i n g w o r ks o u t a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p l a n, t o u r i n g t h e d i s t i l l e r y w o u l d b e a n o bv i o u s activity for all visitors.

3 . Tw o ye a r s a g o t h e r e w e r e m a ny n e w cigar brands that were introduced into Ch i l e , h ave t h ey m a n a g e d t o s t ay i n b u s i n e s s? D o a ny o f t h e m s t a n d o u t t o yo u?

E xc e pt f o r t h e d o m e s t i c b r a n d t h at h a s i t s c i g a r s m a d e i n t h e D o m i n i c a n Re p u b l i c , w i t h t o b a c c o f r o m d i f f e r e nt r e g i o n s , t h e r e i s a n ot h e r g r o u p o f c i g a r l ove r s: G r u p o

Ze r o n, t h at at t r a c t s c o n s u m e r s w i t h s o m e n o n - C u b a n b r a n d s , s u c h a s Pa d r ó n, R o c k y Pate l, A r t u r o Fu e nte a n d A l e c B r a d l ey, a m o n g m a ny. I t i s a g r e a t o p p o r t u n i t y t o s m o ke c i g a r s t h a t w o u l d o t h e r w i s e r e q u i r e t r ave l t o a c q u i r e t h e m. T h e C a s a d e l H a b a n o i n S a nt i a g o c o nt i n u e s t o b e a s o l i d, t r u s t w o r t hy s o u r c e o f H a b a n o s .

A n ot h e r c i g a r- s m o k i n g f r i e n d o f m i n e, A n a b e l, wa nt s t o i m p o r t E P C a r r i l l o a n d A J Fe r n a n d e z. I r e g u l a r l y a s k h e r w h e n t h ey w i l l b e ava i l a b l e, s i n c e I ’m a n x i o u s t o t r y t h e m.

A l l t h e s e t h i n g s h e l p t h e m a r ket , a t l e a s t t h e m a r ket I ’m m o s t c o m f o r t a b l e w i t h, w h i c h i s t h e o n e c o m p r i s e d by c i g a r s m o ke r s .

4 . O f a l l t h e Ci g a r & Ru m Pa i r i n g s t h a t yo u h ave d o n e f o r “ G o t Ru m? ” t h i s ye a r, i s t h e r e o n e t h a t s t a n d s o u t f o r yo u , o n e t h a t yo u ’ ve r e p e a t e d m u l t i p l e t i m e s?

I ’d s ay t h at I h ave c o m b i n e d i d e a s d r aw n from the pairings, I regularly reach out f o r r u m s w h e n m a k i n g O l d Fa s h i o n e d c o c k t a i l s . T h i s ye a r I u s e d t h i s c o c k t a i l q u i te a b i t , t h e t r u t h i s t h a t I r e a l l y e n j oy t h e r u m ve r s i o n m o r e t h a n t h e o r i g i n a l A m e r i c a n W h i s key o n e. A s f a r a s c i g a r s , w h i l e i t i s t r u e t h a t I ’ ve u s e d s eve r a l classic and Cuban brands, one that I ke e p g o i n g b a c k t o a r e t h e s m a l l Fu l l e r “ N á p o l e s ,” w h i c h h ave t h e i d e a l s i ze w h e n t i m e a n d s p a c e a r e l i m i te d. T h ey a r e p e r f e c t w i t h a c o f f e e (s o m et h i n g t h a t i s i n a b u n d a nt s u p p l y i n P u nt a A r e n a s) o r w i t h r u m , e i t h e r n e a t o r m i xe d i n r u m - ve r s i o n s o f c l a s s i c c o c k t a i l s . I ’d s ay t h a t t h i s i s o n e o f t h e m o s t p o p u l a r p a i r i n g s I ’ ve d o n e t h i s ye a r, w i t h o u t a d o u bt .

5 . I s t h e r e a ny t h i n g e l s e t h a t yo u ’d l i ke t o s h a r e w i t h yo u r f a n s?

I h o p e t h at n ex t ye a r I c a n s u r p r i s e eve r yo n e w i t h g o o d n ew s a b o u t t h i s c r a z y i d e a t h at s t a r te d a r o u n d 2 015 a n d w h i c h I h o p e t o p u t i nt o a c t i o n i n 2 0 2 6 . I w i s h g o o d h e a l t h t o a l l my r e a d e r s a n d t o t h e i r f a m i l i e s a n d h o p e t h a t t h e n ew ye a r i s filled with success and happiness.

G o t Ru m ? De c e mb e r 2 0 2 5 - 6 3

T E A M INT E R V I E W: M A R C O P I E R INI

by M a r g a r et Aya l a

2 . Cr a f t d i s t i l l e r i e s i n t h e USA a r e s t r u g g l i n g , m a ny c l o s e d d ow n t h i s ye a r a n d m a ny m o r e a r e l i ke l y t o f o l l ow s u i t n ex t ye a r. H ow i s t h e c r a f t s p i r i t s i n d u s t r y i n I t a l y, i n general and the rum industr y more specifically?

1. Yo u t o o k a f e w m o n t h s o f f f r o m publishing ar ticles in the magazine to d o r u m r e s e a r c h . C a n yo u s h a r e a ny o f yo u r f i n d i n g s a n d f u t u r e p l a n s?

I wo u l d li ke to c o nt i nu e my s e r i e s o n t h e H i sto r y of C ub a n Rum up to t h e p r e s e nt d ay. T h e p r o b l e m i s t h e s o u r c e s. C u b a i s g o i n g t h r o u g h a ve r y, ve r y, di f f i c u l t s i t u at i o n a n d ac c e s s i n g r e li a b l e p r i m a r y s o u r c e s i s di f f i c u l t , a lm o st i m p o s s i b l e, at l e a st f o r m e. Fo r t un ate l y, I f o u n d t wo b o o ks - M a r ía V i c to r i a A r e c h a b a l a Fe r n á n d ez a n d A nto nío S a nt a m a r ía G a r cía “A R EC H A B A L A A zú c a r y R o n ”, a n d “O R O B L A N C O U na H is to r i a E m p r es a r i a l d e l R o n C u b a n o ” by M a n u e l B o n e r a M i r a n d a – t h at a l l owe d m e to w r i te t h e a r t i c l e s I p ub li s h e d i n t h e l a st few i s su e s a n d ot h e r s t h at a r e yet to c o m e. A s f o r t h e f ut u r e, we’l l s e e. I n a ny c a s e, t h e h i sto r y of C ub a n r um i s st i l l o n g o i n g, a n d I wo u l d li ke to d evote m a ny m o r e a r t i c l e s to i t . I n t h e m e a nt i m e, h oweve r, I w i l l i nte r s p e r s e t h e s e r i e s w i t h a r t i c l e s o n ot h e r to p i c s r e l ate d to t h e h i sto r y of r um.

Got R um ? Dece mber 2025 - 664 4 Rum?

A s f a r a s I k n ow, c r af t di st i l l at i o n i n I t a l y i s st i l l a s m a l l - s c a l e p h e n o m e n o n, w i t h l i m i te d p r o d u c t i o n. H oweve r, t h e r e a r e m a ny s m a l l di st i l l e r i e s p r o d u c i n g t y p i c a l I t a l i a n a m a r i a n d ot h e r s p i r i t s , a n d I d o n’ t t h i n k t h ey a r e i n c r i s i s , q ui te t h e c o nt r a r y. T h e n ove l t y i n r e c e nt ye a r s i s t h at c r af t di st i l l e r i e s p r o du c i n g r u m h ave s p r u n g u p a n d c o nt i n u e to d o s o. I n m a ny c a s e s , p r o d u c e r s h ave r e p l a nte d s u g a r c a n e, w h i c h wa s o n c e w i d e s p r e a d i n S i c i l y, a n d u s e t h e j u i c e f r o m t h e i r ow n c a n e. O t h e r s b u y t h e r aw m ate r i a l i n t h e m a r ket . S e e my a r t i c l e T HE T R AVELLING RUM HISTORI A N SI C ILY i n M ay 2 0 25 i s s u e.

T h e r e a r e a l s o r u m o r s of i nte r e st f r o m m a j o r p l aye r s i n t h e s e c to r. Wa i t a n d s e e.

3 . RT D c o n s u m pt i o n h a s b e e n o n t h e r i s e i n t h e US A , a r e yo u s e e i n g t h e s a m e t r e n d i n Eu r o p e t h i s ye a r ?

I h ave n’ t t r ave l e d m u c h i n ye a r s , I r a r e l y g o o u t i n t h e eve n i n g, a n d I ’m n o l o n g e r i n to u c h w i t h t h e m a r ket , i f o n l y b e c au s e of my a g e. B u t n o, I d o n’ t t h i n k RT D c o n s u m pt i o n i s g r ow i n g s i g n i f i c a nt l y i n I t a l y, a n d, f r o m w h at l i t t l e I k n ow, n ot eve n i n Eu r o p e.

4 . I s t h e r e a ny t h i n g e l s e t h a t yo u’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 e h i sto r y of r u m i n p a r t i c u l a r, a n d of s p i r i t s i n g e n e r a l, h a s b e c o m e my i nte l l e c t u a l p a s s i o n. I h o p e o u r r e a d e r s e n j oy r e a di n g my a r t i c l e s a s m u c h a s I e nj oy w r i t i n g t h e m.

G o t Ru m ? De c e mb e r 2 0 2 5 - 6 5

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by M a r g a r et Aya l a

2 . T h e h o l i d ay s e a s o n i s u p o n u s a n d w e a r e c u r i o u s t o k n o w w h a t h o l i d ay c o c k t a i l yo u h ave c h o s e n f o r t h i s ye a r ’s c e l e b r a t i o n s?

We we r e l u c k y e n o u g h t o h ave my b r ot h e r a n d d a u g hte r j o i n u s i n A r i zo n a f o r T h a n ks g i v i n g t h i s ye a r a n d t h e H o l i d ay s p i r i t s we r e d ef i n i te l y f l o w i n g.

D u r i n g t h e d ay, my d a u g hte r wa s m a k i n g a d r i n k s h e c a l l e d a Ru m & S p i c e E m b e r : 2 oz A p p l et o n 8 Ru m 1 oz c i n n a m o n sy r u p ½ oz f r e s h l e m o n j u i c e ½ oz g i n g e r l i q u e u r 2 d a s h e s n u t m e g b i t te r s S h a ke a l l i n g r e d i e nt s a n d p o u r i nt o a r o c ks glass with a big ice cube M y b r ot h e r a l way s e n j oy s a g o o d Ru m O l d Fa s h i o n e d. H e r e i s o u r ve r s i o n: 1. W e h ave s e e n a l o t o f u p s a n d d o w n s i n t h e s p i r i t s i n d u s t r y t h i s ye a r, t o o m a ny o p e r a t i o n s h ave a l r e a d y f a i l e d a n d m o r e w i l l m e e t t h e s a m e f a t e n ex t ye a r. I s t h e r e a ny t h i n g i n p a r t i c u l a r t h a t s t a n d s o u t f o r yo u?

I t h i n k 2 0 2 5 wa s t h e p e r f e c t s t o r m o f e l e m e nt s b at te r i n g t h e s p i r i t i n d u s t r y. Fi r s t , I t h i n k p e o p l e a r e d r i n k i n g l e s s f o r a va r i et y o f r e a s o n s: h e a l t h, p e r s o n a l f i n a n c e s , p u b l i c p r e s s u r e, etc . W h e n p e o p l e d o c o n s u m e, n o a l c o h o l b eve r a g e s , l o w a l c o h o l d r i n ks a n d h a r d s e l t ze r s a r e o f te n t h e p o p u l a r c h o i c e. T h e growing legalization of cannabis products has a l s o h a d a n ef f e c t . T h e c o n f u s i o n s u r r o u n d i n g t a r i f f s c e r t a i n l y a f f e c te d a t t i t u d e s i n s o m e c o u nt r i e s a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n a n d s a l e s i n ot h e r s .

I n o u r r u m w o r l d, s a l e s o f s p i c e d r u m s , f l avo r e d r u m s a n d m a s s - m a r kete d w h i te r u m s a r e d o w n, a g a i n a s p e o p l e d r i n k l e s s . O u r s av i n g g r a c e m ay b e t h e s l o w p r o g r e s s we a r e m a k i n g i n o u r at te m pt s t o ‘p r e m i u n i ze’ r u m. We n o w h ave p r o d u c e r s , b i g a n d s m a l l, t h a t a r e m a k i n g g r e at r u m s t h at a r e we l l c r a f te d, a r t f u l l y b l e n d e d a n d l o n g e r a g e d. I n d e p e n d e nt b o t t l e r s o f f e r u s r u m s , r h u m s , r o n s , c a c h a ç a s , a q u a r d i e nte s a n d c l a r i n s f r o m c o u nt r i e s we n eve r s u s p e c te d m a d e g r e at s p i r i t s . M y h o p e i s t h a t we d o n ot p r i c e o u r s e l ve s o u t o f i nte r e s t w i t h t h e eve r yd ay c o n s u m e r, l i ke o u r c o u s i n s i n t h e w h i s key wo r l d.

Got R um ? Dece mber 2025 - 6 6

1 oz D e n i ze n Vat te d D a r k Ru m 1 oz S m i t h & C r o s s Ru m ½ oz 2 x D e m e r a r a sy r u p D a s h e s o f o r a n g e a n d A n g o s t u r a B i t te r s S t i r r e d a n d p o u r e d i nt o a r o c ks g l a s s Eve n t h o u g h o u r n i g ht s h e r e i n P h o e n i x a r e p r et t y m i l d t h i s t i m e o f ye a r (5 0˚ F ), we wa nte d s o m et h i n g wa r m t o d r i n k a r o u n d t h e f i r e p i t a n d c a m e u p w i t h t h i s c o n c o c t i o n: 2 oz H a m i l t o n 8 6 Ru m ½ oz m a p l e sy r u p ½ oz o r a n g e l i q u e u r A d a s h o f b i t te r s A l l m i xe d i n a m u g a n d t h e f i l l e d w i t h h ot wate r, a cinnamon stick and an orange slice 3 . Yo u a r e a n av i d r e a d e r, a r e t h e r e a ny n e w b o o k s t h a t yo u h ave e n j oye d a n d w o u l d r e c o m m e n d a s “ m u s t h ave s” ?

I r e a l l y e n j oye d T h e R u m N eve r S e t s; 3 0 0 ye a r s o f Roya l N av y a n d L o n d o n D o c k Ru m

by M at t Pi et r e k a n d A l ex a n d r e G a b r i e l. T h e f i r s t p a r t o f t h e b o o k i s Pi et r e k ’s we l l r e s e a r c h e d h i s t o r y o f R oya l N av y r u m a n d t h e b l e n d i n g p r o c e s s at t h e L o n d o n D o c ks . T h e s e c o n d p a r t o f t h e b o o k d e s c r i b e s h o w G a b r i e l wa s a b l e t o d ef i n e s eve n key e l e m e nt s i n t h e m a n u f a c t u r e o f Roya l N av y Ru m, t h e r o l e s t h ey p l aye d a n d h o w h e wa s a b l e t o i n c o r p o r ate t h o s e i n h i s

f a c i l i t i e s i n t h e C a r i b b e a n a n d i n Eu r o p e t o c r e ate h i s ve r s i o n o f a N ava l r u m.

R i g ht n o w, I a m r e a d i n g R U M : E m p i r e i n a G l a s s by d r i n k h i s t o r i a n B i l l J o h n s . T h i s i s a big book, 446 pages. The publisher describes t h e b o o k : T h i s i s n o t a ta s t i n g g u i d e. I t i s a c u l tu r a l r e c ko n i n g i n a g l as s . E q u a l p a r ts h i s t o r y, a n t h r o p o l o g y, a n d s e ns o r y ex p l o r a t i o n , R u m: E m p i r e i n t h e G l a s s c h a l l e n g es r e a d e r s t o d r i n k w i t h m e m o r y — a n d t o as k , eve r y t i m e t h ey l i f t a g l as s: w h a t was t h e c o s t o f t h i s s we e t n es s?

N ex t o n t h e l i s t i s T h e I nve n t i o n o f R u m: Creating the Quintessential Atlantic C o m m o d i t y by J o r d a n B . S m i t h. T h i s 2 2 8 p a g e b o o k j u s t c a m e o u t i n O c t o b e r. A g a i n, f r o m t h e p u b l i s h e r : B a s e d o n ex te ns i ve a r c h i va l r es ea r c h i n t h e C a r i b b e a n , N o r t h A m e r i c a , a n d B r i t a i n , T h e I nve n t i o n o f R u m n a r r a tes t h e s eve n t e e n t h - a n d e i g h te e n t h - c e n tu r y h i s t o r y

o f o n e o f t h e A t l a n t i c wo r l d ’s m o s t u b i q u i t o us p r o d u c ts . S m i t h c as ts t h i s eve r yd ay i te m as b o t h a c r u c i a l exa m p l e o f n e g o t i a t i o n b e t we e n E u r o p ea ns , A f r i c a ns , a n d A m e r i c a ns a n d a h a r b i n g e r o f m o d e r n i t y, c o n n e c t i n g r u m’s ea r ly h i s t o r y t o t h e c u r r e n t g l o b a l m a r ke t .

I n M a r c h o f n ex t ye a r. C a n a d a i n t h e A g e o f R u m by A l l a n G r e e r w i l l b e p u b l i s h e d by M c G i l l Q u e e n’s U n i ve r s i t y P r e s s a s p a r t o f t h e i r S t u d i e s in Early Canada series.

T h i s w i l l b e f o l l o we d i n J u n e by T h e Wo r l d o f R u m by L a u r e n c e M a r ot f r o m G e l d i n g S t r e et Pr e s s .

4 . I s t h e r e a ny t h i n g e l s e t h a t yo u ’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?

I h o p e yo u r h o l i d ay s a r e f i l l e d w i t h f a m i l y, g o o d f r i e n d s , g o o d f o o d a n d g o o d s p i r i t s!

G o t Ru m ? De c e mb e r 2 0 2 5 - 6 7

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Got R um ? Dece mber 2025 - 6 8

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y n a m e i s Ph 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 for distilled spirits and cigars. As par t of 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 a t 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 a t f e a t .

Now I face the challenge of impressing t h e r e a d e r s o f “ G o t Ru m? ” w i t h w h a t i s perhaps the toughest task for a Sommelier: d i s c u s s i n g 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 at 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 wo 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 a t 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 a t 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 hope to help our 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 pleasure of tr ying 2025 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).

Philip # GRC i g a r Pa i r i n g

S o m e t i m e a g o, I u s e d a M o n key Ta i l f o r a p a i r i n g. T h i s i s a t r a d i t i o n a l d r i n k f o r t h i s t i m e of t h e ye a r i n C h i l e a n d i n s o m e p a r t s of Pe r u. A c c o r d i n g to o n e t h e o r y, t h e d r i n k g ot i t s n a m e b e c au s e i t wa s o n c e s o l d i n r e u s e d “A n i s d e l M o n o” g l a s s b ot t l e s (a p o p u l a r b r a n d of a n i s , d e p i c t i n g a m o n key o n i t s f r o nt l a b e l), w h i c h i s a b i t h a r d to b e l i eve, s i n c e t h e b ot t l e i s q u i te l a r g e to f i t i n s i d e t h e ave r a g e r ef r i g e r ato r.

A n ot h e r t h e o r y i s t h at t h e n a m e c o m e s f r o m a f o r m e r p r e s i d e nt , Pe d r o M o nt t , w h o wa s k n ow n a s “e l m o n o M o nt t ” (t h e M o nt t m o n key), w h o i s s a i d to h ave d r a n k s o m et h i n g ve r y s i m i l a r.

T h e r e a r e s eve r a l r e c i p e s , b u t t h ey u s u a l l y u s e g r a p e a g u a r di e nte, p l u s ot h e r h o u s e h o l d i n g r e di e nt s l i ke m i l k , c of fe e, c i n n a m o n, c l ove, va n i l l a a n d n u t m e g.

A s yo u c a n i m a g i n e, t h e s e f l avo r s a r e t y p i c a l l y a s s o c i ate d w i t h t h o s e f o u n d i n t h e S p i c e d Ru m c ate g o r y, w h i c h i s o u r i n s p i r at i o n f o r to d ay ’s M o n key Ta i l ve r s i o n.

H e r e i s t h e r e c i p e I u s e d, I t r i e d to a d h e r e to t h e s p i r i t of t h e o r i g i n a l r e c i p e, b u t I a d j u ste d i t b a s e d o n t h e r u m s I h a d ava i l a b l e: • • • • • • •

3 0 0 m L of M i l k (a p p r ox i m ate l y 10 o u n c e s) 6 0 m L Ro n R i t u a l d e C u b a , a l ow - c o n g e n e r S p i c e d Ru m (a p p r ox i m ate l y 2 o u n c e s) 6 0 m L B a c a r d i C o c o n u t - f l avo r e d Ru m 3 T b s p. B r ow n S u g a r 1 D a s h Va n i l l a E x t r a c t 2 T b s p. C of fe e C i n n a m o n /C l ove s a r e o pt i o n a l

Pl a c e a l l i n g r e d i e nt s i n a ket t l e a n d b r i n g to a b o i l, st i r r i n g c o n st a nt l y. B o i l f o r 3 - 5 m i n u te s a n d st r a i n i t i f n e e d e d (i f yo u u s e d c l ove s a n d c i n n a m o n, f o r exa m p l e) a n d a l l ow i t to c o o l. To f i n i s h t h e p r e p a r at i o n, a d d 6 0 m L (2 o u n c e s)

G o t Ru m ? De c e mb e r 2 0 2 5 - 6 9

Ph oto s c r e di t : @ Ci g a r i li

Got Got Rum R um?? Dece December mber 2025 2025 -- 7700

Ph oto c r e di t : @ Ci g a r i li of W h i te Ru m, I s e l e c te d J M R h u m A g r i c o l e B l a n c i n s te a d of t h e o r i g i n a l a g u a r d i en te, t h i s w i l l g i ve t h e d r i n k a st r o n g r u m c h a r ac te r.

A t s e r v i n g t i m e, a d d p l e nt y of i c e, b u t ke e p i n m i n d t h at i f yo u u s e c r u s h e d i c e, t h e d r i n k w i l l b e c o m e to o di l u te d, w h i c h w i l l a l te r i t s f l avo r. I f t h at i s t h e o n l y t y p e of i c e yo u h ave ava i l a b l e, t h e n yo u’l l n e e d to c o n s u m e t h e d r i n k q u i c k l y, l i ke I di d.

I d i d t h i s p a i r i n g i n t h e m o r n i n g, i t wa s a B r e a k f a s t Pa i r i n g, w h i c h r e m i n d e d m e of t h e m ov i e A p o c a l y p s e N ow a n d t h e s c e n e w h e r e C o l o n e l K i l g o r e (p l aye d by Ro b e r t D u va l l) u t te r s t h e i c o n i c p h r a s e, k n ow n by a l l m ov i e l ove r s , b u t w h i c h I ’ve a d a pte d f o r r u m l ove r s: “D o yo u s m e l l t ha t ? D o yo u s m e l l i t , s o n?

T ha t ’s t h e s m e l l o f a g o o d c i g a r. I l ove t h e s m e l l o f to b a c c o , es p e c i a l ly i n t h e m o r n i n g s.”

Fo r t h e c i g a r, I c o u l d h ave r e ac h e d o u t f o r a c l a s s i c , eve n a Ro b u sto wo u l d h ave b e e n p e r fe c t f o r t h e p a i r i n g; a s l o n g a s t h e c i g a r i s n ot ve r y i nte n s e, i t w i l l b e f i n e. I n my c a s e,

I s e l e c te d a N a p o l i, o n e of my “g o to” c i g a r s t h i s ye a r, e s p e c i a l l y f o r t h e b r i ef s m o k i n g t i m e s I h ave, t y p i c a l l y a r o u n d 2 0 m i n u te s , o r e n o u g h t i m e f o r a c o u p l e of M o n key Ta i l s f o r t h e p e r fe c t b r e a k f a st . T h e c o c k t a i l ’s f l avo r s a r e ve r y r e m i n i s c e nt of t h o s e f o u n d i n b a r r e l a g e d r u m s , b u t i n a m o r e s u bt l e a n d swe et f o r m, ve r y e a sy to d r i n k .

I h o p e t h at yo u c a n r e c r e ate t h i s r e c i p e at h o m e, i t i s ve r y ve r s at i l e s o t h at yo u c a n a d a pt i t to f i t yo u r p e r s o n a l p r efe r e n c e s.

T h i s p a r t i c u l a r r e c i p e i s o n e of m a ny I t r i e d a n d I l i ke d i t eve n m o r e t h a n m a ny of t h e c o m m e r c i a l p r o d u c t s ava i l a b l e i n t h e l o c a l sto r e s. I c h a l l e n g e yo u to m a ke yo u r ow n ve r s i o n a n d to s h a r e yo u r fe e d b a c k , d e s c r i b i n g t h e c h a n g e s yo u m a d e. I n t h e e n d, t h e g o a l i s f o r a l l of u s to b e a b l e e nj oy w h at we l i ke!

C h e e r s!

Ph i l i p I l i B a r a ke # GRC i g a r Pa i r i n g

G o t Ru m ? De c e mb e r 2 0 2 5 - 7 1

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