New Rum Review: Atlantico Private Cask
Aloha, folks!
Today I have a review of a sweet Dominican rum that you may not have heard of, but you have likely heard of its promoter: Enrique Igesias. Atlantico is a rum produced in the Dominican Republic by Oliver and Oliver, and comes in three expressions. You may recall seeing the Platino in our light rum challenge; now we take a look at their Private Cask selection. Read the review here.
Cheers,
Josh
New Article: Searching for the Real Goombay Smash
Aloha folks!
Today we take a virtual trip to Green Turtle Cay in Abacos, Bahamas, home of Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar. Miss Emily’s famous concoction dubbed The Goombay Smash has been flowing out of this modest bar since the 1970s. In all that time, no one outside the family has been given access to the recipe, but that hasn’t stopped a boatload of other Goombay Smash recipes from appearing on menus across the Caribbean. Given the highly variable recipes, I decided to take a close look at a number of them and endeavor to find out which was the real recipe (or at least which one tasted the best).
Cheers,
Josh
New Gin Review: Tanqueray Malacca
Aloha folks,
Today we take a diversion from rum reviews to share a review of a gin that has attained mythical status here in the US: Tanqueray Malacca. Malacca was produced for a few years in the late 1990’s to early 2000’s, but Tanquereay pulled it from the market to focus on its other products. Since then, the demand for this gin has increased, and now Tanqueray is releasing a limited run. I was fortunate enough to attend an industry tasting yesterday in San Francisco, and I’ve written a review of the gin for your reference. Read the review here.
Cheers,
Josh
New Rum Review: Plantation Barbados 5-Year Grande Reserve
Quality rums under $20 represent an interesting market niche in the aged rum segment. Many are terrible, while others are mixable but not nearly sippable. Appleton’s V/X comes close, but for my money, Plantation’s five year-old rum form Barbados owns the category. Find out why by reading my review!
Cheers,
Josh
Aloha kakou,
Today I have a special rum review of the Black Tot. In case you’re not familiar, the British Royal Navy used to provide an official daily rum ration, but the practice was discontinued in 1970. Although the rations were stopped, there was quite a bit of rum left over in government warehouses at the time of its cessation. Long story short, the Black Tot is that rum–a 1940’s distillate aged in oak and then kept in wicker-wrapped stone containers called flagons for another forty years. Tasting the Black Tot is like drinking history, but is it any good?.
Click here for the full review.
Huli Pau!
Josh
New Rum Review: Angostura 1824
Aloha Inu A Kena ‘Ohana!
Today I’m ringing in the new year with a fresh review of a rum that comes form the venerable Trinidadian House of Angostura. While I can’t get enough of their bitters, I have until recently been fairly unfamiliar with their rums, and I’m sure I’m not alone. So let’s cut right to the (almost) top of the Angostura line with the twelve year-old Angostura 1824. Would this become as valued an ingredient in my bar as their bitters? Read on and find out!
Huli pau,
Josh
Drinks I’ve Tweeted in 2012
Aloha Inu a Kena ‘ohana!
While many of you are on Twitter, I realize not everyone has the time to keep up with it, which is why I created the page called “Drinks I’ve Tweeted“. It’s an asynchronous feed of the drinks I make, create, photograph and publish via Twitter. I update it periodically, including the name, recipe and a photo if available. Although my focus here is on rum, the drinks I make at my home bar really run the gamut from tiki to pre-prohibition, to crazy experimental stuff. So if you’re looking for some cocktail inspiration, take a look. If you have any questions on the methodology for any of the drinks (most are fairly obvious–shake those with juice, stir those without and whatnot) just let me know in the comments section or send me an email, tweet, teletype or carrier pidgeon.
Okole Maluna Ā Hau’oli Makahiki Hou! (bottoms up and happy new year)
-Josh
New Rum Review: Abuelo Centuria
Aloha, kakou!
After another reviewing hiatus, I’m getting off my okole and writing again. Today I offer you my review of an amazing rum from Panama, the Abuelo Centuria. Blended of solera-aged rums up to thirty years old, this is the Varela brothers’ magnum opus–the embodiment of 100 years of rum-making passion in a glass. Intrigued? I hope so! Read the complete review here.
Cheers,
Josh
What’s the Best Light Rum for a Daiquiri?
Aloha, kakou,
Do you enjoy a good daiquiri? No, not the ones out of a blender or a slushy machine, I’m talking about an honest to goodness daiquiri with a fantastic white rum, sugar and fresh lime juice. Oh you do? Me too!
I have been using Flor de Cana in my daiquiris for a while now, but with so many new white rums on the market, I thought it high time to investigate other options.
And so was born the Inu A Kena Light Rum Challenge: thirty-two rums in a blind taste test to determine the best rum for a daiquiri.
Click here to read the article and find out which rum won top honors.
Mahalo for stopping by,
Josh
Cease and Desist
Aloha, kakou!
Recently I posted a blog entry in which I tasted a variety of inexpensive dark rums with the goal of determining which one tasted best when mixed with ginger beer. In the context of the article, I referred to the combination of dark rum and ginger beer as something other than, but similar to “Dark ‘N Stormy®”. The good people at Gosling’s were kind enough to have their attorneys at Abelman, Frayne & Schwab at 666 3rd Avenue in New York City send me a letter informing me that insodoing I had violated two Gosling’s trademarks.
They kindly requested that within five days I remove from my blog all references to names for said combination that weren’t “Dark ‘N Stormy ®” and publish a retraction stating that “Dark ‘N Stormy ®” is a registered trademark owned by Gosling’s Export (Bermuda) Limited for a cocktail made with GOSLING’S Black Seal® rum and ginger beer.
They were also kind enough to inform me that if I chose not to remove the post, I could be subject to injunctive relief (they get a court to take it down for me) triple damages as well as attorney fees.
Of course I immediately removed the post from my blog and am now posting this retraction to avoid further legal issues and ensure that everyone knows that a “Dark ‘N Stormy ®” is a registered trademark owned by Gosling’s Export (Bermuda) Limited for a cocktail made with GOSLING’S Black Seal® rum and ginger beer.
Thanks to this experience, I now realize that I am not worthy to speak about rum-based highballs, much less write about them. I will never again discuss drinks containing cane spirits and brewed ginger-based beverages unless using the proper legal terminology. This I promise you.
Very truly yours,
Josh Miller
Humble Servant
Inu A Kena 