"Got Rum?" January 2025

Got Rum? J a n u a ry 2 0 2 5

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

COOKING WITH RUM - Angel’s Share - CIGAR & Rum THE RUM HISTORIAN - The RUM MIXOLOGIST RUM IN THE NEWS - THE RUM LABORATORY THE SWEET BUSINESS OF SUGAR - THE SUGAR MILL

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Contents

JANUARY 2025 5 From The Editor 6-9 T h e A n g e l’ s S h a r e - R u m R e v i e w s 10-13 C OO K ING WI T H RUM 14-17 T HE r u m m i x o l o g i s t 18-19 T HE RUM UNIVERSI T Y ® LI B R A R Y 24-27 T h e RUM HIS T ORI A N 28-31 T HE r UM l ab o r at o r y 34-37 RUM IN T HE NEWS 38-47 T HE SWEE T B USINESS O F SUG A R 48-55 T h e s u g a r m i l l : o r i g i n s a n d e v o l u t i o n 56-59 C IG A R a n d RUM PA IRING

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G o t R u m ? J a n u a ry 2 0 225 5 - 3

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

January 2025 Edi tor and P ubl i sher:

l ui s@ gotrum.com

Executi ve Edi tor:

margaret@ gotrum. com

C i gar and Rum:

phi l i p@ gotrum.co m

A ngel ’s Share: paul @ gotrum.com Rum Hi stori an:

marco@ gotrum.c om

Rum i n the New s:

mi ke@ gotrum.com

C ooki ng w i th Rum:

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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 : Memori es A nd Dream s INSIDE S P RE A D : Rum Genesi s

F ROM T HE EDI T OR

Turning The Page It is time again to welcome a new year full of expectations, hope, planning and the accompanying rewards we hope to earn in 2025.

During 2024 we saw a lot of craft distilleries shutting down, but we also saw a lot of new players come into the market.

Wholesalers in the USA are making adjustments to their strategies, to avoid the problems that caused them so many headaches last year.

Opportunities are always lurking around, but you must prepare financially in order to take advantage of them. Being abl e to acquire used distillation/bottling equipment at a great price, for example, is no good if we don’t have the financial resources to consider the purchase.

I am looking forward to seeing how trends that started during the past few years are morphed by the current financial conditions. I am particularly keen to see how consumers react to environmentally conscious items that are priced higher than their less-green counterparts.

I am also keeping a close eye on low sugar, low-alcohol (including no-alcohol) alternatives, THC-infused drinks, RTD (Ready To Drink) and DTC (Direct To Consumer) trends.

I hope that many craft distilleries took advantage of the RTD boom last year.

For those that didn’t, there might still be time to do so this year, but I suggest researching the field and looking for the right opportunities, so that the volume associated with RTD production does not limit the bottli ng of higher-profit retail units later on, especially if the RTD products are well-received by consumers.

Author C. S. Lewis famously wrote:

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

Regardless of which trends emerge in the market, I hope that all producers reading these lines will be able to take advantage of them.

I want to end this month’s editorial by congratulating the staff at Artisan Spirit Magazine for their upcoming 50th edition.

A fantastic magazine by a fantastic team!

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 R u m ? J a n u a ry 2 0 25 - 5

T HE A NGEL’ S SH A RE

by Paul S e nf t

Kakira Gold Rum W hi l e s h o p p i n g at a l o c a l s h o p f o r a r um t ast i n g I was c ur at i n g, I di s c ove r e d t hi s r um o n t h e s h e l f of o n e of my l o c a l sto r e s. K ak i r a G o l d Rum i s p r o du c e d at t h e di st i ll e r y l o c ate d o n t h e K ak i r a S u g a r Est ate i n U g a n da o n t h e s h o r e s of L ake V i c to r i a at t h e s o ur c e of t h e R i ve r N i l e.

T h e f a r m was e st a b li s h e d i n 19 3 0 a n d h as g r ow n to a 4 5,0 0 0 - ac r e su g a r c a n e f a r m. T h e c a n e g r ow n i s us e d f o r su g a r p r o du c t i o n as we ll as p owe r i n g t h e f a r m a n d sur r o un di n g c i t i e s, K a m p a l a a n d Ente b b e.

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 Rum ? January 2 0 2 5 - 6

A s p a r t of t h e f a r m’s o p e r at i o n, t h ey us e a c o lum n st i ll to c r e ate et h a n o l n e ut r a l a l c o h o l f o r p owe r p r o du c t i o n as we ll as to m ake t h e i r vo dka a n d g i n p r o du c t s.

Fo r t h e i r r um s, t h ey fe r m e nt m o l as s e s a n d di st i ll t h e li qui d i n a p ot st i ll. T h ey t h e n a g e t h e r um f o r t h e i r g o l d p r o du c t i n b o ur b o n a n d s h e r r y ba r r e l s f o r a m i ni mum of f i ve ye a r s. T h e r um i s b l e n d e d to 4 3% A BV a n d b ot t l e d o n s i te.

Appearance T h e 75 0 m l c usto m - d e s i g n e d b ot t l e h as a b l ac k a n d g o l d l a b e l t h at p r ov i d e s a g o o d b i t of i nf o r m at i o n a b o ut t h e r um. It i s s e a l e d w i t h a p l ast i c c a p t h at s e c ur e s a sy nt h et i c c o r k to t h e b ot t l e.

I n t h e b ot t l e a n d g l as s, t h e r um h o l ds a p a l e a m b e r c o l o r. S w i r li n g t h e li qui d c r e ate s a m e di um ba n d t h at qui c k ly r e l e as e s a c o up l e of wave s of l e g s b ef o r e b e adi n g up a n d eva p o r at i n g, l e av i n g a r i n g of r e s i du e b e hi n d.

Nose T h e i ni t i a l a r o m a of t h e r um l e ads w i t h c a r a m e l, f o ll owe d by a n a r r ay of dr i e d f r ui t n ote s su c h as r ai s i ns, f r e s h - c ut ba n a n a, a p r i c ot s, p lum s, a n d o r a n g e ze st hi g h li g hte d by g i n g e r a n d c l ove s p i c e s w i t h

a li t t l e ni p of h o n ey m i xe d w i t h t h e s p i c e s.

A f te r t h e li qui d r e st s f o r a few m i nute s, I d ete c t n ote s of da r k c ac a o, dr i e d to bac c o l e af, a n d r o aste d nut s.

Pa l a t e T h e f i r st s i p l e ads w i t h a st r o n g sw i r l of c a r a m e l a n d a l c o h o l. Ad di t i o n a l s i p s h ave t h e f r ui t a n d s p i c e n ote s f r o m t h e a r o m a hi t t i n g h a r d m i dp a l ate w hi l e t h e f o un dat i o n of t h e f l avo r p r of i l e p r ov i d e s e a r t hy r o aste d c o c o nut , dr i e d to bac c o, wa lnut s, a n d a li g ht ac i di t y t h at b r i ef ly m a ni fe st s, b ut a wa r m h o n ey n ote e m e r g e s a n d c a r r i e s t h e e a r t hi e r f o un dat i o n f l avo r s i nto a l o n g, swe et , h o n ey - nut dr y f i ni s h.

O n e of t h e r e as o ns I c o nt i nu e to e nj oy r ev i ew i n g r um s i s t h e p l e as a nt sur p r i s e s o n e f i n ds ex p l o r i n g t h e r um s t h e wo r l d of fe r s. I was awa r e of r um p r o du c t i o n i n U g a n da, b ut t hi s i s t h e f i r st t i m e I h ave h ad t h e o p p o r t uni t y to t aste o n e. Pur c h as i n g i t b li n d of f t h e s h e l f i s a l ways r i sk y, b ut i n t hi s s i t u at i o n, I fe e l i t p r ov i d e d a n i nte r e st i n g ly c o m p l ex f l avo r ex p e r i e n c e.

I t hi t s t h e p a l ate a li t t l e h a r d f o r m e to r e c o m m e n d f o r s i p p i n g, b ut I c e r t ai n ly e nj oye d t h e a r o m a a n d f l avo r p r of i l e. T h e h o n ey nut f i ni s h was a ni c e to u c h a n d i t li n g e r s o n t h e p a l ate l o n g af te r t h e f i n a l s i p.

W i t h a ll t h e f r ui t a n d s p i c e n ote s i n t h e f l avo r p r of i l e, t hi s r um h as a ve r s at i li t y to i t t h at wo ul d m ake i t a g o o d c o m p o n e nt i n a va r i et y of r um c o c k t ai l s. T h e r e a r e s o m e nu a n c e s t h at a s k i ll e d ba r te n d e r m ay n e e d to ba l a n c e o r t a m e d e p e n di n g o n t h e dr i nk , b ut ove r a ll, i t h e l d up we ll dur i n g my t ast i n g s e s s i o n. Fo r t h o s e w h o a r e l o o k i n g to ex p l o r e a n ew f l avo r ex p e r i e n c e, I r e c o m m e n d g i v i n g t hi s r um a t r y a n d h o p e yo u e nj oy ex p e r i m e nt i n g w i t h i t .

w w w.kakiradistiller y.c om

Rev i ew

G o t R u m ? J a n u a ry 2 0 25 - 7

T HE A NGEL’ S SH A RE

by Paul S e nf t

Ron Medellin E x tra Añejo 8 Años T he Ro n M e dellin line is pro duc e d at t he Fábr ic a de Lic o re s y A lc o ho le s de A nt i o quia (FL A) dist iller y, aka t he alc o ho l fac to r y, in C o l o mbia. T he c o mpany is a st ate - ow ne d o p er at i o n t hat make s t heir r um f ro m sugarc ane and age s t heir r ums in use d b our b o n bar rels and blends t hem to 4 0% A BV. B e si de s t heir r um, t he c o mpany als o pr o duc e s: aguardi ente, br andy, c reams, gin, vo dka, and l ow - pro of ready- to dr ink (RT D) p ro duc t s. T he c o mpany also pr o duc e s alc o h o l - base d pr o duc t s fo r m e dic inal and fo o d p ro duc t i o n use.

Appearance T he r um is pac kag e d in a c o l o r f ul b ox t hat ho l ds t he 75 0 ml b ot t le. B i g o n ar t , but slim o n det ails, t he b ox c er t ainly sto o d out o n t he she lve s. T he c lear glas s c usto m - de si gne d b ot t le has a plast ic c ap and a l o ng ne c k w r ap, b ot h featur ing t he Ro n M e dellin l o g o.

T he li qui d has a dar k amb er c o l o r in t he b ot t le and glas s. S w ir ling t he r um c reate s a t hin band t hat sl ow ly t hic kens and re lease s a few wave s of fast- m oving le gs befo re evap o r at ing, leaving a r ing of bi g b eads around t he glas s.

N o se T he ar o ma is a li ght sw ir l of c ar ame l, c andi e d f r uit , toaste d c ashews, and m o c ha.

Pa l a t e T he f ir st sip of t he r um deliver s a c haot ic sw ir l of vanilla, oak t annins, leat her, c andi e d f r uit , m o c ha lat te, Got Rum ? January 2 0 2 5 - 8

and a me dic inal ast r ing ency. A f ter let t ing t he r um re st fo r a few minute s, I disc overe d t he c hao s had set t l e d a bit and t hat t he wo o d t annins p r ov i de d a roaste d c ashew note balanc e d by over r ip e c ant al oup e. A c her r y- alm o nd ast r ing ency k ic ks in hard and ling er s in a l o ng, wo o dy f inish.

Rev i ew W hile sh o p ping in a l o c al sto re, I found t he Ro n M e de llin line feature d o n o ne of t he she lve s as a new ar r ival. I had c er t ainly heard of t he br and, but I was not sure if I had ever had it . W hen I re searc he d t he p ro duc t , I disc overe d info r mat i o n ab out t he dist ill er y and t h ought it would b e intere st ing to ex p l o re t heir 8 -year- o ld p ro duc t .

D ur ing t he evaluat i o n p ro c e s s, I found t he aro ma to b e simp le and unc o mp lic ate d and a t ad o dd. T he f lavo r p rof ile is not balanc e d, and t he wo o d note s are liter ally hit t ing all over t he p lac e. H owever, t he m o st c hallenging par t of t he f lavo r p rof il e fo r me is t he over r ip e c ant al oup e and c her r y- alm o nd me dic inal ast r ingency.

T he se f lavo r c o mp o nent s r uine d t he sipping ex p er i enc e and were not s o met hing I enj oye d. T he af ter t aste ling ere d o n t he palate and made m e not want to ex p er iment w it h it in a c o c k t ail fo r re c o mmendat i o n pur p o se s.

If you b e li eve t he f lavo r note s woul d b e s o met hing you woul d enj oy, by all means pic k it up to ex p l o re. H owever, t his was not an ex p er i enc e I enj oye d and really do not c are to rep eat .

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.ronmedellinanejo.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 R u m ? J a n u a ry 2 0 25 - 9

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

by Chef Susan W hitley

Got Got Rum Rum?? January January 22002255 -- 10 10

G Goott R Ruum m?? JJaannuuaary ry 22002255 -- 11 11

Sheet Pan Chicken with Sweet Potatoes, Apples and Brussels Sprouts I n g r e di e nt s: •

• • • • • • • • • • • •

4 B o n e l e s s S k i n l e s s C h i c ke n B r e a st s , t r i m m e d of exc e s s f at a n d l i g ht l y p o u n d e d to a r e l at i ve l y eve n thickness 3 T b s p. E x t r a - v i r g i n O l i ve O i l, divided 4 G a r l i c C l ove s , m i n c e d 2 T b s p. Fr e s h Ro s e m a r y, c h o p p e d a n d di v i d e d 1 t s p. G r o u n d C i n n a m o n 1 t s p. G r o u n d N u t m e g 1 t s p. S e a S a l t , di v i d e d ½ t s p. G r o u n d B l ac k Pe p p e r, d i v i d e d 4 T b s p. D a r k Ru m, di v i d e d 4 C. (1 l b.) B r u s s e l s S p r o u t s , t r i m m e d a n d h a l ve d (q u a r te r i f ve r y l a r g e) 1 L a r g e S we et Pot ato, p e e l e d a n d c u t i nto 1/ 2- i n c h c u b e s 1 M e di u m Re d O n i o n, c u t i nto 3 /4 inch pieces 1 M e di u m H o n eyc r i s p A p p l e, p e e l e d, c o r e d, a n d c u t i nto 1- i n c h p i e c e s (t h e s e p i e c e s s h o u l d b e l a r g e r t h a n t h e ve g et a b l e s)

I n st r u c t i o n s: • •

•

•

•

Pr e h e at t h e ove n to 425° F. Pl ac e t h e c h i c ke n b r e a st s i n a l a r g e z i pto p b a g. D r i z z l e w i t h 1 1/ 2 t a b l e s p o o n s o l i ve o i l, t h e n a d d t h e g a r l i c , 1 t a b l e s p o o n r o s e m a r y, c i n n a m o n, n u t m e g, 1/ 2 te a s p o o n s a l t , 1/4 te a s p o o n b l a c k p e p p e r a n d 2 t a b l e s p o o n s of D a r k Ru m. Z i p t h e b a g t i g ht l y, t h e n s h a ke a n d r u b t h e b a g to c o at t h e c h i c ke n i n t h e o i l a n d s p i c e s. S et a s i d e w h i l e yo u c h o p t h e ve g et a b l e s a n d a p p l e.

O n c e c h o p p e d, p l ac e t h e B r u s s e l s s p r o u t s , swe et p ot ato, o n i o n, a n d a p p l e o n a l a r g e, r i m m e d b a k i n g s h e et . D r i z z l e w i t h t h e r e m a i n i n g 1 1/ 2 t a b l e s p o o n s o l i ve o i l, t h e n s p r i n k l e w i t h r e m a i n i n g 1/ 2 te a s p o o n s a l t , 1/4 te a s p o o n b l a c k p e p p e r a n d D a r k Ru m. To s s to eve n l y c o at , t h e n s p r e a d i nto a n eve n l aye r.

Re m ove c h i c ke n f r o m b a g a n d p l a c e o n to p of t h e a p p l e a n d ve g et a b l e s. Pl a c e i n t h e ove n a n d r o a st u nt i l t h e c h i c ke n i s c o o ke d t h r o u g h (i nte r n a l te m p e r at u r e n e e d s to r e ac h e s 16 5° F ) a b o u t 2 0 to 25 m i n u te s , o r u nt i l d o n e. O n c e t h e c h i c ke n i s c o o ke d t h r o u g h, r e m ove f r o m p a n a n d p l a c e o n a p l ate to r e st . C ove r p l ate w i t h f o i l to ke e p c h i c ke n wa r m.

To s s t h e a p p l e a n d ve g et a b l e s o n t h e p a n, t h e n r et u r n t h e p a n to t h e ove n a n d c o nt i n u e b a k i n g u nt i l c a r a m e l i ze d a n d te n d e r, a b o u t 15 m i n u te s. S p r i n k l e w i t h t h e r e m a i n i n g o n e t a b l e s p o o n f r e s h r o s e m a r y. I f d e s i r e d, a d d a n ot h e r 2 t a b l e s p o o n s of D a r k Ru m. S e r ve wa r m w i t h t h e r e ste d c h i c ke n.

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

Got Got Rum Rum?? January January 22002255 -- 12 12

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake I n g r e di e nt s •

1 ¼ C. S u g a r

•

1 C. A ll Pur p o s e Fl o ur

•

½ C. C o c o a Powd e r

•

2 t s p. B ak i n g Powd e r

•

¼ t s p. S a lt

•

½ C. W h o l e M i lk

•

1/ 3 C. B ut te r, m e lte d

•

1 ½ t s p. Va ni ll a E x t r ac t

•

3 T b s p. D a r k Rum

•

½ C. B r ow n S u g a r

•

1 ¼ C. H ot Wate r

I nst r u c t i o ns: 1. Pr e h e at ove n to 3 5 0 ° F. 2. G r e as e a n 8 i n. x 8 i n. bak i n g p a n.

3. C o m b i n e 3 /4 c up su g a r, f l o ur, 1/4 c up c o c o a p owd e r, bak i n g p owd e r, a n d s a l t i n a m e di um b ow l. S t i r i n t h e m i lk , b ut te r, va ni ll a ex t r ac t , a n d D a r k Rum. M i x we ll t h e n s p r e ad bat te r i nto bak i n g p a n.

4. I n a s m a ll b ow l, c o m b i n e t h e 1/ 2 c up su g a r, b r ow n su g a r, a n d 1/4 c up c o c o a p owd e r. S p r i nk l e dr y m i x t ur e eve n ly ove r c ake bat te r.

5. Po ur h ot wate r eve n ly ove r dr y m i x t ur e, d o n ot st i r.

6. B ake f o r a b o ut 3 5 m i nute s.

7. Re m ove f r o m ove n a n d s c o o p i nto b ow l s. S e r ve w i t h i c e c r e a m.

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

G Goott R Ruum m?? JJaannuuaary ry 22002255 -- 1133

TH E RUM

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

Got Rum ? January 2 0 2 5 - 14

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 R u m ? J a n u a ry 2 0 2 5 - 1 5

Got Rum ? January 2 0 2 5 - 16

TH E RUM

M i xo l o g i s t This M onth’s C oc k t ail: The Daiquir i Histor y T h e dr i nk was sup p o s e dly i nve nte d by a n A m e r i c a n m i ni n g e n g i n e e r n a m e d J e nni n g s C ox , w h o was i n Cuba (t h e n at t h e t ai l e n d of t h e S p a ni s h C a pt ai n c y - G e n e r a l g ove r nm e nt) at t h e t i m e of t h e S p a ni s h – A m e r i c a n Wa r of 18 9 8 . I t i s a l s o p o s s i b l e t h at W i lli a m A . C h a n l e r, a US c o n g r e s s m a n w h o p ur c h as e d t h e S a nt i a g o i r o n m i n e s i n 19 0 2, i nt r o du c e d t h e dai qui r i to c lub s i n N ew Yo r k i n t h at ye a r.

O r i g i n a lly t h e dr i nk was s e r ve d i n a t a ll g l as s p ac ke d w i t h c r ac ke d i c e. A te as p o o n of su g a r was p o ur e d ove r t h e i c e, a n d t h e j ui c e of o n e o r t wo li m e s was s qu e eze d ove r t h e su g a r. Two o r t h r e e o un c e s of w hi te r um c o m p l ete d t h e m i x t ur e. T h e g l as s was t h e n f r o ste d w i t h a l o n g h a n dl e d s p o o n. L ate r t h e dai qui r i evo l ve d to b e m i xe d i n a s h ake r w i t h t h e s a m e i n g r e di e nt s b ut w i t h s h ave d i c e. A f te r a t h o r o u g h s h ak i n g, i t was p o ur e d i nto a c hi ll e d c o up e g l as s.

Classic Daiquiri Ingredients •

1 1/ 2 o un c e s li g ht r um

•

3 /4 o un c e f r e s h ly s qu e eze d li m e j ui c e

•

1/ 2 to 3 /4 o un c e s i m p l e sy r up, to t aste

Directions 1. Ad d a ll i n g r e di e nt s i nto a c o c k t ai l s h ake r f i ll e d w i t h l a r g e i c e c ub e s.

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

3. S e r ve a n d e nj oy.

G o t R u m ? J a n u a ry 2 0 2 5 - 1 7

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

Got Rum ? January 2 0 2 5 - 18

Around the World in 80 Cocktails

by Chad Parkhill (Pub li sh e r ’s Rev i ew) A r ou nd the Wo r l d i n 8 0 C o c k ta i ls c e l e b r ate s t h e g l o b et r ot t in g hi sto r y of t h e c o c k t ai l t hr o u g h e i g ht y di f fe re nt i c o ni c dr inks – e ac h of w hi c h has it s ow n sto r y to te ll. B ar te n d e r an d w r ite r Chad Par k hill t ake s yo u o n a w hir l w in d to ur of t h e p lac e s t hat have shap e d t h e hi sto r y of t h e c o c k t ail f r o m it s b ir t h to t h e p r e s e nt day, w it h re c ip e s s o yo u c an fo ll ow al o n g at h o m e.

Yo u’ll l e ar n ab o ut t h e sur p r i sin g mi lit ar y hi sto r y b e hin d t h e bub b ly, v i vac i o us Ve n et ian S p r it z; h ow t h e G &T m ove d f r o m In dia to En glan d (an d w hy t h e b e st in t h e wo r l d are n ow m ad e in S pain); an d h ow Fr anc e’s B ur g un dy re gi o n tur n e d t r ag e dy into t r iump h w it h t h e K ir. Ac c o mpani e d by g o r g e o us v int ag e - st y l e i llust r at i o ns t hat evo ke ant i qu e t r ave l p o ste r s, t h e s e sto r i e s an d r e c ip e s ar e an o d e to t h e j oys of t r ave l, hi sto r y, an d dr ink in g.

A b o ut t h e Aut h o r C H A D PA R K HILL i s a w r ite r an d bar te n d e r w h o li ve s in M e lb o ur n e, Aust r alia.

Pub li sh e r : H ar di e G r ant B o o ks; I llust r ate d e dit i o n (O c to b e r 3, 2 017) L an guag e: En gli sh H ar dc ove r : 19 2 pag e s IS B N -10: 174117518 6 IS B N -13: 978 -174117518 9 Ite m We i ght: 1.1 p o un ds D im e ns i o ns: 6.1 x 0. 8 5 x 7. 5 5 inc h e s

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Q: W hy Bot t l e /Co - Pac k a t Ru m Cent r al?

A : Rum C entral is loc ated within the Texa s Tr i a ngl e, a region in Texas for med by the st ate’s four main metropolit an areas. The Texa s Tr i a ngl e is one of eleven mega regions in the United St ates and is home to approximately 75% of the St ate’s population. This area also benef it s subst antially f rom trade with M exic o, the United St ates’ third largest trade par tner.

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THE RUM HISTORIAN

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

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

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

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

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

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

Got Rum ? January 2 0 2 5 - 24

HISTORY O F C U B A N RUM 24. YOU M AY DRIN K A S MU C H A S YOU WA N T TO B a s i l D i l l o n Wo o n (18 9 3 - 1974) wa s a B r i t i s h p l ay w r i g ht a n d j o u r n a l i st , ve r y f a m o u s i n t h e f i r st h a l f of t h e 19 0 0 s. I n 19 28 , h e p u b l i s h e d a b o o k , “ W h en I t ’s C o c k ta i l T i m e i n C u b a ”, i n w h i c h h e te l l s a b o u t t h e g i l d e d l i fe of t h e r i c h A m e r i c a n to u r i st s a n d of t h e i r C u b a n f r i e n d s.

Wo o n te l l s u s (a l m o st) n ot h i n g a b o u t t h e r e a l i t y of C u b a o u t s i d e h i s n a r r ow c i r c l e of p r i v i l e g e d p e o p l e, exc e pt to exc e s s i ve l y p r a i s e t h e g ove r n m e nt of M ac h a d o, t h e n i n of f i c e, a n d t h e exq u i s i te k i n d n e s s of t h e C u b a n p o l i c e! I t i s t r u e t h at i n 19 28 C u b a n Pr e s i d e nt G e r a r d o M ac h a d o wa s n ot yet t h e di c t ato r h e wo u l d b e c o m e a l i t t l e l ate r a n d t h at t h e C u b a n p o l i c e we r e m u c h m o r e to l e r a nt of A m e r i c a n to u r i st s t h a n t h ey we r e of t h e i r ow n c i t i ze n s , b ut c o m e o n, h i s p r a i s e s a r e p e r h a p s a b i t exa g g e r ate d.

Wo o n t a l ks a l ot a b o u t r u m, b u t o n l y B ac a r di, w h i l e n ot h i n g, a b s o l u te l y n ot h i n g i s s a i d a b o ut ot h e r b r a n d s , a s i f t h ey di d n ot ex i st . S o m u c h s o t h at I s u s p e c t s o m e f o r m of s p o n s o r s h i p, b ot h f r o m B ac a r di a n d t h e C u b a n g ove r n m e nt .

A n d my s u s p i c i o n i s r e i nf o r c e d w h e n I r e a d o n A m a zo n t h at t h e b o o k wa s “ p r i vate l y

p ub li s h e d ”. M i n e i s o n l y a su s p i c i o n, w i t h o u t a ny ev i d e n c e, l et i t b e c l e a r. Yet , a s a ve r y p owe r f u l a n d m u c h di s c u s s e d I t a l i a n st ate s m a n s a i d m a ny ye a r s a g o, “ to t h i n k t h e wo r st of s o m e o n e i s a s i n, b ut of te n yo u a r e s p ot o n”.

H oweve r, eve n w i t h t h e s e li m i t s, t h e b o o k i s a p r e c i o u s s o u r c e, w h i c h g i ve s u s a u n i q u e i n s i g ht i nto to u r i s m i n C ub a du r i n g Pr o h i b i t i o n. Fu r t h e r m o r e, a s o u r m o st ex p e r i e n c e d r e a d e r s w i l l n ot i c e, Wo o n’s b o o k i s a l s o t h e s o u r c e of m a ny sto r i e s a b o u t r u m a n d C ub a n b a r s f o un d i n m a ny b o o ks, a r t i c l e s, we b s i te s etc . A s o u r c e s o m et i m e s c o r r e c t l y ac k n ow l e d g e d, ot h e r t i m e s n ot . I n s h o r t , f o r a l l t h e s e r e a s o n s (a n d f o r ot h e r s t h at we w i l l a d dr e s s i n t h e n ex t a r t i c l e s), i t i s a b o o k t h at d e s e r ve s to b e b et te r k n ow n by a l l r um e nt hu s i a st s.

I h ave t h e r ef o r e d e c i d e d to d e di c ate t h r e e a r t i c l e s to i t , p r e s e nt i n g yo u w i t h t h e exc e r pt s t h at s e e m m o st i nte r e st i n g to m e. M y i nte r ve nt i o n i s li m i te d to s i m p l e n ote s i n i t a li c s w h i c h, I h o p e, w i l l h e l p c o ntex t u a li s e a n d m a ke t h e tex t m o r e e a s i l y u n d e r st a n d a b l e, a l o n g w i t h s o m e b r i ef r ef l e c t i o n s. H a p py r e a di n g.

I n t h e f o r ewo r d , Wo o n i n tr o d u c es h is b o o k i n t h is way, a n d d r i n k i n g i m m e d i a te ly ta kes c en ter s ta g e.

T h i s b o o k wa s n ot w r i t te n a s a n ‘ i m p r e s s i o n’ of C u b a, n o r a s a g ui d e. I h ave m e r e l y a m u s e d mys e l f by s et t i n g d ow n o n p a p e r w h at t h e to u r i st to C ub a w i l l s e e, d o (a n d d r i n k) i n a l a n d w h e r e p e r s o n a l li b e r t y a n d c l i m ate b l e n d e d i n j u st t h e r i g ht s et t i n g of b e aut y a n d r o m a n c e.

A n d t h en h e i n f o r ms us a b o u t th e n ew A m er i c a n t r en d o f to u r is t tr ave l to C u b a , i ns tea d o f g o i n g to Fr a nc e as was th e tr a d i t i o n. “ H ave o n e i n H ava n a” s e e m s to h ave b e c o m e t h e w i nte r s l o g a n of t h e we a l t hy.

T h e b e l l s of S a nt a C l a r a a r e s o un di n g au s p i c i o u s l y i n N o r t h e r n e a r s. I t i s b e c o m i n g f a s h i o n a b l e to f o l l ow i n t h e f o ot ste p s of C o l um b u s. S o t h r o n g e d w i t h A m e r i c a n s h a s t h e R i v i e r a b e c o m e t h at these same Americans are turning nearer h o m e f o r s o m et h i n g m o r e s at i s f y i n g l y f o r e i g n, r e a li z i n g su d d e n l y t h at o n l y s i x t y

m i l e s f r o m t h e i r ow n s h o r e s i s a c i t y s o c o m p l ete l y exot i c t h at t h ey m ay b e a s s u p e r i o r a s t h ey p l e a s e.

A n A m e r i c a n a b r o a d i s n ot h a p py u n l e s s h e c a n fe e l t h o r o u g h l y s u p e r i o r a n d a s i n e qu a n o n of t h i s s u p e r i o r i t y i s t h at t h e c o u nt r y h e v i s i t s s h o u l d h ave a l a n g u a g e di f fe r e nt f r o m h i s ow n. ….

I a s s u r e yo u t h at I wot [s i c] – a l ot – of w h at I a m s ay i n g, a n d i t i s my s o l e m n o p i n i o n t h e f u t u r e of C u b a to u r i st i c a l l y d e p e n d s n ot s o m u c h u p o n i t s c l i m ate, a s i s f a l l ac i o u s l y b e l i eve d, a s u p o n t h e f ac t t h at C u b a i s a f o r e i g n – a ve r y f o r e i g n – l a n d.

T ha t is , i f I u n d er s to o d c o r r e c t ly, i n C u b a th ey d o n o t s p ea k E n g l i s h , b u t S p a n i s h , a n d even th i s , a c c o r d i n g to Wo o n , m a kes th e i s l a n d exo t i c a n d a t tr a c t i ve. A n i n ter es t i n g o p i n i o n , b u t I th i n k tha t m ay b e i t was tr u e i n 1928 , w h en to u r i s ts wer e a m i n o r i t y o f p r i v i l e g e d , wea l thy, c u l tu r e d p e o p l e w h o ha d a l r ea dy s e en m a ny th i n gs i n th e wo r l d.

N owa d ays , w i th m o d er n m as s to u r is m , I b e l i eve i t i s n o l o n g er tr u e.

B u t w hy d i d A m er i c a ns l ove C u b a s o mu c h?

H er e i s Wo o n’s a ns wer.

C u b a at p r e s e nt h a s f o u r ve r y di st i n c t a p p e a l s to t h e A m e r i c a n to u r i st , a n d I l i st t h e m i n o r d e r of t h e i r i m p o r t a n c e, k n ow i n g we l l t h at p r ac t i c a l l y eve r y r e a d e r w i l l t h i n k I e r r i n n ot p u t t i n g N u m b e r Two f i r st : 1.

I t i s u t te r l y f o r e i g n.

2.

I t h a s “ p e r s o n a l l i b e r t y ” c a r r i e d to t h e N t h d e g r e e.

3.

I t s c l i m ate i s a m o n g t h e f i n e st i n t h e wo r l d.

4.

I t s h i sto r y i s t h e c o l o r f u l h i sto r y of r o m a n c e a n d a d ve nt u r e.

A n d i m m e d i a te ly a f ter wa r d h e d e l ves i n to th e s u b j e c t , r eas o n i n g a b o u t th e tr u e m ea n i n g o f p er s o na l l i b er t y.

A s to p e r s o n a l l i b e r t y, i t d e p e n d s u p o n w h at yo u r d ef i n i t i o n i s of t h at u s ef u l c o m m o di t y. … W h ateve r t h e t r u t h a n e nt t h e l e g e n d of t h e k i n d H ava n a p o l i c e m a n m ay b e, i t s e e m s t h at p e r s o n a l l i b e r t y i n C u b a m ay b e

G o t R u m ? J a n u a ry 2 0 2 5 - 2 5

“ h i g h” s e a s o n, h oweve r, a n d t h i s b e g i n s s h o r t l y af te r t h e N ew Ye a r a n d c u l m i n ate s at t h e e n d of M a r c h. T h e m o st n ot a b l e m o nt h i s Fe b r u a r y.

H ava n a i s c r owd e d w i t h to u r i st s a n d v i s i to r s f r o m t h e o p e n i n g of t h e r ac i n g s e a s o n, o n o r a b o u t t h e n i nt h o d D e c e m b e r, to t h e c l o s i n g n i g ht of t h e C a s i n o i n M a r c h.

T h e w h o l e C ha p ter I I I is a b o u t d r i n k i n g a n d th e ver y t i t l e is ex tr em e ly i n tr i g u i n g: WHERE EVERYONE IS DRIN K ING A ND NOT A SOUL IS DRUN K !

i nte r p r ete d a s m e a n i n g: 1.

Yo u m ay dr i nk a s m u c h a s yo u wa nt to.

2.

Yo u m ay b u y a s m a ny dr i nks f o r yo u r f r i e n d s a s yo u w i s h.

3.

Yo u m ay c h a n c e yo u r l u c k at t h e l ot te r y.

4.

Yo u m ay l o s e a s m u c h m o n ey a s yo u d e s i r e i n t h e C a s i n o.

5.

Yo u n e e d n ot to c a r r y yo u r m a r r i a g e c e r t i f i c ate w i t h yo u.

6.

Yo u m ay st a r e at t h e p r et t y s e ñ o r i t a s b e c au s e su c h st a r i n g i n C ub a i s a c o m p li m e nt – n ot a c r i m e.

7.

Yo u n e e d n o v i s a to yo u r p a s s p o r t to e nte r C ub a, n o i d e nt i t y c a r d i f yo u r e m a i n.

A m o n g t h e n o r m a l to u r is ts th er e a r e m a ny A m er i c a n a n d Eu r o p ea n c e l eb r i t i es . B u t wh en is t h e b es t t i m e to g o to C u b a?

T h r o u g h t h e S ev i l l a l o b by at “ te a” t i m e (o n e o r t wo H ava n a v i s i to r s d o ac t u a l l y d r i n k te a) f l ow s t h e s o c i a l t i d e, a s c o l o r f u l a n d b r i l li a nt h e r e a s Eu r o p e at i t s g aye st , e s p e c i a l l y d u r i n g t h e s e a l l - to o - few we e ks t h at h ave c o m e to b e k n ow n a s “ t h e s e a s o n”. T h e s e a s o n i s l e n g t h e n i n g ye a r by ye a r a n d i n t i m e to c o m e w i l l p r o b a b l y l a st f r o m N ove m b e r to A p r i l, f o r du r i n g t h e s e s i x m o nt h s t h e we at h e r i s dr y a n d we l l - n i g h p e r fe c t . T h e s n o b b e r y of s o c i et y, w i t h i t s r e st l e s s i n s i ste n c e o n c h a n g e, w i l l h ave a

Got Rum ? January 2 0 2 5 - 26

M ay b e yo u’l l r em em b er tha t we have a l r ea dy c o m e a c r o s s o th er f o r e i g n tr ave l er s c l a i m i n g tha t C u b a ns d r i n k m o d er a te ly a n d tha t th ey wer e n ever tr u ly d r u n k . I a m n o t s o s u r e. M ay b e i t was j us t a m a t ter o f p er c e p t i o n a n d c o m p a r i s o n w i th th e U.S . w h er e Pr o h i b i t i o n ha d wo n i ts l o n g b a t t l e a ls o b e c aus e d r u n ken n es s was a r ea l s o c i a l s c o u r g e (s e e H I STO RY O F C U B A N R U M 14 .

R U M C O N S U M P T I O N I N X I X C E N T U RY ’ S C U B A i n th e D e c em b er 2 0 23 is s u e).

A ny way, h er e’s w ha t h e w r i tes .

Pr o h i b i t i o n i n t h e U n i te d S t ate s m ay h ave a d d e d to t h e n u m b e r of ‘A m e r i c a n’ b a r s , b ut t h e c o r n e r b o d e g a h a s a l way s f l o u r i s h e d. A b o d e g a i s p a r t g r o c e r y, p a r t to b ac c o s h o p, a n d p a r t s a l o o n. G e n e r a l l y i t i s a r e st au r a nt a s we l l. … E x i st i n g st r i c t l y a s r e st au r a nt t h ey wo u l d l o s e m o n ey, f o r o n l y a few of t h e m a r e f i l l e d at a ny h o u r of t h e d ay, b u t t h e b a r s ave s t h e m. Eve r y r e st au r a nt a n d n e a r l y eve r y g r o c e r y i n H ava n a i s a b a r r o o m. T h e r e a r e, i t i s s a i d, 7,0 0 0 of t h e m. …

I t i s i n f ac t t h at H ava n a i s a p l ac e w h e r e p r ac t i c a l l y eve r yo n e l i ke s h i s l i t t l e dr i n k o r t wo, b u t w h e r e n o b o d y eve r s e e m s to g et d r u n k . S l i g ht l y wo oz y, p e r h a p s , a n d i t m ay b e t h at n ow a n d a g a i n a v i s i to r m ay eve n f i n d h i m s e l f a we e b i t f o oz y, n ot to s ay j o oz y, b u t i t d o e s n’ t h a p p e n of te n a n d a ny t h i n g b eyo n d t h e j o oz y st a g e i s p r ac t i c a l l y u n k n ow n.

A n d h er e a r e th e f a m o us C u b a n c o c k ta i ls a n d t h e f i r s t m en t i o n o f B a c a r d i , m a ny m o r e w i l l f o l l ow.

T h e e a r n e st d r i nke r s of H ava n a h ave c e r t a i n p r efe r e n c e s i n t h e way of r ef r e s h m e nt s.

T h e m o st p o p u l a r a n d m o st h e a l t hf u l dr i n k i s c a l l e d d a i q ui r i a n d i s m e r e l y B ac a r di w i t h l i m e - j u i c e, s h a ke n up unt i l t h e s h a ke r i s c ove r e d w i t h f r o st .

T h e o r i g i n a l c a n e - p l a nte r s of C u b a a n d Lo ui s i a n a h a d a dr i n k w h i c h t h ey m a d e o u t of r um a n d s q u e eze d li m e s, i c e, a d a s h of g r e n a di n e, a n d s i p h o n - wate r. I t wa s dr u n k o u t of t a l l, f r o ste d g l a s s e s a n d wa s c a l l e d ‘ Pl a nte r ’s Pun c h’.

Pl a nte r ’s Pun c h wa s t h e u su a l dr i n k of t h e C u b a n A m e r i c a n s, b ut d ow n i n S a nt i a g o w h e r e a g r o u p u s e d to m e et i n t h e Ve nu s b a r eve r y m o r n i n g at e i g ht o’c l o c k i t wa s m o di f i e d to exc l u d e t h e g r e n a di n e a n d s i p h o n - wate r a n d wa s m a d e i n a s h a ke r. I n ste a d of J a m a i c a n r um t h e p u r e C u b a n B ac a r di, di st i l l e d i n S a nt i a g o f r o m m o l a s s e s, wa s u s e d. T h e b oys u s e d to h ave t h r e e o r f o u r eve r y m o r n i n g. M o st of t h e m wo r ke d i n t h e D a i q ui r i m i n e s, t h e s up e r i nte n d e nt of w h i c h wa s a g e nt l e m a n n a m e d C ox – J e n n i n g s C ox . O n e m o r n i n g i n t h e Ve n u s C ox s a i d: “ B oys, we’ve b e e n d r i n k i n g t h i s d e li c i o u s li t t l e dr i nk f o r s o m e t i m e, b ut we’ve n eve r n a m e d i t . Let ’s c h r i ste n i t n ow ! ” T h e b oys m i l l e d a r o un d a b i t a n d f i n a l l y C ox s a i d: “ I ’l l te l l yo u w h at , l a d s – we a l l wo r k at D a i q ui r i a n d we a l l d r a nk t h i s dr i n k f i r st t h e r e. Let ’s c a l l i t a D a i q u i r i.

T h e D a i q u i r i i s n ow t h e b e st - k n ow n dr i n k i n C ub a. T h i s r e c i p e f o r t h e r e a l D a i q ui r i wa s g i ve n m e by Fac un d o B ac a r di [n o t th e f o u n d er, o f c o u r s e, bu t o n e o f h is d es c en da n ts w i th th e s a m e na m e] a n d c o nf i r m e d by o n e of t h e m e n w h o wa s p r e s e nt at t h e c h r i ste n i n g: h a l f of li m e, s qu e eze d o nto o n e te a s p o o n of su g a r ; p o u r i n o n e w h i s key - g l a s s f u l of B ac a r di; p l e nt y of i c e; s h a ke unt i l s h a ke r i s t h o r o u g h l y f r o ste d o u t s i d e. M e a nw h i l e, c h i l l a t a l l w i n e - g l a s s of t h e k i n d k n ow n a s f l ute, f i l l i t w i t h s h ave n i c e, a n d p o u r i n t h e m i x t u r e. M u st b e d r u n k f r oze n o r i s n ot g o o d. T h e “ b ac a r di c o c k t a i l ” a n d p r o n o un c e d “ b ac A Rdi ”, c o m m o n i n N ew Yo r k a n d Eu r o p e, i s unk n ow n i n C ub a. T h e p r o p e r p r o nu n c i at i o n of t h e n a m e “ B ac a r di ”

st r e s s e s t h e l a st sy l l a b l e. L ate r o n, i n S a nt i a g o, we s h a l l s e e h ow t h e r u m i s m a d e.

T h e t wo ot h e r c o c k t a i l s m o st l y i n d e m a n d i n H ava n a a r e t h e p r e s i d e nte a n d t h e M a r y Pi c k f o r d. T h e p r e s i d e nte i s m a d e w i t h h a l f B ac a r di a n d h a l f Fr e n c h ve r m o u t h, w i t h a d a s h of e i t h e r c u r aç o a o r g r e n a di n e. I t i s t h e a r i sto c r at of c o c k t a i l s a n d i s t h e o n e p r efe r r e d by t h e b et te r c l a s s of C u b a n.

T h e M a r y Pi c k f o r d, i nve nte d d u r i n g a v i s i t to H ava n a of t h e s c r e e n f avo r i te by Fr e d K au f m a n, i s t wo - t h i r d s p i n e a p p l e - j u i c e a n d o n e - t h i r d b ac a r di, w i t h a d a s h of g r e n a di n e.

B ot h c o c k t a i l s a r e swe et i s h a n d s h o u l d b e we l l s h a ke n. T h e p i n e a p p l e j u i c e m u st b e f r e s h - s q u e eze d.”

T h e c ha p ter o n d r i n k i n g en ds i n th i s way : I t ’s n eve r m a ñ a n a w h e n i t c o m e s to d r i n k i n g i n H ava n a. Yo u n e e d n eve r p u t of f u nt i l to m o r r ow t h e d r i n ks t h at s h o u l d c o o l yo u to d ay. S u g a r, s e e g a r s a n d s e ñ o r i t a s f o r m t h e b ac kg r o u n d, a n d r u m, s o to s p e a k , t h e f o r e g r o u n d. … S o m a ny m o r e o r l e s s exc e l l e nt l i fe - s av i n g st at i o n s ex i st i n H ava n a t h at p r ac t i c a l l y eve r y r e a d e r of t h i s b o o k w i l l k n ow of at l e a st o n e we h ave n’ t m e nt i o n e d.

S o m e w i l l wo n d e r w hy we a r e n ot r h a p s o di ze ove r t h e A m b o s M u n d o s p i l s e n e r ; ot h e r s w i l l i n s i st t h at t h e c o m f o r t a b l e b a r of t h e A l m e n d a r e s H ote l s u p p l i e s t h e c o l d e st a n d t a st i e st m a r t i n i s; ot h e r w i l l w i s h to v i s i t Pat C o d y a n d J i g g’s U ptow n B a r ; st i l l ot h e r s w i l l u r g e t h e m e r i t s of s u n d r y d r i n ks a n d s u d - d r i e d b a r te n d e r s at t h e b i g b o d e g a s n e i g h b o r i n g C e nt r a l Pl a z a. To t h e s e I s ay I ’m s o r r y ; I wo u l d l i ke to m a ke t h i s st r o l l a r o u n d t h e c a m e l ’s m i l k di s p e n s a r i e s r e a l l y c o m p l ete, b u t t h e r e a r e ot h e r t h i n g s to H ava n a b e s i d e s b o oze. I n f ac t , l i q u o r i n H ava n a i s n ot h i n g m o r e t h a n ac c e s s o r y b ef o r e, d u r i n g a n d af te r d e f ac t . I t e a s i l y a n d g e nt l y l u b r i c ate s o n e’s p at t h r o u g h t h e f a s c i n at i n g l a by r i nt h of C u b a’s p l e a s u r e s. I n t h e c o u r s e of t h i s b o o k we s h a l l, l i ke eve r y v i s i to r, r et u r n - n ow a n d a g a i n - f o r a n ot h e r drink.

T hus , we f i n i s h th e f i r s t a r t i c l e d e d i c a te d to Wo o n’s b o o k . S e e yo u n ex t m o n th .

M a r c o Pi e r i n i

G o t R u m ? J a n u a ry 2 0 2 5 - 2 7

Got 28 Got Rum Rum?? January January 22002255 -- 28

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 R u m ? J a n u a ry 2 0 2 5 - 2 9

The Rum Universit y ® Laborator y Presents

making your own

Angelica Root Rum Liqueur

I n g r e di e nt s: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

1 Cup W hi te Rum ½ Cup Ag e d Rum 3 T b s p Fi n e ly C h o p p e d, D r i e d A n g e li c a Ro ot (A ng e l i c a a r c ha ng e l i c a) 1 T b s p A lm o n d S li ve r s 1/4 Cup D r i e d A p r i c ot s, f i n e ly c h o p p e d 1/ 8 t s p G r o un d A ll s p i c e 1/ 8 t s p G r o un d Ci nn a m o n 1 t s p A ni s e E x t r ac t 1/ 8 t s p G r o un d C o r i a n d e r S e e ds 1 Cup S u g a r 1 ½ Cup s Wate r 1 D r o p Ye ll ow Fo o d C o l o r i n g 1 D r o p G r e e n Fo o d C o l o r i n g

D i r e c t i o ns: C o m b i n e a ll b ut t h e l ast f o ur i n g r e di e nt s i n a 1- qu a r t j a r w i t h a li d. C ove r a n d l et t h e m i x st a n d i n a c o o l, da r k p l ac e f o r 2 we e ks, m ak i n g sur e to s h ake i t eve r y c o up l e of days.

S t r ai n t h e s o li ds o ut . C o m b i n e su g a r a n d wate r a n d b r i n g to a b o i l unt i l a ll su g a r c r yst a l s a r e di s s o l ve d.

Ad d t hi s s i m p l e sy r up to t h e st r ai n e d li qui d a n d ad d t h e t wo dr o p s of f o o d c o l o r i n g. S e a l t h e j a r a n d l et i t r e st f o r 3 to 4 we e ks.

Got Rum ? January 2 0 2 5 - 30

Did You Know That... ... A n g e li c a r o ot i s us e d to f l avo r w i d e ly k n ow n a l c o h o li c b eve r a g e s, su c h as C h a r t r e us e, B e n e di c t i n e, Ve r m o ut h, A b s i nt h e a n d D ub o nn et ? ... i t s r o ot s h ave b e e n us e d i n t r adi t i o n a l m e di c i n e to t r e at a di ve r s e r a n g e of di s o r d e r s, i n c lu di n g g ast r o i nte st i n a l, r e s p i r ato r y a n d n e r vo us? ... B r i t i s h b ot a ni st J o hn G e r a r d, aut h o r of t h e f a m o us b o o k H er ba l l , o r G ener a l l H is to r i e o f Pla nts (15 97) c l ai m e d t h at i t c o ul d “c u r eth th e b i t i ngs o f ma d d o gs a nd a l l o th er ven o m o us b eas ts ” ? ... t h e p l a nt i s s o a r o m at i c (eve r y p a r t of i t) t h at i t i s a l s o us e d to c r e ate p e r f um e s?

G o t R u m ? J a n u a ry 2 0 2 5 - 3 1

Got Rum Rum? ? January 2 0 2 5 - 32

RUM

And The Environment

ACTION ITEMS Januar y’s Action Item Is . . .

Think Waste Avoidance A s i m p l e way to st a r t yo ur sust ai n a b l e li fe st y l e i s to avo i d waste w h e r e p o s s i b l e.

Pl a n a h e ad w h e n s h o p p i n g a n d c o ns i d e r t h e e nv i r o nm e nt a l a n d s o c i a l i m p ac t s of w h at yo u a r e b uy i n g. I n yo ur c h o i c e s, li m i t t h e p ote nt i a l f o r waste d f o o d, unwa nte d g i f t s, s i n g l e - us e p r o du c t s, a n d exc e s s p ac ka g i n g.

A s yo u i n c o r p o r ate t hi s ac t i o n i te m i nto yo ur dai ly p e r s o n a l li fe, a l s o ex p l o r e i f t h e a l c o h o l b eve r a g e t r ad e c a n c l e a n up i t s ac t to o, r e du c i n g i t s i m p ac t o n t h e e nv i r o nm e nt a n d, qui te p o s s i b ly to o, r e du c i n g unn e c e s a r y ex p e ns e s.

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D o e s t h e f a n c y b ot t l e at t h e sto r e n e e d to b e i n a c a ni ste r o r wo o d e n b ox ?

•

D o e s t h e ba r te n d e r n e e d to i n c lu d e a p l ast i c st r aw a n d /o r sw iz z l e st i c k i n t h e c o c k t ai l?

S t ay t un e d, as e ac h m o nt h we ex p l o r e m o r e ways to p r ote c t t h e e nv i r o nm e nt !

G o t R u m ? J a n u a ry 2 0 2 5 - 3 3

Rum in the news

by M ike Kun et ka

KO LŌA R U M C O M PA N Y

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 Rum ? January 2 0 2 5 - 34

K ō l o a R u m C o m p a ny, H a w a i i ’s a w a r d - w i n n i n g r u m p r o d u c e r a n d t h e O f f i c i a l R u m o f t h e L a s Ve g a s R a i d e r s , i n t r o d u c e d T h e R a i d e r s 6 5 t h A n n i ve r s a r y L i m i t e d Ed i t i o n Kō l o a S p i c e R u m . T h i s l a u n c h celebrates the ongoing par tnership with the NFL team t h a t b e g a n i n 2 0 21. L a s Ve g a s i s o f t e n r e f e r r e d t o a s the “ninth island” of Hawaii for its large population of n a t i ve H a w a i i a n s a n d Pa c i f i c I s l a n d e r s . T h i s l i m i t e d edition rum is the second release with the Raiders this ye a r, f o l l o w i n g t h e R u m R u s h e r H a w a i i a n R u m C o c k t a i l i n M ay. T h e s e r e l e a s e s m a r k t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n o f a s u c c e s s f u l u n i o n , o f f e r i n g f a n s a u n i q u e ex p e r i e n c e t h a t m e r g e s “ T h e S p i r i t o f A l o h a” w i t h t h e i c o n i c Raiders team spirit. “ T h i s s p i c e r u m i s a t r u e c e l e b r a t i o n o f t h e R a i d e r s’ l e g a c y a n d o u r s h a r e d c o m m i t m e n t t o exc e l l e n c e,” s a i d B o b G u n t e r, P r e s i d e n t & C EO o f Kō l o a R u m C o m p a ny. “ O u r a r t i s a n a l r u m i s c r a f t e d f o r m o m e n t s l i ke t h i s , a n d w e’r e h o n o r i n g t h e p a s s i o n o f R a i d e r s f a n s a n d b r i n g i n g t h e e s s e n c e o f H a w a i i ’s w a r m t h a n d c u l t u r e t o eve r y b o t t l e. We’r e t h r i l l e d t o c o n t i n u e s u p p o r t i n g t h e t e a m’s s u c c e s s t h i s s e a s o n a n d b eyo n d.”, C r a f t e d f r o m pure cane sugar and pristine rainwater from Mount Wa i ʻa l eʻa l e, t h e R a i d e r s 6 5 t h A n n i ve r s a r y L i m i t e d Ed i t i o n K ō l o a S p i c e R u m i s b o t t l e d a t 4 4% A BV. h t t p s: // ko l o a r u m .c o m /.

K ULEANA RUM W OR KS O n J a n u a r y 3 r d, Ku l e a n a R u m Wo r ks w i l l i nt r o d u c e t h e f o u r t h i n s t a l l m e nt i n i t s S p e c i a l Re l e a s e P r o g r a m , J a m a i c a 13 .

J a m a i c a 13 s t a r t e d a s a m o l a s s e s w a s h a n d u n d e r we n t t h e f a m o u s l y f r e e - s p i r i t e d f e r m e nt a t i o n t h a t i n c l u d e s w i l d ye a s t s a n d b a c t e r i a t o f o r m u n d e n i a b l e a n d h a r d t o r e p l i c a t e f l avo r s t h a t J a m a i c a n r u m s a r e f a m o u s f o r. I t w a s p o t s t i l l e d f o r m a x i m u m f l avo r i n 2 0 0 6 a n d a g e d i n a B o u r b o n b a r r e l i n J a m a i c a f o r 10 ye a r s . I t w a s t h e n s h i p p e d t o t h e U K (w h e r e Ku l e a n a f o u n d i t) c o nt i n u i n g t o a g e f o r a n o t h e r 3 + ye a r s u n t i l Ku l e a n a p u r c h a s e d i t i n 2 0 2 0 . T h ey emptied the not- quite -full barrel in 2020 at a spicy 5 4. 6 % A BV, t h e n p r o o f e d i t t o a g o r g e o u s 47 % A BV, n e t t i n g j u s t 211 b o t t l e s . K i c ko f f f e s t i v i t i e s w i l l s t a r t a t n o o n o n J a n u a r y 3 r d a t t h e Ku l e a n a R u m S h a c k i n t h e Q u e e n s’ M a r ket p l a c e i n Wa i kō l o a o n t h e B i g I s l a n d , H a w a i i a n d w i l l f e a t u r e t a s t i n g s , b e s p o ke c o c k t a i l s and specially craf ted pupus.

L a s t m o nt h , Ku l e a n a l a u n c h e d i t s R u m & G u e s t C h e f S e r i e s f e a t u r i n g g u e s t c h e f s w h o p a i r t h e Ko h a l a C o a s t c o m p a ny o f f a r m e r s , d i s t i l l e r s a n d b l e n d e r s’ l i q u o r w i t h i n n ova t i ve d i s h e s . T h e f i r s t eve nt w a s a t t h e i r Ta s t i n g R o o m a t t h e Ku l e a n a R u m S h a c k a n d f e a t u r e d t h e t h e m e “ R u m & H a w a i ‘ i I s l a n d Po r k ,” w i t h a c r a f t e d 4 - c o u r s e d i n n e r, e a c h p a i r e d w i t h s i g n a t u r e Ku l e a n a R u m Wo r ks r u m . T h e f e a t u r e d c h e f s we r e: C h e f O l e l o Pa’a O g a w a: A c e l e b r a t e d H a w a i i a n c u l i n a r y i c o n w i t h m o r e t h a n 5 0 ye a r s o f ex p e r i e n c e.

B o r n a n d r a i s e d o n a s u g a r p l a nt a t i o n i n Wa i p a h ū , O ’a h u , O g a w a’s d e e p c o n n e c t i o n t o t h e l a n d a n d d e d i c a t i o n t o s h o wc a s i n g l o c a l l y s o u r c e d i n g r e d i e n t s earned her numerous accolades, including induction i n t o t h e H a w a i ’i Re s t a u r a nt A s s o c i a t i o n H a l l o f Fa m e.

H e r ex p e r t i s e i n f a r m - t o - t a b l e c u i s i n e r e f l e c t s h e r passion for sustainability and traditional Hawaiian cooking.

C h e f G e o r g e G o m e s J r.: G o m e s b r i n g s m o r e t h a n 3 5 ye a r s o f c u l i n a r y ex p e r i e n c e a n d h a s h a d exe c u t i ve p o s i t i o n s a t H a w a i ’i ’s f i n e s t r e s o r t s a n d r e s t a u r a n t s f r o m t h e Ko h a l a C o a s t t o M a u i . H e’s d a z z l e d d i n e r s w o r l d w i d e w i t h a p p e a r a n c e s t h a t i n c l u d e N e w Yo r k C i t y a n d To k yo. H e b l e n d s t r a d i t i o n a l a n d m o d e r n techniques. “ T h i s i s a n a m a z i n g o p p o r t u n i t y t o s h o wc a s e t h e d e l i c i o u s n e s s a n d ve r s a t i l i t y o f Ku l e a n a r u m s alongside the craf t and passion of chefs, farmers, f i s h e r s , p r o d u c e r s a n d b r e we r s t h a t t o g et h e r c r e a t e t h e d y n a m i c c u l i n a r y s c e n e o f H a w a i ‘ i I s l a n d,” s a i d Ke i t h M a l l i n i , v i c e p r e s i d e nt o f h o s p i t a l i t y f o r Ku l e a n a R u m Wo r ks . h t t p s: // k u l e a n a r u m .c o m / HAVANA CLU B TRA D EMAR K WAR O n D e c e m b e r 1s t , 2 0 24, t h e b i p a r t i s a n N o S t o l e n Tr a d e m a r ks H o n o r e d i n A m e r i c a A c t , a u t h o r e d by California Congressman Darrell Issa was signed i n t o l a w by P r e s i d e nt B i d e n . T h e b i l l w a s c o - l e d by F l o r i d a C o n g r e s s w o m a n D e b b i e Wa s s e r m a n S c h u l t z a n d a d va n c e d i n t h e S e n a t e by F l o r i d a S e n a t o r M a r c o R u b i o a n d N eva d a S e n a t o r C a t h e r i n e C o r t e z M a s t o. “ T h i s b i l l r i g h t e d a h i s t o r i c i n j u s t i c e by e n s u r i n g t h a t A m e r i c a n t r a d e m a r ks s t o l e n by t h e

C u b a n r e g i m e w i l l n o l o n g e r b e r e c o g n i z e d o n U. S . s o i l . T h i s i s m o r e t h a n j u s t a l a w o n t h e b o o k s: I t i s a declaration that the bond bet ween the American people and their intellectual proper ty is sacred, and its conf iscation without consent is no less of a thef t than the robbing of a bank. My thanks to Congresswoman Wa s s e r m a n S c h u l t z , a s w e l l a s S e n a t o r s R u b i o a n d C o r t e z M a s t o, f o r t h e i r l e a d e r s h i p a n d d e d i c a t i o n t o t h i s ve r y j u s t c a u s e,” s a i d Re p. I s s a . “ O u r m o s t f u n d a m e nt a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i s p r o t e c t i n g A m e r i c a n s f r o m b e i n g v i c t i m i z e d by o u r a d ve r s a r i e s . T h i s m e a n s s t a n d i n g u p t o f o r e i g n m a l i g n a c t o r s w h o t a ke a d va n t a g e o f l o o p h o l e s i n o u r l a w s t o p r o f i t f r o m s t o l e n t r a d e m a r k s .” s a i d Re p. Wa s s e r m a n S c h u l t z . “ I ’ ve h e a r d C u b a n - A m e r i c a n c o n s t i t u e n t s r e c o u n t how their families were stripped of hard- earned w e a l t h , ex p r o p r i a t e d by a u t o c r a t i c r e g i m e s . I ’m grateful to President Biden for signing our bill into l a w a n d d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s’ c o nt i n u i n g c o m m i t m e n t t o c o m b a t i n g i n t e l l e c t u a l p r o p e r t y t h e f t .”

T h e b i l l w i l l p r o h i b i t U. S . c o u r t s a n d exe c u t i ve b r a n c h agencies from recognizing, enforcing, or other wise va l i d a t i n g a ny a s s e r t i o n o f r i g h t s by a n i n d i v i d u a l f o r a trademark used in connection with a business or a s s e t s c o n f i s c a t e d by t h e C u b a n r e g i m e, u n l e s s t h e o r i g i n a l o w n e r o f t h e t r a d e m a r k ex p r e s s l y c o n s e n t e d t o t h e t r a n s f e r o f t h e t r a d e m a r k . h t t p s: // i s s a . h o u s e.g ov/ m e d i a /p r e s s - r e l e a s e s B LEU MAGIC RUM B l e u M a g i c R u m , D o m i n i c a’s f i r s t p r e m i u m r u m , i s proud to announce a groundbreaking par tnership with a w a r d - w i n n i n g B o u yo n a r t i s t M r. R i d g e, m a r k i n g a p i vo t a l m o m e n t i n i t s j o u r n ey t o r e d e f i n e t h e g l o b a l r u m s c e n e. To g e t h e r, B l e u M a g i c a n d R i d g e w i l l b r i n g a b o l d , r e b e l l i o u s e n e r g y t o r u m e n t h u s i a s t s w o r l d w i d e, celebrating the vibrant culture and spirit of the Nature I s l a n d. B l e u M a g i c , r e p r e s e n t s a n e w e r a f o r C a r i b b e a n r u m . I n s p i r e d by t h e M a r o o n s o f D o m i n i c a , f a m e d f o r t h e i r r e s i l i e n c e a n d d e f i a n c e a g a i n s t s l ave r y, t h e r u m e m b o d i e s a “ s p i r i t o f r e b e l l i o n” r o o t e d i n h i s t o r y ye t d e s i g n e d f o r m o d e r n t a s t e s . A s a B l a c k- o w n e d b r a n d i n a n i n d u s t r y d o m i n a t e d by t i t a n s w i t h l i t t l e c o n n e c t i o n t o t h e C a r i b b e a n r e g i o n , s ave f o r i t s c o m p l ex c o l o n i a l past, Bleu Magic stands apar t as an authentic ex p o r t o f D o m i n i c a n h e r i t a g e a n d c r a f t s m a n s h i p.

The inspiration for Bleu Magic lies in the legacy of D o m i n i c a’s M a r o o n s , e n s l ave d A f r i c a n s w h o e s c a p e d p l a n t a t i o n s a n d r e s i s t e d o p p r e s s i o n , c a r v i n g o u t l i ve s o f f r e e d o m i n t h e i s l a n d ’s r u g g e d m o u n t a i n s . M a d e a t t h e B e l f a s t E s t a t e, w h e r e r u m - m a k i n g h a s t h r i ve d s i n c e t h e l a t e 18 0 0 s , B l e u M a g i c r e s p e c t s t h i s t r a d i t i o n .

It also creates a bold new path. Its sleek branding, p r e m i u m q u a l i t y, a n d c u l t u r a l c o n n e c t i o n a i m t o s h i f t o l d p e r c e p t i o n s o f r u m . “ We w a n t e d t o c r e a t e a r u m t h a t c a p t u r e s t h e e s s e n c e o f D o m i n i c a , i t s w i l d b e a u t y, i t s r e b e l l i o u s s p i r i t , a n d i t s r i c h h i s t o r y,” s ay s El r oy H a r r o w, b r a n d m a n a g e r f o r B l e u M a g i c . “ W i t h R i d g e a s o u r a m b a s s a d o r, w e’r e s h o w i n g t h e w o r l d w h a t t h e C a r i b b e a n h a s t o o f f e r, a p r e m i u m , a u t h e n t i c p r o d u c t w i t h g l o b a l a p p e a l .” h t t p s: // b l e u m a g i c r u m .c o m /

G o t R u m ? J a n u a ry 2 0 2 5 - 3 5

AR D ENT S P IRITS AC Q UIRES DAR K MATTER D ISTILLERS B eve r i d g e w e b s i t e S p i r i t B u s i n e s s r e c e nt l y r e p o r t e d t h a t i n d e p e n d e n t w h i s k y b o t t l e r A r d e nt S p i r i t s h a s a c q u i r e d D a r k M a t t e r D i s t i l l e r s , S c o t l a n d ’s f i r s t r u m d i s t i l l e r y, f o r a n u n d i s c l o s e d s u m . A b e r d e e n s h i r e b a s e d D a r k M a t t e r D i s t i l l e r s b e c a m e S c o t l a n d ’s f i r s t r u m d i s t i l l e r y w h e n i t w a s l a u n c h e d i n 2 015 by b r o t h e r s J i m a n d J o h n Ew a n . Fo l l o w i n g t h e p u r c h a s e, t h e f o r m e r D a r k M a t t e r ’s d i s t i l l e r y h a s c l o s e d a n d p r o d u c t i o n h a s m ove d t o A r d e nt S p i r i t s’ f l a g s h i p B u r n o b e n n i e D i s t i l l e r y i n B a n c h o r y, A b e r d e e n s h i r e.

M i ke R o b e r t s , t h e f o r m e r h e a d d i s t i l l e r f o r D a r k M a t t e r, w i l l c o nt i n u e t o ove r s e e p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e d i s t i l l e r y ’s o r i g i n a l r u m a t t h e n e w f a c i l i t y. S i m o n M o r r i c e w i l l ove r s e e t h e D a r k M a t t e r s e g m e nt o f t h e b u s i n e s s a s W h o l e s a l e a n d C o m m e r c i a l M a n a g e r. “ We f e l t compelled to acquire Dark Matter Rum because of its d e e p c o n n e c t i o n t o S c o t l a n d ’s r i c h d i s t i l l i n g h e r i t a g e,” s a i d M o r r i c e. “ T h i s i s a b r a n d t h a t b r o ke b o u n d a r i e s a s S c o t l a n d ’s f i r s t r u m d i s t i l l e r y, a n d we a r e t h r i l l e d t o c o nt i n u e i t s j o u r n ey u n d e r t h e A r d e nt S p i r i t s b a n n e r.”

S i n c e t h e a c q u i s i t i o n , A r d e nt S p i r i t s s a i d d e m a n d f o r D a r k M a t t e r R u m h a s s u r g e d. T h e b r a n d i s n o w ava i l a b l e t h r o u g h a g r o w i n g n et w o r k o f s u p p l i e r s a n d o n A m a z o n . A r d e nt S p i r i t s w i l l a l s o ex p a n d t h e D a r k M a t t e r p r o d u c t l i n e, w i t h p l a n s t o r e l e a s e a c o f f e e l i q u e u r a n d a p i n e a p p l e l i q u e u r. “ T h i s i s a n e w c h a p t e r f o r D a r k M a t t e r R u m ,” a d d e d M o r r i c e. “ We’r e c o m m i t t e d t o h o n o r i n g i t s h e r i t a g e w h i l e ex p l o r i n g f r e s h i d e a s t o d e l i g h t o u r c u s t o m e r s .” h t t p s: // w w w. a r d e nt s p i r i t s .c o.u k / V II INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC TECHNICAL COLLO Q UIM The Cuban News Agency repor ted that “The Knowledge of Cuban Light Rum Masters as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity ” was the opening lecture o f t h e VII I n t e r n a t i o n a l S c i e nt i f i c -Te c h n i c a l C o l l o q u i u m h e l d a t t h e S a n G e r o n i m o C o l l e g e i n H ava n a l a s t m o nt h . MS c Ya h i m a E s q u i ve l M oy n e l o, a p r o f e s s o r at San Geronimo and Director of Communication and I m a g e o f t h e M i n i s t r y o f Fo r e i g n A f f a i r s , g ave t h e l e c t u r e a t t h e eve nt o r g a n i ze d t w o ye a r s a f t e r UNES C O e s t a b l i s h e d t h i s k n o w l e d g e a s I nt a n g i b l e H e r i t a g e o f H u m a n i t y. Fe a t u r e d i n t h e p r o g r a m a r e t o p i c s s u c h a s m a t h e m a t i c a l m o d e l i n g i n p hy t o s a n i t a r y t r e a t m e nt sy s t e m s , c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f s u g a r c a n e s p i r i t s by m a i n component analysis, and sugarcane and rum in Cuba, a d d r e s s e d i n l e c t u r e s by r e n o w n e d l i g h t r u m m a s t e r s a n d o t h e r s p e c i a l i s t s . T h e r e we r e a l s o t o u r s a r o u n d t h e O l d S e c t i o n o f H ava n a , w h i c h i s a l s o i n s c r i b e d i n t h e UNES C O Wo r l d H e r i t a g e L i s t , a n d v i s i t s t o t h e Museum of Rum, in addition to a cultural gala in the eve n i n g a t t h e M i n o r B a s i l i c a o f S t . Fr a n c i s o f A s s i s i .

The Colloquium, a prelude to the 2025 Cuban Rum Fe s t i va l , g a t h e r s p a r t i c i p a nt s f r o m a d o ze n c o u n t r i e s .

MOUNT GAY B a r b a d o s To d ay r e p o r t e d l a s t m o nt h t h a t M o u n t G ay h a s o p e n e d i t s f i f t h r u m a g i n g b o n d, i n c r e a s i n g s t o r a g e c a p a c i t y by n e a r l y 5 0 p e r c e nt . T h e n e w b o n d

Got Rum ? January 2 0 2 5 - 36

w i l l h o u s e a n a d d i t i o n a l 18 , 0 0 0 b a r r e l s , p u s h i n g t h e d i s t i l l e r y ’s t o t a l c a p a c i t y t o 6 4 , 0 0 0 b a r r e l s , M a s t e r B l e n d e r Tr u d i a n n B r a n ke r s a i d. “ P r i o r t o h av i n g this bond, our capacity was roughly 4 4,0 0 0 barrels.

N o w, w i t h t h i s b o n d , w e c a n h o l d a b o u t 6 4 , 0 0 0 . S o, i t ’s r e a l l y a n i nve s t m e n t i n t h e f u t u r e b e c a u s e m o s t o f t h e r u m s t h a t w e a g e h e r e w i l l n o t b e f o r t o d ay ’s c o n s u m p t i o n b u t w i l l b e f o r t h e n ex t f i ve ye a r s , t e n ye a r s , 15 ye a r s . I t ’s r e a l l y a b o u t m a k i n g s u r e t h a t w e’r e a b l e t o h ave t h e r e s e r ve s t h a t w e n e e d t o b e able to satisf y the demand specifically for our more p r e m i u m o f f e r i n g s . We t a l ke d a b o u t i n n ova t i o n i n a b i g w ay w h e n w e o p e n e d t h e b o n d a n d i n o r d e r t o b e a b l e t o s a t i s f y t h e i n n ova t i o n p i p e l i n e, yo u n e e d m a t u r i n g r u m s . B u i l d i n g t h i s b o n d a l l o w s u s t o h ave these dif ferent styles of rum here to be able to fur ther i n n ova t e a n d r e a l l y o c c u py t h a t p r e m i u m s p a c e i n yo u r r u m i n d u s t r y.” A nt o i n e C o u v r e u r, m a n a g i n g d i r e c t o r o f M o u n t G ay D i s t i l l e r i e s , w h i c h h a s b e e n f u l l y o w n e d f o r t h e l a s t t e n ye a r s by Fr e n c h s p i r i t s g i a n t Ré my C o i n t r e a u , s a i d t h e n e w b o n d w a s a s i g n i f i c a n t d eve l o p m e n t f o r t h e r u m i n d u s t r y i n B a r b a d o s .

H e t o l d B a r b a d o s To d ay “ T h i s b o n d l o o k s t o t h e f u t u r e, m e et i n g t h e r i s i n g g l o b a l d e m a n d f o r p r e m i u m aged rum, as the categor y grows at a remarkable r a t e. O u r i nve s t m e n t s h e r e, i n c l u d i n g t h e d eve l o p m e n t of this state - of-the -ar t bond, featuring a special u n d e r g r o u n d c e l l a r l i ke n o o t h e r i n B a r b a d o s , a n d o u r ongoing commitment to sustainable rum production, are all par t of a long-term strategy to ensure that M o u n t G ay l e a d s a t t h e f o r e f r o n t o f t h i s m ove m e n t .”

Speaking at the launch, Minister of Business Senator L i s a C u m m i n s e n c o u r a g e d t h e i s l a n d ’s r u m p r o d u c e r s t o ke e p p r e s s i n g a h e a d i n t h e i r e f f o r t s t o a t t a i n a g e o g r a p h i c a l i n d i c a t o r (GI) f o r t h e i r p r o d u c t s . S h e s a i d: “ I b e l i eve t h a t t h e t i m e h a s l o n g c o m e a n d m ay b e eve n l o n g p a s t i t s a c c o m p l i s h m e nt d a t e f o r u s t o h ave c r o s s e d t h i s h u r d l e a n d I ’m l o o k i n g f o r w a r d t o t h e w o r k w h i c h I k n o w i s u n d e r w ay w i t h yo u i n t h e i n d u s t r y a n d a l s o w i t h o t h e r g ove r n m e n t a g e n c i e s t o b e a b l e t o b r i n g i t t o f r u i t i o n .” h t t p s: // w w w. m o u n t g ay r u m .c o m / VA P OURA L a s t m o n t h Va p o u r a , a B r i t i s h r u m c o m p a ny, r a n a g i f t i n g c a m p a i g n t o c o m b a t t h e h o m e l e s s c r i s i s by d o n a t i n g w i nt e r e s s e nt i a l s t o t h o s e “ s l e e p i n g r o u g h” i n L o n d o n . “ We h ave a l l b e e n s o s h o c ke d by t h e h o m e l e s s c r i s i s t h a t s e e m s t o b e eve r- g r o w i n g i n o u r c a p i t a l , b u t m o r e s o by t h e l a c k o f h u m a n i n t e r a c t i o n a n d t h o u g h t t h a t s o c i e t y h a s s e e m i n g l y d i s m i s s e d ,” Va p o u r a c o - f o u n d e r O l l y B a r k l ey s a i d i n a s t a t e m e n t a c c o r d i n g t o S p i r i t s B u s i n e s s . “ Pe o p l e a p p e a r t o b e so comfor table ignoring those in need when a simple h e l l o, s m i l e o r a o n e - m i n u t e c o nve r s a t i o n c o u l d t a ke s o l i t t l e o u t o f o u r d ay, ye t m e a n s o m u c h f o r t h e i r s .”

T h e r u m b r a n d ’s f o u n d e r s d o n a t e d 10 0 % o f t h e i r profits from eCommerce and on-premise sales to p u r c h a s i n g c o a t s a n d o t h e r c o l d - we a t h e r c l o t h i n g .

Va p o u r a’s f o u n d e r s h a n d d e l i ve r e d t h e s e g o o d s o n D e c e m b e r 2 3 r d a n d 24t h . A f t e r t h e s u c c e s s f u l l a u n c h of Millimeters to Mountains, a charity to empower people to confront their own challenges using the g r e a t o u t d o o r s a s t h e f a c i l i t a t o r, Ed J a c k s o n a n d O l l y

B a r k l ey d e c i d e d t o t a ke t h e i r l i f e l o n g l ove o f r u m a n d t h e c u r i o s i t y a r o u n d t h e p r ove n a n c e o f i t , t o a n e w p l a c e a n d c r e a t e t h e i r o w n . Fr o m s c r a t c h , w i t h eve r y s t a g e o f t h e p r o c e s s c a r r i e d o u t o n h o m e s o i l i n En g l a n d. N o w h i t e l a b e l l i n g a n d n o b l e n d i n g o f r u m f r o m o t h e r d i s t i l l e r i e s . O l l y s ay s “ C h o o s i n g t o p r o d u c e Va p o u r a o n h o m e s o i l w a s c r u c i a l t o o u r l i q u i d a n d o u r s t o r y a s a b r a n d. We’r e p a s s i o n a t e a b o u t c h a m p i o n i n g En g l i s h c r a f t a n d t h e p r o d u c t o f i t b u t i t a l s o g i ve s u s c l e a r s i g h t o n e a c h a n d eve r y s t a g e o f t h e p r o d u c t i o n p r o c e s s .” Ed a d d s “ W h e n w e h e l d o u r f i r s t b o t t l e, i t r e p r e s e nt e d m o r e t h a n j u s t a b o t t l e o f r u m t o u s . i t w a s a t r i b u t e t o r e s i l i e n c e, f r i e n d s h i p, a n d t h e d e s i r e t o c r e a t e s o m et h i n g u n i q u e a n d m e m o r a b l e w i t h yo u r f avo r i t e p e o p l e.”

Va p o u r a c u r r e n t l y o f f e r s t w o r u m s , C h a p t e r O n e a n d C h a p t e r Tw o. C h a p t e r O n e i s a s p i c e d r u m t h a t g e t s i t s f l avo r f r o m B l o o d O r a n g e s , N u t m e g , C a r d a m o m , Va n i l l a , P i n k Pe p p e r c o r n s a n d G i n g e r. Va p o u r a C h a p t e r Tw o i s a g o l d r u m w i t h h i nt s o f C h o c o l a t e, C a r a m e l , R a i s i n s , To b a c c o a n d Va n i l l a . h t t p s: // va p o u r a r u m .c o m / ANGOSTURA A n g o s t u r a h a s r e l e a s e d A NGOS T UR A ® 2 0 0 Ye a r A n n i ve r s a r y L i m i t e d - Ed i t i o n B i t t e r s , a unique blend of globally inf luenced herbs and s p i c e s , m a ny r e m i n i s c e nt o f t h o s e u s e d by t h e b r a n d ’s f o u n d e r, D r. J o h a n n S i e g e r t , i n h i s 18 24 a p o t h e c a r y, p a i r e d w i t h A NGOS T UR A a g e d r u m .

T h i s f i r s t - eve r c o m b i n a t i o n r e s u l t s i n a b i t t e r s p r o d u c t u n l i ke a ny o t h e r o n t h e m a r ket , p r o m i s i n g to transform the future of cocktail and mocktail c r e a t i o n m u c h l i ke t h e o r i g i n a l A NGOS T UR A ® a r o m a t i c b i t t e r s p i o n e e r e d t h e b i t t e r s’ c a t e g o r y 2 0 0 ye a r s a g o. “ T h e s p e c i a l r e l e a s e o f A NGOS T UR A 2 0 0 -Ye a r A n n i ve r s a r y L i m i t e d - Ed i t i o n B i t t e r s i s b o t h a c e l e b r a t i o n o f w h e r e we’ ve c o m e f r o m a n d w h e r e we a r e h e a d e d,” s a i d K a t i e H e r r m a n n , b r a n d d i r e c t o r, M i z k a n A m e r i c a , I n c ., t h e exc l u s i ve d i s t r i b u t o r f o r A NGOST UR A ® b i t t e r s f o r N o r t h America. “This release is more than a nod to our r i c h h i s t o r y ; i t ’s a b o u t u s h e r i n g i n t h e n ex t 2 0 0 ye a r s o f i n s p i r i n g b a r t e n d e r s , a t - h o m e m i xo l o g i s t s a n d c u r i o u s c o c k t a i l s eve r y w h e r e w i t h a u n i q u e a n d d i f f e r e n t i a t e d f l avo r t h a t w i l l f u e l t h e i r c r e a t i v i t y f o r ye a r s t o c o m e.” w w w. a n g o s t u r a b i t t e r s .c o m .

TORTUGA RUM To r t u g a R u m C o m p a ny L i m i t e d m a r ke d i t s 4 0 t h a n n i ve r s a r y l a s t m o nt h d u r i n g a C ay m a n I s l a n d s C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e B u s i n e s s A f t e r H o u r s eve n t .

C h a m b e r P r e s i d e nt J o a n n e L a w s o n s a i d “ T h i s 4 0 t h a n n i ve r s a r y r e p r e s e nt s n o t j u s t a m i l e s t o n e f o r To r t u g a R u m C o m p a ny b u t a c e l e b r a t i o n o f C ay m a n i a n i n g e n u i t y a n d e nt r e p r e n e u r i a l exc e l l e n c e. T h r o u g h eve r y r u m c a ke a n d eve r y b o t t l e o f r u m , To r t u g a h a s c a r r i e d t h e s p i r i t o f t h e C ay m a n I s l a n d s t o t h e w o r l d. Yo u h ave m a d e our islands proud and inspired generations of e n t r e p r e n e u r s .” Fo u n d e d i n 19 8 4 by C a p t a i n R o b e r t H a m a t y, To r t u g a R u m C o m p a ny b e g a n a s a s m a l l

f a m i l y ve n t u r e w i t h a v i s i o n t o i n t r o d u c e C ay m a n’s u n i q u e f l avo r s t o t h e w o r l d. C a p t a i n H a m a t y ’s e nt r e p r e n e u r i a l j o u r n ey, d r i ve n by p a s s i o n a n d p e r s eve r a n c e, s e t t h e f o u n d a t i o n f o r w h a t w o u l d b e c o m e a h o u s e h o l d n a m e. W i t h h i s w i f e C a r l e n e’s u n w ave r i n g s u p p o r t , t h e c o m p a ny d eve l o p e d i t s s i g n a t u r e p r o d u c t , t h e w o r l d - f a m o u s To r t u g a R u m C a ke, w h i c h r e m a i n s a f avo r i t e a m o n g l o c a l s a n d t o u r i s t s a l i ke. Eu g e n e N o l a n , C EO o f To r t u g a R u m C o m p a ny, s a i d: T h e f o r t y ye a r s o f s u c c e s s t h a t w e celebrate tonight has only been possible because o f t h e d e d i c a t i o n o f o u r ‘ Te a m To r t u g a’, w e s ay, m e m b e r s o f o u r f a m i l y. I t ’s t h e i r h a r d w o r k , p a s s i o n and commitment, both in the workplace and on the b r o a d e r c o m m u n i t y, t h a t h ave m a d e To r t u g a t h e c o m p a ny t h a t i t i s t o d ay. T h e r e i s s o m u c h t o l o o k f o r w a r d t o i n t h e f u t u r e o f To r t u g a R u m C o m p a ny, including par tnerships and grow th that will benef it t h e e n t i r e c o m m u n i t y.” Re c e n t l y, t h e c o m p a ny b u i l t a n e w d i s t i l l e r y a t i t s s t o r e i n S eve n M i l e S h o p s .

Visitors get a literal window into the production p r o c e s s . T h e d i s t i l l e r y, b e h i n d a l a r g e g l a s s w i n d o w, can be seen from the shop and tourists can learn h o w r u m i s m a d e a n d b o t t l e t h e i r o w n t o t a ke h o m e. h t t p s: // t o r t u g a r u m c a ke s .c o m / CORNISH GEOTHERMAL D ISTILLERY C o r n i s h G e o t h e r m a l D i s t i l l e r y C o m p a ny Lt d h a s submitted the latest application of a project which would be known as Celsius, a pilot geothermal rum d i s t i l l e r y w i t h v i s i t o r f a c i l i t i e s . I t a i m s t o m a ke u s e o f s u r p l u s g e o t h e r m a l e n e r g y a t t h e Ed e n G e o t h e r m a l s i t e a n d h a s t h e f u l l s u p p o r t a n d c o o p e r a t i o n o f Ed e n G e o t h e r m a l a n d t h e Ed e n P r o j e c t . T h e p r o p o s e d d eve l o p m e n t w i l l f o r m p a r t o f t h e U K ’s f i r s t d e e p g e o t h e r m a l h e a t c a s c a d e e n e r g y sy s t e m . T h i s e n e r g y sy s t e m a l r e a d y s e r ve s t h e Ed e n P r o j e c t i t s e l f v i a a h e a t m a i n r u n n i n g d i r e c t l y f r o m Ed e n G e o t h e r m a l t o t h e Ed e n P r o j e c t , a n d w i l l i n t u r n a l s o s e r ve t h e ˚C e l s i u s p r o j e c t v i a a n e w s p u r c o n n e c t i o n o f f t h e ex i s t i n g h e a t m a i n . T h e Ed e n P r o j e c t e n e r g y d e m a n d va r i e s d a i l y a n d s e a s o n a l l y, w h e r e a s t h e g e o t h e r m a l e n e r g y s u p p l y i s a c o n s t a n t ; t h e ˚C e l s i u s p r o j e c t would help to ‘balance out ’ the use of the geothermal e n e r g y s u p p l y by d r a w i n g o n i t m o r e w h e n d e m a n d f r o m t h e Ed e n P r o j e c t i s l o w e r. T h e p r i m a r y p u r p o s e s o f t h e p r o p o s e d d eve l o p m e n t a r e r u m d i s t i l l i n g / m a t u r a t i o n a n d e m p l oy m e n t , b u t t h e r e w o u l d b e a n element of tourism in that the facility would be open to visiting members of the public for recreational and e d u c a t i o n a l p u r p o s e s . A t t r a c t i o n s w o u l d i n c l u d e: P u b l i c t o u r s (s t r i c t l y m a n a g e d v i a a n o n l i n e b o o k i n g sy s t e m); Ru m t a s t i n g s a n d m a s t e r c l a s s e s , t w o p e r d ay a n d G i f t s h o p s t o c k i n g b o t t l e s o f r u m , c a s k s o f r u m , a n d r e l a t e d b r a n d e d g o o d s l i ke g i f t b oxe s , g l a s s e s , c o a s t e r s , b o o k s , e t c . T h e p r o j e c t ’s g o a l i s to be of f- grid, carbon neutral, self-sustaining and z e r o w a s t e, t h r o u g h i t s c o n n e c t i o n t o t h e n e a r by geothermal energy supply and use of rainwater h a r ve s t i n g , C O 2 c a p t u r e a n d p a s s i ve s o l a r e n e r g y t e c h n o l o g i e s . h t t p s: // w w w.c e l s i u s p r o j e c t .c o m /

G o t R u m ? J a n u a ry 2 0 2 5 - 3 7

The Sweet Business of Sugar

Got Rum ? Ja January n u a ry 2025 2 0 2 5 - 38 38

World Market 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!

G o t R u m ? J a n u a ry 2 0 2 5 - 3 9

Got Rum ? January 2 0 2 5 - 40

G o t R u m ? J a n u a ry 2 0 2 5 - 4 1

Got Rum ? January 2 0 2 5 - 42

G o t R u m ? J a n u a ry 2 0 2 5 - 4 3

Got Rum ? January 2 0 2 5 - 44

G o t R u m ? J a n u a ry 2 0 2 5 - 4 5

Got Rum ? January 2 0 2 5 - 46

G o t R u m ? J a n u a ry 2 0 2 5 - 4 7

Presents

The Sugar Mill: Origins and Evolution

Got Got Rum Rum?? January January 22002255 -- 48 48

G Goott RRuum m?? JJaannuuaarry y 2025 - 49

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

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

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

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

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

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

Got Got Rum Rum?? Ja January n u a ry 2025 2 0 2 5 -- 50 50

Par t 1: The Mor tar and Pestle Mill M o r ta r a nd Pes t l es a r e d e s c r i b e d i n t h e o l d e st p r e s e r ve d p i e c e of m e di c a l li te r at ur e di s c ove r e d, t h e Eb er s Pa py r us f r o m A n c i e nt Eg y pt - dat i n g bac k to 1, 5 5 0 BC. I t i s e st i m ate d t h at m o r t a r a n d p e st l e s h ad a lr e ady b e e n us e d f o r a r o un d 6 ,0 0 0 ye a r s b ef o r e t hi s p a py r us was w r i t te n, m o st ly f o r t h e g r i n di n g of s p i c e s a n d, t h a nks to t h e i r ef f i c i e n c y a n d p r ac t i c a li t y, t h e i r d e s i g n h as l a r g e ly r e m ai n e d un c h a n g e d ove r t h e l ast 10,0 0 0 ye a r s.

C h e m i st s a n d p h a r m ac i st s h ave t r adi t i o n a lly us e d s m a ll p o r c e l ai n s et s f o r t r i t ur at i o n (t h e p r o c e s s of g r i n di n g c h e m i c a l c o m p o un ds). I n p a r t s of t h e M i d dl e E ast , m e at i s p o un d e d i nto k i b b e h i n m o r t a r s t wo o r t h r e e fe et w i d e. T h e C h a l o n a n d M ut sun p e o p l e i n C a li f o r ni a’s S a li n as Va ll ey g r o un d up ac o r ns a n d g r ai ns by c a r v i n g s h a ll ow d e p r e s s i o ns i nto b e dr o c k . I n Pa p u a N ew G ui n e a, p e st l e s a r e of te n c a r ve d i nto e l a b o r ate b i r ds’ h e ads; t h e Tai n o, a n i n di g e n o us t r i b e i n t h e C a r i b b e a n, us e d s m a ll f i g ur e s e n d owe d w i t h e n o r m o us p h a lli. S t i ll, t h e e s s e nt i a l e l e m e nt s of d e s i g n r e m ai n t h e s a m e: a b ow l a n d a c lub, us e d to c r us h a n d g r i n d.

I t s h o ul d b e n o sur p r i s e t h e n, to k n ow t h at o n e of t h e e a r li e st a p p r o ac h e s to ex t r ac t i n g t h e j ui c e f r o m t h e su g a r c a n e, was bas e d o n t h e m o r t a r

G Goott RRuum m?? JJaannuuaarry y 2025 - 51

a n d p e st l e. It i s k n ow n, yo u g u e s s e d i t , as t h e M o r t a r a n d Pe s t l e M i l l.

T h e f o ll ow i n g i s a d e s c r i pt i o n f r o m t h e b o o k J o u r ney f r o m M a d r as th r o u g h th e c o u ntr i es o f M ys o r e, C a na r a , a nd M a la ba r, w r i t te n by Fr a n c i s B u c h a n a n, M . D. i n 18 07. T h e d e s c r i pt i o n ac c o m p a ni e s t h e i llust r at i o n s h ow n b e l ow.

T h e s u g a r m i l l c o ns is ts o f a m o r ta r, b ea m , l ever, p es t l e, a nd r e g u la to r.

T h e m o r ta r (aa) is a tr e e, a b o u t ten fe et i n l eng th, a nd fo u r te en i nc h es i n d ia m eter. I t is s u n k p er p end i c u la r ly i nto th e ea r th, l eav i ng o ne end t wo fe et a b ove th e s u r fac e. T h e h o l l ow (b b) is c o n i c a l , tr u nc a te d d owna r ds , a nd th en b ec o m es cy l i nd r i c a l (c), wi th a h em is p h er i c a l p r o j ec t i o n (d ) i n i ts b o t to m , i n o r d er to a l l ow th e j u i c e to r u n f r e e ly to th e s ma l l o p en i ng (e), tha t c o nveys i t to a s p o u t (f ),

Got Got Rum Rum?? January January 22002255 -- 52 52

f r o m wh i c h i t fa l ls i nto a n ea r th en p o t . R o u nd th e u p p er m o u th o f th e c o ne is a c i r c u la r c av i t y (g g), wh i c h c o l l ec ts a ny o f th e j u i c e tha t may r u n over th e u p p er ends o f th e p i ec es o f c a ne l a nd f r o m th enc e a c a na l (h h) c o nveys th is j u i c e d own th e o u ts i d e o f th e m o r ta r to th e s p o u t (f ).

T h e b ea m (i i i ) is a b o u t s ix te en fe et i n l eng th, a nd s ix i nc h es i n th i c k nes s , a nd is c u t f r o m a la r g e tr e e tha t is d i v i d e d by a fo r k i nto t wo a r ms . I n th e fo r k a n exc ava t i o n is ma d e f r o m th e m o r ta r, r o u nd wh i c h th e b ea m tu r ns h o r izo nta l ly. T h e s u r fac e o f th is exc ava t i o n is s ec u r e d by a s em i c i r c l e o f s tr o ng wo o d.

T h e end towa r ds th e fo r ks is qu i te o p en, fo r c ha ng i ng th e b ea m wi th o u t tr o u b l e. O n th e u nd i v i d e d end o f th e b ea m s i ts th e bu l l o c k- d r i ver (k), wh o s e c a t t l e a r e yo ke d by a r o p e (l ), wh i c h c o m es f r o m th e end o f th e b ea m l a nd th ey a r e p r evente d f r o m d r a g g i ng o u t o f th e c i r c l e by a n o th er r o p e (m), wh i c h pas s es f r o m th e yo ke to th e fo r ke d end o f th e b ea m .

O n th e a r ms a bas ket (n) is p lac e d to h o l d th e c u t t i ngs o f c a ne; a nd b et we en th is a nd th e m o r ta r s i ts th e ma n (o) wh o fe e ds th e m i l l. J us t as th e p es t l e c o m es r o u nd , h e p lac es th e p i ec es o f c a ne s l o p i ng d own th e c av i t y o f th e m o r ta r l a nd , af ter th e p es t l e has pas s e d , h e r em oves th o s e wh i c h have b e en s qu e eze d.

A s yo u c a n s e e, t hi s i s a ve r y d et ai l e d d e s c r i pt i o n of te c hn o l o g y us e d ove r 2 0 0 ye a r s a g o f o r t h e ex t r ac t i o n of su g a r c a n e j ui c e.

G Goott RRuum m?? JJaannuuaarry y 2025 - 53

Got Rum ? Ja n u a ry 2025 54 January 2 0 2 5 - 54

Sug a r Mill Sp ot li ght A ba n d o n e d su g a r m i ll l o c ate d o n t h e i s l a n d of K au ai, H awaii. I t was b ui lt i n 19 5 4 a n d was o p e r ate d by t h e G r ove Fa r m C o m p a ny unt i l 19 9 6 .

J o i n us a g ai n n ex t m o nt h, as we c o nt i nu e to ex p l o r e t hi s f as c i n at i n g to p i c !

G Goott R Ruum m?? JJaannu a rryy 2 0 2 5 - 5 5

CIGAR & RUM PAIRING

by Phi li p I li B a r ake

Got Rum ? January 2 0 2 5 - 56

Birth of my Son

M

y n a m e i s Ph i l i p I l i B a r a ke, S o m m e l i e r by t r a d e. A s a r e s u l t o f w o r k i n g w i t h s e l e c te d r e s t a u r a nt s a n d w i n e p r o d u c e r s i n C h i l e, I s t a r te d d eve l o p i n g a p a s s i o n for distilled spirits and cigars. As par t of my m o s t r e c e nt j o b, I h a d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o v i s i t m a ny C e nt r a l A m e r i c a n c o u nt r i e s , a s we l l a s , r u m d i s t i l l e r i e s a n d t o b a c c o g r o we r s .

B u t my p a s s i o n f o r s p i r i t s a n d c i g a r s d i d n ot e n d t h e r e; i n 2 010 I h a d t h e h o n o r o f r e p r e s e nt i n g C h i l e a t t h e I nte r n a t i o n a l C i g a r S o m m e l i e r C o m p et i t i o n, w h e r e I w o n f i r s t p l a c e, b e c o m i n g t h e f i r s t S o u t h A m e r i c a n t o eve r a c h i eve t h a t f e a t .

Now I face the challenge of impressing t h e r e a d e r s o f “ G o t Ru m? ” w i t h w h a t i s perhaps the toughest task for a Sommelier: d i s c u s s i n g p a i r i n g s w h i l e b e i n g we l l awa r e t h at t h e r e a r e a s m a ny i n d i v i d u a l p r ef e r e n c e s a s t h e r e a r e r u m s a n d c i g a r s i n t h e wo r l d.

I b e l i eve a p a i r i n g i s a n ex p e r i e n c e t h a t s h o u l d n ot b e l i m i te d t o o n l y t w o p r o d u c t s; i t i s s o m et h i n g t h a t c a n b e i n c o r p o r a te d i nt o o u r l i ve s . I hope to help our r e a d e r s d i s c ove r a n d a p p r e c i ate t h e pleasure of tr ying 2025 n ew t h i n g s (o r ex p e r i e n c i n g k n o w n t h i n g s i n n ew way s).

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

Fo r t h e f ir st t im e s inc e I st ar te d w r it in g t h e s e ar t i c l e s, I di d n ot p lan to shar e a pair in g w it h yo u.

I nste ad, I wante d to shar e t h e n ew s ab o ut s o m et hin g t hat c han g e d my li fe. To have a c hi l d i s s o m et hin g t hat all par e nt s un d e r st an d f r o m day o n e, it i s like f allin g in l ove ag ain. Ye s, I had k n ow n f o r s o m e t im e t hat I wo ul d b e a f at h e r, of my f ir st c hi l d, I was sur p r i s e d by t h e n ew s, w hi c h ar r i ve d dur in g a ve r y c haot i c ye ar t hat I wante d to l e ave b e hin d. A s t h e m o nt hs we nt by, I b e c am e inc r e as in g ly an x i o us but al s o c o nc e r n e d, h o p in g f o r a g o o d p r e g nanc y an d a h e alt hy baby.

A n d s o it was t hat o n t h e 9 t h of D e c e m b e r, af te r a 3 8 t h we e k c h e c kup, t h e d o c to r ann o unc e d t hat it wo ul d b e b e st f o r t h e b ir t h to hap p e n t hat s am e day. We we r e sur p r i s e d, as we r e o ur c l o s e st f r i e n ds an d r e lat i ve s, an d f o ur h o ur s af te r t h e d o c to r ’s inst r uc t i o ns, J o aquín was b o r n, awake an d sur p r i s e d ab o ut eve r y t hin g ar o un d him, w hi l e I was st i ll p r o c e s s in g t h e day ’s eve nt s. It i s a uni qu e an d li fe alte r in g ex p e r i e nc e, par e nt s c an e as i ly g et l o st admir in g t h e baby ’s g e st ur e s an d smi l e s, f o r g et t in g all t hat hap p e n e d b ef o r e an d w hat i s to c o m e af te r.

S o w hy di d I c han g e t h e to p i c of t h e ar t i c l e? I n ad dit i o n to shar in g h ow f abul o us t h e s e past we e ks have b e e n f o r m e, I al s o wante d to t alk ab o ut a t r adit i o n t hat i s s l ow ly di s ap p e ar in g, a t r adit i o n r e late d to t h e b ir t h of a baby b oy: ye s, I ’m t alk in g ab o ut han din g o ut c i g ar s w h e n t h e g e n d e r of t h e baby i s r eve al e d af te r b ir t h.

T hi s was a ve r y c o m m o n p r ac t i c e dur in g hun dr e ds of ye ar s am o n g

G o t R u m ? J a n u a ry 2 0 2 5 - 5 7

N at i ve A m e r i c ans.

I t was par t of a c e l e b r at i o n of n ew b o r n b oys t hat inc lu d e d t h e shar in g of gi f t s an d sp e c i al c o nte m p o r a r y f o o ds, w hi c h late r c am e to inc lu d e c i g ar s.

T h e r e ar e m any hi sto r i c al d o c um e nt s t hat d e s c r ib e t h e s e s c e nar i o s, s o m e in p o s it i ve, ot h e r s in n e g at i ve ways, but t h e f ac t i s t hat c i g ar s we r e al ways a par t of t h e c e l e b r at i o n.

O n e of t h e r e as o ns as s o c i ate d w it h t h e f adin g of t h e t r adit i o n, i s t hat to day it i s ve r y

Got Rum ? January 2 0 2 5 - 58

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

T h e t r adit i o n r e m ai n e d st r o n g f o r a l o n g t i m e.

Towar ds t h e e n d of t h e 19 t h C e nt ur y an d t h e b e ginnin g of t h e 2 0 t h C e nt ur y, it was ve r y c o m m o n f o r c hi l d l a b o r to b e a ve r y l e n gt hy p r o c e s s, o n e t hat usually to o k p lac e i n p e o p l e’s ow n h o us e s, w it h t h e as s i st anc e of m i d w i ve s o r ot h e r sp e c i alize d p e r s o nn e l.

T h e f at h e r s wo ul d pat i e nt ly wait unt i l t h e b ir t h of t h e c hi l d a n d wo ul d t h e n c e l e b r ate w it h t h e g u e st s, w i t h c i g ar s p lay in g an im p o r t ant r o l e in t h e c e l e b r at i o n, all t hi s w hi l e t h e m ot h e r was st i ll in r e c ove r y o r, i n t h e wo r s e c as e s, in e m in e nt dan g e r.

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

un c o m m o n fo r p r e g nant wo m e n to gi ve b ir t h at h o m e, f o r o bv i o us h e alt h an d s afet y r e as o ns. A s h o s p i t al s b e c am e t h e p r efe r r e d d e st i nat i o ns f o r c hi l db i r t hs, t h e te n d e n c y to h ave s m o k i n g c e l e b r at i o n n e a r by st a r te d to di s ap p e ar.

N owadays, f i n di n g o ut t h e g e n d e r of a ba by h as b e c o m e a s e ns at i o nali st i c eve nt , w i t h c o up l e s c o m i n g up w i t h ex ub e r a nt s et up s to sur p r i s e e ac h ot h e r w i t h di s p l ays of p i nk f o r gi r l s o r of b lu e fo r b oys. I un d e r st an d t h e i nte nt , but t hi s m e a ns t h at c i g ar s have l o st t h e i r p l ac e in t h e s e c e l e b r at i o ns.

I n r e c e nt ye a r s, s o m e c i g ar b r an ds, as we l l as, d evote d s m o ke r s, have b e e n e a g e r to ke e p t h e t r adi t i o n ali ve, by sha r i n g c i g a r s w i t h p e r s o nalize d r i n g s to c e l e b r ate t h e b i r t h. T h e s e c i g ar s c an t h e n b e s m o ke d at h o m e o r w h e r eve r t h e p a r t y h a p p e ns to t ake p l ac e. I f t h e c i g a r h a p p e ns to b e a s p e c i al o n e, t h e n t h e r e i s t h e te m pt at i o n to ke e p i t , r at h e r t ha n to s m o ke i t . I wo ul d r e c o m m e n d a sp e c i a l c i g a r f o r s afe ke e p i n g an d t h e n to

o p e n a s e par ate c i g ar b ox f o r g u e st s to sm o ke r i g ht away. D o in g t hi s wo ul d h e lp m aint ain ali ve a t r adit i o n t hat has laste d hun dr e ds of ye ar s. A n d w hy limit it to o nly t h e b ir t h of b oys, w hy n ot al s o have a sp e c i al c i g ar to c e l e b r ate t h e b ir t h of a lit t l e p r inc e s s?

I n my c as e, we o pte d n ot to d o a g e n d e r r eve al, inste ad we aske d to b e to l d as s o o n as t h e s o n o g r am r e sult s we r e c o nc lus i ve, t hi s way we c o ul d p lan t h e nam e f o r t h e baby w h o wo ul d c han g e o ur li ve s. A l s o, I di dn’ t have a lar g e num b e r of c i g ar sm o ke r s to just i f y a c usto m c i g a r, inste ad I b r o u g ht o ut a bunc h of c i g ar s fo r t h e g u e st s dur in g o n e of t h e c e l e b r at i o ns we had f o r J o aquín. I am sur e t hat , af te r t h e p ub li c at i o n of t hi s ar t i c l e, m o r e f r i e n ds w i ll c o m e f o r war d an d we’ll sha r e c i g ar s t h e n to o.

Ch e e r s!

Phi lip I li B ar ake # GRCi g ar Pair in g

G o t R u m ? J a n u a ry 2 0 2 5 - 5 9

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