"Got Rum?" February 2026

Got Rum? F E B R U A RY 2 0 2 6

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fr o m t h e g ra s s t o yo ur g l a s s , s i n c e 20 01!

COOKING WITH RUM - Angel’s Share CIGAR AND RUM PAIRING - The RUM MIXOLOGIST The Rum Historian - THE RUM LABORATORY Exclusive Interview - RUM COCKTAILS FOR LOVERS RUM IN THE NEWS - THE SWEET BUSINESS OF SUGAR

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22 Got Rum R um ? Febru a ry 2026 - 2

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Contents

FEBRUARY 2026 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 34-44 T HE SWEE T B USINESS O F SUG A R 50-53 RUM C O C K TA ILS F OR LOVERS 54-57 T h e HIS TORY A ND S C IEN C E O F T HE B A RREL 58-63 EX C LUSIVE IN T ERVIEW 64-67 C IG A R A ND RUM PA IRING

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G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 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 © 2026 by Rum Runner Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

February 2026 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:

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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:

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F RON T C OVER : Hi tti ng A l l The Ri ght Not es INSIDE S P RE A D : C hemi stry of Love

F ROM T HE EDI T OR

A Banquet of Consequences There are many sayings and proverbs about actions and consequences, all of them warning us about the effects of our decisions and behavior. American engineer, philosopher and author, Alfred A. Montapert, famously wrote: “Nobody ever did, or ever will, escape the consequences of his choices.”

There are many analogies/similarities between the real world and the distilled spirits industry. When it comes to aging spirits, Montapert’s words couldn’t be more accurate: when barrels are emptied, their contents will be undeniably tied to the chemical composition of what filled them in the first place, modified by the barrels themselves and by the environmental conditions that were in place during the barrels’ residence in the aging cellar.

For seasoned distillers, with multigenerational experience at play, this is not a challenge. But for new, inexperienced distillers/brands, not knowing what to put inside the bar rels, or how to properly age them, can be a catastrophic mistake.

While it is impossible to accurately predict future weather patterns, it is very possible to measure the actual weather and to adjust our plans if reality deviates from the predicted model.

Take, for example, finishing a spirit in a specialty cask. In this example, we are trying to recreate an exquisite prototype that was finished 90 days during a very hot summer. Let’s think now about how the finishing cask will behave in our aging cellar during the next 90 days, possibly the coldest 90 days of the year: • •

the average temperature of the distillate inside the cask will be much colder the daily temperature Delta (the

• •

difference between each day’s hott est and coldest temperatures) will also be decreased the amount of wood extractives will be reduced the rate of oxidation/acidification inside the barrel will be slower

As you can imagine, the consequence of literally following a formula, without a full understanding of how the aging process is dependent on climate, would result in an inferior quality and, in the words of Robert Louis Stevenson, “sooner or later everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences.”

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 ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 5

T HE A NGEL’ S SH A RE

by Paul S e nf t

St. Augustine Distiller y Pot Distilled Rum

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 ? Febru a ry 2026 - 6

S ever al year s ag o, w hile v isit ing o ne of my favo r ite Fl o r i da c it i e s, we toure d t he S t . August ine D ist iller y. Lo c ate d in a ref ur bishe d ear ly 19 0 0 s er a ic eh ouse, t he dist iller y o p ene d it s do o r s to t he pub li c in M arc h of 2014. T he dist iller y has a uni que c o nf i gur at i o n t hat h o l ds t wo 5 0 0 - gall o n p ot st ills, o ne ar t is anal p ot st ill, and ever y t hing e lse it ne e ds to p ro duc e t he b our b o n, gin, r um, and vo dka t hat are par t of it s p o r t fo li o.

Fo r t we lve we eks dur ing t he year, t he c o mpany fo c use s t heir o p er at i o ns o n p ro duc ing t heir r um instead of b our b o n.

D ur ing t hat t ime, t hey dist ill fer m ente d m o las se s and sugarc ane sy r ups made f ro m Fl o r i da sugarc ane. A f ter t he fer ment at i o n p ro c e s s, t hey ag e t he r ums in 5 3 - gall o n use d w hite oak S t .

August ine D ist iller y b our b o n bar re ls.

T he p ot st ill r um is ag e d fo r a minimum of o ne year at 4 5% A BV and b ot t l e d o n - site at t he dist iller y.

Appearance T he f ro nt lab e l has g o l d and b row n tex t w it h a sugarc ane c r usher feature d in t he c enter. T he lab e ls have t he basic info r mat i o n ab out t he r um and do p rov i de a link to t he website t hat de liver s a great deal ab out t heir pro duc t i o n pr ac t ic e s and o p er at i o n.

T he 75 0 ml b ot t le has a wo o d c ap p e d sy nt het ic c o r k se c ure d to t he b ot t l e w it h a c lear p last ic w r ap.

T he r um h o l ds a h o ney amb er c o l o r in t he b ot t le and o nly li ghtens sli ght ly in t he glas s. S w ir ling t he li qui d c reate s a me dium band around t he glas s t hat

sl ow ly b eads up and re lease s t wo wave s of le gs b efo re evap o r at ing, l eav ing b ehind a small bit of re si due.

N o se T he ar o ma leads w it h a ro bust c ar amelize d vanilla note, fo ll owe d by a li ght anise - laden her bac e ousne s s, c o oke d f r uit , f re sh - c ut c o c o nut , and brow n sugar.

Pa l a t e

Revi ew W hen I was visit ing a l o c al sho p l o ok ing fo r r ums, I sp ot te d t his b ot t le and de c i de d to revi ew it . I found t he f lavo r pr of ile intere st ing, a lit t le h ot and ast r ingent fo r sipping, but w it h t he f lavo r ho o ks c o mp lex enough to b e usef ul in a large r ange of c o c k t ails c over ing t he Pro hibit i o n er a to m o der n t ro pic al c o c k t ails. I under st and t hat t he dist ill er y o c c asi o nally re lease s hi gher p ro of and limite d r ums and would b e intere ste d in ex p l o r ing t h o se if I ever have t he o p p o r tunit y.

w w w.st augustinedistiller y.c om

T he f ir st sip deliver s a t hin and swe et m out hfee l t hat quic k ly o p ens, re leasing f lavo r s af ter a few se c o nds. Addit i o nal sips lead w it h brow n sugar m o las se s w it h anise, h o ney, tea, and c ar ame l nipping ar ound t he e dge s. A s t he se note s set t le, a li ght ast r ingent wo o d note c o m e s into p lay, grounde d by c har and miner al f lavo r s t hat merg e and fo r m t he f inish.

G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 7

T HE A NGEL’ S SH A RE

by Paul S e nf t

John Watling’s Pale Rum Loc ated in N as sau, Bahamas, J ohn Watling’s distiller y produc es t wo dif ferent r um lines and a vodka.

Using sourc ed molasses and t wo pot and c olumn distillates f rom around the Car ibbean, the c ompany distills their r um in small batc hes using pot and c olumn stills as par t of their proc esses. Their Pale r um is a blend of t wo - and three -yearold r ums that have been aged in medium - toasted, onc e - used bour bon bar rels that are c harc oal f iltered, blended, and bot tled at 4 0% A BV. A p p ea r a nc e The hef t y 75 0 ml bot tle has a medium nec k that makes it easy to pour. The woo den c ap holds a synthetic c or k, and the c ompany uses a c lear sec ur it y wrap that needs to be c ut f rom the bot tle to remove the c or k. The labels provide basic infor mation about the produc t.

The r um holds a c lear c olor with a slight straw c olor highlighting the liquid in the bot tle and glass.

S wir ling the r um in the t asting glass c reates a thin band that quic k ly thic kens and releases a few waves of legs before evaporating.

Got R um ? Febru a ry 2026 - 8

A ro ma O pening the bot tle releases a bouquet of light c aramel, t ar t lemon - lime c itr us, and toasted wood notes.

Pal at e The f ir st sip deliver s a swir l of c aramel sweetness, light c itr us t ar tness, and a gentle pepper note that quic k ly transitions into lightly c har red oak f lavor. A s the f lavor s begin to fade, the c itr us f lavor s retur n for a shor t, dr y f inish.

Revi ew W hile this r um is not over ly c omplex, the f lavor prof ile has a baseline ver satilit y that leads to it being a good ingredient for a range of tropic al st yle c oc k t ails, f rom daiquir is and mojitos to planter ’s punc h. This produc t is pr ic ed at the high end for minimally aged r ums, but it is wor th investigating when you want to tr y something new that is like produc ts more well known in the mar ket.

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.johnwatlings.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 ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 26 - 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?? Febru Februaary ry 2026 2026 -- 1100

G Goott Ru Rum m?? FFeebbru ruaary ry 22002266 -- 11 11

I n g r e di e nt s: • • •

Rummy Lamb Chops

½ C. S we et S oy/ B a l s a m i c S au c e (* s e e r e c i p e b e l ow) ½ C. D a r k Ru m ¼ C. H o i s i n S au c e

D i r e c t i o n s:

• • • • •

¼ C. S e s a m e O i l ¼ t s p. D r i e d T hy m e ¼ t s p. D r i e d O r e g a n o 12 G a r l i c C l ove s , m i n c e d 16 L a m b C h o p s (1 i n c h t h i c k)

To m a ke t h e m a r i n a d e: c o m b i n e S we et S oy/ B a l s a m i c S au c e, d a r k r u m, h o i s i n s au c e, s e s a m e o i l, t hy m e, o r e g a n o, a n d g a r l i c i n a s m a l l b ow l a n d m i x we l l. M e a s u r e o u t ¼ c u p of t h e m a r i n a d e a n d r e s e r ve i t f o r b a st i n g t h e m e at o n t h e g r i l l.

Pl a c e t h e l a m b c h o p s i n a l a r g e, s h a l l ow d i s h. S p o o n t h e r e m a i n i n g m a r i n a d e ove r t h e c h o p s a n d t u r n t h e c h o p s to c o at eve n l y. C ove r d i s h w i t h c l e a r w r a p a n d a l l ow c h o p s to m a r i n a d e at r o o m te m p e r at u r e f o r a b o u t o n e h o u r.

H e at g r i l l to 3 5 0 ° F. O n c e t h e g r i l l i s h ot , p l a c e t h e c h o p s o n t h e g r i l l ove r t h e f l a m e s a n d c o o k f o r a b o u t 3 to 4 m i n u te s. B r u s h (o r l i g ht l y s p o o n) m a r i n a d e o n b ot h s i d e s of e ac h l a m b c h o p. C o o k t h e c h o p s f o r a n a d d i t i o n a l 3 to 4 m i n u te s l o n g e r, u nt i l l i g ht l y c h a r r e d o n e a c h s i d e. Tr a n s f e r t h e l a m b c h o p s to a s e r v i n g p l at te r a n d a l l ow t h e m to r e st f o r a b o u t 5 m i n u te s b ef o r e s e r v i n g. Y i e l d: 4 s e r v i n g s.

I n g r e di e nt s: • • •

* S w e e t S oy/ B a l s a m i c S a u c e (m a ke s 1 c u p)

1 t s p. C o r n st a r c h, o r a s n e e d e d 2 T b s p. Wate r ¼ C. D a r k B r ow n S u g a r, f i r m l y p a c ke d

• • •

½ C. Fi g B a l s a m i c V i n e g a r ½ C. S oy S au c e 3 T b s p. D a r k Ru m

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

I n a s m a l l b ow l st i r to g et h e r t h e c o r n st a r c h a n d wate r u nt i l t h e c o r n st a r c h d i s s o l ve s a n d t h e m i x t u r e h a s t h e c o n s i ste n c y of h e av y c r e a m, a d d i n g m o r e c o r n st a r c h i f t h e m i x t u r e i s to o t h i n.

P h o t o c r e d i t : w w w.f i t y.c l u b

Got Got Rum R um?? Febru Februaary ry 2026 2026 -- 1122

2.

C o m b i n e t h e b r ow n s u g a r, v i n e g a r a n d s oy s au c e i n a s m a l l s au c e p a n a n d b r i n g to a b o i l ove r m e d i u m h e at , st i r r i n g to d i s s o l ve t h e s u g a r.

3.

A d d t h e r u m. S t i r t h e c o r n st a r c h m i x t u r e b r i ef l y to r e c o m b i n e, t h e n a d d i t to t h e s oy - v i n e g a r m i x t u r e a n d s i m m e r ove r l ow h e at f o r a b o u t 3 m i n u te s , u nt i l t h e s au c e t h i c ke n s e n o u g h to c o at t h e b a c k of a s p o o n.

4.

Re m ove t h e s au c e f r o m t h e h e at a n d l et i t c o o l c o m p l ete l y. S et a s i d e ½ c u p of t h e s au c e a n d r ef r i g e r ate the remainder in a sealable c o nt a i n e r.

Pecan & Rum Banana Bread I n g r e d i e nt s: Fo r t h e B r e a d • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

2 T b s p. B u t te r, s of te n e d 2 T b s p. C r e a m C h e e s e, s of te n e d 1 C. S u g a r 1 Eg g 2 C. A l l - Pu r p o s e Fl o u r 2 t s p. B a k i n g Powd e r ½ t s p. B a k i n g S o d a 1 ⁄ 8 t s p. S a l t 1 C. B a n a n a s (ove r r i p e), m a s h e d ½ C. W h o l e M i l k 2 T b s p. D a r k Ru m ½ t s p. L i m e Z e st 2 t s p. L i m e J u i c e 1 t s p. Va n i l l a E x t r ac t ¼ C. To a ste d Pe c a n s , c h o p p e d ¼ C. C o c o n u t Fl a ke s Fo r T h e To p p i n g

• • • • • •

¼ C. B r ow n S u g a r 2 T b s p. B u t te r 2 t s p. L i m e J u i c e 2 t s p. D a r k Ru m 2 T b s p. To a ste d Pe c a n s , chopped 2 T b s p. C o c o n u t Fl a ke s

6.

A d d t h e to a ste d p e c a n s a n d c o c o n u t f l a ke s , j u st g e nt l y m i x .

7. Po u r t h e b at te r i nto t h e g r e a s e d l o a f p a n. B a ke f o r 1 h o u r, o r u nt i l a 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. C o o l b r e a d i n t h e p a n f o r a b o u t 10 to 15 m i n u te s t h e n t r a n s fe r i t to a s e r v i n g p l ate.

8. W h i l e t h e b r e a d i s c o o l i n g, b e g i n p r e p a r i n g t h e to p p i n g. C o m b i n e t h e b r ow n s u g a r, b u t te r, l i m e j u i c e, a n d r u m i nto a s m a l l s au c e p a n ove r m e d i u m - h i g h h e at . S t i r c o n st a nt l y f o r 1 m i n u te, o r u nt i l t h e s u g a r h a s d i s s o l ve d, a n d t h e m i x t u r e i s s m o ot h. Re m ove f r o m h e at a n d a d d p e c a n s a n d c o c o n u t f l a ke s.

9. S p o o n t h e to p p i n g ove r t h e b r e a d w h i l e i t i s st i l l wa r m.

10. Let t h e b r e a d c o o l c o m p l ete l y b ef o r e s e r v i n g. Enj oy !

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

2.

3.

4.

5.

Pr e h e at t h e ove n to 3 5 0 ° F. L i g ht l y g r e a s e 8× 4 - i n c h l o af p a n w i t h c o o k i n g s p r ay (o r b u t te r).

B e at to g et h e r 2 t a b l e s p o o n s of b u t te r a n d c r e a m c h e e s e at m e di u m s p e e d u nt i l l i g ht a n d f l u f f y. G r a d u a l l y b e at i n t h e s u g a r u nt i l we l l - c o m b i n e d. B e at i n t h e e g g.

I n a s e p a r ate b ow l, s i f t to g et h e r t h e f l o u r, b a k i n g p owd e r, b a k i n g s o d a, a n d s a l t . S et a s i d e.

I n a n ot h e r s e p a r ate b ow l, st i r t h e b a n a n a s , m i l k , r u m, l i m e ze st , l i m e j u i c e, a n d va n i l l a ex t r ac t u nt i l c o m b i n e d.

A d d a t h i r d of t h e d r y i n g r e di e nt s i nto t h e c r e a m c h e e s e m i x t u r e f o l l owe d by a t h i r d of t h e b a n a n a m i x t u r e. Re p e at t h e s a m e p r o c e s s t wo m o r e t i m e s .

P h o t o c r e d i t : w w w.f r o mva l e r i e s k i t c h e n .c o m

G Goott Ru Rum m?? FFeebbru ruaary ry 22002266 -- 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 ? Febru a ry 2026 - 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 ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 1 5

Got R um ? Febru a ry 2026 - 1 6

TH E RUM

M i xo l o g i s t This M onth’s C oc k t ail: Por Mi A mante

The strawberr y-infused rum is a at the hear t of this romantic cocktail created by bar tender Will Thompson.

Ingredients: • 1 3/4 ounces strawberr y-infused Rhum Barbancour t • 3/4 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed • 1/2 ounce strawberr y demerara syrup* • 2 dashes tabasco Directions: 1. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.

2. Strain into a cocktail glass. *Strawberr y demerara syrup 1. Add 8 ounces demarara sugar and 8 ounces of water to a saucepan over low heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved.

2. Add 1 cup of finely chopped strawberries. Bring to a low boil, then allow to cool completely.

3. Strain out the solids. Will keep, refrigerated in an air tight container, for up to 1 month.

G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 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 ? Febru a ry 2026 - 1 8

Romantic Cocktails: Craft Cocktail Recipes for Couples, Crushes, and Star-Crossed Lovers

by Clair McLafferty ( P u b l i s h e r ’s Rev i ew)

Ro m a nt i c C o c k t ai l s i s a b ew i tc hi n g c o ll e c t i o n of ove r 10 0 c l as s i c a n d c r af t c o c k t ai l r e c i p e s, p e r fe c t f o r w i nni n g h e a r t s — a n d m e n di n g b r o ke n o n e s, to o!

I ns i d e t h e p lus h r e d f o i l c ove r of Ro m a nt i c C o c k t ai l s, yo u w i ll f i n d t h e s e c r et to m i x i n g up m o r e t h a n 10 0 c o c k t ai l s f o r c o up l e s, c r us h e s, a n d st a r- c r o s s e d l ove r s. S i m p l e ste p - by - ste p i nst r u c t i o ns a n d g o r g e o us f ull - c o l o r p h oto g r a p h s m ake eve r y dr i nk r e c i p e e asy a n d t r uly swo o n - wo r t hy.

T h e dr i nks a r e as f un a n d c h a r m i n g as t h ey a r e i ntox i c at i n g, w i t h n a m e s i n c lu di n g: •

T h e A f te r n o o n D e li g ht - a li t t l e swe et , a li t t l e n au g ht y

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B o oz y M i lks h ake f o r Two - t wo st r aw s p l e as e

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B et we e n t h e S h e et s - a r o m a nt i c va r i at i o n o n t h e c l as s i c S i d e c a r c o c k t ai l

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T h e Ve s p e r M a r t i ni sy n o ny m o us w i t h s o p hi st i c at i o n

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T h e G o o dni g ht K i s s - t h e p e r fe c t ni g htc a p f o r a ni g ht yo u d o n’ t wa nt to e n d

Aut h o r a n d ba r te n d e r C l ai r M c L af fe r t y of fe r s i ns i d e r t i p s a n d t r i c ks f o r eve r y t hi n g f r o m s izi n g up r e c i p e s f o r a p a r t y to f i x i n g a dr i nk t h at di dn’ t t ur n o ut qui te r i g ht . T h r o u g h o ut t h e b o o k , yo u w i ll f i n d dr i nk- r e l ate d r o m a nt i c qu ot at i o ns a n d to ast s f r o m t h e like s of S h ake s p e a r e, Lo ui s a M ay A l c ot t , a n d J a m e s B a l d w i n.

W h et h e r yo u a r e l o o k i n g f o r a r o m a nt i c g i f t o r a r e li a b ly exc e ll e nt c o c k t ai l b o o k f o r yo ur h o m e ba r, Ro m a nt i c C o c k t ai l s w i ll k n o c k yo ur s o c ks of f !

Pub li s h e r : Ci d e r M i ll Pr e s s Pub li c at i o n date: J a nu a r y 28 , 2 019 L a n g u a g e: En g li s h Pr i nt l e n g t h: 2 24 p a g e s IS B N -10 : 1732512 612 IS B N -13: 978 -1732512 610 I te m We i g ht : 2 . 31 p o un ds D i m e ns i o ns: 1 x 1 x 1 i n c h e s

G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 1 9

Got Got R Rum um?? Fe Febru b ruary a ry 22026 0 2 6 -- 20 20

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G Goott Ru Rum m?? FFeebbrru u aarry y 2026 - 21

TH E R U M HISTO R I A N

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. 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 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.

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 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 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 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 ”.

Got Rum R um ? Febru a ry 2026 - 2 2

HISTORY O F C U B A N RUM 30.

T HE FIRST C U B A N REVOLU TION A ND H AVA N A C LU B A s has hap p e n e d s eve r al t im e s in t hi s l o n g s e r i e s of ar t i c l e s d e di c ate d to t h e H i sto r y of Cuban Rum, t h e t im e has c o m e to d evote s o m e spac e to B i g H i sto r y. T hi s t im e, we d o s o w it h t h e h e lp of a c las s i c wo r k of Cuba n hi sto r i o g r ap hy, H u g h T h o m as “C u ba . A H is to r y ” 1971. “ I n e ar ly Au g ust 19 3 3 Cuba p r e s e nte d a d e s o late an d di s c o nc e r t in g p i c t ur e; t h e r e we r e s e r i o us st r ike s in all s e r v i c e s e c t i o ns of H ava n a, w it h t h e r ai l way wo r ke r s o ut f o r t h e f ir st t i m e.

N ew spap e r s we r e al s o shut t in g d ow n. T h e ba r s an d t h e c afè s we r e c l o s e d f o r t h e f ir st t im e in hi sto r y. Fo o d was s c ar c e. M o st sh o p s we r e shut , an d t h e r e we r e few p e o p l e o n t h e st r e et s.

Eve r yo n e was ask in g w h e n t h e A m e r i c an m ar in e s wo ul d lan d.”

T h e m ar in e s di d n ot lan d an d f inally, in t h e ni g ht of 12-13 Au g ust t h e di c t ato r, G e r ar d o M ac had o, f l ew to N as s au, w it h s eve n bag s of g o l d. T h e r e f o ll owe d a ye ar of d e m o nst r at i o ns, v i o l e nt c lash e s, o c c upat i o ns of f ac to r i e s a n d p lant at i o ns, t h e f o r m at i o n of s ov i et s, st u d e nt

m o b i liz at i o n, p o p ul ar r eve n g e ag ai nst M ac h ad o’s h ate d p o li c e, t h e c o l l ap s e of p ub li c o r d e r, l o ot i n g an d v i o l e nc e.

S hi f t i n g p o li t i c al al li anc e s an d s h o r t- li ve d g ove r nm e nt s we r e f o r m e d, t h e n, i n 19 3 4, a s o r t of c o unte r- r evo lut i o n b r o u g ht bac k st a b i li t y a n d d e m o c r ac y (we l l, m o r e o r l e s s), b ut un d e r t h e s had ow of t h e n ew st r o n g m a n, fo r m e r s e r g e ant Ful g e nc i o B at i st a. I t was t h e f i r st Cuban r evo lut i o n, a lm o st fo r g ot te n to day, yet a wate r s h e d in t h e hi sto r y of t h e i s l an d. B ef o r e i t , t h e r e h ad b e e n t hr e e d e c ad e s of p o li t i c al li fe d o mi n ate d by t h e p r ot ag o ni st s of t h e Wa r of I n d e p e n d e nc e, m ar ke d by p o lit i c al inst a b i li t y, l ow - i nte ns i t y c i v i l war s, an d r e p e ate d U.S. m i li t ar y i nte r ve nt i o ns.

A f te r i t , a n ew p has e b e g an, w i t h a g e n e r at i o n a l s hi f t an d n ew p o li t i c al ac to r s, a n d a r e l at i ve st ab i li t y ; h oweve r, un d e r t h e sur f ac e t h e s am e o l d p r o b l e m s c o nt i nu e d to s i m m e r an d a n ew g e n e r at i o n of p o li t i c a l ac t i v i st s e m e r g e d, o n e t h at w i l l l e ad to t h e r evo lut i o n of 19 5 9. “ T h e Revo lut i o n of 19 5 9 f o ll owe d i n t h e wake of t h at of 19 3 3 as t h e Se c o n d Wo r l d War fo ll owe d t h e Fi r st , o r t h e r evo lut i o n i n Rus s i a i n 1917 f o l l owe d t hat i n 19 0 5 . T h e mi d dl e c l as s of Cuba r e c e i ve d a war nin g, to w hi c h t h ey pai d li t t l e at te nt i o n.

A f te r wa r ds, i t was muc h l e s s e asy to ex p e c t t h e i r r adi c al s o ns to p l ac e f ai t h in lib e r a l s o lut i o ns”.

T h e 19 3 3 Revo lut i o n di d li t t l e to r e s h ap e t h e st r u c tur e of Cuba’s e c o n o my t hat c ar r i e d o n “ I m p o r t i n g n e ar ly eve r y t hi n g it c o nsum e s, a n d ex p o r t i n g n e ar ly eve r y t hi n g i t p r o duc e s” as a s har p o b s e r ve r h ad alr e ady p o i nte d o ut bac k in 1919. T h e i s l a n d r e m ai n e d anc h o r e d to it s o l d p at te r n, i t s f ate st i l l t i e d to su g ar an d w i t h i t Cuba’s st r uc t ur al f r agi li t y r e m ai n e d, a c o unt r y p e r p et ual ly swe pt al o n g by s hi f t s i n g l o bal d e m an d i t had n o p owe r to i nf lu e nc e. Yet , unlike i n e ar li e r t im e s, g ove r nm e nt s n ow b e g an t r y i n g to ste ady t h e s hi p. T h ey s o u g ht i nte r nat i o nal ag r e e m e nt s to b r i n g ab o ut a m e asur e of o r d e r to t h e m ar ket an d — muc h as was ha p p e ni n g ac r o s s t h e We ste r n wo r l d in t h o s e s a m e ye ar s — st ar te d pas s i n g law s a n d r e g ul at i o ns m e ant to i m p r ove wo r ke r s’ li ve s: t h e e i g ht h o ur wo r kday, t h e

l e g aliz at i o n of lab o r uni o ns, t a x r ef o r m s, an d m o r e.

T h e ot h e r m aj o r c han g e was t h e e n d of im mi g r at i o n. A s we k n ow, s inc e t h e b e ginnin g of t h e 18 0 0 s Cuba had b e e n a m ag n et f o r im mi g r ant wo r ke r s f r o m S p ai n an d m any ot h e r c o unt r i e s. In t h e 19 3 0 s, Cuban aut h o r it i e s e nac te d a s e r i e s of law s an d admini st r at i ve m e asur e s t hat shar p ly c ur t ai l e d f o r e i g n e nt r y, c l o s in g t h e d o o r s to n ew lab o r mi g r at i o n an d i n 19 3 9 l ’i s o la had 4. 25 0.0 0 0 inhab it ant s.

A n d p e r hap s it was o nly t h e n (t h o u g h I k n ow I am ve nt ur in g o nto a min ef i e l d h e r e) t hat a shar e d nat i o nal i d e nt it y to o k shap e, I b e li eve f o r t h e f ir st t im e. (O n t hi s p e r i o d an d t h e s e t h e m e s r e c o m m e n d r e adin g Le o nar d o Padur a’s exc e ll e nt b o o k “H er et ic s ” ) I n t h o s e s am e v i o l e nt an d c haot i c ye a r s, t h e Cuban r um in dust r y c o nt inu e d to g r ow, an d it was a ste ady, last in g g r ow t h.

A n d p e r hap s A r e c habala g r ew m o r e t h a n any ot h e r c o m pany, by di ve r s i f y in g it s ac t i v it i e s an d inve st in g in m any di f fe r e nt s e c to r s: su g ar r ef inin g, sto r ag e of su g a r an d m o las s e s al s o f o r ot h e r c o m pani e s, t r ansp o r t at i o n, im p o r t an d ex p o r t of var i o us g o o ds, di st i llat i o n, c o nfe c t i o n e r y p r o duc t s, b ot t lin g, an d m o r e. Let us r e m e m b e r t hat s inc e 19 21 t h e c o m pany had b e c o m e a c o r p o r at i o n un d e r t h e nam e of JAS A , t hat i s, J o s é A r e c habal a S o c i e dad A n o nim a. JA S A g r ew in an ex t r ao r dinar y way, g o in g f r o m 5 0 0 wo r ke r s in 19 28 to 9 0 0 in 19 32 an d 1. 2 0 0 in 19 3 5, b e c o min g o n e of t h e lar g e st c o m pani e s in C ár d e nas an d inc r e as in g ly i d e nt i f y in g it s e l f w it h t h e hi sto r y an d i d e nt it y of t h e c it y.

A n d in t h o s e s am e ye ar s, t h e c o m pany launc h e d a n ew r um lab e l, H avana C lub. “ I n 19 3 4, t h e c o m pany r e l e as e d it s H avana C lub lab e l, w hi c h was par t of a lar g e r g r ow t h st r ate g y to ex pan d into t h e U.S. m ar ket . L aunc h e d just af te r t h e r e p e al of U.S. Pr o hib it i o n, t h e H avana C lub lab e l was d e s i g n e d to m e et a g r ow in g d e m an d f o r Cuban r um. A s par t of it s st r ate g y, t h e c o m pany ’s Ro n A ñ ej o A r e c habala 75 wo ul d b e d e s i g n ate d Cuba’s d o m e st i c b r an d, w hi l e H avana

G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 2 3

C lub wo ul d r e p r e s e nt t h e c o m pany in t h e U.S. m ar ket s. To f ac i li t ate i t s s al e i n t h e U ni te d S t ate s, i t s l ab e l fe atur e d a n En g li s h r at h e r t han S pani s h s p e llin g (H ava n a r at h e r t han L a H abana).

(C h r i sto p h e r C hávez “I s l e o f R u m ” 2 0 24) T hi s i s h ow i t was r e c o unte d t we nt y ye ar s l ate r i n t h e b o o k “J o s é A r ec haba la S . A . en s u 75 a n i ver s ar i o, 1878 -19 5 3 ” p ub li s h e d by t h e c o m pany f o r t h e 75t h anni ve r s ar y of i t s fo un dat i o n “ O n M a r c h 19, 19 3 4, af te r m et i c ul o us p r e p a r at i o ns an d st u di e s of m ar ket p o s s i b i li t i e s, a n ew i n dust r y was i n au g ur ate d: T h e Li qu o r Fac to r y, w hi c h was s o l e m nly b l e s s e d. A n d t hr o u g h o ut t h e e nt i r e Re p ub li c a n ew p r o duc t of sup r e m e quali t y ap p e ar e d: H AVA N A C LU B A REC H A B A L A RUM . T hi s ac t i v it y n ow a l s o i nc lu d e s c o r di al s, c o g nac , an d ‘A l c o h o l - Eli te’— a f o r m i dab l e r e s o ur c e f o r t h e h o m e, c li ni c s, etc ., du e to i t s nat ur e as p ur e a l c o h o l — as we l l as ot h e r p r o duc t li n e s.”

H e r e i s h ow t h e b i r t h of t h e n ew l ab e l i s r e c o nst r uc te d i n t h e af o r e m e nt i o n e d b o o k by M ar ía V i c to r i a A r e c habal a Fe r n á n d ez an d A nto ni o S ant am ar ía C a r cía “A r e c habal a A zúc a y Ro n” 2 0 2 3 .

T h e t r a ns l at i o n i s m i n e, an d, as a l ways, I as k t h e Aut h o r s an d t h e r e ad e r s f o r t h e ir i n dul g e n c e.

“A s w i l l b e ex p l ai n e d l ate r, b e gi nnin g in 19 3 3 JAS A e qui p p e d i t s e l f w i t h m ac hin e r y c a p a b l e of di st i l li n g 4 m i l li o n li te r s a ye a r a n d ad d e d a n ew m o l as s e s p lant .

I t st r e n g t h e n e d i t s m ar ket i n g, b e g an s e l li n g H avana C lub r um an d ot h e r s p i r i t s, i n c r e as e d i t s f u e l p r o duc t i o n, an d o p e n e d a n of f i c e i n N ew Yo r k . …I n 19 3 4, i t a l s o o p e n e d a li qu o r f ac to r y, f o ll ow in g t h r o u g h o n a p r oj e c t dat i n g bac k to t h e 19 2 0 s t h at ai m e d to c r e ate n ew r um b r a n ds. S o m e s o ur c e s c l ai m t hat as e ar ly as 19 28 t h e c o m pany had alr e ady b e e n a g i n g t h e s p i r i t — s o m et hi n g e s s e nt i al fo r l ate r c o m m e r c i aliz at i o n, s i nc e r um r e qui r e s t i m e to m at ur e. …I t s ex p o r t s we nt m ai n ly to t h e Uni te d S t ate s, w h e r e t h ey we r e we l l r e c e i ve d. S o m e of t h e e a r li e st s hi p m e nt s, l ab e l e d H avana C lub a n d D o ub l o o n Rum, we r e s e nt i n c asks

Got R um ? Febru a ry 2026 - 2 4

o n an ex p e r im e nt al bas i s. By t h e t i m e t h e p lant was inau g ur ate d, s eve r al t h o u s a n d c as e s of b ot h b r an ds had alr e ady b e e n ship p e d to N ew Yo r k an d ot h e r A m e r i c a n c it i e s. …O n A p r i l 10, 19 3 5, t h e c o m p a ny b e c am e t h e h o l d e r of t r ad e m ar k num b e r 9 9,78 9, a wo r d m ar k un d e r t h e nam e H avana C lub, f o r w hi c h it had ap p li e d to S pain’s I n dust r i al Pr o p e r t y Re gi st r y a n d t h e G e n e r al Tr ad e m ar k Re gi st r y in J uly an d D e c e m b e r of 19 3 4, c ove r in g di st i l l e d p r o duc t s, sp ir it s, an d li qu e ur s.”

T h e c h o i c e of t imin g was n o ac c i d e nt: “ Pr o hib it i o n was ab o li sh e d o n D e c e m b e r 5, 19 3 3 , an d t h e 19 3 4 Re c ip r o c it y Tr e at y all owe d Cuban r um to e nte r t h e U nite d S t ate s. It ’s n o c o inc i d e nc e t h at JA S A t h e n d e c i d e d to o p e n it s li qu o r f ac to r y, an d t hat in it s e ar ly days i t s d e m an d d e p e n d e d lar g e ly o n t hat of t h e n e i g hb o r in g c o unt r y.”

I n ad dit i o n to p r o duc t i o n, JA S A im m e di ate ly d evote d s i g ni f i c ant r e s o ur c e s to t h e p r o m ot i o n of t h e n ew lab e l. “ M ar ket in g st r ate gi e s we r e c o m m o n at JA S A f r o m t h e 19 3 0 s o nwar d, e sp e c i a l ly in t h e p r o m ot i o n of n ew p r o duc t s. I n M ay 19 3 5, t h e c o m pany l e as e d t h e f o r m e r Palac e of t h e C o unt s of C as a B ayo n a, l o c ate d in t h e Pla z a d e la C ate dr a l i n O l d H avana, in o r d e r to e st ab li sh of f i c e s t h e r e, al o n g w it h t h e H avana C lub Pr i vate B ar. T h e bar was inte n d e d to int r o du c e t h e c o m pany ’s b eve r ag e s to p r o mi n e nt f i g ur e s in t h e c it y as we ll as to v i s i to r s f r o m ot h e r par t s of Cuba an d ab r o ad.

Fr o m t h e m o m e nt it o p e n e d, num e r o us s o c i et i e s, c o m pani e s, an d as s o c i at i o ns us e d t h e ve nu e f o r t h e ir eve nt s.

Pr ac t i c ally all f o r e i g n v i s ito r s pas s i n g t hr o u g h t h e i s lan d ’s c ap it al b et we e n 19 3 5 an d 19 5 8 — e sp e c i ally A m e r i c ans — sp e nt t im e at t h e e st ab li shm e nt , an d t h e l o c a l, nat i o nal, an d inte r nat i o nal p r e s s to o k n ote of it . T hi s c ove r ag e h e lp e d p ub li c ize t h e b r an ds of t h e C ár d e nas bas e d c o m pany, par t i c ular ly it s f lag ship r um.”

T h e A r e c habala f ami ly ’s lav i sh di sp l ay m ad e c l e ar t h e ir r i s in g s e l f as sur an c e an d t h e ir r ef us al to b e int imi date d by t h e B ac ar di s t hat ye ar s e ar li e r had hi r e d ar c hite c t s Este ban Ro dr íg u ez C aste ll s

an d R af ae l Fe r nán d ez Ru e n e s to c r e ate a n A r t D e c o h e ad quar te r s i n c e nt r al H ava n a — t h e i m p r e s s i ve Edi f i c i o B ac ar di, w hi c h i n 19 3 0 sto o d as t h e t al l e st st r u c tur e i n t h e c i t y. S o, f o r d e c ad e s, b ot h r um dy n ast i e s t hr i ve d s i d e by s i d e, ex p a n di n g t h e i r o p e r at i o ns an d ef fe c t i ve ly sha r i n g a du o p o ly of Cuban r um.

T h e p r o m ot i o n al c am pai g n f o r H avana C lub di d n ot sto p t h e r e. T h e m o st im p o r t a nt Cuban n ew s pap e r of t h e t i m e, t h e D ia r i o d e la M ar i na, r an num e r o us p h oto fe atur e s o n H avana C lub an d ot h e r p r o du c t s of t h e c o m pany, w hi c h sp o ns o r e d a l s o m any s p o r t i n g eve nt s, a r adi o st at i o n, an d t h e r e c e nt ly fo un d e d, b ut alr e ady r e n ow n e d, C lu b d e C a nti ner o s. Fo r i t s p r o m ot i o nal c am p ai g n of 19 3 5 a n d 19 3 6 JAS A r e nte d a t y p i c al wo o d e n h o u s e i n Var ad e r o, alr e ady a p r e st i g i o u s to ur i st d e st i nat i o n at t h e t im e, c a l l e d C ot t a g e H avana C lub.

L ast b ut n ot l e ast , d e m o nst r at i n g a m aste r y of t h e m o st advanc e d m ar ket in g st r ate g i e s, “ S t ar t i n g i n J anuar y 19 3 5, D ia r i o d e la M ar i na an d ot h e r n ew s p ap e r s a n d m a g a zi n e s p ub li s h e d adve r t i s e m e nt s fo r J as a’s f l a g s hi p b eve r ag e. T h ey al s o p r i nte d t h e r e c i p e f o r a c o c k t ai l c al l e d t h e H ava na C lu b Es p ec ia l, w hi c h b e c am e ve r y p o p ul a r i n Cuba. T h e r e c i p e — of te n p r e p a r e d by a we ll k n ow n bar te n d e r f r o m t h e A r e c h a bal a bar nam e d A nto ni o — c o nt ai ns a te as p o o n of su g ar, a s m all g las s of H ava na C lub, l e m o n j ui c e, t h r e e c h e r r i e s i n sy r up, an d f i n e ly c r us h e d i c e.

T h e i n g r e di e nt s we r e s hake n to g et h e r an d t h e mi x tur e st r ai n e d t hr o u g h a f i n e s i eve. … J as a al s o awar d e d p r ize s i n a N at i o n a l C o c k t ai l C o m p et i t i o n, t h e f i r st of it s k i n d h e l d i n Cuba, w hi c h to o k p l ac e in t h e c a p i t a l. T h e eve nt was o r g anize d by t h e B a r te n d e r s’ C lub an d was r e p o r te d in t h e p a g e s of t h e m ai n l o c al an d nat i o nal n ew s p a p e r s.”

O n ly l ate r, by t h e e ar ly 19 4 0 s, di d A r e c h a ba l a exe c ut i ve s c han g e t h e i r ap p r o ac h i n t h e U.S. an d r at h e r t han p r o m ot i n g H avana C lub as a r um m e ant fo r c o c k t ai l s, t h ey b e g an m ar ket i n g i t as a r ef i n e d s p i r i t m e ant to b e e nj oye d o n it s ow n.

I n e s s e nc e, t h e A r e c habala f ir m p ur su e d a pat h f o c us e d o n bui l din g up it s t an g i b l e as s et s an d st r e n gt h e nin g it s di st r ibut i o n n et wo r k . Fo r a p e r i o d, t hi s ap p r o ac h p r ove d ef fe c t i ve. L it t l e by lit t l e, H avana C lub g ain e d r e c o g nit i o n ac r o s s t h e U nite d S t ate s an d Eur o p e, w hi l e in t h e c it y of C ár d e nas, t h e f ami ly ’s inf lu e nc e b e c am e d e e p ly r o ote d. By t h e t im e t h e bus in e s s r e ac h e d it s s eve nt y f i f t h ye ar, t h e A r e c habala f ami ly had e st ab li sh e d t h e m s e l ve s as c e nt r al f i g ur e s in shap i n g Cuba’s p owe r f ul r um in dust r y.

B ac ar di, o n t h e ot h e r han d, f o ll owe d a ve r y di f fe r e nt pat h: it di ve r s i f i e d ve r y lit t l e, f o c us e d p r im ar i ly o n r um an d b e g an a p r o c e s s of inte r nat i o nalizin g i t s p r o duc t i o n, f ir st in B ar c e l o na, t h e n in Pu e r to R i c o an d M ex i c o. We w i ll g et bac k to t hi s.

A ny way, H avana C lub s o o n e st ab li sh e d it s e l f as o n e of t h e m ar ket l e ad e r s in Cuban r um s, w hi l e t h e g r ow t h of B ac ar di an d A r e c habala was a r e al sto r m f o r t h e sm all e r Cuban Rum C o m pani e s. B ot h c o m pani e s c o nt inu e to p r o sp e r an d ex pan d, in a v ir t ual du o p o ly o n Cuban r um ex p o r t s to t h e US up unt i l t h e Revo lut i o n in 19 5 9.

A s a m at te r of f ac t , w h e n in 19 5 0 a Wo r l d B ank te am v i s ite d t h e i s lan d, “ Rum p r o duc t i o n in g e n e r al was a b r i g ht sp ot in t h e Cuban e c o n o my. D o n Fac un d o a n d hi s suc c e s s o r s had n ot b e e n t h e o nly bus in e s sm e n to r e c o g nize t h e g o o d s e ns of bui l din g an Ente r p r i s e ar o un d a r aw m ate r i al Cuba p o s s e s s e d in abun danc e, m o las s e s, ad din g valu e t hr o u g h t h e ap p li c at i o n of te c hn o l o g y an d sk i ll e d lab o r. W hi l e t h e Wo r l d B ank te am had har sh c r it i c i sm f o r t h e m anag e m e nt of m o st Cuban in dust r i e s, t h e i s lan d ’s r um c o m pani e s we r e a n ot ab l e exc e pt i o n.

‘A f te r d et ai l e d inve st i g at i o n’ t h e te am r e p o r te d, ‘ t h e M i s s i o n i s hap py to r e p o r t t hat it c an su g g e st n o im p r ove m e nt in p r o duc t i o n of Cuban r um.’ ” ( To m G j e lte n “B ac ar d i and the l o ng Fi g ht fo r C u ba ” ) M ar c o Pi e r ini

G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 2 5

Got Got Rum R um?? Febru Februaary ry 2026 2026 -- 226 6

The Ru m L ab orator y Presented by

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 ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 2 7

The Rum Universit y ® Laborator y Presents

making your own

Coconut Palm Wine (Tuba) I n g r e di e nt s • • • • • • • •

1 lb dr i e d c o c o nut 1 lb r i c e 1 lb p i t te d date s 1- 3 /4 lb s g r a nul ate d su g a r 1-1/4 t s p ac i d b l e n d 1 t s p ye ast nut r i e nt 1 g a ll o n wate r S aute r n e w i n e ye ast

D i r e c t i o ns B r i n g 1 qu a r t wate r to b o i l a n d ad d r i c e; b o i l f o r 3 m i nute s. M e a nw hi l e, c h o p t h e date s a n d m i x t h e m w i t h t h e c o c o nut i n a b o i l e r. S t r ai n t h e r i c e, ad di n g t h e wate r f r o m i t to t h e b o i l e r c o nt ai ni n g t h e c o c o nut a n d c h o p p e d date s. B r i n g to a b o i l a n d h o l d f o r 15 m i nute s.

S t r ai n t h e wate r ove r t h e su g a r, ye ast nut r i e nt s a n d ac i d b l e n d a n d st i r unt i l di s s o l ve d c o m p l ete ly.

A ll ow to c o o l to r o o m te m p e r at ur e, t r a ns fe r to p r i m a r y a n d ad d ac t i vate d ye ast . C ove r a n d fe r m e nt unt i l i ni t i a lly

Got Rum R um ? Febru a ry 2026 - 2 8

v i g o r o us fe r m e nt at i o n sub s i d e s, t h e n t r a ns fe r to s e c o n da r y a n d at t ac h a n ai r l o c k . A f te r 3 m o nt hs, r ac k i nto c l e a n s e c o n da r y w i t h c r us h e d a n d di s s o l ve d C a m p d e n t a b l et , to p up a n d r ef i t ai r l o c k .

Wai t 3 ad di t i o n a l m o nt hs a n d r ac k , to p up a n d r ef i t ai r l o c k a g ai n. A f te r ad di t i o n a l m o nt h, st a b i lize, swe ete n i f d e s i r e d a n d r ac k i nto b ot t l e s.

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C o c o nut W i n e i s c o m m o n i n va r i o us p a r t s of A s i a a n d A f r i c a, w h e r e i t i s k n ow n by l o c a l n a m e s, i n c lu di n g emu a n d o g u r o i n N i g e r i a, ns a m ba i n t h e D e m o c r at i c Re p ub li c of t h e C o n g o, ns af u f u o i n G h a n a, ka l l u i n S o ut h I n di a, tuak i n N o r t h S um at r a, I n d o n e s i a, m nazi i n M i jike n da, Ke nya, g o r i b o n o r R u ng us i n S a ba h, B o r n e o, a n d tu ba i n t h e Phi li p p i n e s.

I n t h e Phi li p p i n e s, i f yo u di st i ll t h e c o c o nut w i n e, t h e r e sult i n g s p i r i t i s c a ll e d L a m ba n o g a n d i t h as b e e n d e s c i b e d as h av i n g a t aste s o m ew h e r e b et we e n w hi s k y a n d r um.

S o u r c e: w i n e m a k i n g . j a c k ke l l e r. n e t , a d a p t e d f r o m o r i g i n a l r e c i p e by C . J . J . B e r r y.

G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 2 9

R u m i n t h e n ew s

by M ike Kun et ka

PL A NT E R AY

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 ? Febru a ry 2026 - 3 0

P l a nt e r ay Ru m i nt r o d u c e d P l a nt e r ay H o g o M o n s t a , a bold high- ester rum, rich in the naturally occurring aromatic compounds formed during f e r m e nt a t i o n, d e l i ve r i n g a n u n m i s t a k a b l y i nte n s e c h a r a c te r b u r s t i n g w i t h f u n k y, f r u i t y, a n d s p i c y n o te s . C r a f t e d a t t h e l e g e n d a r y S t a d e’s We s t I n d i e s Ru m D i s t i l l e r y i n B a r b a d o s , t h i s i s n o t j u s t a r u m; i t i s a s e n s o r y u p r i s i n g . C r e a te d f o r b a r te n d e r s , r u m d evo te e s , a n d b o l d s p i r i t s e nt h u s i a s t s , H o g o Monsta stands as the most unbridled release i n P l a nte r ay ’s h i s t o r y a n d a v i v i d t r i b u te t o t h e c e nt u r i e s - o l d r u m - m a k i n g t r a d i t i o n s t h a t g ave i t l i f e. Fo u n d e d i n 18 9 3 , S t a d e’s We s t I n d i e s Ru m D i s t i l l e r y h a s l o n g b e e n a c r a d l e o f a u t h e nt i c i t y a n d i n n ova t i o n i n B a r b a d i a n r u m - m a k i n g . Eve r y c o r n e r o f t h e s i te b r e a t h e s h i s t o r y, f r o m o p e n - a i r f e r m e nt a t i o n va t s t o c e nt u r y - o l d c o p p e r s t i l l s a n d t h e D i s t i l l e r ’s Va u l t , h o m e t o a r c h i ve s s p a n n i n g g e n e r a t i o n s . A n d yet , b e n e a t h t h a t l e g a c y r u n s a q u i et l y r e b e l l i o u s e d g e. “A t S t a d e’s Ru m D i s t i l l e r y, r u m h a s a l way s b e e n b o t h t r a d i t i o n a n d ex p e r i m e nt a t i o n,” s ay s A l ex a n d r e G a b r i e l, O w n e r a n d M a s te r B l e n d e r o f P l a nt e r ay Ru m . “ Fo r ye a r s , t h i s s t y l e o f h i g h - e s t e r r u m l i ve d i n t h e s h a d o w s ,

u s e d d i s c r e et l y by b l e n d e r s t o a d d p o we r a n d d e pt h t o a f i n a l m i x . We a l way s d r e a m e d o f b o t t l i n g i t a s - i s , r aw a n d u n a p o l o g et i c . H o g o M o n s t a i s t h a t d r e a m u n l e a s h e d.” T h i s i s n o t m e r e l y “ h i g h - e s te r ” by c o nve nt i o n a l s t a n d a r d s .

H o g o M o n s t a d e l i ve r s a n ex t r a o r d i n a r y 2 , 0 2 9 g r a m s p e r h e c t o l i te r o f a r o m a t i c c o m p o u n d s , b o t t l e d a t 5 6 . 6 % A BV. M et i c u l o u s l y d i s t i l l e d by t h e P l a nte r ay a n d S t a d e’s t e a m s , i t i s t h e r e s u l t o f ex t e n d e d f e r m e nt a t i o n, p r e c i s e d i s t i l l a t i o n c u t s , a n d a d e l i b e r a te l y b o l d v i s i o n. I n j u s t a f ew m e a s u r e d d r o p s , i t e r u pt s w i t h ove r r i p e b a n a n a , p i n e a p p l e, a n d m a n g o, l aye r e d w i t h va r n i s h, b r i n e, s p i c e, a n d a n u n m i s t a k a b l e t r o p i c a l f u n k .

T h e m o u t h f e e l i s d e n s e a n d o i l y, c a r r y i n g a l o n g , u n r e s t r a i n e d f i n i s h. T h e s e a r o m a s a n d f l avo r s a r e w h a t t o d ay ’s r u m c o n n o i s s e u r s o f te n c a l l “ r u m f u n k ,” o r h o g o, a n A n g l i c i z a t i o n o f t h e Fr e n c h te r m h a u t g o û t ( “ h i g h t a s te” ), o n c e u s e d by r u m t r a d e r s t o d e s c r i b e s p i r i t s o f f o r m i d a b l e p u n g e n c y. H o g o M o n s t a wa s n eve r d e s i g n e d f o r c a s u a l d r i n k i n g . I t s p o t e n c y m a ke s i t u n s u i t a b l e f o r vo l u m e c o n s u m pt i o n o r u n m e a s u r e d p o u r s .

I n s t e a d, i t i s a p r o f e s s i o n a l t o o l, a c o n c e nt r a te d f l avo r c a t a l y s t c r e a te d f o r s k i l l e d h a n d s . J u s t a f ew d r o p s c a n t r a n s f o r m a M a i Ta i , e l eva te a b l e n d, o r u n l o c k n ew te r r i t o r y i n a D a i q u i r i. U s e d w i t h i nt e nt i o n, i t e l eva te s . A s A l ex a n d r e G a b r i e l p u t s i t : “ D o n’ t b u y t h i s u n l e s s yo u k n o w w h a t i t i s! ” ht t p s: //p l a nte r ay r u m .c o m / L A M A ISON & V E LI E R L a m a i s o n & Ve l i e r ’s F L AG SERIES i s a c u r a te d j o u r n ey t h r o u g h t h e w o r l d ’s m o s t r eve r e d r u m producing nations. Each release features an e m b l e m a t i c s i n g l e c a s k s e l e c t e d t o c a pt u r e t h e d i s t i n c t t e r r o i r a n d exc e l l e n c e o f i t s o r i g i n.

LM &V b e l i eve s i n a b s o l u te t r a n s p a r e n c y : t h e l a b e l s d et a i l eve r y s te p o f t h e s p i r i t ’s l i f e, f r o m d i s t i l l a t i o n a n d w o o d m a n a g e m e nt t o t h e f i n a l b o t t l e c o u nt . P r e s e nte d ‘a u n a t u r e l,’ t h e s e r u m s a r e b o t t l e d a t c a s k s t r e n g t h, u n c u t , u n f i l t e r e d, a n d e nt i r e l y f r e e o f a d d i t i ve s o r c o l o r i n g .

• FL AG S E R I E S B A R B A D OS 2 011 - Fo u n d e d i n 19 9 6 o n t h e s i t e o f a f o r m e r s u g a r r ef i n e r y, t h i s d i s t i l l e r y h a s b e e n h e av i l y awa r d e d by a l l r u m c o n c o u r s e s a n d c o n n o i s s e u r s .

T h ey p r o d u c e r u m s t h a t a r e d i s t i l l e d i n b o t h d o u b l e c o l u m n C o f f ey s t i l l a n d p o t s t i l l t h a t a r e b l e n d e d b ef o r e b e i n g t r a n s f e r r e d t o c a s k .

T h i s u n i q u e b o t t l i n g ex p r e s s e s b a l a n c e d n o te s f r o m 14 ye a r s o f l o n g d o u b l e a g i n g p r o c e s s e s: 8 ye a r s i n ex- b o u r b o n c a s k i n t h e c e l l a r i n t h e S o u t h o f B a r b a d o s a n d 6 ye a r s i n ex- b o u r b o n c a s k i n Eu r o p e’s c o nt i n e nt a l we a t h e r. A t c a s k s t r e n g t h, t h i s r u m i s a n e l e g a nt a n d r i c h l y tex t u r e d ex a m p l e o f i c o n i c B a r b a d i a n r u m p r o d u c e r. B o t t l e d a d d i t i ve f r e e a t c a s k s t r e n g t h o f 6 4. 6 % a bv.

• FL AG S E R I E S V I E TN A M 2 018 - T h i s r u m wa s p r o d u c e d i n V i et n a m u s i n g a l o c a l va r i et y o f c a n e, g r o w n a n d h a r ve s te d

by h a n d, i n t h e p r ov i n c e o f Q u a n g N a m .

Fo u n d e d i n 2 018 n e a r H o i A n, t h e d i s t i l l e r y h o n o r s Fr e n c h C a r i b b e a n r u m - m a k i n g traditions while embracing sustainable practices. The production process is m et i c u l o u s , f r o m t h e u s e o f e n d e m i c s u g a r c a n e w h i c h i s h a n d - h a r ve s te d f o r o pt i m a l j u i c e c o n c e nt r a t i o n, t o n a t u r a l f e r m e nt a t i o n, c o p p e r c o l u m n s t i l l d i s t i l l a t i o n and maturation in the tropical conditions o f V i et n a m . T h i s b o t t l i n g wa s d i s t i l l e d i n a copper Armagnac column still and aged for 6 t r o p i c a l ye a r s i n a n ex- C o g n a c c a s k . B o t t l e d a d d i t i ve - f r e e a t c a s k s t r e n g t h o f 5 5 . 5% a bv.

• FL AG S E R I E S GH A N A 2 0 2 0 - L o c a te d i n t h e A h a f o r e g i o n o f We s t e r n G h a n a , t h i s f a m i l y owned distiller y is renowned historically f o r t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f c a s h ew s a n d c a s h ew d i s t i l l a te. M o r e r e c e nt l y, t h ey h ave b e g u n f o c u s i n g o n t h e c u l t i va t i o n o f a l o c a l va r i et y of organic sugar cane and distilling using the fresh cane juice to produce rum. Af ter a f e r m e nt a t i o n o f t h r e e d ay s , d i s t i l l a t i o n h a p p e n s i n a 2 0 0 0 L p o t s t i l l. T h i s b o t t l i n g h a s b e e n a g e d f o r o n e ye a r i n G h a n a a n d t h r e e 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.

T h i s c a s k s t r e n g t h r u m r e p r e s e nt s o n e o f t h e m o s t i nte r e s t i n g A f r i c a n r u m d i s t i l l e r i e s o n t h e m a r ket : a r i s i n g s t a r. B o t t l e d a d d i t i ve f r e e a t c a s k s t r e n g t h o f 6 3 . 6 % a bv. ht t p s: // w w w. l mv u s a .c o m / A NGOST U R A A h e a d o f t h e C a r n i va l s e a s o n, A n g o s t u r a ® l a u n c h e d i t s l a te s t i n n ova t i o n, A n g o s t u r a ® C u b a t a , a p r e m i u m Re a d y t o D r i n k ( R T D) b o l d S p i c e d Ru m a n d C o l a b eve r a g e. C r a f te d f o r t o d ay ’s c o n s u m e r s , A n g o s t u r a ® C u b a t a b l e n d s A n g o s t u r a ® Ta m b o o S p i c e d Ru m w i t h c r i s p c o l a t o d e l i ve r a v i b r a nt , f l avo r- f o r wa r d ex p e r i e n c e t h a t c e l e b r a te s C a r i b b e a n c h a r a c te r w i t h a c o nte m p o r a r y e d g e. I t i s t h e l a te s t a d d i t i o n t o t h e i r p r o d u c t l i n e u p o f R T D b eve r a g e s w h i c h i n c l u d e 42 0 a n d A n g o s t u r a ® P u n c h e o n P u n c h.

A n g o s t u r a ® s e l e c t e d t h e i r Ta m b o o S p i c e d Ru m f o r t h i s l a te s t i n n ova t i o n, s p e c i f i c a l l y f o r i t s s e a m l e s s f l avo r sy n e r g y w i t h c o l a , f e a t u r i n g va n i l l a , c a r a m e l, c i n n a m o n, a n d wa r m s p i c e n o t e s . C h a i r m a n o f A n g o s t u r a H o l d i n g s L i m i te d, M r. G a r y H u nt s a i d, “ I n n ova t i o n h a s a l way s b e e n a t t h e h e a r t o f t h e H o u s e o f A n g o s t u r a . I t ’s n o t j u s t a b o u t c r e a t i n g n ew p r o d u c t s; i t ’s a b o u t u n d e r s t a n d i n g h o w p e o p l e l i ve, c e l e b r a te, a n d c o n n e c t a n d r e s p o n d i n way s t h a t a r e a u t h e nt i c a n d exc i t i n g . We c r e a t e d A n g o s t u r a ® C u b a t a b e c a u s e t h e way p e o p l e e n j oy t h e i r d r i n ks h a s evo l ve d. To d ay ’s c o n s u m e r s wa nt g r e a t t a s te, c o nve n i e n c e, a n d a b r a n d t h a t r ef l e c t s w h o t h ey a r e.” ht t p s: //a n g o s t u r a .c o m /

G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 3 1

D OS M A D E R A S Dos Maderas, announced the release of Dos M a d e r a s O r i g e n T h a i l a n d, a l i m i te d - e d i t i o n r e l e a s e c r a f te d f r o m 12- ye a r- o l d T h a i r u m a n d f i n i s h e d i n r a r e 8 0 - ye a r- o l d O l o r o s o s h e r r y c a s ks . W i t h o n l y 4, 0 0 0 b o t t l e s ava i l a b l e w o r l d w i d e, t h i s l a u n c h m a r ks t h e f i r s t ex p r e s s i o n w i t h i n t h e n ew D o s Maderas Origen Series, a collection designed t o s h o wc a s e t h e g l o b a l d i ve r s i t y o f r u m t h r o u g h t h e d i s t i n c t i ve l e n s o f s h e r r y - c a s k f i n i s h i n g . T h i s n ew s e r i e s b e g i n s i n T h a i l a n d, w h e r e t h e r u m i s distilled from locally grown sugarcane and aged f o r 12 ye a r s i n B o u r b o n c a s ks b ef o r e t r ave l i n g t o J e r e z , S p a i n. O n c e t h e r e, i t u n d e r g o e s a n a d d i t i o n a l s i x m o nt h s o f m a t u r a t i o n i n exc e pt i o n a l 8 0 - ye a r- o l d O l o r o s o s h e r r y c a s ks , s o u g ht a f te r f o r t h e i r a g e, c o m p l ex i t y, a n d i n f l u e n c e o n t h e f i n a l l i q u i d. T h e r e s u l t i s a r u m t h a t s h o wc a s e s t h e D o s M a d e r a s p h i l o s o p hy o f u n i t i n g c u l t u r e s , c l i m a te s , a n d a g i n g t r a d i t i o n s i nt o a s i n g l e s p i r i t . W i t h this unique series, Williams & Humber t applies t h e s a m e te c h n i q u e a s w i t h t h e r e s t o f i t s r u m s i n t h e D o s M a d e r a s r a n g e, Reve r s e Fi n i s h i n g . “ T h e r e l e a s e o f O r i g e n T h a i l a n d i nt r o d u c e s a n ew c h a pte r f o r D o s M a d e r a s , o f f e r i n g a way t o ex p l o r e t h e g l o b a l r u m - m a k i n g w h i l e p r e s e r v i n g the ar tistr y of sherr y finishing that the brand is k n o w n f o r,” s ay s G o n z a l o M e d i n a , I nt e r n a t i o n a l M a r ket i n g M a n a g e r a t B o d e g a s W i l l i a m s & H u m b e r t . “ We c h o s e T h a i l a n d a s t h e s t a r t i n g p o i nt f o r t h e O r i g e n S e r i e s f o r i t s v i b r a nt c u l t u r e, r i c h c u l i n a r y h e r i t a g e, a n d a g r o w i n g s p i r i t s s c e n e, p e r f e c t t o s h i n e a l i g ht o n t h e w o r l d ’s r u m p r o d u c i n g r e g i o n s .” T h e b o t t l e’s d e s i g n r e i n f o r c e s a s t r o n g s e n s e o f p l a c e, w i t h a l a b e l by C l a e s s e n s I nte r n a t i o n a l t h a t p ay s t r i b u te t o T h a i l a n d ’s c u l t u r a l a n d n a t u r a l h e r i t a g e, f e a t u r i n g t h e T h a i e l e p h a nt , a n a t i o n a l sy m b o l o f s t r e n g t h, w i s d o m , a n d g o o d f o r t u n e. ht t p s: //d o s m a d e r a s .c o m / M A LI B U Malibu has announced the release of Malibu Pink, a b o l d a n d b r i g ht n ew f l avo r i n n ova t i o n t h a t p r ove s s u m m e r e n e r g y c a n b e s e r ve d u p 3 6 5 d ay s a ye a r.

B u r s t i n g w i t h t h e f r u i t y f l avo r o f g u ava , p i n e a p p l e, a n d c o c o n u t a n d a p l ay f u l p i n k c o l o r, t h i s n ew r e l e a s e i s b r i n g i n g a f r e s h t w i s t t o t h e r u m a i s l e.

T h i s n ew ex p r e s s i o n f e a t u r e s g u ava a t i t s h e a r t , c o m p l e m e nte d by p i n e a p p l e a n d M a l i b u’s s i g n a t u r e c o c o n u t f o r a t r o p i c a l t a s te. A s exo t i c f l avo r s l i ke g u ava t r a n s i t i o n f r o m s p e c i a l t y t o m a i n s t r e a m , M a l i b u P i n k d e l i ve r s a n o n - t r e n d s p i r i t . W h et h e r m i xe d w i t h l e m o n a d e o r e n j oye d a s a s h o t , M a l i b u P i n k o f f e r s a s u n - s o a ke d ex p e r i e n c e i n eve r y s i p.

L a te r t h i s s p r i n g , M a l i b u w i l l r e l e a s e a n ew p i n kd r e n c h e d c a m p a i g n a l o n g s i d e a c t i va t i o n s a n d p a r t n e r s h i p s t o p u t a p l ay f u l t w i s t o n M a l i b u’s D o W h a teve r Ta s te s G o o d et h o s . “ M a l i b u h a s a l way s been the go -to drink for those seeking a tropical a n d exo t i c ex p e r i e n c e. W i t h t h e l a u n c h o f M a l i b u P i n k , we’r e p a i r i n g f a m i l i a r f avo r i t e s l i ke c o c o n u t

Got R um ? Febru a ry 2026 - 3 2

a n d p i n e a p p l e w i t h n ew g u ava - l e d n o te s a s t h e n ex t evo l u t i o n i n t r o p i c a l f l avo r t r a n s p o r t i n g s u m m e r- s e e ke r s o n a n ew a d ve nt u r e,” s a i d S a r a g h K i l l e e n, US B r a n d D i r e c t o r, M a l i b u. ht t p s: // w w w. m a l i b u d r i n ks .c o m /e n - u s / D ON PA PA T h e M a n i l l a S t a n d a r d r e p o r te d t h a t D o n Pa p a Ru m , t h e P h i l i p p i n e’s’ p r e m i e r s m a l l - b a tc h r u m , h a s l a u n c h e d i t s n ewe s t ex p r e s s i o n: D o n Pa p a A l o n. ‘A l o n’ m e a n s ‘ wave s’ i n t h e l o c a l l a n g u a g e o f Ta g a l o g . I n s p i r e d by t h e r hy t h m i c c o a s t l i n e s of the archipelago and the enduring spirit of b aya n i h a n, t h e n ew l i q u i d s e r ve s a s a t r o p i c a l h o m a g e t o t h e Fi l i p i n o s e n s e o f h o m e. R o o te d i n t h e l u s h l a n d s c a p e s o f N e g r o s (S u g a r l a n d i a), D o n Pa p a A l o n m a r ks a s h i f t i n p e r s p e c t i ve f r o m t h e h i nte r l a n d s t o t h e s h o r e s . T h e ex p r e s s i o n i s d e s i g n e d t o c a pt u r e t h e e s s e n c e o f i s l a n d l i f e, w h e r e t i m e s l o w s d o w n a n d c o m m u n i t y t i e s a r e s t r e n g t h e n e d ove r s h a r e d m o m e nt s . T h e r u m d r aw s d i r e c t i n s p i r a t i o n f r o m G i n a t a a n g L a n g k a , a c r e a my, c o m f o r t i n g i s l a n d s t a p l e. I t i s d i s t i l l e d f r o m 10 0 % l o c a l s u g a r c a n e m o l a s s e s , t h e n i n f u s e d w i t h i c o n i c i n g r e d i e nt s f r o m Fi l i p i n o c u l i n a r y h e r i t a g e: t o a s te d c o c o n u t , j a c k f r u i t , a n d c h i l i p e p p e r. “ W i t h D o n Pa p a A l o n, we wa nt e d t o c a pt u r e n o t j u s t t h e f l avo r s o f t h e i s l a n d s , b u t t h e f e e l i n g yo u g et i n t h o s e c o m m u n i t i e s , t h a t d e e p s e n s e o f p r i d e a n d wa r m t h t h a t d ef i n e s u s a s Fi l i p i n o s ,” s ay s A n g e l i n e M a n a h a n, M a r ket i n g M a n a g e r o f D o n Pa p a Ru m . ht t p s: // w w w.d o n p a p a r u m .c o m / P O W E R E D BY R U M - B A R T h e J a m a i c a n O b s e r ve r r e p o r te d t h a t Wo r t hy Pa r k E s t a te L i m i t e d h a s l a u n c h e d Po we r e d by Ru m B a r, a c o m m u n i t y r e l i ef i n i t i a t i ve a i m e d a t h e l p i n g r e s t o r e l i ve l i h o o d s a n d c o n n e c t i v i t y i n s o m e o f t h e i s l a n d ’s m o s t a f f e c t e d a r e a s f o l l o w i n g H u r r i c a n e M e l i s s a . T h e i n i t i a t i ve d o n a t e d 10 0 g e n e r a t o r s t o 10 0 c o m m u n i t y b a r s a c r o s s p a r i s h e s h a r d e s t h i t by t h e s t o r m . D i s t r i b u t i o n b e g a n i n D e c e m b e r, w i t h t h e p r o j e c t te a m d o n a t i n g g e n e r a t o r s t o s eve r a l c o m m u n i t y b a r s a c r o s s we s te r n p a r i s h e s a l r e a d y i m p a c te d by p r o l o n g e d p o we r o u t a g e s .

Po we r e d by Ru m - B a r wa s d e s i g n e d t o h e l p t h e s e e s t a b l i s h m e nt s r e g a i n e l e c t r i c i t y, r e o p e n s a f e l y a n d c o nt i n u e s u p p o r t i n g t h e c o m m u n i t i e s that depend on them. “Community bars are d e e p l y w ove n i nt o t h e f a b r i c o f J a m a i c a n l i f e, a n d f o r Wo r t hy Pa r k E s t a te L i m i t e d a n d i t s r u m b r a n d s , i t i s o f g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e t h a t we h e l p c o m m u n i t i e s s t a n d s t r o n g ,” s a i d Ta m i k a We s t , m a r ket i n g m a n a g e r. “ Po we r e d by Ru m - B a r i s a b o u t r e s t o r i n g p o we r, s u p p o r t i n g s m a l l b u s i n e s s o w n e r s a n d h e l p i n g c o m m u n i t i e s g et b a c k o n t h e i r f e et .” T h e i n i t i a t i ve f o r m s p a r t o f Ru m - B a r a n d Wo r t hy Pa r k E s t a te’s b r o a d e r c o m m i t m e nt t o c o m m u n i t y r e s i l i e n c e, n a t i o n a l r e c ove r y a n d

r e s p o n s i b l e c o r p o r a t e c i t i ze n s h i p. D i s t r i b u t i o n wa s p r i o r i t i ze d i n a r e a s a c r o s s S t El i z a b et h, We s t m o r e l a n d, S t J a m e s , Tr e l aw ny, a n d H a n ove r, w h e r e ex te n d e d p o we r o u t a g e s h ave s i g n i f i c a nt l y a f f e c t e d e c o n o m i c a c t i v i t y a n d d a i l y l i f e. ht t p s: // w o r t hy p a r ke s t a te.c o m / U LTIM AT E SI PPING R U M T h e U l t i m a te Awa r d s a n n o u n c e d t h e 2 0 2 6 U l t i m a te S i p p i n g Ru m – M i a m i C o m p et i t i o n, t h e s e c o n d e d i t i o n o f i t s b l i n d t a s t i n g eve nt t o b e h e l d d u r i n g t h e 2 0 2 6 M i a m i Ru m C o n g r e s s . T h i s ye a r ’s c o m p et i t i o n w i l l o n c e a g a i n s p o t l i g ht t h e w o r l d ’s f i n e s t s i p p i n g r u m s t h r o u g h a r i g o r o u s , p r o f e s s i o n a l eva l u a t i o n p r o c e s s . I n 2 0 2 6 , t h e j u d g i n g p a n e l w i l l f e a t u r e WSE T ( W i n e & S p i r i t Ed u c a t i o n Tr u s t) L eve l III S p i r i t s j u d g e s a n d s e a s o n e d r u m ex p e r t s , w h o w i l l a s s e s s e nt r i e s s t r i c t l y b l i n d t o i d e nt i f y t h e “ b e s t o f t h e b e s t ” i n s i p p i n g r u m . C u r r e nt c o n f i r m e d j u d g e s i n c l u d e D e n i e c e B o u r n e, L i s a B e l c z y k , R o b M c C a u g h ey, R h i a n n o n En l i l, a n d S h aw n M a r t i n, w i t h a d d i t i o n a l l o c a l a n d i nt e r n a t i o n a l j u d g e s t o b e a n n o u n c e d.

T h e U l t i m a te S i p p i n g Ru m – M i a m i C o m p et i t i o n i s designed to be clear and accessible for brands, f o c u s i n g o n f i ve c o r e c a te g o r i e s o f s i p p i n g r u m w h i l e m a i nt a i n i n g r i g o r o u s te c h n i c a l a n d s e n s o r y s t a n d a r d s . Ru m s w i l l b e a s s e s s e d a c c o r d i n g t o a g e s t a t e m e nt s; f o r n o n - a g e - s t a te d a n d s o l e r a r u m s , e nt r i e s a r e c l a s s i f i e d b a s e d o n t h e yo u n g e s t r u m i n t h e b l e n d t o e n s u r e c o n s i s te nt j u d g i n g . T h e U l t i m a te Awa r d s wa s c r e a te d t o c e l e b r a te q u a l i t y, t r a n s p a r e n c y, a n d exc e l l e n c e i n s p i r i t s , o f f e r i n g p r o d u c e r s a n a u t h o r i t a t i ve, t r a d e - r e s p e c t e d benchmark for their products. With a panel of j u d g e s t h a t e a c h b r i n g m o r e t h a n t e n ye a r s o f ex p e r i e n c e i n t h e s p i r i t s i n d u s t r y, t h e c o m p et i t i o n d e l i ve r s m e a n i n g f u l, c r e d i b l e r e c o g n i t i o n t o b r a n d s t h a t exc e l i n t h e g l a s s . ht t p s: // t h e u l t i m a te aw a r d s . c o m / 2 0 2 6 - b e s t - s i p p i n g - r u m - t h e - u l t i m a te - aw a r d s DESTILEŔIA SERR ALLĖS S eve r a l s o u r c e s h ave r e p o r te d t h a t t h e S e r r a l l é s D i s t i l l e r y h a s a n n o u n c e d t h a t i t s P r e s i d e nt a n d C EO, P h i l i p p e B r e c h o t , h a s d e c i d e d t o t a ke r et i r e m e nt a t t h e c l o s e o f 2 0 2 5 , a f te r a l m o s t n i n e ye a r s a t t h e f r o nt o f t h e c o m p a ny. D u r i n g h i s p r e s i d e n c y, B r e c h o t l e d a p e r i o d o f t r a n s f o r m a t i o n a n d g r o w t h, g u i d i n g S e r r a l l é s w i t h v i s i o n a n d d et e r m i n a t i o n t h r o u g h s i g n i f i c a nt c h a l l e n g e s s u c h a s h u r r i c a n e s , e a r t h q u a ke s a n d t h e p a n d e m i c , w h i l e d r i v i n g t h e c o m p a ny ’s a c c e l e r a te d d eve l o p m e nt , b r a n d p o r t f o l i o a n d i nt e r n a t i o n a l s t a n d i n g . T h e B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s g u a r a nt e e d a n o r d e r l y t r a n s i t i o n a n d c o nt i n u i t y o f t h e c o m p a ny ’s o p e r a t i o n s , w h i l e eva l u a t i o n s f o r t h e a p p o i nt m e nt o f t h e n ex t p r e s i d e nt a n d C EO o f S e r r a l l é s D i s t i l l e r y p r o c e e d. “ We a p p r e c i a t e B r e c h o t ’s g r e a t c o nt r i b u t i o n t o t h e d eve l o p m e nt o f t h e c o m p a ny d u r i n g t h e p a s t ye a r s ,” s a i d A l f r e d o S u a r e z Serrallés, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

“ S e r r a l l é s D i s t i l l e r y c o nt i n u e s t o m ove f o r wa r d w i t h a c l e a r v i s i o n t o wa r d s t h e f u t u r e, m a i nt a i n i n g t h e exc e l l e n c e t h a t c h a r a c te r i ze s o u r p r o d u c t s i nte r n a t i o n a l l y a n d b r i n g i n g t h e b e s t o f t h e l i q u o r i n d u s t r y t o eve r y c o r n e r o f t h e w o r l d,” h e a d d e d.

Among the milestones of Serrallés Distiller y during t h e p a s t ye a r s a r e t h e l a r g e ex p a n s i o n o f i t s c o m p l ex i n Po n c e, P u e r t o R i c o, t h e i m p r ove m e nt of infrastructure for the purpose of increasing the p r o d u c t i o n a n d ex p o r t o f r u m s , a n d t h e ex p a n s i o n o f i t s P r e m i u m Ru m s . I n t u r n, q u a l i t y h a s b e e n awa r d e d o n n u m e r o u s o c c a s i o n s i n p r e s t i g i o u s c o m p et i t i o n s a n d eva l u a t i o n s , s u c h a s t h e Wo r l d S p i r i t Awa r d s , B eve r a g e Te s t i n g I n s t i t u te, t h e I nt e r n a t i o n a l W i n e & S p i r i t s , a m o n g o t h e r s . ht t p s: // d o n q.c o m / KŌ LOA R U M C O M PA N Y K a u a’ I N o w r e p o r te d t h a t a f e d e r a l j u d g e d i s m i s s e d o n Tu e s d ay t h e Kō l o a Ru m C o m p a ny ’s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l c h a l l e n g e t o t h e M e r c h a nt M a r i n e A c t o f 19 2 0, c o m m o n l y k n o w n a s t h e J o n e s A c t , w h i c h r e q u i r e s a l l s h i p p i n g b et we e n U. S . p o r t s b e c o n d u c te d o n ve s s e l s t h a t a r e U. S . b u i l t , o w n e d a n d r e g i s te r e d, a n d c r ewe d p r i m a r i l y

by U. S . c i t i ze n s . Kō l o a Ru m C o m p a ny v. N o e m c h a l l e n g e d t h e l aw ’s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y, a s s e r t i n g t h e J o n e s A c t v i o l a t e s t h e Po r t P r ef e r e n c e C l a u s e by d i s c r i m i n a t i n g a g a i n s t H awa i i a n p o r t s t h r o u g h h i g h e r s h i p p i n g c o s t s a n d l i m i te d s h i p p i n g o pt i o n s , a n d i t v i o l a te s t h e D u e P r o c e s s C l a u s e by i n f r i n g i n g o n t h e c o m p a ny ’s s u b s t a nt i ve r i g ht t o e a r n a l i v i n g . Pa c i f i c L e g a l Fo u n d a t i o n h e l p e d Kō l o a Ru m C o m p a ny f i l e t h e f e d e r a l l aw s u i t o n Fe b. 2 5 , 2 0 2 5 , i n t h e U. S . D i s t r i c t C o u r t f o r t h e D i s t r i c t o f C o l u m b i a . T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e s u i t wa s t o e n d t h e 10 5 - ye a r- o l d l aw t o p r ov i d e “e q u a l f o o t i n g a m o n g H awa i i a n b u s i n e s s e s a n d t h e i r c o m p et i t o r s , a n d f i n a l l y c a s t away o n e o f t h e n a t i o n’s m o s t e g r e g i o u s ex a m p l e s o f e c o n o m i c p r o te c t i o n i s m ,” Pa c i f i c L e g a l Fo u n d a t i o n s a i d i n a p r e s s r e l e a s e. W h i l e t h e l aw o r i g i n a l l y i nte n d e d t o b o l s t e r d o m e s t i c s h i p b u i l d i n g , i t h a s h a d t h e o p p o s i t e ef f e c t , s h r i n k i n g t h e A m e r i c a n s h i p p i n g f l e et w h i l e s eve r e l y h a r m i n g c i t i ze n s a n d b u s i n e s s e s i n H awa i ʻ i a n d A l a s k a , t h e a r t i c l e s a i d.

U n d e r t h e J o n e s A c t , n o i nt e r n a t i o n a l ve s s e l s m ay s e r ve H awa i ʻ i d i r e c t l y. Kō l o a Ru m C o m p a ny must first ship products to Los Angeles, then on t o d e s t i n a t i o n s l i ke A u s t r a l i a . A n d t h e t r i p f r o m H awa i ʻ i t o L o s A n g e l e s c o s t s n e a r l y t h r e e t i m e s more than shipping from Los Angeles to Australia, t h e p r e s s r e l e a s e s a i d. “ T h e J o n e s A c t d o e s n’ t j u s t h u r t o u r b u s i n e s s i t h u r t s a l l H awa i ʻ i r e s i d e nt s ,” s a i d B o b G u nte r, C EO o f Kō l o a Ru m C o m p a ny, i n a s t a te m e nt w h e n t h e s u i t wa s f i l e d. “ We p ay m o r e f o r eve r y t h i n g we i m p o r t , f r o m b o t t l e s t o p a c k a g i n g , j u s t l i ke a l l f a m i l i e s a c r o s s t h e s t a te. ht t p s: // ko l o a r u m .c o m /

G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 3 3

The Sweet Business of Sugar

Got R um ? Ja Febru n u a aryry2026 2026- - 34 34

Mexico

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!

GG oo t tRu Ru mm ??FJeabnruua ry 2 0 2 6 - 3 5

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G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 3 7

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G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 3 9

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G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 4 1

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G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 4 3

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G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 4 5

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G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 4 7

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O f f e r ing Bot t ling /Co - Pac king S e r vic e s Rum C e nt r a l i s l o c ate d w i t hi n t h e Texa s Tr i a n g l e, a r e g i o n i n Texas f o r m e d by t h e st ate’s f o ur m ai n m et r o p o li t a n a r e as.

T h e Texa s Tr i a n g l e i s o n e of e l eve n m e g a r e g i o ns i n t h e U ni te d S t ate s a n d i s h o m e to a p p r ox i m ate ly 75% of t h e S t ate’s p o p ul at i o n. T hi s a r e a a l s o b e n ef i t s sub st a nt i a lly f r o m t r ad e w i t h M ex i c o, t h e U ni te d S t ate s’ t hi r d l a r g e st t r ad e p a r t n e r.

Rum C e nt r a l i s 3 0 M i l e s f r o m Aust i n, w i t h c o nve ni e nt ac c e s s to i nte r st ate hi g hways, r ai l li n e s, ai r p o r t s a n d s e a p o r t s (w i t hi n 25 0 m i l e s of 4 of t h e to p 10 U.S. s e a p o r t s), g u a r a nte e i n g f ast a n d ef f i c i e nt s hi p p i n g of yo ur dr y a n d f i ni s h e d g o o ds.

D o yo u n e e d m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n?

C o nt ac t us v i a o ur we b s i te b e l ow !

w w w.RumCentral.com

G u aarry y 2026 - 49 Goott Ru Rum m?? FFeebbrru

R um C ocktails for

Lovers

A

p h r o di s i ac s a r e f o o ds t h o u g ht to i n c r e as e s ex u a l dr i ve o r to e nh a n c e r e p r o du c t i ve a b i li t y. M a ny c e nt ur i e s a g o, p hi l o s o p h e r s at t r i b ute d a p h r o di s i ac p r o p e r t i e s to a ny f o o d t h at r e p r e s e nte d “ s e e d ” o r “ s e m e n,” su c h as e g g s, b ulb s a n d g r ai ns. L ate r f o o ds we r e c o ns i d e r e d to h ave a p h r o di s i ac p r o p e r t i e s i f t h ey h ad a ny r e s e m b l a n c e to g e ni t a li a. M o d e r n s c i e n c e l o o ks at t h e c o m p o s i t i o n of f o o ds a n d b e li eve s t h at t h o s e w i t h a hi g h c o n c e nt r at i o n of Z i n c a r e b e n ef i c i a l to t h e li b i d o, as Z i n c c o nt r o l s p r o g e ste r o n e l eve l s. H e r e i s a li st of f o o ds c o m m o n ly t h o u g ht to h ave a p h r o di s i ac p r o p e r t i e s: A lm o n d, A ni s e e d, A r u g ul a, A s afet i da, A s p a r a g us, Avo c ad o, B a n a n as, B as i l, B r o c c o li R a b e, C h o c o l ate, C a r r ot s, C of fe e, C o r i a n d e r, Fe nn e l, Fi g s, G a r li c , G i n g e r, H o n ey, Li qu o r i c e, M ust a r d, N ut m e g, O yste r s, Pi n e N ut s, Pi n e a p p l e, R as p b e r r i e s, S t r aw b e r r i e s, Tr u f f l e s, Va ni ll a a n d W i n e.

H a ppily E v er A f t er • • • • • •

1 3 /4 oz R hum J. M . B l a n c 3 /4 oz C y n a r 3 /4 oz C h e r r y H e e r i n g 1/4 oz Ave r n a 2 D as h R huba r b B i t te r s 1 D as h W hi s key B a r r e l B i t te r s

D i r e c t i o ns: 1. C o m b i n e a ll i n g r e di e nt s exc e pt b i t te r s i nto a n i c e f i ll e d c o c k t ai l s h ake r.

2. S h ake a n d st r ai n i nto a c r us h e d i c e f i ll e d c o c k t ai l g l as s.

3. D r o p b i t te r s i nto t h e g l as s a n d st i r.

4. Re c i p e C o ur te sy: R hum J. M . B l a n c

Got R um ? Febru a ry 2026 - 550 0

T he S upe r ior L ov e Po t ion • • • • • •

5 0 m l W hi te Rum 12 . 5 m l C r è m e d e C ac a o 1 S c o o p S t r aw b e r r y I c e C r e a m (o r s o r b et) 5 m l Pa r f ai t A m o ur Li qu e ur 25 m l Li m e J ui c e 25 m l C h a m p a g n e

D i r e c t i o ns: 1. S h ake a ll of t h e i n g r e di e nt s to g et h e r unt i l t h e i c e c r e a m /s o r b et di s s o l ve s.

2. Po ur t h e c h a m p a g n e i nto a f lute a n d t h e n s i n g l e st r ai n t h e g e l ato m i x o n to p.

3. G a r ni s h w i t h a s i n g l e M a r as c hi n o c h e r r y a n d g r ate d da r k c h o c o l ate.

G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 5 1

Cupid’s K i s s • • •

1 oz. C r uz a n R as p b e r r y Rum 1 oz. C a n adi a n C lub W hi s k y C r a nb e r r y J ui c e

D i r e c t i o ns: Fi ll hi g hba ll g l as s w i t h i c e. Ad d r um a n d w hi s k y, f i ll w i t h j ui c e a n d st i r.

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B e t w een T he S hee t s

Sa in t Va l en t ine • • • •

1 1/ 2 oz w hi te r um 1/ 2 oz Fo ns e c a B i n 27 Ruby Po r t 1/ 2 oz o r a n g e c ur ac a o o r G r a n d M a r ni e r 1/ 2 oz f r e s h - s qu e eze d li m e j ui c e

D i r e c t i o ns: 1. Po ur t h e i n g r e di e nt s i nto a c o c k t ai l s h ake r w i t h i c e a n d s h ake we ll.

2. S t r ai n i nto a c hi ll e d c o c k t ai l g l as s.

• • • •

1 oz. W hi te Rum 1 oz. C o i nt r e au 1/ 2 oz. Le m o n J ui c e 1 oz. S p a ni s h - st y l e Rum o r C o g n ac

D i r e c t i o ns: 1. Ad d a ll of t h e i n g r e di e nt s to a c o c k t ai l s h ake r f i ll e d w i t h i c e, s h ake unt i l we ll c hi ll e d.

2. S t r ai n i nto a c o c k t ai l g l as s o r a c o up e a n d g a r ni s h w i t h a l e m o n t w i st .

G Goott Ru Rum m?? FFeebbru ruaary ry 22002266 -- 5533

Got Got Rum R um?? Febru Februaary ry 2026 2026 -- 5544

& Present

The History and Science of the Barrel In the world of distilled spirits, nothing evokes elegance, sophistication and transformation more than barrel aging. The right barrels, in the right hands, can transform the mundane into the spectacular. Whether it is American, French, Colombian, Bulgarian or other oak variety, a well-made barrel is the magic chamber within which time slowly transforms the contents.

Join us as we explore the world of barrels. We’ll take a deep dive into the physical and chemical transformations that take place inside the world’s preferred aging vessels.

G Goott Ru Rum m?? FFeebbru ruaary ry 22002266 -- 5555

The History and Science of the Barrel

W

Lesson 2: Why Oak?

elcome to Lesson 2 of 12 of the Rum University’s latest course! You can find previous lessons of this course by visiting the Archives page on www.GotRum. com, you can also find additional courses and material on the university’s official website at www.RumUniversity.com.

Contributions of properly weathered and toasted oak To properly age rum, having wooden barrels is not enough. Great and consistent aging can only be achieved through the careful selection and care of oak barrels. But, what makes a great barrel?

• Great barrels are the correct size for the desired goal.

• Great barrels are made from mature oak trees that have achieved the ideal physiological properties. Lesson 3 will cover this topic in more detail.

• The wood from the trees must be properly weathered in order to allow for the correct and complete metamorphosis to take place within the wood prior to milling. Lesson 6 will be devoted to this topic.

• Perfectly cured wood from the tree is then milled (Lesson 7) and accurately toasted (Lesson 8), only then is the barrel ready for aging spirits.

• Old barrels must be emptied, the charred surface scraped and the inner surface retoasted in order to extend their useful life.

When aged in properly built and maintained oak barrels, the rum is able to extract chemical components from within the wood staves and react with them.

Got R um ? Febru a ry 2026 - 5 6

Some of these aromas are: • Raw nuts, specifically almonds (from Furfural) • Toasted nuts, specifically almonds (from Mehtyl-furfural) • Caramel (from Maltol) • Toasted bread or grains (from Isomaltol) • Unsweetened chocolate or cocoa (from Pyridine) • Fresh bread or grains (from Pyrazine) • Smoke or pipe tobacco (from Guaiacol) • Spices, like nutmeg and cinnamon (from Eugenol) • Vanilla (from Vanillin) • Oak and coconut (from Methyl Octolactone) Important note: the presence of these aromas in a rum does not guarantee that the rum was aged in an oak barrel.

G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 5 7

E xc l u s i ve INT E R V I E W

by M ike Kun et ka

M a x We l l ( L) a n d A l ex L a m b ( R)

TH E D ONN O F TI K I L ate l a s t ye a r I g o t t o s e e T h e D o n n o f T i k i, a n ew d o c u m e nt a r y a b o u t D o n t h e B e a c h c o m b e r.

At a pre -screening r e c e pt i o n a t o n e o f P h o e n i x ’s b e s t T i k i B a r s , U n d e r t o w, I m et A l ex L a m b a n d M a x We l l, p a r t n e r s i n S u r f M o n key Fi l m s a n d the directors of the f i l m . We t a l ke d b r i ef l y ove r ex p e r t l y c r a f te d cocktails (Zombies, of c o u r s e). A c o u p l e o f we e ks l a te r t h ey we r e k i n d e n o u g h t o a n s we r s o m e q u e s t i o n s .

M i ke Ku n et k a

Got R um ? Febru a ry 2026 - 5 8

M i ke: H ow di d yo u g uys m e et ?

A l ex L a m b: M a x a n d I m et at C h a p m a n U ni ve r s i t y a n d h e s h ot my s e ni o r t h e s i s p r oj e c t S o m ewh er e O ver th e Fla g p o l e: A N i ntend o M ov i e, w hi c h was t h e ve r y f i r st t i m e we wo r ke d to g et h e r. We’ve wo r ke d to g et h e r eve r s i n c e, f o r m i n g S ur f M o nkey Fi lm s i n 2 0 0 9, s h o ot i n g mus i c v i d e o s, c o m m e r c i a l s, a n d s o m e c hi l dr e n’s p r o g r a m m i n g.

M a x We l l: A l ex a n d I m et i n f i lm s c h o o l, at t h e D o d g e C o ll e g e at C h a p m a n U ni ve r s i t y.

I t h as a g r e at r e p ut at i o n n ow, t h a nks to t h e D u f fe r B r ot h e r s w h o m ad e t h e hi t s e r i e s S t r a n g e r T hi n g s, a n d ot h e r s w h o we r e t h e r e w h e n we at te n d e d. I t hi nk we r e a lize d e a r ly o n t h at we c o m p li m e nte d e ac h ot h e r. A l ex i s ve r y c r e at i ve; h e h as

wo n d e r f ul i d e as a n d i s ve r y d et ai l - o r i e nte d w h e n i t c o m e s to sto r y. T h e s e s k i ll s h ave s e r ve d hi m we ll as a n e di to r, w hi c h h e i s by t r ad e. I ’ve a l ways b e e n i nte r e ste d i n t h e te c hni c a l s i d e of f i lm m ak i n g, a n d f o c us e d o n c i n e m ato g r a p hy. O ve r t h e ye a r s of wo r k i n g to g et h e r we d eve l o p e d a mut u a l t r ust , a n d a r e s p e c t t h at a ll ow s us to f r e e ly di s c us s i d e as, a n d m o st i m p o r t a nt ly to h o n e st ly t a lk a b o ut w h et h e r o r n ot s o m et hi n g i s wo r k i n g.

M i ke: H ow di d yo u b e c o m e i nte r e ste d i n D o n t h e B e ac h c o m b e r ?

A l ex: D ur i n g C ov i d we we r e b ot h un e m p l oye d. I ’m a n e di to r by t r ad e a n d M a x i s a c i n e m ato g r a p h e r. I was a lr e ady ve r y i nte r e ste d i n T ik i a n d h ad b e e n t r y i n g to m aste r my m i xo l o g y s k i ll s w hi l e i n qu a r a nt i n e. Li v i n g i n L A , I k n ew a ll t h e T ik i

B a r s t h at I l ove d g o i n g to we r e s hut d ow n a n d I t h o u g ht i t wo ul d b e a c o o l p r oj e c t to d o a s h o r t d o c u - s e r i e s o n t h e hi sto r y of t h e s e ba r s, i nte r v i ew i n g t h e p e o p l e w h o r un t h e m a n d l e a r ni n g t h e i r sto r i e s. M a x a n d I s et o ut to f i lm a c o up l e ba r s a n d eve r yo n e’s i nte r v i ew st a r te d o ut t h e s a m e, “ We ll n o n e of t hi s wo ul d h ave h a p p e n e d i f i t was n’ t f o r D o n t h e B e ac h c o m b e r.” Fr o m t h e r e we d e c i d e d, eve n i f o n ly h a l f of t h e s e sto r i e s a r e t r u e, D o nn’s sto r y wo ul d b e a n a m a zi n g d o c um e nt a r y i n i t s ow n r i g ht .

M a x: D ur i n g t h e C ov i d l o c kd ow n, we s et o ut to c r e ate a c o up l e of s h o r t s a b o ut t h e o l d T ik i ba r s i n L . A . T h ey a r e v i su a lly i nte r e st i n g, a n d we we r e g e nui n e ly i nte r e ste d i n t h e hi sto r y. A s we st a r te d d o i n g r e s e a r c h a n d t a lk i n g w i t h f o lks i n t h e T ik i c o m muni t y, we ke pt h e a r i n g a b o ut D o nn B e ac h. H e’s r eve r e d as t hi s k i n d of

G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 5 9

l e g e n da r y f i g ur e by a l ot of p e o p l e. H i s li fe h as n’ t b e e n ve r y we ll d o c um e nte d, a n d t h e r e a r e a l ot of sto r i e s t h at a r e h a r d to b e li eve. T h e m o r e we l e a r n e d, t h e m o r e we we r e i nt r i g u e d. We t h o u g ht , O K , t hi s i s s o m et hi n g we c a n k i c k of f o n o ur ow n.

Yo u k n ow, we h ave a li t t l e b i t of e qui p m e nt a n d we h ave t h e ex p e r i e n c e to g o o ut w i t h a s m a ll c r ew a n d s h o ot w h at we n e e d. S o, i t was s o r t of o n e of t h o s e t hi n g s w h e r e, b ef o r e we r e a lize d t h at t hi s was g o i n g to b e a fe at ur e m ov i e, we we r e a lr e ady d o i n g i t a n d i t j ust k i n d of g r ew a n d evo l ve d f r o m t h e r e.

M i ke: Was i t di f f i c ult to f i n d i nve sto r s?

A l ex: I nve sto r s a r e k i n d of of f t h e t a b l e b e c aus e p e o p l e d o n’ t r e a lly wa nt to i nve st i n a ny t hi n g t h at ’s n ot a p r ove n c o n c e pt .

S o, we we nt o ut a n d st a r te d i nte r v i ew i n g.

S o m e b o dy e a r ly o n h ad g i ve n us t h e ad v i c e to j ust st a r t s h o ot i n g, b e c aus e w i t h a d o c um e nt a r y, yo u’r e c o nst a nt ly s h o ot i n g a n d c o nst a nt ly c h as i n g m o n ey.

We j ust st a r te d s h o ot i n g i t s o we c o ul d s h ow t h at we we r e c a p a b l e of d o i n g. We p ut to g et h e r a s iz z l e r e e l o ut of t hi s st u f f a n d we st a r te d p o st i n g st u f f o n li n e. We st a r te d a K i c kst a r te r c a m p ai g n w i t h t h e g o a l to r ai s e $ 5 0,0 0 0. We f i g ur e d i f we g ot

Got R um ? Febru a ry 2026 - 6 0

$ 5 0,0 0 0, we c o ul d t r ave l to s o m e of t h e s e ba r s t h at a r e f ur t h e r away, like J ef f B e r r y ’s ba r i n N ew O r l e a ns o r s o m e ba r s i n N ew Yo r k . We c o ul d v i s i t s o m e of t h e s e p l ac e s a n d h ave t h e t r ave l ex p e ns e s p ai d f o r. A n d t h e n o ur K i c kst a r te r c a m p ai g n was mu c h m o r e su c c e s s f ul t h a n we a nt i c i p ate d a n d we e n d e d up r ai s i n g a b o ut $2 0 0,0 0 0.

We l l a n d L a m b c r a f t e d t h e f i l m a r o u n d i n t e r v i ew s w i t h p e o p l e w h o k n ew D o n n o r k n ow o f h i m a n d a n a u d i o r e c o r d i n g of Donn Beach, talking about his l i f e . T h e i n t e r v i ew s a r e w i t h f r i e n d s , r e l a t i ve s , f o r m e r e m p l oye e s , ex- w i ve s a n d a W h o’s W h o o f b a r ow n e r s , d r i n k historians and Tiki elite. One of the f i r s t i n t e r v i ew s i n t h e f i l m i s w i t h Tim “Swanky” Glazner who has been researching Don the Beachcomber for ye a r s . We s e e T i m d i g g i n g t h r o u g h p i l e s o f p h o t o g r a p h s a n d s t a c ks o f b oxe s .

M i ke: I n t h e i nte r v i ew w i t h T i m G l a zn e r, a r e a ll of t h o s e b oxe s f i ll e d w i t h D o n t h e b e ac h c o m b e r m e m o r a b i li a?

M a x: Ye s, t h at ’s D o nn’s a r c hi ve of d o c um e nt s, p h oto g r a p hs, di a r i e s, DV D’s.

Ph o e b e, hi s w i d ow, h ad b e e n c a r r y i n g t hi s a r c hi ve w i t h h e r to a ll t h e di f fe r e nt h o us e s

s h e h as li ve d i n, i n di f fe r e nt c o unt r i e s, n ot wa nt i n g to g et r i d of i t , h o p i n g t h at s o m e day i t wo ul d b e us ef ul f o r a b o o k o r w h ateve r. We g ot h o o ke d up w i t h T i m t h r o u g h Ph o e b e. We h ad r e ad a b o o k a b o ut D o n t h e B e ac h c o m b e r t h at was w r i t te n by a m a n n a m e d A r n o l d B i t n e r w h o was a l s o m a r r i e d to Ph o e b e. We r e s e a r c h e d t h e p ub li s hi n g c o m p a ny a n d t h ey g ot us i n to u c h w i t h Ph o e b e. A r n o l d h ad, unf o r t un ate ly, p as s e d away by t h e t i m e we st a r te d wo r k i n g o n t hi s p r oj e c t . B ut o n c e we g ot i n to u c h w i t h Ph o e b e a n d t a lke d to h e r o n t h e p h o n e, we j ust k i n d of hi t i t of f.

S h e t r uste d us a n d we we r e r e a lly exc i te d to m e et h e r a n d fe lt g o o d a b o ut wo r k i n g w i t h h e r. S h e st i ll h ad t hi s a r c hi ve a n d s h e to l d us a b o ut T i m a n d hi s p r oj e c t to w r i te a b o o k . S h e g ot us i n c o m muni c at i o n w i t h hi m. Yo u k n ow, t h e r e we r e a l ot of p h oto s a n d b lu e p r i nt s a n d w h at n ot t h at we r e p e r s o n a l i te m s of D o nn’s t h at n o b o dy h ad eve r s e e n b ef o r e.

st y l e D o nn b o ot l e g g i n g i n t h e 19 2 0 s. At o n e p o i nt , I r e m e m b e r s ay i n g to M a x , “ I f we h ad t h e m o n ey, b ut we d o n’ t , i t wo ul d b e r e a lly c o o l i f we us e d di f fe r e nt st y l e s a ni m at i o n f o r t h e di f fe r e nt d e c ad e s of D o nn’s li fe”.

We t a lke d to a b o ut f i ve di f fe r e nt a ni m at i o n st u di o s i n Lo s A n g e l e s, a n d g ot l au g h e d o ut of t h e of f i c e ( Z o o m m e et i n g) by e ac h o n e w h e n t h ey h e a r d o ur b u d g et . We h ad k i n d of g i ve n up o n t h e i d e a of di f fe r e nt st y l e s of a ni m at i o n w h e n we r e a lize d h ow ex p e ns i ve i t wo ul d b e. T h e n M a x m et C h r i sto p h e r N i nn e s s, w h o was wo r k i n g o n t h e d o c um e nt a r y N o t J us t A G o o f, w h o to l d hi m a b o ut t hi s a m a zi n g a ni m at i o n st u di o t h at t h ey wo r ke d w i t h i n C o lum b i a c a ll e d Ve nut r i a A ni m at i o n S t u di o s. We s et up a m e et i n g w i t h t h e i r C r e at i ve D i r e c to r J u a n U r b i n a, w h o st a r te d t h e m e et i n g w i t h, “ I ’ve b e e n d o i n g s o m e r e s e a r c h o n D o nn, a n d I r e ad yo ur o ut li n e, I h ave t hi s i d e a: w h at i f we us e d a di f fe r e nt st y l e of a ni m at i o n f o r e ac h d e c ad e of D o nn’s li fe? ”

Throughout the film, we hear the actual vo i c e o f D o n n B e a c h t e l l i n g h i s l i f e s t o r y. T h e a u d i o r e c o r d i n g w a s a n i n t e r v i ew w i t h D o n n c o n d u c t e d by A l i c e S i w e k y f o r t h e Wa t m u l O r a l H i s t o r y Fo u n d a t i o n . W h e r e a c t u a l f i l m f o o t a g e o f c e r t a i n eve n t s d i d n o t ex i s t , t h ey c r e a t i ve l y u s e d 2 D (c a r t o o n) a n d S t o p Motion animation to fill the gaps.

M a x: T h e sto p - m ot i o n c a m e a b o ut as a way to ut i lize m o r e of t h e D o nn B e ac h au di o r e c o r di n g s. We l ove d h e a r i n g hi m te ll hi s ow n sto r y, b ut we n e e d e d st r o n g v i su a l s to ac c o m p a ny hi s vo i c e. Eva n B e r g e r, a f r i e n d of o ur s, h ad c r e ate d a m i ni at ur e ve r s i o n of t h e o r i g i n a l D o n t h e B e ac h c o m b e r l o c at i o n w hi c h we s h ot f o r a s e qu e n c e i n t h e f i lm, s o we h ad a p r e - b ui lt s et . W h e n A l ex h ad t h e i d e a to ut i lize sto p m ot i o n, i t s e e m e d like a p e r fe c t f i t . We we r e a lr e ady s h o ot i n g m a ny of o ur i nte r v i ew sub j e c t s i n T ik i ba r s.

W hy n ot r e c o r d D o nn B e ac h i n hi s ow n D o n t h e B e ac h c o m b e r ba r ? We wo r ke d w i t h a wo n d e r f ul a r t i st , Kev i n K i dn ey, of Kev i n a n d J o dy, to d e s i g n t h e sto p - m ot i o n p up p et , a n d a te a m of ve r y t a l e nte d a ni m ato r s at M yste r y M e at M e di a up i n O ak l a n d, to f i g ur e o ut exac t ly h ow t hi s a ll wo ul d wo r k .

To m ake a l o n g sto r y s h o r t , i t di dn’ t . N ot at f i r st a ny way. T h e s c a l e we h ad us e d f o r t h e ba r was i m p r ac t i c a l f o r t h e p up p et .

H e n e e d e d to b e l a r g e e n o u g h s o t h at t h e a ni m ato r s c o ul d e as i ly m ove hi s eye b r ow s, m o ut h, a n d ot h e r fe at ur e s. We h ad to s h o ot bac kg r o un d p l ate s of t h e s et , a n d d ete r m i n e w h at l e ns a n d di st a n c e we n e e d e d to s h o ot t h e p up p et to b e p r o p e r ly c o m p o s i te d i nto t h e bac kg r o un d. I t was a te c hni c a l m e s s, b ut we’r e h a p py w i t h t h e r e sult !

M i ke: H ow di d yo u d e c i d e o n us i n g a ni m at i o n a n d w h at i t s h o ul d l o o k like?

M a x: We k n ew t h at we l ac ke d v i su a l s f o r s o m e i m p o r t a nt p a r t s of t h e sto r y. We di dn’ t h ave e n o u g h a r c hi va l f o ot a g e o r i m a g e s o r n ew s c li p p i n g s to c ove r eve r y p a r t of t h e f i lm, a n d yo u c a n o n ly st ay o n i nte r v i ew s f o r s o l o n g. We t h o u g ht t h at a ni m at i o n c o ul d wo r k to h e lp f i ll i n t h e s e s e c t i o ns, b ut we we r e o n a t i g ht b u d g et , a n d di dn’ t r e a lly wa nt to us e a ni m at i o n i f i t di dn’ t l o o k g o o d.

A l ex: I r e m e m b e r e a r ly o n t a lk i n g a b o ut w h at t h e a ni m at i o n s h o ul d l o o k like a n d we ke pt g et t i n g st um p e d. We t h o u g ht s o m et hi n g m i d - c e nt ur y wo ul d f i t b e c aus e T ik i i s s o c o nn e c te d w i t h t h e m i d - c e nt ur y m o d e r n a r c hi te c t ur e a n d c ult ur e. B ut i t di dn’ t m ake s e ns e to h ave a m i d - c e nt ur y

G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 6 1

t h e ot h e r s p i r i t s, like w hi s key a n d g i n. I t j ust s o h a p p e n e d t h at i t was avai l a b l e i n g r e ate r qu a nt i t y a n d e as i e r to g et . D o nn was i nvo l ve d i n s o m e r um r unni n g a n d h e h ad a b un c h of r um w h e n p r o hi b i t i o n e n d e d. I t hi nk t h at was bas i c a lly w hy h e was us i n g r um as hi s s p i r i t , b e c aus e i t was p l e nt i f ul a n d h e a lr e ady h ad a l ot of it.

M a x: H e h ad a uni qu e k n ow l e d g e a b o ut r um f r o m hi s days t r ave li n g i n hi s 2 0 ’s. H e k n ew h ow to m ake a Pl a nte r s Pun c h a n d a D ai qui r i a n d t h e s e r um dr i nks we r e n’ t qui te as p o p ul a r i n t h e U S as t h ey we r e i n ot h e r p a r t s of t h e wo r l d. H e was a b l e to p ac ka g e r um i n a way t h at t h e p ub li c was w i lli n g to t r y a n d s ay, “o h, t hi s i s, t hi s i s i nte r e st i n g.”

M i ke: D o nn was a m a n of m a ny sto r i e s.

Was i t di f f i c ult to m ake a d o c um e nt a r y a b o ut a m a n w h e n hi s sto r i e s we r e of te n c o nf li c t i n g?

A s a yo u n g m a n , D o n n’s f a t h e r o f f e r e d t o p ay f o r a c o l l e g e d e g r e e o r a t r i p a r o u n d t h e wo r l d . D o n n c h o s e t h e t r i p.

I t w a s t h e s e t r ave l s t h a t s h a p e d h i s f u t u r e . H e wo u l d c o m b i n e r u m s a n d simple cocktails from the Caribbean, ar tifacts and decorations from though o u t Po l y n e s i a a n d C a n t o n e s e f o o d t o create the phenomenon we call Tiki.

H e t o o k t h e b a s i c C a r i b b e a n Pl a n t e r ’s Pu n c h r e c i p e o f O n e o f S o u r, Two o f S w e e t , T h r e e o f S t r o n g a n d Fo u r o f We a k a n d d r i l l e d d ow n o n e a c h component. Sour could be Lemon, G r a p e f r u i t , Li m e o r a c o m b i n a t i o n .

S w e e t c o u l d b e l i g h t su g a r, d a r k su g a r, h o n ey, Ag ave , m a p l e sy r u p. S t r o n g could be rums or a combination of rums from islands throughout the Caribbean.

T h e We a k wo u l d b e i c e , b u t h e p l aye d with the type, the shape and the amount. Then, he added a fif th element, s p i c e s . O ve r t i m e h e wo u l d c r e a t e ove r f i f t y ‘ Ru m R h a p so d i e s .’

M ike: W hy d o yo u t hi nk D o nn c h o s e r um f o r t h e m a j o r i t y of hi s dr i nks?

A l ex: I t hi nk , i n t h e p ub li c s p h e r e, t h at r um was n ot n e a r ly as p o p ul a r at t h at p o i nt as

Got R um ? Febru a ry 2026 - 6 2

A l ex: Pe r s o n a lly, I ke pt h av i n g a c o n c e pt u a l c r i s i s, t hi nk i n g t h at i f n ot h i n g D o nn s ays i s t r u e, t h e n n ot hi n g i n t h e d o c um e nt a r y i s t r u e. S o, w h at ’s t h e p o i nt ?

M a x a l ways di d a g o o d j o b of p ulli n g m e o ut of t h at h o l e. Eve nt u a lly we d e c i d e d t h at i f we c o ul d p o r t r ay D o nn as a n unr e li a b l e n a r r ato r i n t h e b e g i nni n g of t h e f i lm, i t s o r t of g ave us a “g et o ut of j ai l f r e e c a r d ” f o r t h e r e st of t h e d o c um e nt a r y.

M a x: T h e r e’s a ve r y i m p o r t a nt i nt r o du c t i o n to t h e f i lm t h at te ll s t h e au di e n c e i n o n e m i nute w h o D o nn B e ac h i s, a n d at t h e e n d t h e n a r r ato r s ays “ W h at f o ll ow s i s t hi s m a n’s sto r y. O r, at t h e ve r y l e ast , t h e sto r y h e’d like us to b e li eve.” T hi s li n e s e r ve s t wo p ur p o s e s. Fi r st of a ll, i t s et s t h e to n e of t h e f i lm. I t l et s t h e au di e n c e k n ow t h at i t ’s o kay to l au g h. A n d m o st i m p o r t a nt ly, i t su g g e st s t h at s o m e of w h at we a r e a b o ut to h e a r i s D o nn’s ve r s i o n of eve nt s. T h at e l e m e nt of “ w h at h e’d like us to b e li eve” i s s o m et hi n g t h at we l e a n e d i nto i n t h e f i lm. A s mu c h as we c o ul d, we t r i e d to ve r i f y t h r o u g h d o c um e nt at i o n w h at ac t u a lly h a p p e n e d, b ut s o m e i nf o r m at i o n h as j ust b e e n l o st to t i m e, o r we f o un d mult i p l e ve r s i o ns of t h e s a m e sto r y.

U lt i m ate ly, we s e p a r ate d eve r y t hi n g i n t h e

f i lm i nto t h r e e c ate g o r i e s: t h e t hi n g s we k n ow to b e t r u e, t h e t hi n g s t h at we b e li eve h a p p e n e d bas e d o n t h e b e st avai l a b l e i nf o r m at i o n, a n d l ast ly, sto r i e s t h at D o nn te ll s us, w hi c h m ay b e t r u e. O r m ay b e n ot .

T h e au di e n c e c a n d e c i d e.

dr o p p e d f r o m t h e f i lm du e to t i m e. T h e DV D - B lu R ay w i ll c e r t ai n ly h ave a l ot of t hi s m ate r i a l. T h e r e w i ll b e di r e c to r c o m m e nt a r i e s, d e l ete d s c e n e s, s o m e c o c k t ai l r e c i p e v i d e o s, s o m e b e hi n d t h e s c e n e s fe at ur et te s.

M i ke: Yo u h ave b e e n t r ave lli n g ac r o s s t h e c o unt r y i n 2 0 25 s c r e e ni n g t h e f i lm. W i ll t h at c o nt i nu e i n 2 0 2 6 ? W h at ’s n ex t f o r T h e D o nn of T ik i?

M i ke: We w i ll, l o o k f o r wa r d to t h at . I h ave o n e l ast qu e st i o n. A f te r m ak i n g t h e f i lm a n d wo r k i n g w i t h T ik i ba r s ac r o s s t h e c o unt r y to p r o m ote i t , A l ex , a r e yo u m ak i n g b et te r dr i nks n ow ?

M a x: We’ve b e e n to ur i n g a r o un d t h e c o unt r y t hi s ye a r (2 0 25) a n d w i ll h ave s c r e e n e d i n a b o ut 3 0 c i t i e s by t h e m i d dl e of D e c e m b e r. I t hi nk we’r e g o i n g to c o nt i nu e t hi s p r o ba b ly i nto t h e f i r st qu a r te r of n ex t ye a r. We a lr e ady h ave s c r e e ni n g s s c h e dul e d f o r Va n c o u ve r o n Fe b r u a r y 3 r d, S e at t l e o n Fe b r u a r y 4t h a n d B i r m i n g h a m o n t h e 7t h. We’r e a l s o wo r k i n g o n a B lu r ay DV D r e l e as e a n d p r o ba b ly st r e a m i n g s h o r t ly af te r t h at .

M i ke: W i ll t h e DV D h ave b o nus m ate r i a l?

A l ex: I t hi nk I a m. Yo u k n ow, w h e n yo u’r e d o n e d o i n g i nte r v i ew s a n d s c r e e ni n g s, af te r wa r ds, i t ’s like “g r e at , we’r e d o n e, l et ’s m ake c o c k t ai l s”, a n d yo u h ave t h e s e g r e at dr i nks p e r s o n a lly m ad e by t h e s e a m a zi n g ba r te n d e r s a n d yo u, yo u l e a r n a l ot f o r sur e.

To s e e a t r ai l e r f o r T h e D o nn of T ik i a n d to g et i nf o r m at i o n of up c o m i n g s c r e e ni n g s a n d t h e r e l e as e of t h e DV D, c h e c k o ut t h e i r we b s i te: ht t p s: // w w w.t h e d o nn of t ik i.c o m /

M a x: I t w i ll d ef i ni te ly h ave s o m e b o nus m ate r i a l. We a r e c o ll e c t i n g a l ot of m ate r i a l n ow a n d we a r e i n t h e p r o c e s s of o r g a nizi n g s p e c i a l fe at ur e s a n d s o m e s e qu e n c e s t h at we r e a lly like d, b ut we r e

G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 6 3

CIG A R & R UbyMPhi liPA I R ING p I li B a r ake

Got R um ? Febru a ry 2026 - 6 4

Rum Coffee

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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 2026 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).

H i sto r i c a lly, as I w r i te my p ai r i n g s, m o st of my r e ad e r s a r e l o c ate d, qui te li te r a lly, o n t h e o p p o s i te s i d e of t h e wo r l d. T hi s c o nt r ast i s eve n m o r e m a r ke d n ow t h at I a m i n Punt a A r e n as. A n d d e s p i te t h e f ac t t h at I s h o ul d b e ex p e r i e n c i n g hi g h e r te m p e r at ur e s a n d b et te r c li m ate n ow, w hi c h a r e p e r fe c t f o r s m o k i n g, t h e we at h e r i n Punt a A r e n as i s ve r y di f fe r e nt f r o m t h e o n e i n t h e r e st of C hi l e. H e r e, t h e s k y c a n b e c l e a r a n d sunny o n e m o m e nt a n d, i n l e s s t h a n 3 0 m i nute s, t h e day t ur ns c l o u dy a n d w i n dy a n d i t i s i m p o s s i b l e to g o o ut s i d e f o r a s m o ke.

T h e s e p ast days t h e we at h e r h ad b e e n like t h at , a n d I c o ul dn’ t f i n d a n o p p o r t uni t y to d o t h e p ai r i n g, e s p e c i a lly s i n c e my s o n i s h e r e w i t h m e a n d I a l s o h ave to p l a n a r o un d hi m. We ll, to day t h e sun f i n a lly c a m e o ut , a n d i t i s n ot w i n dy, s o i t was t h e p e r fe c t t i m e to d o t h e p ai r i n g, e s p e c i a lly s i n c e J o aquín was ve r y s l e e py.

We we nt o ut to a n e a r by c of fe e s h o p c a ll e d H i sto r y C of fe e, l o c ate d a c o up l e of b l o c ks away f r o m t h e h o us e. I t i s t h e o n ly p l ac e w i t h o utd o o r s i t t i n g w h e r e i t i s p o s s i b l e to s m o ke.

O n c e t h e r e, b ef o r e o r d e r i n g f o o d f r o m t h e m e nu f o r t h e p ai r i n g, I li t a c i g a r t h at I to o k w i t h m e, a Ro b usto f r o m C as a M a g n a C o l o r ad o (52 x 5 ½), N i c a r a g u a n, w hi c h I ’ve s m o ke d b ef o r e a n d h ave e nj oye d i t s f l avo r a n d dr aw.

We l ef t t h e h o us e s o qui c k ly t h at I f o r g ot to t ake a c i g a r c ut te r, eve n t h o u g h I h ave a p p r ox i m ate ly 8 of t h e m s p r e ad t h r o u g h o ut t h e h o us e.

S o I h ad to i m p r ov i s e t h e c ut , like i n t h e m ov i e s, b i t i n g of f t h e t i p w i t h my te et h, g i v i n g i t a b ull et- like c ut , w hi c h c a m e o ut qui te we ll.

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

G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 6 5

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

Got Got Rum R um?? Febru Februaary ry 2026 2026 -- 6666

Ph oto c r e di t : @ C i g a r i li W h e n t h e wai t r e s s a r r i ve d at o ur t a b l e, I as ke d f o r a n I r i s h C of fe e, b ut I as ke d f o r i t to b e m ad e w i t h r um. I di dn’ t h ave m a ny o pt i o ns, s o I c h o s e H ava n a A ñ e j o. Fo r a dr i nk like t hi s o n e, I wo ul d n ot r e c o m m e n d s p e n di n g m o n ey o n a r um t h at i s mu c h o l d e r o r m o r e ex p e ns i ve. M o st r um s wo n’ t m ake a wo r t hw hi l e i m p ac t o n c of fe e, un l e s s yo u c a n g et a n Ag r i c o l e o r a n O ve r p r o of, w hi c h wo ul d d ef i ni te ly b e b o l d e r a n d m o r e n ot i c e a b l e.

A s I m e nt i o n e d e a r li e r, I was d o i n g t h e p ai r i n g dur i n g a s h o r t w i n d ow of o p p o r t uni t y, d e s p i te t h e s p o r adi c g ust of c o l d w i n d. By my c a l c ul at i o ns, we o n ly h ad 2 0 - 3 0 m i nute s b ef o r e t h e sun wo ul d r e ac h t h e t a b l e w h e r e we we r e s i t t i n g, a n d t h at i s w hy I st a r te d s m o k i n g as s o o n as I s at d ow n.

Pai r i n g s a r e a l ways sub j e c t i ve a n d t h e i r e nj oy m e nt i s t i e d to di f fe r e nt f ac to r s. I n t hi s c as e, i t c a m e ac c o m p a ni e d by a s e ns e of r e li ef, s i n c e I was f i n a lly a b l e to s m o ke o ut s i d e, w i t h o ut b ot h e r s o m e w i n ds a n d w i t h a r um! Eve n w h e n c o m p a r e d to t h e i d e a l c o n di t i o ns, t hi s p ai r i n g was n ot

bad at a ll. I d o fe e l, h oweve r, t h at w h e n t h ey p r e p a r e d my b eve r a g e, t h ey ad d e d a b i t to o mu c h r um, w hi c h i n c r e as e d t h e a r o m at i c i nte ns i t y. T h e c i g a r a n d t h e c of fe e c o m b i n e d we ll, w i t h o ut ove r p owe r i n g e ac h ot h e r. T h e c i g a r ’s m e di um - to - hi g h b o dy sto o d i t s g r o un d a n d t h e p ai r i n g wo ul d n ot h ave b e e n p o s s i b l e i f i t h ad b e e n a ny m i l d e r. At t h e b e g i nni n g, t h e c i g a r h ad i t s ow n c of fe e - like n ote s, unr e l ate d to t h e dr i nk , b ut at t h e e n d i t was l o ad e d w i t h dr y f r ui t s a n d s p i c e s.

A s I f i ni s h e d t h e dr i nk a n d t h e c i g a r, t h e sun st a r te d to r e ac h my h a n ds, s l ow ly wa r m i n g up my b o dy. I wa nte d to c o nt i nu e s m o k i n g, b ut t h e w i n d ow of o p p o r t uni t y st a r te d to c l o s e as J o aquín st a r te d to awake, s o i t was t i m e to r et ur n h o m e.

I h o p e t h at t h o s e of yo u ex p e r i e n c i n g c o l d we at h e r c a n a l s o f i n d t i m e to e nj oy a c i g a r w i t h a wa r m r um dr i nk . A ll i t t ake s to b e h a p py i s a r o un d 3 0 m i nute s!

Phi li p I li B a r ake # GRCi g a r Pai r i n g

G o t Ru m ? F e b ru a ry 2 0 2 6 - 6 7

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