And the Winner is . . .

Jim Adams of Huntington Beach, California. Jim and i have shared a few rum (along with his lovely wife Holly) and i knew he was a lover of great rum, but this story knocked it out of the park.

Read and enjoy!

A Rum Story, by James Adams:

The best Rum experience I’ve ever had was last year when my wife and I finally realized our long-time dream of visiting Cuba, often regarded as the birthplace of Rum.  We were part of a humanitarian group delivering medical supplies, exploring the country, meeting Cubans and of course, drinking fine Cuban Rum.  Our days were filled with organized tours and lectures about Cuban culture, but the evenings were free for us to enjoy and explore.  Each evening in Havana, we ventured out for dinner and then to various bars to enjoy the amazing live Cuban music and Cuban Rums. 

On one such night a Cuban man came into the bar, selling cigars.  The guys in our group all bought Cohibas from him -- these were the real thing!  We proceeded to chat with the man and invited him to join us at our table.  His name was Leo and he told us that he had purchased a “license” from the government that permitted him to speak with tourists, as he showed us the badge he was carrying. 

Leo told us stories about Fidel and Raul Castro, the Cuban government, Cuban cigars and the history of Rum in Cuba.  He spoke of the introduction of sugar cane from the Canary Islands by Christopher Columbus to the evolution of the Bacardi and Havana Club brands.  We learned that there were fruit bats in the Bacardi distillery which led Mrs. Bacardi to suggest the bat symbol be used on the Bacardi labels.  Apparently bats were considered to be good luck and the symbol was easily recognized since many Cubans at that time could not read or write. 

We listened as Leo told us how the Bacardi family strongly supported Fidel Castro and even encouraged distillery workers to help Fidel’s rebels.  Raul Castro was even married to the daughter of a Bacardi worker.  Yet, the new Cuban government confiscated the Bacardi company after the revolution.

Leo spoke of how Havana Club was started by Jose Arechabala, a Spanish immigrant, who eventually had his operation confiscated by the Castro government.  These Arechabala family members, like the Bacardi family, fled the country.  But unlike the Bacardi family they did not have the money to rebuild their company and left behind the Havana Club name and trademark.  The Cuban government seized and continued to produce Havana Club Rum.  Leo pointed out that ironically, the Cuban government began producing ‘Ron Arecha’ as a tribute to Arechabala, after they seized his distillery and forced him into exile. 

Much later that night we left the bar delighted with Leo’s stories and the many Cuba Libres, Mojitos and glasses of Havana Club Anejo 7 Anos.  Visiting Cuba, conversing with Leo, listening to Cuban music and sipping fine Cuban Rum was a truly amazing Rum experience I will never forget!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Congratulations Jim! You deserve it.
Can't wait to be sipping some rum with you in Miami!

Thanks again to every one who participated. Even if you didn't win you can stil join us at the Miami Rum Renaissance! you'd be crazy no to.

Tell me a Rum Story contest---what they win.

So not only does winner gain international recognition from an esteemed panel of rum loving people; they will also win 2 VIP Passes to the Miami Rum Renaissance-- valued at $250 dollars a piece! (easily worth 10 times their weight in gold!).
I mean seriously click on the link and see for yourself the events that are all part of the VIP package for Rum Renaissance...Those are only the ones that are scheduled.. that can't can be announce... the fun literally is incalculable.
On top of that there is still the Grand Tasting and they get early admission to try everything before everyone else with some extra elbow room to boot!
I am glad that my first contest got so many great responses. Thank all of you for visiting, reading and most of all for your stories... They all touched me. Sorry I couldn't post all of them.

Also i would be foolish and deeply remiss if i didn't mention the Burr's.. Without them this contest couldn't have been and Miami Rum Renaissance would not exist the world would be lacking. Check out the Robs here:  and say hello to Robin when you make it to any of their awesome events.

Which leads me to the next point. There are still spots for the Miami Rum Renaissance get them while they are available!

So without further adieu, the winner is . .

A Rum Story, by Kelly Patterson

Here is another Rum story, this one is from Kelly Patterson. I asked if i could share it with you, and here it is:

A Rum Story, by Kelly Patterson.

My favorite rum stories involve our elderly relatives, particularly my mother-in-law.  87-years-old and in dubious health, she is still never one to turn down a well made cocktail.  She keeps up with any cocktail-related stories in her newspapers, since she knows we're interested, and because she doesn't get out much these days my husband and I try to bring the cocktail experience to her.  Mai Tais are often on the menu and she has a special connection to Trader Vic's since she and her late husband celebrated their engagement at Trader Vic's in New York City in 1963.  She kept the swizzle stick she got that night and, when friends came over the first time my husband made her Mai Tais, she took great relish in telling everyone "It's what they serve at TRADER VIC'S!"  It was interesting to note that not a single senior turned down the drinks that night!  Rum: it bridges the generations.

You can check Kelly out at:

www.kellycamillepatterson.com 

 

I love that story--Mai Tais are on the menu and Rum: it bridges generations--indeed.

Another Rum Story by Shauna, from The Minty...

Here is another Rum story, shared by Shauna from theminty.com i asked if i could share it with you, and here it is:

A Rum Story, by Shauna.

Here's my favorite rum story. About five years ago, before this whole craft cocktails thing started happening in LA, I was a hotel bar in Manhattan Beach. I didn't enjoy my first cocktail there and said as much. The bartender was not hospitable at all and argued with me it was great. He did ask me what else I wanted. At the time, I was transitioning from vodka to rum and asked for a Mai Tai. He didn't know how to make it and asked me what was in it. I told him and he didn't believe me, especially on the orgeat part. He thought it there was amaretto in it. Eventually he consulted a recipe book and with a sullen face said I was correct. After I approved of his Mai Tai, he wanted to make another cocktail for me and we picked one out of the book together. By the end of the night, he handed over a bottle of bubbly and thanked me for helping him be a better bartender.

You can check Shauna out at the spots regularly: 
blog: theminty.com
hot bartenders: bar-stalker.com
bar stories: lacocktails.com 
@theminty