In addition to rum, whisk(e)y has always been one of my favourite spirits and though I write about rum more often, I have not forgotten to enjoy a good dram of Scotch every now and then. Fortunately, my current hometown has plenty of people who appreciate all kinds of whiskey and even has dedicated bars for the appreciation for this fine spirit.
One of the many good things in writing about spirits is that you often get invited to launch parties and private tastings for products before their official release to the market. Refined Vices was happy to join the tasting of the Singleton of Glen Ord lineup in the Galley Room at Melbourne's Waterside Hotel.
Selling over 200 million bottles a year, Bacardi’s widely spread presence can be seen almost anywhere you go in the world, from the northern to the southern hemisphere. Since the founding in 1862, Bacardi has grown to be one of the biggest rum producing companies in the world and continues to be successful in their campaigns.
Tiki was the theme at the home state of rum, Queensland. To the cheerful crowd in attendance, Queensland’s finest put on quite a show, however it was The Laneway’s Perryn Collier who shone.
Right behind in the standings was an inspiring Krystal Hart, who stands in contention to receive a wild card entry to the National Final.
In pure Trinidadian style, Adelaide played host to bright evening of entertainment as Simon Sleep of Beach hot spot Palais swept the field to claim the title of State Champion after Monday night’s South Australian Final.
Close behind was Nittin Terari from The Stamford, who stands in contention to receive a wild card entry to the National Final. With encouraging industry morale flying high in Adelaide’s Bar Cuba @ The Union Hotel; the South Australian Finalists thoroughly entertained the keen onlookers, while producing some captivating creations to ensure the large crowd were thoroughly entertained by their presentations.
Nathan Beasley, Owen Westman, Jason Lindsay31st August 2011 saw the second state final of the Angostura Cocktail Challenge at the Byblos Bar & Restaurant on Melbourne's scenic riverside.
Finalists had gathered from all over the state to compete for the spot in the upcoming National Final. Familiar faces from local establishments such as Black Pearl were also seen behind the bar.
It's been five years since the first ever Rum Club was held at the multiple award winning cocktail bar Golden Monkey in Melbourne and though I have not been around for the most part until recently, I can easily understand why the Rum Club is so popular and why it continues to grow with each passing month.
The Mount Gay Estate is one of the oldest estates in the Caribbean, and definitely the oldest on Barbados. Many believe rum has been produced on the estate as early as 1663, which is the year William Sandiford bought the estate.
The estate included a still that was capable of producing rum, but the only legal and the oldest written evidence of rum production in the estate is from 1703, making Mount Gay the oldest rum producer in the world.
May 2nd Golden Monkey - Every now and then my local Rum Club comes up with something a little different to the usual rum tasting seminars that is both innovative and an interactive way to present a product to the rum connoisseurs and hobbyists alike.