Rum is a distilled spirit made from sugar cane juice or its byproduct molasses. Generally, there are three styles of rum based on nationality. Spanish style rums tend to be lighter, English style rums darker and richer and French style rums which are a controlled product governed by an AOC (Appellation d’Origine Controlle) and uses only free run sugar cane juice.
Rum Lab is a website that caters to all things, rum with rum themed articles, and interviews with people in the rum business. Their motto is “teaching the secrets and history of rum”.
They also host rum festivals in Miami, San Francisco, Chicago and Puerto Rico. On Saturday June 15th, they hosted the New York City rum fest which was part of rum week in the city.
The event which was held at Metropolitan West, an event space at 639 West 46th Street on the west side of Manhattan.
There was an extensive selection of rums from around the world with an diverse collection of white, aged, flavored rums and rum cocktails. Many of the Caribbean and South American countries were represented but there were rums from countries that are not usually associated with rum production such as the U.S., Sweden and Java.
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Some of what I sampled:
English Harbour (Antigua): 5yr, 10yr
The Real McCoy (Barbados): 3yr, 5yr, 12yr
Mount Gay (Barbados): Black Barrel, XO
Four Square (Barbados): Empery, 2007
Montaya (Colorado): Exclusiva, Aniversaria
Dictador (Columbia): 12yr, 20yr, XO, Perpetual
Centenario (Costa Rica): 12yr, 18yr, 20yr
Karukera (Guadeloupe): Gold, Rhum Vieux Agricole, Rhum Blanc Agricole
Smith & Cross (Jamaica): Traditional Rum
The Funk (Jamaica): Heavy Pot Still Rum
Wray & Nephew (Jamaica): White Overproof Rum
Worthy Park (Jamaica): Single Estate Reserve
Rhum J.M. (Martinique): V.O., V.S.O.P.
Maggie’s Farm (Pittsburgh): Queen’s Share
Don Q (Puerto Rico): Vermouth Cask Finished, Single Barrell 2007
Havana Club (Puerto Rico): Anejo
Admiral Rodney (Saint Lucia): Princessa, Royal Oak, Formidable
Kronan (Sweden): Swedish Punsch
The Scarlet Ibis (Trinidad)
Plantation Rum: Guyana 1998, Trinidad 2009
Diplomatico (Venezuela): Single Vintage 2002, Ambassador
Santa Teresa (Venezuela): 1769 Solera Rum
Pusser’s Rum: Original Admiralty Rum
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