Ed Hamilton

I hole up in Chicago during hurricane season while my boat is in Trinidad. If you know Chicago you'll agree that it is one of the best places in the world, in the summer. As soon as the leaves start to turn I'll be packing, hopefully before the first frost since I don't have cold weather clothes and don't plan on buying any.

Thanks for the birthday greetings. I'm really looking forward to the next year, but life is good when you're doing what you want to be doing.

Puerto Rico enacted a similar law after World War II, the Mature Spirits Act, requiring all spirits to be aged at least one year before they were bottled to improve the quality of spirits. In the case of Puerto Rico, the rum industry was seen as a way to greatly increase revenue through exports. Federal Excise taxes collected on rum imported from Puerto Rico was returned to the island, the legislators realized that by improving the quality of their exports they could increase their cash flow. Their exports to other countries at that time were quite small.

I asked the distiller to have his importer add retail stores in the US to my trade registry so hopefully when distribution expands I'll be able to keep you up to date. Have you tried any of the other Indian rums?

Here are the latest listing for Old Monk in New York. In order for a rum to be sold in other states it has to be approved by the state liquor commission, which varies from state to state. I don't think it is available in California yet. Ray & Frank Liquor Store 706 9th Ave. (48St. West) Elman's New Gramacy 279 3rd Ave. (22St.) Zeeman Liquors 47 University Place (9/10 St.) Embassy Wines & Liquors 796 Lexington Ave. (61/62 St. E) Mister Wright 1593 Third Ave. New Ehrlichs Wines & Liquors 222 Amsterdam Ave. (70 St. W)

I just saw Aneja Reserva at Binnys in Chicago. Trigo, the bottler is one of the Puerto Rican companies that bottles rum from other distillers under their own labels. The Trigo company has been around since 1980 and also bottles Paso Fino rum, a very light white rum sold mostly in Puerto Rico. Matusalem has bottled a number of rums over the years, in various places. I would hesitate to think that it was distilled in St Croix since Matusalem didn't buy alcohol from there for very long and probably wasn't doing so many years ago as the TN tax stamp suggest. The fact that the name Black Label still exists doesn't really mean to much to me. Early last year I was buying what was called a 15 year old for about $5. Not even the man that sold it to me, believed it was 15 years old. Somewhere on the label it should say where it was distilled, Bahamas, USVI, or Florida. When I find something new or that I'm not familar with, I'll buy a bottle, try it and then decide whether to buy more or not. If you like it, and it likes you, by all means buy it.

Guess you haven't been to Oistins Beach on Friday night or any night for that matter, everything is fresh and grilled. Sure tourism is changing the island, like everywhere else but Bajans still take pride in what they serve.

There's a new radio station that didn't have any commercials the last time I was there, Island 92 is the number. They will have some commercials by now and they are pretty good at picking bars but since they are commercially motivated I wouldn't rely on their restaurant referrals. Internet is everywhere and the price is dropping, look around. No doubt you'll have a good time, and don't miss happy hour 4 - 6 at the Floating Bar south of the Simpson Bay bridge.

Sorry I got my lines crossed, I've corrected my post above. I get in the line to declare my merchandise and then declare my rum. When they see that I only have a case or so of rum, I've always been whisked through the rest of the process which consists of the Customs officer making a mark on your declaration and either taking it or asking you to give it to someone at the exit door. Since that line is always shorter, I'm through faster.

I was contacted last year about this rum and was told that it is available in New York and New Jersey. A friend bought me a botte in Chicago, so it is making its way west. Where are you located? I'll see if I can find out more.

The Matusalem was probably distilled in the Bahamas and should be pretty good rum. In fact Matusalem was the best rum sold in the Bahamas for many years. The other rum may have come from Puerto Rico but it's hard to say with seeing more of the bottle. But you already found the bottom line, it was good and worth what you paid which all I ask of any rum I drink.

And don't forget to look for SUGAR CANE SYRUP from Martinique or Guadeloupe. No doubt you'll have a 'ti punch on the French side and then want one when you get home, and you can't make a good one without sugar cane syrup. The various syrups differ by viscosity. Tip the bottles up and down and watch the liquid. Or buy a couple. Keep in the frig, and you'll probably want more when you run out.

When you see a wine on a restaurant wine list, that isn't available in stores, since many wines are only sold in restaurants, how much influence does the price have in your decision?

When you are on the flight to return to the US you are asked, commanded, to complete a Customs form that lists what you are carrying - cameras, perfume, clothes, etc. purchased on your trip. You're allowed $400 per trip, but no drugs, etc. The form also demands that you tell Customs if you are carrying more than $10,000 in cash or instruments. After you clear immigration and pick up your luggage you have to 'Clear Customs' which amounts to letting them go through your bags, if they want to. There are two lines, one is for travelers that have something to declare, lots of merchandise, drugs, etc. The other is for travelers that 'claim' they don't have anything to declare. The first line is always shorter and I've never been searched in that line, not that I ever carry anything worth over $400. Alcohol is taxed on the amount of alcohol, not the value. So if you are bringing in 160 proof rum from St Vincnet, you will pay twice as much as if you bring in 80 proof rum from Jamaica. But like I mentioned in a previous post if you don't owe a lot of tax you won't be asked to pay anything in Miami, don't know anything about NJ.

Here's a rum story written by the blender, Pyrat Story I've always thought that this one is more than a little amusing. Have you seen any good ones lately?

Good question. If you are flying back to Miami, you're in luck. Buy all you can carry and chances are you won't be taxed anything. Otherwise depending on the proof you'll have to pay about $2.50 per bottle. My experience is that as long as the tax is less than $20, they will let you continue and 'Have a Nice visit in Miami.' I've never been asked to pay, and, I always go through the 'Declare your Luggage,' line for two reasons. First, that line's always shorter. 2nd, I wouldn't consider not declaring my luggage even if I don't have anything to declare- see first reason. In the last ten years, I've never come back with less than a case of rum. The law is something like 4 bottles, 5 if one came from the US Virgins. But, it is actually proof gallons which I won't get into. In reality bring all you can carry, for personal consumption. On the other hand if you are unlucky enough to be flying into Texas, well, you probably already know what to expect.

Guavaberry has to be one of the most popular tourist drinks on front street. I always have a taste when I visit there to sell some books. Say hello to the ladies, some of the nicest West Indian smiles on the island. Guavaberry tastes best when they serve it mixed in their special recipes, which they'll share. I know a lot of people who have an almost full bottle of Guavaberry in their cabinet. Definitely try it in while you're there. Just across the street to the west is a great art gallery, Greenwith. The Blackbeard's aren't really anything special if you fancy great rum but consider that Front street is a tourist street if there is one in the Caribbean, only St Thomas is more geared for tourists.

Ah Sint Maarten, the Dutch side, aka Philipsburg has a number of liquor stores. The refurbished Philipsburg Liquor store should be open, out by the cruise ship docks, and is worth the walk. From time to time you'll find all kinds of esoteric things like old bottles of Cuban rum with damaged labels for $3 in the bargain bin, although they are cleaning out the old warehouse and trying to get rid of the old stuff. Ask for other liquors here, they have all kinds of things from whiskys, cognacs and other specialties that I can't afford. They are the bottler for Rum Jumbie, which you can't miss in SM. Worth the look for what's there. Last year I bought some nice sulfite-free French Merlot for less than $3.50 a bottle, later this year I'll buy more. On the way back from Philipsburg Liquor Store on the right across from the boatyard on your left is Sang's Chinese grocery store that has all kinds of things from time to time. Bologne, Barcelo, Barbancourt, Brugal, I usually buy something. Still in Philipsburg, Caribbean Liquors, is the distributor for Bally's and Clement from Martinique. My next stop is AFOO's a Chinese food store on back street on the east end, ask anyone for AFOO. They have a pretty good selection of such things as Barbancourt 3/5 star, Barcelo Anejo and Gran Anejo, also Brugal from the Dominican Republic. In the French rhum category look for Bologne, Montebello, Damoiseau and Severin from Guadeloupe. LaMauny and Dillon from Martinique. On the French side just north of the entrance to the Marina area is a liquor store with a barrel outside and a wooden waiter, Cave de Marigot's the name. Benjamin used to have a great selection of fine liquors, Cuban rums, and rums from Martinique and Guadeloupe. Around the corner Gran Vins de France (name?) has(d) J M. rhum vieux from Martinique but it is expensive. Take a look around and you'll see a lot to choose from. Also check out the Match supermarket for specials. For locally blended spirits MaDoudou are some of the best. If you happen to get lost and end up near the Simpson Bay Bridge, on the south side is my favorite bar, Floating Bar, actually an 80 foot ketch, with a great happy hour and lots of character(s). On the north side of the bridge in LaPalapa Center the Connoisseur's Shop also has a surprising selection of rums. Lastly, SM is one of the fastest changing rum venues in the islands. The good news is that you never know what you'll find, or where you'll find it. Happy shopping. .

I've tried all afternoon NOT to respond to the last post but can't help myself any longer. I can't recall seven alembic (pot) stills that were operating in the Caribbean in the last fifteen years, unless I include one in Martinique and the one in Cane Garden Bay, Tortola, which hasn't exported any rum for a very long time. But since everyone knows that pot still rum is the best, don't we?, only pot still rum would do for a rum that costs $250 a bottle. This reminds me of the Pusser's label that claims that their rum is a blend of rums from Guyana, Trinidad and Tortola British Virgin Islands. When I contacted Jim Beam Brands and asked which distillery in the BVIs made their esteemed rum, I was told that the Tortola,BVI rum was from "old stocks." Maybe that's what made it so special! To my knowledge there hasn't been a distillery operating on Tortola besides the Callwood distillery for at least the last twenty years, and my bet is that it has been a lot longer than that. But Cask 23 is good rum.

I've had Steen's and it was more like molasses than cane syrup. After talking to them on the phone, they admitted that they buy their syrup from the mill and then package it. I'd hoped they were still cooking the cane juice. I'll contact country made. Thanks and I'll let you know.

This morning I was confronted with a list of awards that various rums had won, some dating back over a hundred years. Are you impressed when you see that XYZ rum won a medal fifty years ago? Would you be willing to pay $5 more for a bottle that has won a medal in the last ten years? Or, do medals have to be current, within the last five years? And lastly, how much more important is a silver or gold medal over, say, a bronze one? For me, the fact that XYZ rum won an award in Paris in 1906 doesn't mean much because I know that the rum bottled in 1906 doesn't have much in common with the bottle that I'm looking at today. However, it does tell me that at least the distillers trademark is still in use. In other cases, medals that were won for other products, emblazon every label in current use by the distiller.

Sorry for the confusion, I was referring to the El Dorado 15 yo, and the El Dorado 12 yo, and not the Appleton, but I clearly see how anyone could have been confused. (In case anyone wonders, I've edited my previous post)

Marc at Martin’s is quite knowledgeable and is looking to expand his collection. First let me clear up the confusion about Appleton VX and their 12 Year Old which they call Appleton Estate Extra Jamaica Rum. These aren’t the same rum. You can see more online at Appleton Family of Rums Just click on the different rums. I drink the VX mixed. I think you'll like the 12 year old but it is much lighter than the El Dorado 15 year old which is almost too heavy except for a serious after dinner drink. And speaking of lighter aged rums, I've been drinking more of the Doorly's XO rum from Barbados. It reminds me of a light Scotch, and is easy in the morning.

My storage technique is rather unorthodox because I live on a boat and everything moves at least 25 º from the horizontal at very irregular intervals. I pack my bottles as tight as I can in lockers, with bottles on their sides because I can fit more bottles into a locker that way. I don't necessarily try to keep them horizontal except in the case of cork closures. I find a lot of aluminum closures that have stripped so I remove the metal cap and replace them with wine corks, of which I have an ample supply. Most of the rums I have on board were bought in the islands where quality control is lacking on such things as closures. When I buy a bottle of rum I make sure the cap is tight before I leave the store. More than once I've smelled rum coming from one of the bottles in my canvas shopping due to a poorly installed closure. In the states I store my stash upright since that's the easiest way to store it. BUT, if the closure doesn't close due to stripped threads, that bottle gets a cork and is drunk at the next opportunity. If the bottle has a tight metal closure I think upright is fine and probably safer than on its side. I can't imagine the problems due to loose caps that commercial stores have to deal with on a regular basis. Pickle jars seem to open easier than liquor bottles.

I've been looking, unsuccessfully, for sugar cane syrup made from fresh sugar cane juice. The one I presently use is made in Martinique or Guadeloupe. Unlike rock candy syrup used in most cocktail recipes, real sugar cane syrup is made by cooking sugar cane juice to remove the water. All of the sugar syrups are just sugar and water and lack the taste of the sugar cane. I've tried a couple of sugar cane products but most tasted more like molasses instead of sugar cane juice.