"Got Rum?" Magazine
Rum in the News
The most recent and noteworthy headlines in the rum industry, written by Mike Kunetka and published monthly in the "Got Rum?" magazine. To share your news with our readers, please send an email to Mike@gotrum.com
MONTANYA DISTILLERS
Montanya Distillers, a Certified B Corporation, has been named a Best For The World honoree in recognition of its impact on the environment, its workforce, local communities, suppliers, customers, and corporate governance. Montanya ranks in the top 10% of all B Corps across all impact areas and is the only distillery to earn spots on two Best For lists—Best For The World Overall and Best for the Environment. Whether it’s the distillery’s innovative environmental practices and zero-waste mentality, or its employee benefits, Montanya strives to continuously raise the bar for what it means to be a responsible and successful business. “To be among the top 10 percent of the 3,000 B Corp Companies is amazing,” said Karen Hoskin, co-founder/CEO of Montanya Distillers. “We’re with incredible companies, businesses like Patagonia, TOMS, and Dr. Bronner’s; so it’s a pinch-me moment for sure!” Unlike traditional corporations, Certified B Corporations commit to measuring and improving a company’s impact on all its stakeholders from employees and suppliers to the community, its customers, and the environment. It’s like a Fair Trade certification, but for the whole business, not a single product or service. The performance standards B Corps meet are comprehensive, transparent, and verified. Best For The World recognition is administered by B Lab, the global nonprofit that certifies and supports Certified B Corporations. These corporations are for-profit companies dedicated to using business as a force for good. Today, Certified B Corporations across 64 countries and 150 industries are unified by one common goal: to redefine success in business. Montanya is the first distillery in Colorado to become a Certified B Corporation and the third in the nation. “We’re incredibly proud of this year’s Best For The World honorees,” says Anthea Kelsick, Chief Marketing Officer of B Lab. “These inspiring companies represent the kinds of business models and impact-driven business strategies that are building a new economy—one that is inclusive, regenerative, and delivers value to all stakeholders, not just shareholders. To that end, B Corps like Montanya are redefining capitalism and showing that it actually can work for everyone.” B Corps meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. Using the B Impact Assessment, B Lab reviews and verifies many indicators such as the sourcing of ingredients, energy efficiency practices, trash and waste, non-GMO claims, employee benefits, community donations, diversity hiring practices, carbon emissions mitigation and more. To achieve the B Corp Certification, a company must get a score of at least 80 points on the assessment. Montanya scored 119 after answering about 200 questions regarding its business; B Lab then verified those answers. https://www.montanyarum.com
OLD ESTATE RUMS
Old Estate Rums has recreated the lost art of blending rum to provide more flavor diversity. Their featured St. Thomas estates, Botany Bay, Perseverance Bay and Havensight, are famous for blending their premium rums into one-of-a-kind bottlings that could never be mass produced by any single distillery. Botany Bay Rum is a custom, small batch rum that is historically representative of the estate rums at Botany Bay estate on the west end of St Thomas, US Virgin Islands. These private reserve rums were used for special family occasions and visiting dignitaries. In the 1800’s Caribbean rum was traded in small artisan lots that were blended to yield one of a kind excellence that made the islands famous. Botany Bay is a blend of 3Yr. aged Barbados rum, 5Yr. aged Guatemala rum, smooth light Trinidad rum, and uniquely powerful rum from Martinique. This is the best of French & English flavor styles. Perseverance Bay is a 30 proof, small batch rum cream that is historically representative of products made at the Perseverance Bay estate in St Thomas. The world’s only cream liqueur that combines barrel aged rum (Botany Bay) and lighter USVI rums. This produces a smooth, rich and complex rum base which is combined with Caribbean nutmeg. The cream base is lighter and less filling for cocktails but still imparts a richer flavor experience. Havensight Rum liqueur is a 50 proof custom, small batch light rum base with orange, vanilla and other secret spices common to the Caribbean. As with most liqueurs, it is sweet in nature and evokes a breezy tropical flavor experience. This light, Virgin Island rum is combined with orange and vanilla, both from Island descent. This base combined with cane sugar and some secret spices, produces a flavor and after taste are a special treat. Served on the rocks, room temperature or in your favorite cocktail, you’ll be delighted. https://botanybayrum.com
RUM WHISPER
Rum Whisper is the result of the work of two young French people from the Caribbean who are passionate about rum. Their goal was to create the most authentic and traditional rum possible, a fundamental rum. For this, they originally partnered with a distillery in Antigua. This blend was well received in Europe. Recently Hembert Achard and Anne-Francois Houzel switched to a distillery in Barbados. Traditionally made, Whisper Rum is made from high quality sugar cane molasses. This is fermented in vats and distilled on column stills, and aged in oak barrels, formerly used for the maturation of Whiskey. These barrels will then bring to the rum all their aromatic richness during its aging, without any element added to it. After 5 or 8 years of maturation in Whiskey casks, the rum is then imported to France where it is analyzed, treated, filtered, in order to remove the residues, and then conditioned. The different stages of processing, just like packaging, are then carried out exclusively by French companies. Whisper is currently offering two expressions, a 5 year old and an 8 year old. https://www.whisper-rum.com/
MALAHAT DISTILLERS
Malahat Distillers will be conducting a special Master Class on all things Malahat. Ken Lee will expertly guide attendees through a selection of their handcrafted spirits including one of their exclusive new releases currently only available to Barrel Club members! Each ticket holder will also take home their very own bottle of Cabernet Barrel Aged Rum. The class will be held on Saturday, October 12th at Raised by Wolves on La Jolla Village Drive in San Diego, California. Malahat currently offers a Silver Rum, a Spiced Rum, a Ginger Rum, a Black Tea Rum and a Cabernet Barrel Aged Rum. https://www.malahatspirits.com
GOLDEN HINDE RUM TASTING
London Rum Week will be celebrated from October 14th through October 21st. Among the many events will be the Craft Rum Tasting on board The Golden Hinde Ship which will run from 6:30 pm until 9:30 pm on Thursday, the 17th. Not only will they have the living museum on which to showcase on, but they will also have a few special treats for you. There will be exclusive rum producers on board the ship whose rums are currently unavailable to purchase in the UK. Independent rum bottler, Single Barrel Selection, will be launching their new range of releases. The VIP room was a sell-out success last time around and will return this year. In a private space, a limited number of guests will be given a 30 minute talk on rum and two very exclusive and high value rums to sample with an expert. There will be a minimum of 20 rums for guests to sample on board, with the ability to speak to ambassadors, master distillers and brand owners of their favorite rums. There will also be a shop open on board where you can purchase rums from the evening. http://www.rumcask.com/
WESTERN RESERVE DISTILLERS
Western Reserve Distillers is a family owned Organic Craft Distillery producing world class spirits in Lakewood, Ohio, which is just a few miles from downtown Cleveland. All of their products are Hand Crafted in small batches from Ohio farms within 150 miles of the distillery. In a world where bigger is always considered better, they have opted to follow a different path. Each and every one of their products are carefully crafted with an attention to detail often lacking in the products produced by major brands these days. For their exceptionally smooth and flavorful Silver Rum they use 100% Organic Dark Molasses and a special strain of yeast that was isolated in the tropics specifically for its temperature tolerance. This wonderfully balanced Silver Rum is then bottled and waiting to be the main attraction in your next “Caribbean Cocktail”. Western Reserve’s Barrel Aged Rum is made from Organic Amber and Organic Black Pearl Molasses and the same strain of yeast as that in the Silver Rum to produce a smooth and flavorful Rum. Once it is distilled, it is placed into a freshly charred American Oak Barrel and then set aside until the family feels that the flavor is perfect for you, their customer. https://www.westernreservedistillers.com/
COCONUT CARTEL RUM
Coconut Cartel is excited to announce the launch of their first premium rum. Coconut Cartel combines rum aged in Guatemala by some of the world’s best rum makers with coconut water creating a smooth, rich taste that is unlike anything available on the market. Coconut Cartel was inspired by a fresh cold coconut spiked with a shot of Central American aged rum. What you’ll find inside the bottle embodies just that, a unique blend of Central American dark rum infused with real coconut water to proof. The natural minerality in the coconut water makes this blend uniquely smooth, with notes of vanilla at first and a touch of coconut as the finish. Coconut Cartel is refreshing, delicious and naturally just a little sweet. Coconut Cartel is the story of Mike and Dani Zig and all the places they have called home. Born in Miami to Latin parents, the Zigs grew up between Miami, Guatemala and El Salvador; often spending weekdays in Central America and weekends in Miami. These two drastically different, yet culturally connected places, are the very inspiration behind Coconut Cartel. As soon as they settled back in Miami, they began their first venture: ‘smuggling’ coconuts in their suitcases from islands off the coast of El Salvador directly to Miami Beach’s best hotels. Creating one of the first ‘Instagrammable’ beverages to hit the beaches opened up a lot of doors into the hospitality and spirits industries, allowing them to collaborate with brands such as Soho House, Standard Hotels, The Surf Lodge and into the hands of mega celebrities like Drake, Martha Stewart, HRH Prince Harry Sussex, Cristiano Ronaldo and many more. Coconut Cartel was born. Mike Zig explains, “Premium Rum is finally having its moment in the sun, and the timing couldn’t be better to launch a fresh new face in somewhat a dull space. We are excited to change people’s perception of what they think rum is (Hint: it’s not just what you chugged in college).” https://www.coconutcartel.co/
HOLMES CAY RUM
Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum was created with one simple premise, to seek out the world’s best rums and release them unadulterated and at cask strength. Holmes Cay offers limited edition rums to U.S. lovers of ultra-premium spirits. Their first release will hit shelves in New York next month. Holmes Cay Barbados 2005 is a standout in the traditional British style of rum making. A masterful blend of pot and column still rum, distilled in 2005 at the legendary Foursquare Rum Distillery of Barbados. This edition has been aged 14 years in ex-bourbon barrels: 11 years tropically and 3 years in the UK. Holmes Cay Barbados 2005 is bottled at full cask strength. Two casks have been bottled at approximately 64% alcohol by volume with slight variations by barrel. “It’s no secret that the growing appetite for premium rums is not being fully satisfied in the United States via independent bottlings. With Holmes Cay we showcase the best that the spirit has to offer. This is the first in a series of extremely special rums bottled at full cask strength,” said founder Eric Kaye. “There are amazing rums, equaling or surpassing the best aged Scotch whiskeys or bourbons that are not well known or available here in the US,” said Kaye. “Holmes Cay was created to celebrate the world’s best rums for distilling artistry and production transparency. We chose to showcase the Foursquare Rum Distillery in our first release due to their unwavering dedication to the highest standards of traditional rum making.” A serial entrepreneur, Kaye has traveled the globe tasting and collecting the world’s best and rarest rums. While each edition bottled will vary in flavor and origin, future Holmes Cay editions will all share purity of process and product, answering the call from sophisticated spirits consumers for high quality, unadulterated rums. http://www.holmescay.com/the-rum/
BACARDI
Following the devastating impact of Hurricane Dorian on The Bahamas, Bacardi Limited and the Bacardí family commit to donating $1 Million in cash and other assistance to the disaster relief and recovery efforts. Bacardi will collaborate with non-profit partners and the Bahamian government to ensure that this cash donation provides immediate and long-term assistance to local relief agencies in their efforts to support the islands and communities that need it most. The company has also organized an employee drive to collect much needed items for those in need in the wake of Hurricane Dorian as well as communicated a website to provide cash donations to a global humanitarian partner. Bacardi has a long relationship with The Bahamas which became its adopted home in the early 1960’s when the company moved there after the revolutionary government forces in Cuba illegally confiscated all assets in Cuba from Bacardi. “We have never forgotten the incredible kindness of the Bahamian people and the important role they played in the history of our company,” said Facundo L. Bacardi, Chairman of family-owned Bacardi Limited. “We hope in a small way to contribute to the rebuilding of this great country in the face of this tragedy just as The Bahamas helped Bacardi rebuild nearly 60 years ago.” While Bacardi no longer has facilities in The Bahamas, the company’s donation is testament to its longstanding relationship to the Bahamian people and the islands, where the company produced its iconic rum for nearly 50 years and was a vital member of the business community, working hard to make The Bahamas a better place to live and work. Still today, many Bacardi family members have roots in the islands. The catastrophic destruction caused by Hurricane Dorian strikes particularly close to Bacardi. Puerto Rico, which was impacted on such tragic scale by Hurricane Maria in 2017, is home to the BACARDÍ rum distillery, the largest premium rum distillery in the world, and the company has been deeply involved in the community and its recovery over the last two years. https://www.bacardi.com/us/en/
THE MANUAL - BEST UNAGED AND THE BEST AGED RUM
Website The Manual recently announced their choice for the Best Unaged US Rum and the Best Aged Rum. The Manual Spirit Awards recognize the best craft liquors distilled in the U.S. They blind-tasted bottles from around the country in eight categories, Bourbon, Single Malt Whiskey, Rye Whiskey, Gin, Vodka, Unaged Rum, Aged Rum, and Liqueur, to determine their champions. Each of the winners was judged on aroma, palate, and finish. The Best Unaged Rum was Iron Fish Distillery’s Michigan White Rum. Iron Fish Distillery is Michigan’s first working farm solely dedicated to the practice of distilling small-batch craft spirits. The family reclaimed a late 1890’s abandoned farmstead with a simple mission in mind: to create exceptional spirits from the ground up, growing their own grain and sourcing grain from Michigan farmers with practices that respect the health of nearby watersheds. Beautifully bright and light, reminiscent of sandy Lake Michigan sunsets, Michigan White Rum has been finished with a touch of gold, courtesy of Sleeping Bear Farms’ honeybees, and crafted with the very best Caribbean molasses. The Best Aged Rum was Boston Harbor Distillery Lawley’s Small Batch Rum. Boston Harbor Distillery was founded by Rhonda Kallman, who after a 25-year career at the forefront of the U.S. craft beer movement at Boston Beer (Samuel Adams), looked for her next challenge. She found it in the craft distilling industry as it reminded her of the early days of the craft beer movement. After searching for nearly two years for a suitable location, she found it at The Port on Boston Harbor on Boston’s southern most waterfront in the Neponset section of Dorchester. Built in 1859 with Douglas Fir post and beam construction, 40 ft high ceilings and over 100 windows, today it is one of the last remaining mill buildings in the Boston area. Run down and neglected, it took over a year to renovate and bring it to life. It’s now the proud home of the Boston Harbor Distillery. 100% Distiller’s Grade Molasses is used to produce their handmade, small batch rums. The spirit comes off of their handmade copper-pot still, registered No. 1776, at double the alcohol,160 proof, and the finished product is bottled at 80 proof. Lawley’s Small Batch Dark Rum is aged in used Putnam New England Rye 53-gallon American oak barrels to give it a caramel, vanilla and bakeshop spiced finish and a smooth, silky texture defined once again by our distiller’s narrow hearts cuts. https://bostonharbordistillery.com/
