Bones Aged Rum is a small batch pot still rum aged in both French and American oak barrels, as well as Sherry Casks, for a minimum of six years.
Playing on the pirate-age sailor’s theme, the company likes to say this is “smooth rum for the rough seas.”
Aromas of oak and vanilla dominate the nose, with trailing hints of burnt sugar, almond and light banana. On the palate, brown sugar leads to bold vanilla, cherry-almond and baking spices over toasted oak before hints of bitter cocoa.
Bones aged rum from the Virgin Islands is an easy sipper with a few good ice cubes, and brings some rich rum flavor to your favorite tropical cocktails.
When visiting the Bones Rum store in Saint Thomas, check out the very popular “Pour Your Own Rum” bar on the Charlotte Amalie waterfront.
Bones Aged Rum is available at popular liquor stores in at least twelve states and several online outlets.
The 750ml bottle, at 40% abv, sells for about $29.
Rum Enthusiasts are gearing up for the annual Rum Renaissance Caribbean Cruise through the Eastern Caribbean islands featuring VIP rum tours of iconic distilleries. This Caribbean Rum Cruise adventure sails from Fort Lauderdale on Monday, November 19 for 11 days, with an itinerary that includes Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, St Lucia, Grenada, Barbados and Antigua.
Leading the VIP rum tours are veteran rum writers, collectors and hosts of the Rum Renaissance Festival Robert and Robin Burr.
A modern cruise ship is the ideal resort for an Eastern Caribbean rum adventure.
VIP Distillery Tours
“We’ve inviting our rum friends to join us during the Thanksgiving holiday season as we explore some of the best and most interesting rum production facilities in the world,” said Robert Burr. “We’ll go behind the scenes to see how rum is produced by Don Q Rum, Brinley Shipwreck Rum, St. Lucia Distillery, River Antoine, Clarke’s Court, St. Nicholas Abbey, Mount Gay, West Indies Distillery and Antigua Distillery before returning to Fort Lauderdale for an optional visit to South Florida Distilleries.”
The classic copper pot stills at Mount Gay distillery in Barbados
Easy Logistics
The Caribbean Rum Cruise is an ideal way to visit many islands without the hassles associated with airports, security and strict limitations on luggage imposed by airlines. “We don’t go through customs and immigration when leaving the ship each day at our island destinations. It’s so easy to discover rum and collect our favorites along the way.”
Rum Cruisers enjoy the tasting room at St. Nicholas Abbey
In addition to distillery tours, rum cruise passenger will visit Caribbean rum shops to peruse the myriad selection of rums of the Caribbean available for bargain prices.
Caribbean Rum Cruise Details
The 11 day Caribbean Rum Cruise begins and ends in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, celebrating Thanksgiving Day in Puerto Rico.
Travel agent Deb Fogarty of Be Well Travel is handling all the details aboard the ship. The land tours are organized by Robert and Robin Burr, who have extensive experience with distillery tours around the world. “We look forward to sharing our knowledge, our enthusiasm and our appreciation of rum while introducing our friends to the people that make the some of the finest rums in the Caribbean.”
legendary copper pot stills at St. Lucia Distillery
For more information about the Rum Renaissance Caribbean Cruise, and to request space aboard the November 19-30, 2018 adventure, visit the Rum Renaissance Caribbean Cruise web site or call 954-778-5699.
From the world’s largest rum producer, Tanduay Gold Asian Rum is a prime example of a high quality cane spirit well aged and blended with the intent to be accessible.
Since its arrival in the USA in 2013, Tanduay Gold has been recognized in numerous tasting competitions as a product of outstanding merit, including a Gold Award at the 2018 RumXP Tasting Competition at the Rum Renaissance Festival.
Tanduay has been producing rum in The Philippines since 1854, using legacy heirloom cane varieties. This rum is a blend of distillates aged up to seven years in Kentucky Bourbon barrels, designed to be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or as a superior component in well-crafted cocktails.
From the world’s largest rum producer, Tanduay Gold Asian Rum is a prime example of a high quality and accessible aged cane spirit.
Initial aromas of cedar and dried fruits are followed by hints of caramel and vanilla. On the palate, warm dry smoked honey and vanilla leads to buttery almond fruit pastry and floral notes, before a beautiful warm finish lingers with echos of toasted oak and cigar box much longer than expected.
Tanduay succeeds at delivering a fine aged rum for a competitive price. The 750ml bottle of Tanduay Gold Asian Rum, bottled at 80 proof, retails for $19.
Tanduay distinguished their brand by shipping product to a vast network of destinations throughout Asia. The company was acquired by Lucio Tan Group in 1988 paving the way for global growth — expanding into The Americas and Europe — to become the world’s largest producer of rum.
The event brought together a vast selection of rums from the Caribbean and beyond, plus a fine selection of American Rums made by craft producers from across the country.
The distinguished International Rum Expert Panel (RumXP) judges were sequestered for three days of blind tasting sessions carefully organized by the experienced competition staff before being analyzed and compiled by a veteran team of statisticians.
In addition, the Consumer Rum Jury, consisting of serious rum enthusiasts from across America and around the world, convened to sample and evaluate many fine rums for their own awards based on consumer preferences.
Based on the strict standards of the prestigious International Rum Expert Panel, the results of these two international rum blind tasting competitions, consisting of more than 200 rum expressions, are as follows.
2018 RumXP Awards
White Rum
Tanduay Silver – Best In Class
Caneland Parade – Gold Casa Magdalena Ron Blanco – Gold Real McCoy 3 – Gold Plantation 3 Stars – Gold Nine Leaves Clear – Gold
Rhum Agricole Blanc
LaMauny Acacia – Best In Class Trois Rivières 50% Blanc – Gold LaKay Clairin 22/22 – Gold Trois Rivières Cuvée de Ocean – Gold Caneland Rum Agricole – Gold
White Overproof Rum
Monymusk White Overproof – Gold
Spiced Rum
Brinley Spiced – Best In Class Black Magic Spiced – Gold Muddy River Carolina Spiced – Gold Carmelita’s Spiced Orange – Gold
Flavored Rum
Koloa Coffee – Best In Class Alligator Bay Dark – Gold Boqueron Coconut – Gold Ziami Grapefruit – Gold Brinley Lime – Gold Brinley Coconut Cream – Gold Wicked Dolphin Hidden Barrel Maple – Gold
Boutique Aged Rum
Florida Mermaid – Best In Class Queen Charlotte’s Reserve – Gold Islamorada Small Batch Dark Barrel Aged – Gold Koloa Reserve – Gold Prichard’s Fine – Gold Maggie’s Farm Queen Share Double Oak – Gold
Boutique Dark Rum
Naked in Jamaica – Gold Maggie’s Farm 50/50 Dark Rum – Gold
Overproof Aged Rum
Plantation OFTD – Best In Class
Traditional Aged Rum
Monymusk Gold – Best In Class Mezan Guyana 2005 – Gold Mezan Panama 2006 – Gold Grander 12 – Gold Tanduay Gold – Gold Real McCoy 5 – Gold
Premium Aged Rum
Real McCoy 12 – Best In Class Mount Gay 1703 – Gold Plantation Xaymaca – Gold Plantation Fiji 2009 – Gold Plantation Peru – Gold Mount Gay XO – Gold
Rhum Agricole Aged
Trois Rivières VSOP – Best In Class Trois Rivières Cuvée de Moulin – Gold LaMauny VSOP – Gold Trois Rivières Eleve Sous Bois – Gold
2018 Consumer Rum Jury Awards
The Consumer Rum Jury consists of serious rum enthusiasts, rum collectors and rum travelers who enjoy the discovery of rums in all categories.
White Rum
Casa Magdalena Ron Blanco – Gold Cane Run – Gold
Dark Rum
Naked in Jamaica – Gold Maggie’s Farm 50/50 Dark – Gold
Aged Rums
Dos Maderas 5 + 5 – Gold Plantation XO – Gold Mount Gay XO – Gold Dzama Cuvée Noire – Gold Diplomatico #2 – Gold Mount Gay 1703 – Gold
Spiced Rums
Brinley Spiced – Gold Carmelita’s Dark Spiced – Gold Black Magic – Gold
Rum Enthusiasts are preparing to attend the 2018 Rum Renaissance Festival for the weekend of June 9-10 at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center.
Tickets are still available on the web site before June 1st for $50 a day, before reverting to the regular price of $75 at the door. A two-day VIP pass is on sale for $120, versus $200 at the door.
The world’s best rum tasting event features more than 50 vendors sampling more than 200 rums from the Caribbean and beyond, celebrating the continued renaissance of rum.
In addition to all the rum brands on exhibit, the Grand Tasting Bar features a wide assortment of rums selected by the editors of Robs Rum Guide. The VIP Tasting Bar offers samples of rare, limited edition, luxury and collectible rums.
This notable rum tasting event also features a number of master classes and interactive seminars, live entertainment and a tasting competition. Rum Experts from around the world are bringing their knowledge and expertise to share with attendees.
Make Plans Now for Rum Fest
Robert and Robin Burr, hosts of the 2018 Rum Renaissance Festival, invite one and all to enjoy this unique opportunity to taste, discover and learn more about the best rums in the world in an informative, enlightening and entertaining space.
Enjoy your favorite rums and be the first to see some new expressions. Learn more about rum at the enlightening seminars while meeting up with all your rum enthusiast friends at the Rum Renaissance Festival on the weekend of June 9-10.
Attention rum consumers, collectors and fanatics: mark your calendars for Thursday, May 17 in Fort Lauderdale to experience the Great Rum Challenge interactive tasting seminar. It’s a wonderful and enlightening experience for those that know their rums — and for those that want to learn more about the best rums available from these Caribbean countries.
can you discern the aromas and subtle qualities of fine aged rums?
Starting at 7pm at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina Resort, your rum host presents a number of outstanding rums from the Caribbean with expert advice and commentary on the various styles, methods and variations.
Seven exceptional rums will be presented with insight into the production, aging and blending of each expression.
The Nose Knows
Participants in The Great Rum Challenge are invited to discern the aromas and flavor profiles of the various rums from different countries, created in various styles, looking for unique characteristics and differentiators which define their styles.
During the blind tasting session, attendees try to match each rum sample with its corresponding product on display.
Those who are among the most accurate tasters in the event, could be invited to join the Rum Jury as a judge at the upcoming Rum Renaissance Festival.
Members of the Rum Jury are sequestered for two sessions on Friday, June 8, 2018 for expert conducted blind tastings. The results are analyzed and calculated by seasoned statisticians.
The Rum Jury’s tasting session results will be presented as the 2018 Rum Jury Awards at the festival.
Rum Challenge Limited Availability
This unique Great Rum Challenge tasting experience includes the rum seminar, hosted tasting sessions and samples of all the rums.
Space is limited. Reserve early. For a limited time, use the following promotional code to get a special 2-for-1 admission: GRC18A241
The May 4th hotel deadline to reserve rooms at the Hilton Ft. Lauderdale Marina Resort for the 2018 Rum Renaissance Festival — held June 9-10 at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center — is fast approaching.
You can also call 1-800-Hiltons, or 1-800-445-8667.
This modern waterfront resort is only steps away from the big rum festival, offering comfortable rooms, great amenities, and a fabulous location near world famous Ft. Lauderdale Beach, in close proximity to a plethora of fantastic shops, stores, bars and restaurants.
$119 Rate Good Until May 4
The good news is, rooms at the Hilton Ft. Lauderdale Marina Resort are only $119 a night, if reserved before the deadline of May 4th, 2018. Act now to ensure you get the best rate — before the hotel is sold out — for the tenth annual Rum Renaissance Festival.
Located directly on the waterfront at Ft. Lauderdale Marine, the Hilton Resort is the ideal location for guests attending the tenth annual Rum Renaissance Festival next door.
A First Class Resort
Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina is a stunning resort where guest rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows delivering amazing views of downtown, the Intracoastal Waterway or the bustling Fort Lauderdale marine port.
The property features a variety of delightful dining options. Enjoy Antea morning noon and night. Unwind on the pool deck at The G and gaze out at mega-yachts while you dine and drink. Choose the charming Waterway Room with its open views and walls of glass overlooking the sparkling blue Intracoastal Waterway.
Perfect Location For The Rum Festival
A short walk from the resort beneath the majestic 17th Street Bridge delivers you to the entrance of the fabulous Ft. Lauderdale Convention Center, home of the tenth annual Rum Renaissance Festival. A number of alternate hotel options are available in the neighborhood, but none are more convenient than the Hilton.
From the waterfront dock of the Hilton Marina, take the Ft. Lauderdale Water Taxi to dozens of great locations along the inter-coastal waterway without venturing in street traffic, and without renting a car. The hotel also offers a complimentary guest shuttle to Fort Lauderdale Beach.
The address of the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina Resort is 1881 SE 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316.
Discounted Rum Festival Tickets
Discounted tickets to the tenth annual Rum Renaissance Festival are available online before June 1 for $50 a day, which includes complimentary samples of hundreds of fine rums.
The world’s biggest rum tasting event also features a number of master classes and interactive seminars, live entertainment and a tasting competition. The VIP Tasting Bar offers samples of rare, limited edition luxury rums for connoisseurs.
This event attracts rum enthusiasts and professionals from around the world, as well as local consumers and members of the trade.
A unique opportunity to taste and discover many fine rums under one roof.
Robert and Robin Burr, hosts of the Rum Renaissance Festival, invite one and all to enjoy this unique opportunity to taste, discover and learn more about the best rums in the world in an informative, enlightening and entertaining space.
The Real McCoy 10 Year Old Limited Edition Virgin Oak Aged Rum is a robust expression from Barbados offering exquisite complexity.
True to it’s namesake, this iconic brand hearkens the days of prohibition-era rum running when Bill McCoy refused to compromise on quality. Only 3,000 bottles of this micro-batch have been released.
Pedigree
The Real McCoy 10 Year Old Limited Edition Virgin Oak Rum is a robust expression from Barbados created by blending rums aged in both Bourbon and Virgin American Oak casks.
Crafted at Foursquare Distillery, this expression relies on a higher percentage of copper pot still distillate for a richer flavor profile. Two batches are aged separately. The first spends twelve years in used Bourbon barrels. The second, ages ten years in virgin American oak casks.
Carefully blended to balance flavors, the result is bottled at a hardy 92 proof, an example of the authentic style of fine aged rum that made Barbados famous the world over.
Tasting notes
Aromas of ripe banana, toasted butter pecan, big oak and vanilla are accented by a funky fruit. On the palate, brown butter over charred oak brings vanilla, toasted almond and tart dried fruit with a suggestion of burnt sugar. The finish offers long lasting notes of dark buttered toast and plenty of oak.
Quality and Value
The Real McCoy 10 Year Old Limited Edition Virgin Oak Rum appeals to connoisseurs, while remaining accessible to all spirit enthusiasts who appreciate small-batch quality and good value.
The schedule for the 2018 Rum Renaissance Seminars features a broad and robust range of topics of interest to serious rum enthusiasts, as well as casual consumers.
a broad range of seminars and master classes are scheduled for the 2018 Rum Renaissance Festival
The event is known for attracting high quality speakers to share knowledge and insight with attendees into the realms of rum production, expert tasting and evaluation, international marketing, rum cocktails and more.
Rum Renaissance Seminars
Two seminar classrooms at the Grand Tasting Event can accommodate about 80 participants each. Reserved seating is available for $20 at the festival, or $15 in advance.
Known for their award-winning line of artisan rums, Kōloa recently announced a new limited edition expression: Kauai Reserve Three-Year Aged Hawaiian Rum.
Artfully crafted in single-batches at its Kalaheo distillery, Kauai Reserve is aged for a minimum of three years in select American white oak barrels and contains no added sugar, color or other ingredients. Only twelve barrels were bottled in this first limited edition release.
“We are thrilled to be launching our newest rum at the dawn of the new year,” said Koloa Rum Company President and CEO Bob Gunter. “Kauai Reserve is remarkably smooth with rich, complex flavors that linger long after the last sip.”
Limited Edition
Each of Kauai Reserve’s 12-barrel batches yields approximately 3,500 bottles that are carefully filled, inspected and numbered to meet the exacting standards for quality and taste that Koloa Rum Company is renown. Continue reading
Diplomático Distillery Collection rums, labeled “No. 1 Batch Kettle Rum” and “No. 2 Barbet Rum” each contain a unique bottle number, batch number, and the date of the distillation marked on the label, as well as an illustration of the still.
A pair of rums that spotlight the distinctive production process used by the popular Diplomático Rum from Venezuela — the Diplomático Distillery Collection — have been released in the United States.
The distillery in La Miel, Venezuela has a long history of producing fine rums, using traditional copper pot stills, as well as modern column stills. One additional asset that sets them apart from others is their batch kettle still, a hybrid configuration best known for producing whiskies.
The new Diplomático Distillery Collection highlights these distillation systems with two new limited edition expressions: a Single Batch Kettle rum and a Single Barbet Column rum.
This new pair allows consumers to better understand and distinguish the various production methods and unique personalities of the stills used to make many of Diplomático’s fine blended expressions. Continue reading
Celebrating ten years, the Rum Renaissance Festival is poised to be bigger and better than ever with a new location on the water in Ft. Lauderdale.
The move from Miami-Dade County to Broward County offers a more convenient centralized location for residents of the eighth-most populated metropolitan area in the nation, currently surpassing six million people.
South Florida is the number one rum market in the world. It’s also the gateway to the Caribbean, Central and South American regions, where more than 90% of the rum available in the United States is produced.
The host hotel is the Hilton Ft. Lauderdale Marina, located right on the water next to the convention center, with discounted room rates starting at $119 a night. Reserve online now to assure your reservation.
“South Florida is the number one rum market in the world.”
An award-winning boutique brand produced in Denmark, Skotlander Rum will age some of its distillate in bunkers built during World War II.
But why? Isn’t the best location for aging rum the tropics? Anders Skotlander, owner of Skotlander Rum explains: “The cold climate in Denmark offers us something different. Previously we have tried aging rum at sea on an old schooner — the movement of the sea and the difference between summer and winter gave us a really interesting rum. Now let’s try the complete opposite — this rum is being kept still and the temperature in the bunker is 10˚c night and day, all year round. I think we’ll spend much longer ripening the rum, maybe twice as long as the tropics, but in turn, the taste may be much more refined.”
This limited edition Skotlander Rum begins with a slow four-week fermentation in the cold Nordic climate to develop complex flavor components. The distillation in pot stills ensures the majority of these flavor compounds remain. Continue reading
The event takes place in Barcelona, Spain on the last two days of October: the 30th and 31st. Among the featured sections are the Tasting Tunnel, The Showcase Hall and the Distributor Pool. Master classes, seminars, guest bartenders and keynote speakers deliver valuable knowledge and inspiration for all who attend this grand tasting event.
Barcelona Rum Awards
Abbreviated as the BRAwards, the program brings together respected rum judges from around the world to evaluate and recognize the best rums in each category submitted to the competition.
The well known international and independent jurists reflecting a wide range of expertise in the spirits industry include Alexandre Vingtier, writer specialized in rum; Benoît Bail Founder of La Confrerie du Rhum and Managing Partner at The Rum Embassy; Jean-Paul Bouyat, President of Bardinet; Jerry Gitany, co-founder of La Cofrerie du Rhum; Oriol Elías, consultant and bartender and Barcelona’s leading rum expert; Robert Burr, founder of the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival and leader of the International Rum Expert Panel; and Santiago Bronchales, oenologist, spirits consultant and founder of Blended & Matured. Continue reading
The Rose Gold Collective is planning a National Rum Day Fest at The Tiki Bar at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida on August 16th from 6 to 9pm.
Taste The Rums
Featured brands scheduled to participate include Bacardi, Zacapa, Cruzan, Santa Teresa, Don Q, Botran, Appleton Estate, Rums of Puerto Rico, Siesta Key Rum and Mount Gay.
Free admission includes complimentary tastings and cocktails. The event also plans live music, dancers and cigar rollers.
The $30 VIP ticket price includes a limited edition National Rum Day T-shirt.
The premiere sponsor for National Rum Day Fest is Diplomático Rum of Venezuela.
“As the premium-and-above rum category gains further traction, and continues to provide the market with excellent product offerings, we felt it was important to be present at this celebration of all that is good about rum,” said Mark Batey, Global Marketing Director of Diplomático. “It’s a nice opportunity to reach out to the many rum enthusiasts right here in South Florida.” Continue reading