March 2017- Rum in the News

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March 2017- Rum in the News

MOUNT GAY

Mount Gay Distilleries, the makers of the world’s oldest rum, recently announced the release of the latest limited-edition batch of its rarest and most revered rum: 1703 Master Select. The 1703 Master Select blend features a blend of copper column and copper pot rums from Mount Gay’s oldest reserves – ranging from 10 to 30 year old rums – created and hand-picked by Master Blender Allen Smith. Smith has been the talented innovator of some of Mount Gay’s newest and most popular rums, including Mount Gay Black Barrel, Mount Gay XO Cask Strength and Vol.1 and Vol. 2 of the Origin Series Collection. Due to overwhelming demand and the scarcity of Mount Gay’s most mature casks, the company releases just one batch of 1703 Master Select annually. Approximately 12,000 bottles will be released worldwide as part of this year’s small batch, which was selected, bottled and labeled individually by hand. This year’s batch, will also debut in a brand new premium bottle that will proudly feature the rum’s heritage year and details on the exact cask it matured. “The most important ingredient in 1703 Master Select is time,” said Allen Smith, Mount Gay Master Blender. “We spend years carefully monitoring our rarest barrels to achieve a perfect balance of flavors. It may take time, but when it all comes together, the taste is worth the wait, but once it’s gone it’s gone and you have to wait until the following year. So, we recommended grabbing it as soon as you see it! ” Since its launch in 2009, the 1703 Master Select aromatic profile has been heralded by rum experts for its elegance and complexity, delivered in a full body and smooth finish. The name pays tribute to Mount Gay’s legal deed, dated February 20, 1703, which confirms the existence of a “Pot Still House” at Mount Gay’s distillery in Barbados, establishing Mount Gay as the world’s oldest rum producer.

HABITATION ST ETIENNE RHUMS

HSE continues to explore the fine art of aging rums in barrels that once held fine wines. A new Limited Edition from HSE is the SE 2005 - Château Marquis de Terme Finish. HSE’s Chateau la Tour Blanche aged fine rum in Sauterne barrels. This new release has rum from 2005 spending time in Margaux casks from Château Marquis de Terme.

WILD TIGER INDIA SPICED RUM

The first premium rum brand from India - Wild Tiger is all set to launch a second variant Wild Tiger India Spiced Rum which is Asia’s very first Premium Spiced Rum, given its exotic blend of Indian Spices and exquisite packaging. Predominantly a molasses-based rum made with rich flavors of the Malabar coast, the ancient hub of the spice trade, the drink has exotic Indian flavors of Cardamom, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Licorice, Black Pepper, Ginger, Cassia Bark, Orange Peel, Forest Honey and a secret Tea extract fused into the Rum. Wild Tiger India Spiced Rum has been previewed at leading trade events including BCB, UK Rumfest with very encouraging feedback. An original spiced rum from India has been long overdue, considering the lure of these exotic Indian spices has led to historic explorations, wars, and conquests dating back to 7000 years ago while the country continues to retain its stature as the Spice Bowl of the World. Wild Tiger believes that spiced rum from Asia could very well be the definitive rum in this category considering its provenance.

APPLETON ESTATE JOY ANNIVERSARY RUM

Appleton Estate, the world’s leading Jamaican premium aged rum, has announced the release of the Appleton Estate Joy Anniversary Blend, a rare 25-year-old limited edition rum, which celebrates Joy Spence’s 20th anniversary as Master Blender. Joy, who fell in love with chemistry at age 13, always dreamed of becoming a scientist. After graduating from the University of the West Indies with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and the University of Loughborough with a Master of Science in Analytical Chemistry, she joined Appleton Estate in 1981 as Chief Chemist and quickly became enthralled with the process of blending rum. Over the next 16 years, under the expert guidance of then Master Blender, Owen Tulloch, Joy honed her sensory skills, developing an unrivalled mastery of taste and smell. Joy’s prestige in the industry rose at a time when rum was primarily made and consumed by men, and her 1997 appointment as the world’s first female Master Blender certainly served to shatter the spirits industry’s glass ceiling. At once an artist and a scientist, Joy has spent the last 20 years creating some of the finest rums the world has ever seen, and Appleton Estate Joy Anniversary Blend may be her greatest triumph yet. “For my anniversary blend, I simply set out to create the rum that I’d like to sip while watching the colors of my garden change in the warm glow of the Jamaican sunset,” said Joy Spence. “ It includes two rum marques which are of particular sentimental significance to me: The first of these marques was laid down to age in 1981, which is the year I joined the Appleton Estate team, and the second is my favorite marque of pot still rum. The final blend is a wonderful rum that I hope will be become a cornerstone of my legacy.” This beautifully complex and elegant limited edition is the culmination of Joy’s pioneering spirit, inventive mind, and dedication to her craft. Appleton Estate Joy Anniversary Blend opens with a delicate orange peel top note, a hallmark of Appleton Estate rums, intertwined with ginger and spice and finishes with warm vanilla, butterscotch, coffee and layers of almond and toasted oak. The palate is exceptionally smooth with an elegant finish of brown sugar. This 25-year-old minimum aged rum, which also includes rums that have been aged up to 35 years, is a reflection of a remarkable woman who embodies passion, love, and, above all else, joy. Appleton Estate Joy Anniversary Blend will be rolled out across markets starting in March 2017.

MONTANYA RUM

Montanya Rum, a craft rum distillery based in Crested Butte, Colo., has won the New-To-Export Award from the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Montanya won the award for its innovation in get ting its rum marketed in Europe. “Early on in our tasting room and along our travels, we discovered that Europeans liked our rums,” said Karen Hoskin, Founder/CEO of Montanya Rum. “It took a really long time, like five years, to clear the hurdles to get our rums over there in bigger quantities. I am so thrilled with the way it has turned out. If we had rushed it, it wouldn’t have been such a good relationship.” Agriculture continues to be one of Colorado’s top industries, contributing more than $40 billion to the state economy each year. In addition to feeding the state and nation, Colorado farm products travel the globe, with Colorado agricultural exports approaching nearly $2 billion annually. The Colorado Department of Agriculture congratulates Montanya Rum for this award. Montanya Rum, in true entrepreneurial spirit, has been innovative in finding a way to get their product marketed in Europe. They overcame obstacles to doing trade in a market that is logistically challenging, and this new export opportunity is making them highly competitive.

SPYTAIL BLACK GINGER RUM

Family-owned spirits supplier Biggar & Leith has released Spytail Black Ginger Rum. Based upon a 19th century recipe, Spytail takes rum distilled in the Caribbean and ages it with fresh ginger and spices at a small family distillery in Cognac, France. The name Spytail comes from plans for a French submarine from the time of Jukes Verne. In fact the bottle design, based roughly on a Bathysphere (a primitive form of submarine) has the co-ordinates of the final resting place of Jules Verne, hidden in a porthole embossed on the front and back.

DON Q OAK BARREL SPICED RUM

Last August, I first mentioned a barrel-aged spiced rum from Destileria Serralles. Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced Rum is finally coming to the United States. As I mentioned back then, this is a blend of Puerto Rican rums that have been aged for a minimum of three years and up to six years for this expression, adding the structure, smoothness and tannins that “differentiate Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced Rum from unaged spiced rums,” the company says. “We wanted to make sure we created an elevated experience for our customers, one that would reveal how barrel ageing and pure ingredients can take spiced rum from an ordinary mixer to an exceptional spirit”, said Roberto Serrallés, the sixth-generation owner of Destilería Serrallés.

BLACKWATER DISTILLING DARK RUM

Blackwater Distilling™, Maryland’s oldest and most awarded craft distillery, enters the craft Dark Rum segment in bold and uncompromising style with the launch of Picaroon Dark Rum. Picaroon Maryland Rum, is distilled from unadulterated sugar cane syrup—nothing added, nothing removed, unlike most rums which begin with blackstrap molasses, the inexpensive final byproduct of the sugar refining process. Picaroon Rum is grass to glass. Winner of two medals at the New York Wine and Spirits competition, Picaroon Rum is an incredibly smooth and complex rum. The newest release in Blackwater’s product portfolio is expected to take the craft rum drinking experience to a new level. “Picaroon” is an old word meaning “rogue” or “scoundrel ” honoring the uncompromising individuals who have shaped the history of the Free State. Like the rogues and scoundrels from which it gets its name, Picaroon Rum makes no compromises. From sugar, to yeast, to distillation and aging, Picaroon Rum is uncompromising” says Blackwater Distilling’s COO , Jonathan Cook.

BLUE CHAIR KEY LIME RUM CREAM

Just in time for summer, Kenny Chesney’s Blue Chair Rum Company is releasing Key Lime Rum Cream. The spirit tastes of both the tart and sweet notes, just like that of the fresh dessert, but with a loaded kick stirred in to get every party going. “Tastes like a key lime pie, which is my favorite dessert. Now I absolutely am in love with this flavor,” Chesney told fans of the rum through a video posted on Blue Chair Bay Rum’s Facebook page. Blue Chair Key Lime Rum Cream is best enjoyed while listening to Chesney’s 2005 hit song, you guessed it, “Key Lime Pie”.

DIPLOMATICO MANTUANO & PLANAS RUMS

Mantuano is the replacement for Diplomatico’s Reserva rum. ‘Mantuano’, meaning ‘nobleman’, reflects Don Juancho’s status and his passion for travel and the discovery of new spirits, mainly rums. Don Juancho is present on each of Diplomatico’s rums. Aged for up to eight years, Mantuano is a blend of 60% light, intermediate rums and 40% dark, complex rums. Planas, a premium white rum, will replace the current Blanco label. It is a blend of equal parts light, intermediate rums and dark, complex rums that are aged for up to six years and then charcoal filtered. Diplomatico uses molasses based washes in column stills and ‘sugar cane honey’ washes in batch kettles and pot stills. All of their rums are aged in small white oak barrels that once held bourbon or malt whiskey. Their premium rums are then finished in an assortment of sherry casks.

ANGOSTURA

Angostura Holdings Limited announced recently that Genevieve Jodhan has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. Mrs. Jodhan has been acting in the position since September 2016. Previously, Mrs. Jodhan led the company’s international sales and marketing division as its Executive Manager. In her new role, Mrs. Jodhan will lead Angostura’s executive management team, and support the Board of Directors on the Company’s strategic business and growth strategies as well as other key decisions. “Genevieve has the experience and track record of delivering results and has proven leadership. She spearheaded our international sales growth increasing market share and sales of our signature rums and bitters in Europe, Asia and Australia and has directed the development of the brands in many emerging markets including Russia, Czech Republic, and Armenia.” said Dr. Rolph Balgobin, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Dr. Balgobin added that the Board is confident that the new CEO would lead and execute Angostura’s vision to expand globally. “ I am both humbled and honoured to be appointed Chief Executive Officer. I have been with the Company for close to a decade and my commitment has always been to Angostura’s people, products and values. I am keen to build on the long outstanding achievement of our manufacturing business, through the execution of forward looking business strategies that add to the customer experience, and build on our shareholders’ value.” Mrs. Jodhan assumed her new role on Tuesday 14th February. She has 3 children and is the first woman to head one of Trinidad and Tobago’s largest manufacturing companies, outside of the energy sector.

CAPTAIN MORGAN LOCONUT

First there was Cannon Blast, Captain Morgan’s citrusy/spicy entry in the ‘shot’ category. Then came Jack-O-Blast, a mixture of pumpkin spice and spiced rum. The latest from Captain Morgan is Loconut, a blend of Captain Morgan Rum, Caribbean Spices and Coconut Liqueur. Like its siblings, Loconut can be enjoyed as a chilled shot, or mixed into a tasty cocktail.

AMERICAN CRAFT SPIRITS COMPETITION AWARDS

The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) announced the winners of its Fourth Annual Judging of Craft Spirits, who were honored during the Awards Dinner as part of the Fourth Annual ACSA Distillers Convention and Vendor Trade Show at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. Winners were hand-selected among a record-breaking pool of more than 550 entrants – up more than 20 percent over last year. The scoring of spirits was based on a 100-point system with 10 main categories of consideration: Appearance (10 points), Aroma Intensity (10 points), Aroma Complexity (10 points), Palate Concentration (10 points), Palate Complexity (10 points), Body (10 points), Alcohol (10 points), Texture (10 points), Finish (10 points), and Pour for a Peer (10 points). Spirits were then assigned a medal based on the average score determined by the following benchmarks: 70-79 = Bronze; 80-89 = Silver; 90-100 = Gold. Best in Class/Best in Show The top awarded spirits were then judged a final time in consideration of a Best in Class/Best in Show distinction.

Best in Class Winner in the Rum Category went to Artisan Grain Distilling for their Gold Rum. No Gold Medals were awarded in the Rum Category. Artisan Grain’s Gold Rum took a Silver Medal. Bronze Medals were awarded to:

Batch 206 Distillery’s Elliott Bay Rum; Camp 1805’s Surveyor’s Rum; Cannon Beach Distillery’s Donlon Shanks Amber Rum; Gorget Distilling Company’s Gadsden; H&H Distillery’s Hazel 63 Rum; Louisiana Spirits Distillery’s Bayou Spiced Rum and Bayou Select Rum; Lyon Distilling Company’s Lyon Dark Rum; Manatawny Still Works’ Batch Rum 5; New Holland Artisan Spirits’ Freshwater Michigan Rum; Old Line Spirits’ Old Line Aged Caribbean Rum; Outer Banks Distilling’s Kill Devil Rum – Shipwreck Series – Irma; Social Still’s Spiced Rum; Still 630’s Expedition Rum; Tailwinds Distilling Company’s Taildragger After Dark Rum and Twisted Path Distillery’s Twisted Path Organic Dark Rum.