We're starting to get into this Bacardi True Originals series, showcasing different types of bartenders. We can see where they're going with it. We have to admit we were nervous for this one after we saw perfectly good bar utensils start flying through the air. Yes, we were impressed by his aerodynamic artistry, but we kept wanting to yell "STOP BOUNCING THE BOTTLE ON YOUR DAMN ELBOW AND MIX THE DRINK ALREADY!"
Then, we read over at A Dash of Bitters that this dude is a real bartender (named Nicolas Saint-Jean if you're curious) and all is right in the world again - and this is our favorite video in the series. Now we need to just get ourselves one of those vanilla pod straws...
There's a new series of videos made by Bacardi, where a man is on a hunt for the greatest bartender on the planet. This particular bartender (side note: never call female bartenders "bartendress" - we have a friend who learned that the hard way after being ejected from a Boston bar) is called "The Hummingbird" because of her speed and grace while she attends to her nectar. We have to admit, we wish we could watch her flitting around outside our window while we drink our coffee.
If you like this vid, which we got from Mixology.eu, check out the other one, called The Samurai.
Are we dating ourselves with a Joan Jett & the Blackhearts reference? Maybe. But we couldn't avoid it, because it was the first thing that popped into our heads when we read the press release from Heaven Hill announcing the launch of Blackheart Premium Spiced Rum. Here's what they have to say about it:
Blackheart Rum is named for the sultry seductress of the high seas. Blackheart is bold and bawdy, cunning and cutthroat, sexy and seductive and left a trail of broken hearts wherever she traveled - that is how she came to be known as Blackheart. This is her rum.
Blackheart Rum weighs in at a high-test 93 proof, and it sounds like you would like it if you enjoy that certain other rum named after a certain Captain (or a certain Sailor). We don't know much about the history of minxy pirates, but consensus around the office is that we'd rather put a Blackheart in our mouths than a Morgan or a Jerry. More at BlackheartRum.com [link not working at press time, but we're sure they'll get it fixed]
The folks at Bacardi sent us a bottle of a special 89 proof version of their famous Superior Rum - a slightly overproof version of the white rum you're probably familiar with, which is rumored to be closer to the original Cuban formulation of Bacardi's flagship product. We gave it a taste on your behalf - our notes are below.
The bottle looks very similar to the one you might see at your local liquor store, and might be hard to differentiate from a distance. It is slightly different, however, even beyond the fact it's all in Spanish. "Ron Superior de Bacardi y Cia" has a pretty cool ring to it, though. That and just holding the bottle made us feel very Hemingway, without the gift for prose or the suicidal urges.
The nose was very mellow in comparison to Bacardi as we remember it (and most other white rums we've tried), even though it has a higher-than-average proof, and had a light, sweet, sugary smell. The taste at bottle strength was similarly mellow, with some hints of molasses, and was much dryer than expected. As you might anticipate, we were able to mix some daiquiris that curled our toes, and packed just that little bit of extra punch.
It's more expensive than your typical Bacardi Superior, weighing in at close to $50, but we think this is a must-have for rum enthusiasts and those who want to taste a bit of Bacardi's heritage, and a great gift idea. Don't take our word for it - head over to Bacardi.com for more information; otherwise, this rum should be available at your local liquor store.
* PS we apologize for the chintzy iPhone photo of the label...it was the best we could do and hopefully it'll help you recognize the bottle.
Cruzan Single Barrel Estate Rum
Dark St. Croix Rum
80 Proof (40% ABV)
Website: CruzanRum.com
Typical Price: Around $30
Available online at Internet Wines & Spirits
The Look: The bottle is tall and slender with black and gold labeling, getting away from an island party vibe to something a little more classic. In the glass, the rum is a smooth brown color reminiscent of whiskey...not too dark, not too light.
The Nose: The nose was full of caramel and brown sugar and molasses, and there was a hint of nuttiness there too. No huge alcohol burn, but not too sweet either.
The Taste: This rum is on the dryer side, not too sweet, with nice sweet flavors in the mix that don't overpower. There was maple and spice, nutmeg and vanilla, and the faintest hint of dried fruits on the back end. Very nice at bottle strength, but we liked it even more once we added a splash of water.
The Verdict: This is a good rum, period. It's not too spendy at around thirty bucks, and we were really impressed with the effects of blending various rums of various ages into a single cask and aging them another year. Don't step on this one with cola - this one's a sipper for after meals, and would make some excellent cocktails as well.
Many thanks to the Cruzan Rum folks for sending us our review bottle.
We got our hands on a bottle of Cruzan single barrel, a St. Croix rum we've heard of but never had the pleasure of trying. We're looking forward to giving it a go, and we'll let you know the moment we have a chance to review it. Here's a screen cap of their website's description of the stuff...image text makes the Web purist in us cringe but we think it's a worthwhile read and we didn't feel like re-typing it ourselves. More info at CruzanRum.com.
Our long-time readers (hi Mom and Dad) will remember that waaaay back in 2005 we wrote a Screech Rum Review that was... How should we put this? It was less than complimentary to the Newfoundland-based rum. Since then, every once in a while we have received a comment to that review saying, in essence, that we were morons for badmouthing the stuff. Here are some of the choicer comments:
"the stuff is supposed to be harsh. if you can't take it go back to drinking coolers or whatever."
- Matt
"listen, im from newfoundland and it sounds to mw like your just a bunch of mainland bitches, do me and the rest of the world a favor and stick to the water you guys call rum."
- Joey
"By Jesus, whom ever wrote this review has got to be half retarded!!"
- Xwayde
"Just split a bottle with two friends this weekend - we thought Screech was great! Carmel, smooth, wonderful. This reviewer is really an idiot."
-Sam
You get the picture. So, after a few years of this we did what any red-blooded bloggers would do and made a bold, two-pronged move. We checked with the interns who reviewed it, and sat them down to give Screech another try. Below you'll find out what they had to say.
Continue reading:"Screech Rum: A Retraction"
We're not usually ones for waxing patriotic, but not too long ago, the 44th president of the US was sworn in to much pomp and circumstance. He made a great speech, and we can't think of any way to celebrate that moment better than acknowledging the men and women who spend their lives protecting the nation and its citizens. That's why we're telling you about Brave Spirits line of liquors, made up of Valor Vodka, First In Whiskey, Standing Guard Gin, and At Ease Rum.
Brave Spirits is for Soldiers. Marines. Sailors. Airmen. Police officers. Fire fighters. You come to the rescue. You protect. You defend American freedom. You are America's bravest.
We honor you by celebrating your bravery and dedication with something to truly call your own.
For every bottle sold, Brave Spirits donates $2 toward charities that support the men and women of America's military, fire departments and police departments.
So far, they've donated $19K, and here's to more.
Brave Spirits are distributed in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Washington DC, as well as on select Army and Air Force bases. They are are also available nationwide from several online merchants. More at Brave Spirits
After our success with the Glog recipe we tried before Christmas, we've been interested in checking out some other traditional cocktail recipes. Lo and behold, we get an email from someone representing Mount Gay Rum, with a recipe for hot buttered rum, something we've never tried. We like hot, we dig butter, and we love rum, so expect us to give it a try.
Check out the recipe after the jump, and happy rumming.
We mentioned the book Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cubaback in September, and we've finally gotten our hands on a review copy. You know what that means - soon, we'll be holed up in our bunker with a bottle of Bacardi and little else, reading about the history of Cuba. With any luck, we'll come out of the experience a little bit enlightened, a little bit full of rum, and with a full-on Castro beard. Here's hoping!
We've just learned about a book called Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba, about the trials and tribulations of the Bacardi family during the social and political transitions in Cuba. You'll thrill to the tribulations of a glowing corporate citizen. You'll be awed by the transition of the company from "Cuban Nationalism in a bottle" to multi-national corporate behemoth. You'll probably plow through an entire bottle of Bacardi while you're reading it. Everybody wins!
As you already know, today is National Talk Like a Pirate Day. As you also know, the only way to truly talk like a pirate is to get insanely drunk and/or scurvy. In honor of the former, we've dug up some Pirate cocktail recipes. You will begin mixing and drinking them now, or we will keelhaul you.
When most people think 'punch,' they think 'fruit,' 'Hawaiian,' or '...and Judy.' Even if they think of an alcoholic punch, they probably think of another drink that's just been spiked. This doesn't have to be the case, though. In fact, punch can be a combination of festive, boozy, and tasty that can take your holiday party to the next level. We've found a great example of a delicious punch recipe over at Esquire, and we recommend you blow your friends away by making it for your holiday party.
We just learned about Bambu - no, not the rolling papers, it's a white rum that's going to be launching in October. We don't have many details, but we do know about a launch party that's coming up on October 4. If you're planning to be in the NYC area on that particular Thursday (or even if you weren't planning to), you should check 'em out and get a little taste of the goods. Get the full details of the event by clicking the image on the right.
Find some more details at BambuRum.com [as of press time the site's not live, but here's hoping]
Bacardi True Originals 4: The Outsider
Cruzan Single Barrel Estate Rum
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