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Rum 101
Rum 101
E
veryone loves a good tropical drink—be it at a tiki Perhaps befitting its relative lack of regulation, rum has
bar, on a Caribbean cruise or at some island resort. long been a renegade spirit, from pirates of yore to rum-
Sweet and cold, yet refreshing. The real star of runners of Prohibition. Whether on high seas or through back
this lush liquid genre, is rum. Though it comes in doors, rum has remained an American favorite in many forms
many iterations, all rum can be traced back to sugarcane— and formats. A sense of adventure is still palpable in many
so abundant in island climates. The song that island-hopping brands, by tattoo or barrel or cane or pirate map. From a
pirates sing isn’t “Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of gin,” after all. simple base of sugar, a many-splendored spirit has evolved.
amber charred oak barrels caramel, etc.), thanks to the wood; and built on the success of whiskey cream
still commonly used in cocktails. cordials. With a lower proof and infused with
Amber, from natural flavor and a smack of sweetness,
barrel aging these creamy rum-based spirits work brilliantly
in tropical cocktails.
Generally a bit more flavor and
Typically aged longer
aromatic complexity. Notes of Keeping it Tropical
dark
than gold rums, often The tropical tilt is a particular strength for Blue
cinnamon, brown sugar, deeper
several years; usually Chair Bay, the line of rums developed by multi-
caramel and vanilla, other baking
in charred oak casks. platinum singer-songwriter Kenny Chesney.
spices and even a bit of smoke.
Deeper amber/brownish The brand’s island image is well tailored to
Chesney’s “No Shoes Nation” fan base. Blue
Chair offers seven rums, but the two cream
expressions have been especially popular.
They get their flavor from the
spiced Varies widely
On the darker side, but
infusion of spices like cinnamon, ã Both have a base of Caribbean rum, plus real
sugar and natural ingredients
allspice, nutmeg, cloves, etc.
not always through aging
ã Banana Rum Cream shows ripe banana,
(caramel sometimes
vanilla, creamy caramel, baking spices and
added for color)
balanced sweetness
ã Coconut Spiced Rum Cream blends
Three months
The preferred spirit of the French toasted coconut aromatics with vanilla and
minimum for “white,”
rhum longer for paille (straw)
West Indies; “agricole” refers to the
raw plant it’s distilled (sugarcane
warm island spices as well as cinnamon,
nutmeg and clove
agricole and ambré (amber);
instead of molasses), giving it
rhums aged 3 years or
more are “vieux.”
some distinct vegetal notes. Mixing it up
Covers a spectrum Rum creams’ lower alcohol content makes
them ideal for lighter summer cocktails.
Technically liqueur, rum-based Blue Chair Coconut Spiced Rum Cream’s
creams are lower in alcohol by signature drink is The Float, a blend of Spiced
CREAM Not a factor volume and present as rich, creamy Rum Cream and root beer. The Riptide is a
combination of Blue Chair Banana Rum Cream
and sweet, with additional flavors
often featured. and coconut water.
Silky, opaque white
RIPTIDE
11.5% 9.7%
tropics, spiced rum in particular has come
Share of spirits volume: Share of spirits revenue: to be associated with adventures on the high
seas, including the tattoo culture embraced
by sailors. One sailor in particular, Norman
Collins, pioneered techniques that literally
transformed tattooing into an artform. Known
-1.5%
as “Sailor Jerry,” his impact on the tattoo
culture in the 20th century is now rivaled by
the impact of his namesake rum on the spiced
Tiki Drinks Rum Quotables same tradition, using natural spices and
flavors—cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla—all in a
“
There are hundreds of tiki drinks and many proprietary recipe (of course)
The first time I played the Masters, I
of those are proprietary creations at their ã The flavors need to be bold and rich to hold
was so nervous I drank a bottle of rum
respective bars. As a genre, tiki drinks are their own in the 92 proof (46% ABV) rum
before I teed off. I shot the happiest 83
”
known for both exotic (and often multiple) in- ã Overall profile is bold yet smooth, balanced
of my life.
gredients and painstaking preparation steps. with a subdued sweetness and a hint of
Some of the more universal classics include: – Golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez burnt toffee