Bill Poster

Whats with the hats??

I have heard Bacardi are distributors of this premium vodka in the states. Can anyone shed any more light and also if it is available in Britain?

On value as well as taste vodka 1.Krolewska 2.Wyborowa 3.Seriously.. rum 1.Ron Zacapa 2.havana 7 with coke(sorry Ed!) 3.Clarks court special gin 1.Blackwood's 2.Hendricks 3.tanqueray 10

Have noticed Clements rhum viex(?) popping up in some of the good bars and restaurants in london. Rum is definately gaining new customers here in the uk..

Possibly the oddest brand name??? Apparently,the name for this blended whisky is to do with a condition workers sometimes got from shovelling the grain. I'm not a whisky man but I liked this; very drinkable!

You're right about the balancing act. I've seen $8 million wasted on bad advertising(vodka brand), generating little long term brand awareness But image building through on trade distribution is a better way to brand awareness. It is essential to have a budget to pay a good sales guy to introduce your brand to the bar managers and distributors straight away(even just for the first 6 months)

The latter.. It was a while ago, i think he met the boss at an industry do and put a proposal to her. Half the going rate, and he's v. good I hope they can make a success of it; the UK market is extremely tough at the moment tho.

Finally got to try this last night. First impressions were so-so; nice coconut flavour, not overpowering but it had a slightly sour cream taste, but this could be down to being old stock, as it had been sitting around(unopened though). This could be good but it needs re blending. It is too thin( like milk). Needs to be thicker. And hopefully not sour! My friend submitted a proposal to do marketing and sales. The quote was very good and it was turned down. I don't think this will be around too long

Looking forward to this last night. We were doing a tasting at a bar in London(vodka/rum).This was bottled in the netherlands and distilled in the UK (i think this correct but I'd had a few). The bottle strength was only 37.5%. I feel bad for saying this, but it was awful

You have to remember its a very exclusive product, they hand massage each cane after it's cut

If you like Hendrick's (which I do but resent paying for it), try Blackwood's gin. Very nice if you can find it.

This rum caught my eye. It was launched 2 yrs ago. With a bottle design not unlike a premium vodka(but with a palm tree), this one also boasts of being produced using the first pressing of the cane(with no water added during crushing). Interestingly, it is aged for 5 yrs in 100 litre ceramic flagons.

Came across this stuff by mistake. I think its a syrup made by boiling down the fruit. Crazy (inevitable)question- what would you get if you distilled this??? Is it a type of grenadine??

Thanks for the reply-How about dried fruit? this may avoid clouding. Do Ron zacapa add spices to its 23 yr rum?

I would like to spice my own;maybe a barbancourt white. Vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg seem choice but I know there are other so called 'secret' ingredients being used. Any tips?

That would sell very well in the London on-trade. How does it compare with gomme syrup?

We are lucky in London to have a store in the heart of the west end, in Old compton st Soho, where you can choose from dozens of unusual brands of vodka, rum and others. But they really do have the pick of the rums; Barbancourt, Ron Zacapa plus obscure brands such as Les trois riviers.

I imagine it will be around 20 sterling to the on trade over here. As cane rums go, I noticed some good comments about Flor de cana rums. Don't think they are readily available here in the uk. They look to be aiming at Havana club, judging by the range(nice packaging). Has anyone tried these?

probably not

Looking at various websites, they get carried away a little bit with explaining even the basics with making a simple still. I'm based in London and want to make a spiced rum. Anyone with experience?

Would like to know the origins of the rum.. does'nt say exactly. Looks well presented, though maybe the bottle looks a little too much like cava .. According to a friend in the industry, its been around for a little while and had a mixed reaction; bit of a marmite product. he still has a bottle of it in his office so I look forward to trying it.

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one... I don't want to name the company but they begin with S and are 1 of only two working distillers on an ex british island.. (your time starts now!) I have'nt given up on this idea, I suppose one way is buy the raw spirit and reblend it in the uk under a different name which defeats the object of building an existing brand with an interesting background. Or import good quality molasses from say, guyana and find a distiller who is willing to take a chance.

How much does 10cane retail at?

Thats why I am interested in 10cane rum. Their website suggests it makes a good cuba libre... I guess they did plenty of research but I feel the french guy who came up with the idea thinks cane is superior to molasses end of. I want to see how this will fit in at the top london bars

Try an apple pie martini. Google for recipe. The best ones use Jager