Rum Pundit

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade

All the tea in China would be worth a billion Rum drinkers!
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Jamaica Trade and Invest Seeking to Woo the World in Beijing
BEIJING (JIS):
Saturday, August 16, 2008

The Government, through Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI), is seeking to leverage the anticipated positive performances of Jamaican athletes at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, as a vehicle to attract investments and to introduce the thousands of visitors from around the world, to the country’s finest products.

Speaking with JIS News, Regional Manager for the Caribbean, Latin America and Emerging Markets, at the JTI, Jason Hall, told JIS News that over the years, Jamaica has enjoyed many successes in the sports arena, but that a proper programme had not been put in place to market brand Jamaica and to capitalise on that, adding that the JTI is seeking to do just that.

He explained that the agency’s objective in this regard, is to generate as much interest as possible in Jamaican brands overall, and to bring specific products to China, not only to promote the country there, but also to promote it to the world and to push specific incentives, such as in real estate development.

Mr. Hall said the focus would be on more high-end boutique development, as opposed to just hotel chains. “We are also looking at attraction development, as attractions are very key; alternative energy; information and communication technology; agriculture and agri-business,” he added.

Approaches being taken, he disclosed, include the establishment of some strategic alliances and relationships with key partners, such as Puma, the main sponsor of the Jamaican team at the Olympics.

“We have set up, in a very trendy section of Beijing, a Jamaica business club, housed in a major bar/restaurant, featuring live music. Here we showcase a number of the products that we have brought here, including picka pepper sauce and rum. We are really focusing on Jamaican rum this trip, because we have a unique opportunity in Beijing to introduce rum on a wide scale as a premium spirit,” he outlined. Also featured are Jamaican multi-coffee brands.

Mr. Hall informed that cultural events would also be staged, with Puma sponsoring a number of concerts, one of which was held on August 5, at which athletes attended and Jamaican artistes performed. “The whole experience was appreciated,” he said, noting that there was a live broadcast by Prime Minister Bruce Golding, which was welcomed. “That went down really well with the athletes and really set the tone in terms of them knowing that we are here for them,” he said.

“Our main objective here, in terms of our exports, is to focus on high-end, high value, low volume, because the scale of the Chinese market is so massive. It’s too large to even contemplate trying to fill that demand. We are also looking at distributors in China, who have experience with western food, specifically the expatriate segment of the market, which also include high-end Chinese who are seeking to buy wholesale food,” he told JIS News.

Mr. Hall said this first event was well received, and was a “pretty good first showing.”

Additional events are also planned, including a business seminar, to which 30 pre-screened Chinese businesses have been invited, based on the criterion of having a good track record and are interested in doing business with Jamaica. The seminar will be held on August 16 at the Westin Hotel.

“We will basically be giving them a first-hand look at some of the investment potential that we have, and also present them with opportunities to invest in some of our products,” he informed, noting that Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, would be at the seminar. Another seminar is planned for August 22.

Mr. Hall said another business lounge is located at the Westin Hotel, being facilitated by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB). “This location is critical, as it houses Visa, a principal Olympic sponsor, and they have on their guest list, some 450 senior executives of various investment banks from around the world. That represents a unique opportunity to network,” he added.

Product Review: Matusalem Gran Reserva 15-Year-Old Rum
Written by El Bicho
Published August 14, 2008

At the 8th Annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition Matusalem Gran Reserva Rum won the title “Best Rum” and was proclaimed a Double Gold Medal Winner. Although I didn’t get to participate in the selection process, I understand why it did so well because I was impressed by the beverage and can recommend it to fellow rum drinkers.

The Alvarez family uses a distillation and blending process, known as the Solera system, which was originally developed in late 1500s Spain for sherry. They began to make rum in Santiago de Cuba in 1872 and became known as a national brand. After Castro’s revolution, the family fled the country. Currently, the company operates in the Dominican Republic.

Because of the lengthy aging process where they blend young and older rums in French oak casks, they took the name Matusalem from the Spanish proverb “Esto es mas viejo que Matusalem,” which translates into “it’s older than Methuselah”. After 15 years, Matusalem Gran Reserva is ready to be served. They also offer Clasico, a 10-year-old blend, and Platino, a three-year-old blend.

Gran Reserva has a nice golden amber color. The bouquet has a very light sweetness, from the combination of molasses and plum. There are also mild hints of vanilla and caramel. In a shot straight out of the bottle, it’s definitely strong at 40% alcohol, but after the initial reaction from the swig, there’s no harsh aftertaste.

I also made myself the most basic rum drink: the Rum and Coke. I poured a shot of Gran Reserva over ice in a lowball glass, gave it a squeeze of lime, and then filled the remainder with RC Cola to create a smooth beverage that tasted so good and refreshing, it could lead one to trouble because you could easily get fooled about how much alcohol you drank.

Two drink recipes that are recommended by the makers of Gran Reserva are:

Cuban Special:
1 ½ oz. Matusalem Gran Reserva Rum
Juice from half a lime
1 ½ oz. Cointreau
1 ¼ oz. pineapple juice
Ice cubes
Using a shaker with ice cubes, pour Matusalem Gran Reserva Rum; add lime juice, pineapple juice, and Cointreau; shake well; strain into chilled cocktail glass; garnish with a lime twist.

Cuban American:
1 oz. Matusalem Gran Reserva Rum
¾ oz. lime juice
¼ oz. triple sec
½ oz. Bourbon
Ice cubes
Using a shaker with ice cubes, pour Matusalem Gran Reserva Rum; add lime juice, pineapple juice, and Bourbon; shake well; strain into chilled cocktail glass; garnish with a lime twist.

Matusalem Gran Reserva Rum is available wherever fine liquors are sold.

And you will note it will be two more years before this newborn spirit is matured into real rum!
Rum Pundit

From The Shout

Tasmanian Rum Industry Reborn

By Ian Neubauer

The Lark Distillery is soon to release Rum Island, Tasmania’s first commercially produced rum in 169 years.

Made from 100 per cent Australian sugar cane molasses and double distilled in 500 litre copper pot stills, Rum Island is named after an islet on Tasmania’s north eastern Furneaux Group that is the historical site of the 1797 shipwreck of the Sydney Cove.

Lark Distillery sales manager, Ross Dinsmoor, who distilled and barrelled the rum under the expert tuition of Lyn Lark, said the rum-making process was a tedious, costly yet pleasurable experience.

“It takes a good three weeks to slow ferment, which is the key to a smooth rum, and a couple of days to run it through the still twice, and another six to eight weeks to settle out,” he said. “We don’t get affected by the fumes but it all smells lovely, like a rum cake or a Christmas pudding.”

In addition to the first batch of 80 per cent proof ‘rum spirit’, Dinsmoor and Lark also stored a quantity of the final product in specially made 20-litre barrels.

“This is technically our real rum, as under Australian law rum must be aged for at least two years to be called ‘rum’. It’s a lot more expensive to do and we don’t really make money out of it, but in two years we will have an excellent rum.”

Established in 1992, Lark Distillery is the patron of the Australian boutique distilling industry, with founder and general manager Bill Lark credited for pressuring Government to rewrite legislation that has allowed the still-nascent industry to operate under legal — albeit highly restrictive — conditions.

It produces three kinds of whiskeys, a gin, bush liqueur, apple brandy, apple liqueur, apple schnapps, pepperberry vodka and a cherry liqueur made from cherries that are soaked for a year prior to distilling.

The first 200-litre batch of Lark Rum Spirit will be released to a select number of bars and bottle shops later this month. It will retail at around the $55 mark.

Since George Washington bought his first election with rum, the spirit has been at the forefront of politics. It’s good to see the tradition continues!
Rum Pundit

More questions about a lobbyist who supports McCain
By LESLEY CLARK
McClatchy Newspapers

A key adviser to John McCain lobbied on behalf of a French liquor giant that partners with the Cuban government to sell rum - and which has been embroiled in a costly and controversial trademark dispute with Miami-based Bacardi.

Lobbyist disclosure forms suggest John Green since 2001 also lobbied on behalf of several bills that seek to relax the economic embargo against Cuba - a stance contrary to McCain’s support of the embargo.

Campaigning in Miami in May, the Republican presidential contender told a crowd that before he’d entertain lifting the embargo he’d press the Cuban government to release political prisoners, legalize political parties and schedule elections.

The embargo, McCain said, “must stay in place until these basic elements of democratic society are met.”

The managing director of the lobbying firm that Green co-founded, however, said in an interview that the firm did not lobby for lifting the embargo. Stewart Hall said Ogilvy Government Relations’ sole interest was protecting French liquor manufacturer Pernod Ricard’s right to the trademark, Havana Club.

The French company, partnering with Cubaexport, a Cuban government company, sells rum under the Havana Club name in Cuba and around the world - but not in the United States, because of the trade embargo.

For more than a decade Bacardi has fought the company for the rights to the trademark it maintains was seized by the Cuban government; Pernod maintains the former owners of the trademark let its right to the trademark lapse.

“The embargo issue, that’s not our fight,” Hall said. “Our fight is simply to protect our client’s intellectual property rights for the day that they may be allowed to sell their product. When and if that happens is not our issue.”

He said his firm listed bills that call for relaxing the embargo on disclosure forms because its push to repeal a 1998 provision that essentially granted Bacardi U.S. rights to the Havana Club name often was tucked into bills that called for lifting sanctions.

A spokesman for McCain’s campaign said the candidate’s position on the embargo “is clear and consistent” and that regardless, Green holds no policymaking role in the campaign.

Green took a leave of absence from Ogilvy in March and volunteers with McCain as the chief liaison between the presidential campaign and House and Senate Republicans.

Mauricio Claver-Carone, a director of the U.S.-Cuba Democracy PAC, which aggressively defends the embargo, said he had not come across Green pushing to lift the embargo.

“I never encountered him advocating for lifting the embargo or travel restrictions,” Claver-Carone said, noting that a member of Congress would likely have alerted him if Green had worked the issue.

Pernod Ricard’s chief USA lobbyist, Mark Orr, told a Capitol Hill newspaper in June that the company doesn’t lobby to end the embargo with Cuba, but he acknowledged Pernod would like the opportunity to sell its product in the United States.

“On the first day (the embargo is lifted), we’d like to offer you this product that you can’t drink today,” Roll quoted Orr as saying. “It’s very much about future competition.”

The Caribbean still does make enough of the tourism thing. If they can do it downunder, then the birthplace of rum should make a show of every distillery!
Rum Pundit

a href=”http://www.etravelblackboard.com/showarticle.asp?id=80857&nav=13″>Bundaberg attracts record crowds
Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Queensland’s Bundaberg Rum Distillery Visitor Centre, the BONDSTORE has attracted record visitor numbers over the past 12 months.

More than 68,000 visitors passed through the Centre, 20,000 of which were international, eager to see the birthplace of Bundaberg Rum.

Visitors have been attracted by the developments of more local accommodation and an Ambassador program, according to Peter Selinger, BONDSTORE Manager.

He also points out that $2.5 million has recently been invested into an interactive experience allowing visitors to share in the 120-year history of Bundaberg.

“The historic grounds also received a facelift, incorporating the big Bundy bottle and new iconic murals on the bondstore walls last year. Together, these attractions provide an entertaining experience for tourists and visitors, particularly those who want to understand more about the brand’s local history and heritage.”

There are guided tours for visitors as well, where the stages of production are explained and afterwards at the ‘Bundy Bar’ thirsty visitors receive a complimentary tasting of the exclusive Bundaberg Rum Royal Liqueur or a 1920’s labelled Bundaberg Rum, as well as gourmet Bundaberg Rum produce.

Queensland is already the home to many ‘big things’ and Selinger adds that the big Bundy bottle will now claim its place as an Aussie icon, another big thing to take your picture with.
“We invite both tourists and lovers of Bundaberg Rum to come and experience this legendary Australian town in one of the most beautiful and renowned parts of our country.”

Rediscovering the rum truths
9 Aug, 2008, 0120 hrs IST,Reshmi Dasgupta, ET Bureau

No, unlike a zillion other column inches these ones are not going to be devoted to anything remotely related to the Olympic Games or China or any combination thereof. Instead, let’s begin with a pop quiz. What’s common between the mojito, mai tai, daiquiri and pina colada? Besides the fact that they are all cocktails, of course! The sweet three-letter connection is rum, a drink that has been rather neglected but is staging a slow comeback like another old favourite, gin. And the focus is India…. Not China!

Rum is a liquor that trendies tend to forget or gloss over unless it is white and comes packaged with a swaying Caribbean holiday imagery. Of course, before it became the great white hope of international spirits conglomerates, dark rum was the famous alcoholic byproduct of the slave-driven sugarcane plantations of the West Indies. That something good (read flavoursome) came of that initial colonial exploitation is providential. Another similar case is that of blue curacao which is the spirited outcome of some Spaniards’ misguided hopes that Seville oranges would grow in the very different soils across the Atlantic from their homeland.

Rum has a particular resonance for Indians too, given that we make some of the best varieties of it here. And it has fans in the unlikeliest places. One lifelong fan was my late maternal uncle, who steadfastly refused to defect to whisky even when single malts became easy to access thanks to visiting NRI relatives. Indeed many Indians of his generation preferred to stick to the good quality spirits that India made legally rather than run to bootleggers for bottles of dubious ‘Scotch’ whiskies.

We Indians have become self confident about a lot of things about India, from Bollywood and fusion fashion to indi-pop music and east-west khana. But when it comes to drink, we are still squeamish about being desi. I can sympathise to an extent, given that our whiskies have a lot to answer for and our wines are still in the “young and fresh” genre. But I get the feeling we may pick up the right signals about rum soon, given that good rum is, say, now present abroad — in upmarket chains like (my favourite) Waitrose in the UK, not to mention Harrods and Selfridges; ditto the US…. And even the popular wine destination in London, Vinopolis has begun a ‘rum tour’!

Incidentally, if you equate rum with pirates and ‘rotgut’ or even merely coarse spirit, do a recheck. Experts say that an eight year old rum, for instance, has the same complexity as an 18-year-old Scotch. And if you are looking for snob value, Caribbean rums are offering different ages and blends and even single ‘vintages’. I wonder when we will wake up to this rum truth and start producing and marketing our best spirited asset in a befitting manner — in India and abroad!

Bacardi Global to review £100m advertising roster

06-Aug-08
Newspaper Society

bacardiBacardi Global Brands is reviewing its entire £100m advertising roster, including the business for flagship brands Bacardi, Martini and premium vodka Grey Goose.

The review is in its early stages and is being led by BGB global marketing services director Adam Hillyer. A number of non-roster agencies are understood to have been long-listed.

Globally, Y&R holds the bulk of the business, in­cluding the £90m rum brands ac­counts – among them Bacardi. The last time it re­view­ed its roster was in 2005.

A spokeswoman says: “We are reviewing our roster of creative agencies across the portfolio as part of our standard business practices.”

BGB is said to be reviewing because of “growing ambitions” for its brand portfolio, with Hillyer keen to reappraise its communications roster in the light of “changing patterns of consumer behaviour”.

Hillyer has approached networks with a strong international presence, particularly in its core UK and US markets. BGB will then whittle the networks down to shortlist stage through chemistry meetings.

He was appointed to the role, then a new position, two years ago, reporting to chief marketing officer Stella David (MW May 11, 2006). Previously, he had been director of sales at Bacardi-Martini UK.

David replaced global marketing chief Michele Recalt in late 2005, taking over responsibility for Bacardi’s global advertising pitch and appointing Y&R (MW November 24, 2005).

Bacardi’s portfolio in­cludes more than 200 brands, including Bacardi rum, Grey Goose, Martini vermouth, Dewar’s scotch whisky, Bombay Sapphire gin and Cazadores tequila.
Earlier this week Bacardi appointed Seamus McBride, from Colgate-Palmolive, as its chief executive, taking over from Andreas Gembler, who will retire in September.

Well since I have been savouring the stuff for some six years, when it was in a full basket, I am puzzled about it just arriving… but it’s still good stuff.

Rum Pundit.

Talk about high end

Arriving on these shores in September: Ron Zacapa, an intense sipping rum from the mountains of Guatemala that’s aged 8,000 feet above sea level. There’s a steady year-round temperature of 62 degrees at that altitude, which abets an even-keeled maturation of the ultrapremium spirit (stored in sherry, bourbon, and wine casks). We like the depth and richness of the stuff, not to mention the bottle design, which features a natty band of woven straw around its midriff—as if you’d forget that a rum this smooth came from the tropics.
$50, available in September at ronesdeguatemala.com
JARED PAUL STERN
Photo: Courtesy of Diageo
11:42 AM, August 05, 2008

Seven Fathoms gets silver medal

By Alan Markoff, alan@cfp.ky
Monday 4th August, 2008 Posted: 16:11 CIT (21:11 GMT)

It might not be a medal in the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, but Seven Fathoms Rum has brought home silver from one of the largest and most prestigious annual spirits competitions in the United States.

The rum category tastings of the 2008 International Review of Spirits Competition took place in May in Chicago. More than 80 rums from around the world were entered in the tasting. In being awarded a silver medal, Cayman’s only locally distilled rum scored 88 points, a score that indicates it is highly recommended by the Beverage Tasting Institute.

“We are very pleased with this result in our first ever tasting,” said Michael Kennedy, one of the co–founders of Seven Fathoms Rum. “As a small and new craft distillery, we were able to beat out several major distilleries and entries from countries with large established rum industries.”

Seven Fathoms just had its official launch in May. The spirit, which is being marketed as a premium sipping rum, uses a unique underwater maturation process. Oak barrels are filled with the distilled rum and dropped to a depth of 42 feet – or seven fathoms – and allowed to age there.

The idea is that the constant motion of the sea tides quickens the aging process, partially because of the rum’s increased interaction with the oak. As a result, the rum takes on characteristics – like smoothness and colour – of much longer aged spirits.

Although Seven Fathoms is thought to be the first rum – or any other spirit – to be aged underwater, French winemakers have used the underwater aging technique and recently one of France’s oldest champagne makers also tired the process.

The tasters at the International Review of Spirits Competition issued this taste profile of the rum, which it called “an interesting ride on a wave of flavors”: “Brilliant amber colour. Caramelized, roasted nut and spicy, raisin bread pudding aromas follow through on a round entry to a dryish–medium body with a wave of black liquorice, coffee candy, and pepper. Finishes with a pleasant spicy mocha, nutshell, metallic mineral ore, and white pepper fade.”

The rum is only sold in bottles at Big Daddy’s liquor stores.

“It’s been selling amazingly,” said Walker Romanica, another one of the Seven Fathoms co–founders. “We’ve already sold out of our first three batches and the fourth batch went into the stores on Monday [28 July].”

In addition to the retail sales, Seven Fathoms is available at several bars and restaurants, including The Ritz–Carlton, Grand Cayman, Breezes by the Bay, Sapphire and Mezza. Mr. Romanica said the rum has become a popular purchase by tourists.

Seven Fathoms Rum also appears in the September 2008 edition of Caribbean Travel & Life.

The increasing demand has stretched the limited production capabilities of Seven Fathoms.

“Our absolute focus right now is trying to increase production,” Mr. Romanica said. “We’ve brought in some more people to work in the distillery and we’re expanding the facility.

“In the near future we’re looking to purchase a bigger still, which is a pretty significant investment.”

On 23 July at the Host Country committee of the UN where the assorted dips discuss their problems with the US in New York the Cuban representative complained about about the rum embargo.
As the UN release says “She said a case of rum shipped from her country to the Permanent Mission of Cuba for use in official protocol and diplomatic functions had been denied entry, the first such denial of an official transaction. It was an example of the host country’s new policy to deny diplomatic rights to some countries in violation of international agreements, which did not allow interference in the work of diplomatic missions. The host country should reconsider its position with the greatest urgency. Regardless of its bilateral stance with regard to Cuba, it must ensure that Cuba was able to carry out its important role in the United Nations.

In response, the representative of the United States said customs clearance issues were the responsibility of the United States Office of Foreign Missions. Conversations with that Office had revealed a particular problem with the shipment in question. Cuba had been offered the option of re-exporting the shipment rather than have it become subject to the seizure that would be the normal course in other similar situations.

Cuba’s representative said she had spoken with that Office but the shipment had not been released. Re-export was not an option since the shipment was an essential requirement for the conduct of official functions. The upcoming General Assembly session would present occasions for receptions that could not be carried out without receipt of the shipment.

The representative of the United States said his Mission would meet with the Cuban Mission for further discussion of the legal aspects of the situation.”

The US is definitely breaching diplomatic protocols. I have been to the receptions at the Cuban Mission to the UN (at one of which Fidel dubbed me El Vikingo) and they do indeed dispense a lot of Havana Club.

Cuba maybe should retaliate by impounding Budweiser, Bacardi and Jim Beam supplies for the huge US interests section in Havana. And in the meantime, if the rumours that some of the Havana Club feedstock is sourced from Guyana, maybe the diplomatic companeros in New York can console themselves with El-Dorado.
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