JOHN REEKIE

I am suprised that you have not had an answer to this as yet. With all our Bar Owners and Mixoligists in this forum I would have thought that some one would have reached up to pull down their 1940's Trader Vic's Rum Drinks book...... He was very specific as to what rums he used in what drinks. Ie Mai Tai were made with seventeen year old Barbancourt untill he used it all up then changed to another rum. Also most of the Name Brands that he specified are no longer available, yet the distillery or parent company might still be producing similar rums, with new recognisable Brand Names. Its just a matter of looking up the original rum and its type and finding a rum from todays market to substitute it with. So lets get this Original Trader Vic's Party Going , look up and suggest some rums then we cann all go to the party, in spirit at least. John Reekie.

jrcoewr..... we have not found your fathers 1949 Rum as yet ......I am going to pose a couple of questions that might trigger some ones mind....... First you did not specify if the rum you were searching for was to be- ' Distilled in 1949' or if it could be- ' Bottled in 1949' this could make a difference in your search......Second what country are you in this could make a big difference as to availability and or people being able to order or supply you the rum when found, I would like to ask 'CTGM' in England about the Lambs Special Reserve Rum Limited Edition, that he aquired for clients of his, Was this not distilled in Jamaica in 9/9/49 or was it 1939. and only recently been bottled. We also had a forum member buy a bottle of this rum a year ago who lives in Seattle. if he is still in touch maybe he could inform us with the dates involved. I believe while in England that he ordered it through Cadenheads in London. This rum had missed the Blitz in London when Lambs and others lost most of their stock in the bombing of the bonded warehouses along the Thames. Fortunately Lambs had large facilities in Dunbarton in Scotland, safe from German bombing, where this rum rested for over forty years in huge oak casks before it was bottled in the 1980/1990s. I have not read the booklet but would like some one to print it out for us. CTGM..... has contacts with Lambs in England and could read the lables or the booklet that comes with this rum. ( rum.cz has a photo of the lambs Limited edition bottle and box., but is to small to read the dates. But my memory has it that the photo showed two dates 1939 and 1949. I have not been able to find a Lambs web site that has readable photographs of this rum). JRCOEWR keep looking for your Fathers Birthday Rum......JR......John Reekie.

mrmaltster........ Its very simple... which surprises me that you could not get an answer from Cadenhead......Its a code for the individual distillery. when a country or island has more than one Distillery.....For example ...... WIRR. in Barbados is the- "West Indies Rum Refinery" at BlackRock. (or the BlackRock Distillery) The distillery also makes various rums for other companies ,ie: Cockspur, Malibu etc. Hope some one else can fill in more. John.... Rumsearching.

CTGM...... have you bought the ' Flagons' yet. and what was their history. Rumsearching..

Gordon.... have you found the on-off switch yet. or has the battery got a cover to the terminal to stop it being used,and has to be removed, untill the purchaser intends to use it. Or maybe the battery has aready been exposed and is already run down. I hope you looked up the previous link which was very informative. Keep in touch we would like to know the answer to your riddle. Rumsearcher.

Lee ....and forum members ....in trying to keep two threads seperate, I sent this under the wrong title,. This should have been with ( British navy) Pussers Rum - Not Royal Navy Flagons. My appologies.. John rumsearching.

Hello Lee.... there are a few other 'Pussers Rum' containers that I have or are aware of. in the line of Jugs. There is a 1.75 lt jug, a 1lt jug ( which I think is yours) and a .750 lt jug that used to be packaged with a .750 bottle of Pussers rum. This was also sold seperately at some time. To follow through get hold of a "Wade" pottery collectables catalogue through an antique dealer. There one would find the various resale values of the various jugs, decanters, water jugs etc . also the various Jim bean Collectable special editions of the Jugs and Decanters. .......The Hip Flask has also been utilised with many different custom add on lettering or graphics.(At the time of the second firing) ie Americas Cup...Victory... I have five flasks with different lettering. Then there is the most wonderfull Irish Cut glass decanter (Waterford maybe). This is of the correct proportions with the base being wider than the height. and is about the size of the pottery decanters. I have only seen this Decanter in The Pussers Store in Tortola BVI, a few years ago . It was quite expensive and as much as the dozen bottles of aged rums that I was bringing home. Lee......With you Naval knowledge, can you help us with the Question as to which Naval Admiral is know to have invented the 'Ships Decanter" He stated that the proper proportion had to be that the base width had to be wider than the height, to the opening before the stopper. This way the decanter would not tip over in any rough sea. I know it was not Nelson or Vernon, but could it have been Rodney or Bligh. Also what else do you know about "The Ships Decanter." Rumsearching.....

CTGM....... I think We will have to wait untill you have more information and photographs. But I dont think you can confuse the Pussers brilliant Advertising as original 'Naval Designs' for containers.... On Ebay I have read of some one who was trying to convince the buying public that the miniture ship decanters or miniture flagons were daily usued to all the sailors.! Can you imagine the millions of small flagons or chip decanters littering the oceans of the world. No it was the rum of the same blend that was used, not the containers. Some Sealed Pussers containers the seller thought the rum was old because the container looked old. Buyer Beware. There is an other form of Rum container ( that also shows up in the 'Great Spirits' web page Photograph). That is a ironstone pottery flagon ( Glazed on the inside as well as the outside.) that was used in the WWI and WWII marked SRD or S.R.D. Originaly wicker covered as a method of protecting the flagon inside the wrap. But most often rotted away by now. These are often found on Ebay, in UK. but always Dry. So yours could be Great Spirits Falgons. But I have never seen one on this side of the Atlantic. Various Disagreements as to what it officialy stood for but it could be: "Supply Reserve Depot" or "Special Rations Distribution" alternated by the forces could be "Soon Runs Dry'' or "Service Rum Dilluted" and "Seldom Reaches Destination" So CTGM keep us informed you have had the suggestions now its up to you and the photographs........Keep serching..... John Reekie

MAC...( I dont recognise nor talk to numbers or to apples with a bite out of its side).... But to the members of this forum with names, here is the info on the INTERNATIONAL RUM FESTIVAL 2003 (and maybe 2004) This is the extended Rum Festival that originated in Barbados by Mr Tim Forsythe and his Caribbean Newspaper.... The Festival 2003, like last years festival, will be located in St Johns, Newfoundland, Canada. In the Middle of August. Check web site for information and exact dates. As its divided between trade and rum tasters and public days. Also at this web site you should find links to last years reports and results. Visit: www.RumFest.com ( Yes you need the Capitals in the address) Also visit The Rum Shop, Luis Ayala's 'Got Rum' Newletter for information. Visit: www.rumshop.net Mac I hope you can make either of both rum Events, both should be visited by any rum lover wanting to find different rums.....Good Luck. Always rumsearching........ John Reekie.

FUN AND FRUITY RECIPES ! Not till June 2003. But the information I have is as follows. Writen by Barbara Albright. Title: RUM: RECIPES FOR TIKI-STILE COCKTAILS. Format: Hardcover, 96 pages. Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN: 0740733451. Available through electronic bookstores or by ordering at your local bookstore. Cost: ? Thats all I know, thought I would pass it on. John The Rumsearcher.

I was told to check out a rare sale on ebay for a rare bottle of DAK ROMMEL RUM. What I found was a very interesting, eight (ebay) pages of Rum History, of the travels of wartime rum from British 'Officers Mess' in North Africa, to German 'fortunes of war', to American 'liberation of the rum' in Italy to Austria Storage and safe keeping. Followed by the path of the remaining 40,000 bottles after the war. I suggest you look up Ebay, just for the history lesson and if you want to buy the bottle go ahead and bid for it in the auction. The auction is for the bottle & booklet only as Ebay as always, states that the contents are not for consumption. The contents are 'Old Jamaica Rum' that the British took to North Africa in barrels then the Germans bottled it in wine bottles back in Italy. The Americans trucked it to Austria for safe keeping. The Bottle comes with a Warranty and a twenty four page history /photo book.' THE STORY OF THE "ROMMEL LIQUOR". The Ebay auction pages detail the history over six pages. Its like opening a Pandoras Box as to a slice of History of Rum. I had never heard of this story. I am just getting familiar with "SRD" pottery jugs used in the world wars for rum distribution to the forces. If any body has one of these ROMMEL LIQUOR bottles or knows the whereabouts of the history/photobook I would like to be contacted, as I would like to read more of this Fasinating Rum History. I would like to get a photocopy of the booklet. Or any body who knows of any relative book on 'Rommel Liquor' http://www.ebay.com ( then enter in the search box this item #) 2169571784 If you can not get to drink it...... read about it Still rumsearching......john

I recently came across three articles on RUM that I found interesting. All from one sourse, Massachuesetts Beverage Business in Boston. Four articles, last time I looked, totaling around twenty five pages. One article quoted our Ed Hamilton. Now I could be very out of date and everybody has read them all, but I thought I would pass on the information anyway. Click on the address and have a look yourselves. You will have to do a little clicking around, for example 'Angostura' is not just a drop of bitters. http://www.beveragebusiness.com info@beveragebusiness.com Rum Reading again........John

AMERICAN RUM will be the History of RUM IN AMERICA and the many influences on life today.I consider it will be a very important story of our past in RUM. Anyway it will be available through Ayala's - 'Rum Shop' and you will be able to order it shortly. Http://www.rumshop.net Rumreading......John

Books some times get produced very quickly and sometimes just take a while. but I have been assured that for JULY FOURTH, this year, The AMERICAN RUM, book by luis Ayala is to be published. This Luis has mentioned had been delayed because of waiting for varifying facts. Keep Rum Searching ..........John Reekie

MOUNT GAY RUM had a big party in Barbados on Feb 20th and 22nd, at various spots over the Island. Their Celebration ended with a Grand Musical Extravaganza and Fireworks on Bay Street Esplanade ( south of Bridgetown). Part of the celebrations was a MountGay Great Rum Cake. Which was baked localy and was 'The Worlds Largest Rum Cake', ever baked at 423 lbs. Which as well as all the fruit cake mix contained only 35 bottles of Mount Gay Rum.( was that 750s or gallon bottles I wonder ?). With an additional 33 bottles of wine to produce the cake. ....Check out the Mount Gay Web Site for more information. Their Tricentennial Selection Limited Edition Rum is now available in a 'Specially Designed Decanter' and Presentation Box. Its a blend of three exceptional Vintages 1969, 1974, 1976. and has a tasting age of 30yrs. The run is limited to 3000 bottles only Worldwide, and the sugested retail price is $300.oo USD. ....To Order and ordering information contact Remy Amerique - 1 800 358 6002..... In Canada contact - Maxxium Canada 1 416 535 7899 (Dan Shorrocks). In Europe contact Remy-Cointreau. The Mount Gay Rum CookBook - 'Spirited Cooking' by Paul Yellin, The long awaited publication should be finaly published later this summer. look out for it in your local bookstores or by electronic bookstore. This information I am passing on to the Forum I have gathered from a couple of letters from Barbados and Mount Gay and from their Web Site. For more of Information on Mount Gay -Tricentenial Selection Limited Edition and the artical on the Celebrations, shopping etc go to. .................... http://www.mountgayrum.com/300thcelebration/300limited blend/.html If you are one of thoes that just have to have an 'Aniversary limited Edition Tricentennial Blend' get you cards out and order. No joking aside I wish I could get one. Happy Rumming......John Reekie.

John Von Pey..... We never finalised the lemon and sunlight situation. Did you ever hear back from the " Mil Estrellas Limon " distillers/producers, that you wrote to with the question of the- ' sunlight warning on their bottles'.

CTGM...... I thought I would bring it forward from the archives, for your interest. I was looking for something totaly different when I came across it again and I knew I had heard of RHUM SAINT JAMES 1967 some where. Here is some more insight in to this rum and some experience of others . What suprises me is that none of these gentlemen mentioned this rum in reply to your original question. By the way- A Sealed bottle of RHUM DES PLANTATIONS SAINT JAMES VINTAGE 1935. with an Illinois tax stamp 1935. Imported into the USA by Brown Vinners Co, New York City, NY. This was sold on EBAY at the begining of November 2002. I did not see what it final sold for but I Do know the bidding was quite high,

CTGM.... There must be quite a story behind the RHUM SAINT JAMES 1967, that you finaly found. We would be interested in how you managed to track it down.and where its been residing all this time. I hope the use of the forum brought it to you and that our fellowship of RUMMERS helped in some way in your tracing the elusive 1967.

There is a long history of 'Sun distilled spirits', which is a maseration of fruit steeped in alcohol with an added fermentation when placed in a glass carboy (with a gas vent) and left in the sun for a while. This goes through all country cultures and at different ages, and political situations.and still practised today everywhere. Many French West Indies (and other islands), after dinner "punches "are made this way. Many St Martin Island liquors started this way. I think what you have is a bottle that when opened allows air born spores to enter and the with the fructose sugars in the lemon you could possibly get a secondary fermentation when left in the sun. This causes CO2 gas to be given off that could build up and explode the glass bottle.!!!! Well thats what I think anyway ....any other suggestions. What you did not let us know is...what is the alcohol persentage by volume.of your bottle Is it a: Liquor 17-24% or: Liqueur 24-35% or:Spirit 35-40-43% or; Overproof 43->. Therefore sugar count etc. Anyway this was just a rushed thought. Why not contact the manufactures and ask them. John Reekie.

CTGM ! ..... 67 ..67..67.. What is it about this year? well thats not the real question . Is there a rum distilled in that year thats available. So here in frozen Canada, looking for you in London, for a client from a Pacific Rim Country. I dont think we have come up with anything,as yet...... BUT ! Can it be a different spirit, as there is a Scotch for sale that was distilled in 1967. I went to a scotch whisky forum and found under "whiskies for sale" a.... DEANSTON 1967... from someones private collection that he wants to sell. So go to..... www.scotchwhisky.net And explore there for a 1967. Maybe a scotch would be suitable for your clients. There is also someone looking for a STRATHISLA 1967 on that forum. Always rumsearching.... (now scotchsearching). john

CTGM.......... J.Bally 1966. $60.00 USD. Duty free in St Martin FWI. (1960 -$65. / 1970 -$45.) Its not what you were looking for but very close, and close only counts in tossing horseshoes. I knew that different shops/dealers/agents were offering different vintage years of J Bally Rhums. So I spent some time looking up various web sites. Did not get as far as finding the British of French Agents or Adresses, but came across this Duty freeshop in St Martin. French West Indies. What this shows is that direct contact with the sourse is usualy fruitfull and usually rewarding. I think you are in a better location (rather than I am in Canada) to find the sourse and "That one bottle on a dusty cellar shelf in France". Sounds like a booktitle and a BBC 2 upcoming feature. Good hunting & keep us informed. "The Rhum Search is on Dr Watson" ....unquote. John Reekie. That web site was > www.finelifedutyfree.com/rum/rums.html

ctgm......Thats an interesting problem...... "1967 distilled date printed on the lable"..... have you come up with anything as yet. I can see by your other posts that you are in the business and have various contacts around England. I was going to suggest Cadenheads, but I dont think they have anything going back 45 years , Neither will Gordon & Mac Phail.or Bristol Spirits. or Lambs (Except for their 1939 or 1949). So unless you are in contact with a more select bottler (which is what you are asking for afterall) I think your rum search will continue. But then maybe United Rum Merchants has something through a private bottler. Then there are the European brands and bottlers. In London you must have contact with French Agents and Importers. Because there is a chance that there is a Martinique Vintage Rum distilled in 1967. Bottled some years later. I would suggest you look into J.BALLY RHUM VIEUX 45% 70cl. This rum has been marketed, as far as I can see as far back as 1924 (and still available - at a price). Their Marketing has many years of 'Vintages' available of which 1967 might just have been one of them. This is information that only the French Import Agent (To France from Martinique) could tell you and dont believe it when some one says that only a few years are available, demand a full list because a general list might only be for bottles that could fill a case.Not that individual bottle sitting on that dusty cellar shelf in France. I would also like to point out what Ed Hamilton points out in his books, that J Bally has never clarified what the matured age of their rum (before bottling) is in their many vintages. So although you might find a 'Vintage 1967 Distilled Rum' it might have only matured six years prior to bottling. then stored on a dusty shelf for forty five years. I would like to see if any of our European Importers and Master Rum Blenders, that read this Forum, have any suggestions of other rums in Europe of this age, for you. Good luck with the hunt and when you do find your 1967 enjoy the celebration, and let us know how the search concluded . Rum Searching again. John Reekie

"The Secret Treasures Of The Caribbean" rums come from Switzerland. ..... Nobody had much of an answer, but Ed Melief suggestion of www.fassbind.ch lead me on a wonderfull trail. After a few weeks of emails with question and answers flashing back and forth, I have built up a picture or some very appealing rums. I do not have time at this moment to write in full of what I have found out. but the basic is that these are Artisan Rums from Long Pond Distillery Jamaica, Enmore Distillery Guyana, Carioni Distillery Trinidad, WIRR Distillery Barbados. Aged/Matured in cognac oak casks in the location of the Distillery then shipped, in the oak casks, to Switzerland. Bulk blended,(with its own lot only) with no further finishing or marrage. Then diluted with Swiss spring water to bring them to bottling strength, prior to bottling in Switzerland then exported. FASSBIND Switzerland is a very large company producing/distilling a great number of Eau De Vies and grappa and various other liquors,and have now added rums to their range.. The Trinidad rum was distilled in 1991.The Barbados and The Jamaican was distilled in 1986. The Demerara Rum was distilled in 1980. all just recently bottled in 2002. These rums fall into the catagory of rums like "Plantation Rums"and "Kanishe rhums"(France), "Bristol Spirits Rums"(England) and in some ways like "Cadenhead" (Scotland) although these are aged/matured in Scotland not the Caribbean. For some information on "The Secret Treasures of The Caribbean Rums" look up: www.fassbind.ch and www.g-club.ch/shop We only had The Old Barbados and The Old Jamaica in Ontario and they have sold out very quickly . I managed to buy three Barbados and two Jamaican, also had informed a few other people to these select rums,which has led to being sold out. I wish to thank the people at Fassbind for being very forward with the answers to my questions. As it would be wonderfull to be able to aquire information from other producers about their products, in such an open and honest way. That is all I have at the moment. Its back to rumsearching. John Reekie.

Ed... Any more news on the new very very extra old -"Black Mount Gay Rum"!. I just read that in March 2003 that a new rum cook book is to be released writen by Paul Yellin "MOUNT GAY RUM COOKBOOK" ISBN: 0517221721, Hardcover. Publisher: Gramercy. Cost: $11.99.us This is more than likely being published now as part of the 300 year celebration. That is all the information I have, so check your bookstores,for availability. It also looks like it will be available from BN.com or Amazon.com. next month. I am still searching! John Reekie

Mikef.. Have a Good trip to London..... And spend some time rum searching. I have said before, when one goes to a different country and wants to buy rum, why buy only the rums from yet another country. If traveling to Canada I would never buy rum as we dont produce rum in Canada. Only neautral spirits, that get blended with caribbean rums, then to be named 'Canadian rum'. This is not RUM!. When in England why buy Australian Rum?.or Cuban Rum etc? In my opinion one should be buying rums distilled in the 'Tropics' ( from sugar cane producing latitudes), then shipped to GB in cask. These unadultreated rums are then matured in the cellers of Great Britain or Europe.(if the had not matured in country of origin). Followed by bottling in GB. There is a great tradition of Rum in England & Scotland & Europe. If in London go to Covent Garden Market area where you will find Cadenhead Whisky & Rum Merchants. They have aprox ten different rums originated in the Caribbean of many different ages, that have been matured in the West of Scotland at Cambleford. Gordon & Mcphail another Scotish Distiller/blender of whisky has a couple of old rums the one I have was 27 years in barrel before bottling. Through their store a Lambs 1939 from Dunbarton, Scotland was sold to one of our EGullet members. In the West of England there is Bristol Spirits that follow the tradition of importing single still batch rums. then ageing and bottling their rums. So Mikef ask around , dont just buy standad brand names. There is a lot of 'British Rum' to find in London. There is also Plantation & Kanich Rums from France. and some coming out of Switzerland. Goog luck Keep Rumsearching