March 2016 - Rum In The News

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March 2016 - Rum In The News

BACARDI

After awarding the U.S. trademark for Havana Club rum to Pernod Ricard and Cubaexport in a surprise move last month, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has officially renewed the trademark through January 27, 2026. The latest decision allows Cubaexport to sell Cuban-made Havana Club in the U.S. if the economic embargo on Cuba is lifted. With the U.S. and Cuba re-establishing relations in late 2014, the removal of the embargo appears likely to occur in the coming years. In a statement on their corporate website, Bacardi explains that as part of continued efforts to defend the legitimacy of its rights and ownership of Havana Club rum, Bacardi has requested the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) to reverse its decision to grant the Cuba government a license to renew and maintain the Havana Club trademark registration in the United States. In its submission to OFAC, regarding License No. CU-2015-323837-1 (“License 837-1”), Bacardi explains that it – not the Cuban government – is the current and lawful owner of all rights and claims related to the Havana Club trademark in the United States. That mark was used in conjunction with the Havana Club rum business by the original owner, Jose Arechabala S.A. (“JASA”), which founded the company in 1878 in Cuba. JASA sold Havana Club rum in the United States after the brand was created in 1934 until the business was forcibly confiscated by the Cuban government in 1960. Bacardi obtained its ownership interest in the Havana Club mark through a lawful and OFAC licensed transaction with JASA. Bacardi has been selling Havana Club rum in the United States since the mid-1990s.

MALIBU

Pernod Ricard is introducing a new flavor in its Malibu Sensations lineup, Malibu Pineapple Upside Down Cake. The latest offering adds to the brand’s flavored portfolio, which also includes Orange Float, Sunshine, Sundae, Swirl, Mango, Tropical Banana and Pineapple, among others. Jennifer Gordon, Brand Director for Malibu, said “Malibu Sensations have grown significantly and are out performing confection flavor trends, while pineapple flavored spirits are also experiencing a growth in popularity. There is a large and growing audience for this distinctive product, providing retailers with the unique opportunity to capitalize on these growing trends.” Malibu Pineapple Upside Down Cake is bottled at 21% ABV and will be nationally available in 750ml and 1 liter bottles.

SERRALES

Connecticut-based Serrallés USA, maker of the Don Q line of rums, has forged new long- term agreements with five leading family-owned distributor partners with a proven track record of establishing dynamic distribution channels. Serrallés USA will expand its current distribution relationship with RNDC and with the Breakthru Beverage Group throughout their respective networks. Serrallés will also be developing a new distribution relationship with Young’s Market throughout all of its markets. Finally, Serrallés USA will expand its distribution relationship with Johnson Brothers as well as continue its long term relationship with MS Walker. “We are thrilled to have aligned our portfolio with leading distributor partners who share similar visions and priorities. Together, we will drive our world-class portfolio to new heights. We are also proud to have promoted from within these three exceptional professionals as we expand our presence and look forward to the next 150 years,” says John Eason, COO & Executive Vice President at Serrallés USA.”

NEWPORT DISTILLING

Rhode Island’s Newport Distilling Company, home of Thomas Tew Single Barrel Rum, is now releasing a new over-proof unaged white rum, Widows Walk. Created with blackstrap molasses in a single pot still, Widows Walk is bottled at 67.5% ABV and is targeted for the cocktail market. It can currently be found in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Washington D.C., South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Illinois.

VISCAYA

A. Hardy USA is rolling out a new small -batch rum from the Dominican Republic, Vizcaya Black Rum, in the U.S. market. Crafted using the traditional Guarapa method with pressed sugar cane juices, the 40% ABV offering is aged for 12 to 21 years into serve the growing demand for black rums in the U.S., as seen in the tiki cocktail trend. Vizcaya Black Rum is available nationwide 750-ml. bottles.

RON ZACAPA

Master blender Lorena Vazquez has put together her third annual limited release, 2015 Reserva Limitada. This year ’s version is a blend of rums aged between 6 and 24 years in a variety of barrels that previously held whiskey, sherry and Pedro Ximenez wines. The blend was then aged again in re-charred barrels at 7,500 feet (“above the clouds”) at the Zacapa facility. The 2015 release comes in at 45% ABV and is packaged in a curvy bottle with the standard woven palm-leave trim. It is available in Guatemala and select markets around the globe, but not in the United States.

ST. AUGUSTINE

St. Augustine Distillery has announced that it welcomed over 123,000 visitor s in 2015 with March, July and December being the busiest months. The craft distillery, which opened in 2014, is set to celebrate its two-year anniversary on Monday, March 7th, with a special bottle signing opportunity with head distiller, Brendan Wheatley. With a busy production schedule, this is the first time that Mr. Wheatley has been available to sign bottles for the public. Mr. Wheatley was the first American invited to Japan to study whiskey production with Master Distiller and blender Ichiro Akoto. St. Augustine Distiller y is currently ranked number one in attractions in St. Augustine on Trip Advisor and offers free tours and tastings seven days a week. Located in the historic Ice Plant building, the tour features a museum, short documentary, and firsthand look into the production of small-batch spirits. Each tour ends with a sampling of the spirits and an opportunity to shop in their extensive gift shop.

DONNER - PELTIER

It ’s a good problem to have when customers are clamoring for your products faster than you can produce them. That demand has prompted Donner- Peltier Distillers (DPD) to purchase a third still for this company. Their new 750-gallon still was handmade in Louisville, Kentucky by Vendome Copper and Brass Works. The impact of the machinery is very significant – the new still will double DPD’s current total distillery production abilities when combined with their two existing ones (affectionately named “Bet ty” and “Veronica”.) Additionally, it also gives them the capability to begin developing new products. Donner explains DPD’s rapid rise to success. “Don’t take shortcuts; use Louisiana agricultural products; and listen to the customers,” he said. “The result has been a solid portfolio of Gold Medal winners, and nothing gives us more pleasure than to have a customer tell us how much they appreciate what we do.” The company’s growth has resulted in the hiring of a third full - time distiller, and DPD plans to hire additional warehouse and bottling employees later in the year. Founded in Thibodaux, Louisiana in 2012, Donner-Peltier Distillers, dpdspirits.com, creates distinctive spirits using authentic Louisiana ingredients. Its diverse product line is currently made up of Rougaroux Sugarshine Rum, Rougaroux Full Moon Rum, Rougaroux 13 Pennies Praline Rum and its newest product, LA1 Whiskey.

WILD TIGER SPECIAL RESERVE RUM

Wild Tiger Special Reserve Rum is an exotic blend of Indian molasses spirit distilled in column stills and pure cane juice spirit achieved from double distillation in pot stills. Wild Tiger Rum was developed by drinks entrepreneur Gautom Menon. He said: “Traditional Indian rum is usually just 100% molasses. Wild Tiger predominately has the same base but it is also blended with some percentage of cane juice spirit, which gives the final blend a lot of aromatic notes and depth in flavor. For maturation, we use only American oak wood barrels from Kentucky, US A. We char the barrels to reactivate the wood and the many natural flavor s in them are imparted into the spirit over time.” Menon said that the rum’s packaging reflected the fact that no two tigers share the same stripe pattern – so the stripe design of the sleeve has been designed and cut to ensure that no two bottles are alike. The velvet tiger print sleeve is made using recycled materials and the glass bottles are made from recycled glass. Additionally, Menon said that 10% of prof its will be donated to tiger conservation organizations in South India.

MONTANYA DISTILLERS

If your vacation plans include my fair state of Colorado, be sure to stop in Crested Butte at the Montanya Distillery. Karen and Brice Hoskins, and their great staff, offer daily tours, tastings and a full rum bar with artisan cocktails, appetizers and small plates. While you are there you can purchase a bottle of Montanya Exclusiva, a limited release only available in Colorado as of October 2015. It is barrel aged for two years in an American White Oak barrel that previously aged Colorado whiskey. The rum is then transfer red for an additional 6 months to a French Oak barrel that previously aged Sutcliffe Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon and Port. The Hoskins describe Exclusiva as “wonderfully unique, with a dry, tannin finish that is very rare in aged rums. The smoothness from being longer aged at altitude and proofed with mountain spring water from a well under our facility makes it a connoisseur’s sipper. The flavor profile is extremely complex as cinnamon meets red wine, honey meets vanilla, and none of the above overwhelm your palate with sweetness. Perfect for a Rum Manhattan, Old Fashioned or Ti’ Punch.“