June 2014- Rum in the News

Rum in the News- June 2014

-by Mike Kunetka

RUM NATION

Fabio Rossi started Rum Nation in 1999 after years in the wine and whisky business. His company may be based in Italy, but he purchases select rums from remarkable distilleries throughout the Caribbean. The rums are further aged in Italy and released in limited editions.

The latest from Fabio is his 12 year old Rum Nation Barbados Anniversary Edition, celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of Rum Nation. The rum was distilled by R.L. Seale in Barbados in 2001 and aged in American Bourbon barrels. It was then shipped to Italy where it spent another two years aging in Brandy and Sherry barrels.

You can read more about the Barbados Anniversary rum, as well as other rums from Jamaica, Demerara, Martinique and Panama at www.rumnation.com.

CAPTAIN MORGAN

In 1671, Captain Henry Morgan fought a mighty battle in Panama City and captured Fort San Lorenzo. During the battle, Morgan lost five ships, including his flagship, the Satisfaction. This battle serves as marketing inspiration for Captain Morgan’s latest limited spice rum, Captain Morgan 1671. It is made at the new Diageo facility in St. Croix and incorporates a spice blend that is different from other Captain Morgan rums. The new Captain is bottled at 70 proof in a jug-like bottle with a finger hole that makes you want to throw it over your shoulder and take a pirate-sized swallow.

BACARDI

Following their launch last November of the super-premium Facundo Rum Collection, Bacardi will be releasing a new white sipping rum called Bacardi Gran Reserva. It is a blend of rums that have been aged up to three years and then slow-filtered through coconut shell charcoal, resulting in a smooth white rum intended to be enjoyed neat or over ice.

Gran Reserva will be packaged in a unique green-tinted bottle with a wax seal and wood stopper. It will only be available at ‘Travel Retail Outlets’, i.e. airport liquor stores.

PLANTATION RUM

Cognac Ferrand has always dealt with the finest distilleries in the Caribbean, selling them their coveted casks that once held their fine brandies. This relationship took a new turn when they discovered small batches of very fine, old rum at these distilleries.

In the hands of the master blenders at Gognac Ferrand, these fine rums are blended, aged a second time and then bottled in limited releases. Last year’s offering was the Plantation 3 Stars white rum, a skillful blend of the best the Caribbean has to offer from Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad. Each Island has a distinct rum style developed over centuries and brings its own special character to Plantation 3 Stars Silver Rum: matured Trinidad rum imparts its classic elegance, Barbados delivers sophistication with a balanced mouth feel and Jamaica conveys its unmistakable structure and rustic edge.

This year’s offering will be Plantation Original Dark, a blend of brown rums from Trinidad that is double aged. First, the blend spends time in Trinidad in American oak barrels. Then it rests in medium-toasted Cognac Ferrand French oak barrels for another twelve to eighteen months.

Further details about these two rums and other fine rums from Barbados, Guatemala, Jamaica, Panama and Nicaragua can be found at www.plantationrhum.com.

AMERICAN DISTILLING INSTITUTE

2014 ANNUAL JUDGING OF CRAFT SPIRITS AWARDS

No fooling, the ADI Craft Spirit Awards were announced April 1st at their annual convention in Seattle, Washington.

A Gold Medal and Best of Class award was given to Canon Beach Distillery’s Donlon Shanks Rum. Another Gold Medal went to Louisiana Spirits Distillery for their Bayou Rum Spiced.

Silver medals went to Delaware Distilling Company for their Spiced Rum, Portside Distillery for their Vanilla Maple Rum, New Holland Artisan Spirits for their Freshwater Michigan Rum and Ballast Point Brewing and Spirits for their Barrel Aged Three Sheets Rum. Cape Spirits, Portside Distillery, Spirits of Maine Distillery and Lost Spirits Distillery all took home Bronze Medals.

Congratulations and cheers to all!