JOHN REEKIE

Dom Costa...I put the same question to the forum, I think over a year ago ...I cannot find it again so it must have been before page eight. So its lost in the vaults and crevices of Egullet Bowels, and I dont know how to find it. But I do remember I had read about "Isla Del Tesora",... Treasure Island... in a book "Six Days In Havana" by John Kings and James A Michener. John Kings wrote this book on their reasearch of Cuba for its part in the epic novel by Michener "Caribbean". What I learned was that in a town just south of Havana was a rum made by "Boycoy". I can not remember the town. The time of their visit and research was just around (before or after) the Cuban Revolution. Boycoy then went on to make "Havana Club rums" for the new government. ....See www.rum.cz.com (Peters Pages) look up Cuba >Havana Club and you will notice at the bottom of the label the Boycoy Distillery name. In recent years Boycoy has turned up in Puerto Rico and has started to reestablish a name for its self. It would be nice to think that an aged rum of the reputation they had in Cuba pre revolution might find its way onto the shelves again. I do not know what the connection with Cuba is with this new "Boycoy." I wonder if Ed has any information on BOYCOY P.R. When Michener went and knocked on the house with the cast iron Swans as balcony railings he was greated by the custodian, who gave them a tour of the rum storage area, This was followed by the tasting of a small round bottle of "Isla Del Tosora", from a dusty cardboard box designed & printed in the style of a Treasure Chest. In claiming that ..."this was very special rum and only for generals"....the custodian said ..."and today you are generals......" ( There was no coment on what the rum was like). Try and find the book, the part on Boycoy Rum & "Isla Del Tosora" is only a couple of pages, But with photos of the bottle, the box, the custodian, and the 'swans.' Its also a fasinating book to read on Cuba of the 50-60's. Look for..."Six Days in Havana"... ISBN # 0771058683 by John Kings & James A Michener, Pub 1989. Look up the Internet second hand book sellers, it turns up there once in a while. The 'swans' turn up as an ilustration in 'The Caribbean' with the chapter on Cuba. I have been looking for a copy of EL ALEGRE DE LA CANADE AZUCAR for a while. Do you know if it was ever translated/printed into English. I have seen it sometimes available through the internet booksellers, but no word if in English. Also has Fernando Campoamor writen any other rum books, sugar books preferable in English. Sorry I have no other imformation on this rum! Always Rumsearching!

I have been looking for your reply with not much luck. I hope the riots are not alltering your plans as to when you return to Toronto in Febuary. Check your Email for another letter. Still looking to purchasing some fine Venezuela Rums. If the price is right. John Reekie. .....on the rumsearching trail.

Recently this rum had arrived on the shelves (or should I say on a shelf) at the Ontario Licquor Control Board - Vintages Store(the Main retail store in Ontario). It has very little information and before I buy it I would like to find what ever I can about it. The Lable reads as follows. "OLD JAMAICA RUM" - The secret treasures of the Caribbean This rum was originaly distilled at LONG POND DISTILLERY 1986/Bottled 2000 (thats 14 years). 70cl. 40%vol. Cost $69.00 canadian. The bottle is a regular clear bottle, not specialy designed. -- The back lable has a bar code and some advertising lingo in french and in German!. but no disctiption of the rum or its production. What is confusing is it says imported by S.FASSBIND.S.A. Which to me is South Africa?. The LCBO so far has not been able to give me any more information .. Looking for information. John Reekie.

Welcome to the forum . Its good to have someone who is actualy working in a rum producing country.and maybe gets a chance to find that countries better rums and gets to enjoy them. Yes I would like to discuss a trade,unfortunately I dont have any unopened bottles that I could trade,at the moment. But I would like to discuss a trade for genuine 100% Canadian Loonies.and trade at equal valve cost, for a bottle or two of top venezuelan rum. You have got me interested and I am looking up my research files for what I can find is available. Going by your list, have you come across any "supreme premium" rums that do not get advertised. ie, "Estate Reserve" rums. or any small distilleries/blenders that produce extra aged or extra special rums. Do you have an email address that we can discuss this further. I would be interested in following this through.and arranging to meet you somewhere in Toronto in February. Dan Smith in Montreal also might be interested ( Egullet forum member). He does quite a lot of traveling and returns with good rums,from his adventures, but I dont know if he has ever got to Venezuela.

Jason.......How was your St Martin/ Sint Maarten rum adventure.? We would like to know if you got enticed by MaDoDo and her sun steeped liqueurs in Cul de sac.? Did you find some of the rums that Ed had mentioned from the various shops in Marigot and surrounding areas.? Did you get to The Valley in Anguilla to find the source of Pyrat Rums? Did you get to sample Cask23.? and did you find out where they imported their aged rums from.? What other secrets did you learn.? Did you learn how they can charge $300. per bottle.? Did you Buy one anyway at Island Prices.? Have they finished building their new stone walled blending plant and reception building.? What restaurants and bars did you get to, on both islands.? Always interested in how others of the forum experience their Rum, and look forward to hearing yours with some feed back of your adventure. John Reekie .......... still rumsearching

Sorry everybody That last entery should have been under a newTopic title. John Reekie Gone to find a bottle of rum.

Ed.... I have not been to Cane Garden Bay for five years and Callwoods Distillery has certainly not been functioning for a few years before that .Taken out in a hurricane, the various parts of the still can be found in the bush. The BVI government should either fix it as a heritage site or take it off their tourist maps and information. What Michael Callwood is doing is buying young rum from Carioni,Trinidad, then working on it. Rums are stored in carboy jars. This rum was still very young and bottled in bottles that people have previously returned, could be a brandy or a gin bottle. The other Callwood Rum 'factory' makes a spiced rum similar to Sint Maartens 'Gauverberry licqueur' or a 'Saba Spice licqueur' Pussers Roadtown Tortola, by the way had a big fire, again some years ago. Which was also about the time that they then decided to have a blending, bottleing and distribution contract with Jim Beam Brands. I believe that no Rums from Trinidad, Guyana, etc or the other places to make up the six rum blend, ever touch Roadtown, but go to Kentucky for blending and further treatment. then when bottled, is distributed back to the islands and elsewhere. Anyway in the big fire the "Old Stocks" were seen running down the street and being sponged up into any container available.... So the Story goes........ I have a letter from Pussers that gives me the date of the fire but they have been evasive as to the track of the rum and the production. I do know that Pussers Canada is bulk shipped then Married(blended) and bottled in Montreal, Quebec. All this information, I have put together from various sources...... But I can not verify !!. But It goes back to what one reads between the lines on rum lables. You cannot believe every thing you read. Thats why we need our forum members to ask the questions when at the sourse, to get the information directly from the distillers, dont just believe salesmen either. Then to report back to the Forum with valid information usefull to all. The Forum cannot expect Ed to know everything. As he does not get back to some of his sources for a few years since he wrote his books were writen........... Fires and Hurricanes do happen !...... John Reekie......always RUMSEARCHING.

Jason P.... I hope you look at this before you close down and head to the airport. But to add to Ed's Shopping list for St Martin/Saint Maarten here are a few more suggestions.....I think that a day trip over to Anguilla is a must to solve some of the questions that we all have about Anguilla Rums Ltd. The ferry leaves from the east end of Marigot Bay ( under the Fort). Go early in the morning ,its only seven miles. But take your passport and other papers , you are entering British territory, and need identification and a small entry fee. Anguilla Rums Ltd are not always open (to Public) They suggest a call for a rum tasting schedule before you go.Their phone number is 497 5003/5006. or ask a taxi driver when you get of the ferry. Find out the time of the last ferry back (its in daylight). Take swimsuits, there are some good bars and beaches and hotels restaurants for lunch.....So You can juggle your time when Anguilla Rums are open. Then you can find out about their supply imports of aged rums they use for blending. And the various declared ages of the blends etc, also get to taste the $300 dollar Pyrat Cask 23. You know that the Patron Tequilla, Mexico, is also produced by this group. Various other 'Punch au Rhums' are also made in St Martin. Ma DouDou being one of them, and available in most stores.Look for the four small ,10cl,gift bottlepacks wrapped with a madrass cotton bow, as a way to sample four liqueurs cheaply. Ma Dou Dou Rummerie can also be visited, again phone first to see if open, but if you have a car then just go visit. She is in Cul de Sac (french side) NE corner of the island close to Baie Oriental on the road to Anse Marcel. Her phone should be 50 90 87 30 43 .Its not much of a place but you will learn all the secrets of liqueur making. By the way 'Dou Dou', other than 'sweetheart', also can mean 'market woman'. often refered to as 'DouDou Darling' in caribbean songs, either in English or French. Often Punch au Rhum liqueurs are served aftermeals in most restaurants....Sometimes complementary... sometimes as an extra charge...... Sometimes as a house special, made in house....sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet.... Some you will like, some you just want to spit out.... But Ma Dou Dou is one that you might just want to bring home as a memory of a local craft. On leaving St Martin/Saint Maarten Juliana airport has two licquor stores .They are no cheaper than any where else but if you can carry just one more bottle, check out their shelves. My last and extra bottle was 'Malibu Lime" (not available in Canada) just to round things out. Have a great Holliday......And let us know how you got on and your experience with Pyrat Cask 23. John Reekie

Ed...Having bought the Complete Rum Guide in the depths of winter in Toronto, years ago, just prior to a sail in Antigua waters...having previously bought Rums Of The Eastern Caribbean, in St Thomas.... That one got left in the cockpit during a rain shower, followed by carefull slow drying.....The third copy was bought in Sopers Hole and stays home. One copy stays on the boat on Lake Ontario..One on my rum shelves and the other by my bedside. I am waiting the day that I hear the anouncement that you will be writing and having a book published titled... "RUMS OF THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN". I consider that for most readers who have bought your previous books will insist that its about time that you started the next adventure...so quote.. "Head west young man"... & .(There is no future in Plastic.!..belive me). Your approach might have to be different in that you would not be able to sail to all the different Countries and Islands, and your expenses would be greater, but once landed your explorative adventures of getting to the distilleries should be the same.... It time for your backers /publishers to extent your expenses so that you could spend six months exploring west of Culubra, by sea and or by land. And for thoes who, some times questioning as to the contents of your books ! They should just go and buy a copy. For Ed has led me down various tracks and roads, and with out always being in the West Indies, I have done quite a lot of rum exploring with Eds books as guides. and so can keep........Rum Searching. John Reekie

A Video about rum has been released. The much awaited video release !.... Technical Advisor ED HAMILTON. I know little about the details of this video except that Ed has been working on it for a while as technical advisor, with an european film company. I have not looked up previous web pages to find other information,but wanted the forum to realise that the video is now available. Its 26minutes long and costs $16.95, shipping extra. From the Ministry of Rum web page ......." Filmed entirely in the caribbean, 'The Story of Rum' reveals some of the Magic behind the best rums in the world."... ......"The Story of Rum also features rare footage of rum making in illicit stills in the islands." Judging on the experience involved and the quality in Ed's books , I consider that this video will be very interesting and should be in every rum lovers library. I have ordered mine and wait in antisipation on receiving it in due course. www.ministryofrum.com scroll down to last item in the store.

Having checked a few bottles at home , I have the following information about the distilleries. you might want to visit them. Bermudez & Co....est 1853....Licoreria no 35........Santiago, DR. Brugal & Co.........est 1888....Licoreria no 31........Puerto Plata. Barcelo & Co.......est.1930....Licoreria no ?..San Pedro de Macoris. also: Pedro Justo Carrion & Co... Bought by Brugal in 1995 ( I think they are around San Pedro de Macoris as there best known rum, localy, as Ron Macoris - Anejo Superior. You did not say if you were looking for good mixing rums or good sipping rums. In my experience when traveling, it's always wise to buy the very best available,of different rums, buy six to ten bottles, then pay the Canadian taxes and duties. It still is cheaper than LCBO and you have rums that would never reach LCBO shelves.and an envy of your friends. I would never buy a white B......i in 2lt plactic bottles for around $15.00, then a couple of rum punches parties later and what do you have to remember your trip. Buy the best you can afford !. I always budget $ 200.00 us. into my trip, for rums, packaging, taxes and duty. And the wonders of Spell Check on our forum- one spells funny things when in a hurry...... St Baths should have read St Barts for St Barthelemy F.W.I. (and to be correct F.W.I. should read France) John Reekie.

Peros...Now that you have found yourself in a hammock tied between two palm trees,and wondering what blew your socks off. Its back to your room and recoup,then on to the rum trail. Two brands (Distillers) of DR rum as yet not mentioned. The first is the third "B" distillery and the oldest, established in 1853, that is J ARMANDO BERMUDEZ & Co.Cpor A. I forgot to check which town their distillery is located in. (if You want to tour the plant). They have a good selection from very young white to a gran anejo. All their and other DR rums are molasses based and column distilled. The fourth is a brand -CUBANEY- ,I do not know their distillery or location or parent company. But they have four rums, 3yr,5yr,7yr.10yr. and distributed in the Caribbean,Spain,Spanish Caribbean and Cuba and was launched in 1996. If you have a copy of Julie Arkell's -'Classic Rum'- look at page 113. As to where to buy rum. Try to go to the Distilleries. then you can say it was original. Avoid the airport duty free shops they never have everthing. or in the size you might want, its also too last minute for me to find they dont have a rum I wanted. You could check it out on ARRIVING in DR, before getting in to a taxi. I find the local, big suppermarkets, a taxi will take you there, always have the best selection and often have many rums from other islands. The local village corner rum shop are good for local rums but language is often a problem. Down town in the main tourist areas often have Wine shops and expensive rums. Well worth while when looking for top shelf rums.But if you compare a 15yr old Clement or a very old vintage St james that I bought in St Baths, for $32.us.each which in Canada, if had been available would have been over $85.can. Happy shopping and watch out for falling asleep in hammocks. John Reekie ....again Rum searching.

I am suprised that nobody has posted information on this as yet. So to inform our members, some of you might be able to get away to be there. So here is the information as I know. The various web sites mentioned are information sites where I found my information. WHAT - INTERNATIONAL RUM FESTIVAL 2002 WHERE- St Johns Newfoundland, Canada. at the Fairmont Hotel http:/www.fairmont.com (look for Newfoundland) WHEN- September 1st to 5th. WHO- Caribbean Week The Regional Newspaper of the Caribbean from Barbados. Tim Forsythe has run the C.W.R.T.T.( Caribbean Week Rum Taste Test) for Thirteen years. Now they are expanding and bringing Caribbean rums directly to North America for a panel of experts to tast and a public exhibition. Read up on information as to who will participate and which rums are going to be there, this is a preliminary list.I am told. http:/www.rumfestival.com ....The Festival W site. (not Printer Friendly) http:/www.rumshop.net ....look for -Got Rum Newsletter -June page two. http:/www.cweek.com ....Caribbean Week newspaper. http:/www.NFLD.net (or is it com) ....Tourist information. I hope to be there to find some of thoes rums not available in our liquor stores and to meet up with the rum industry. Hope some of you can make it. John Reekie .....Still rumsearching

Does any New England Rum still exist ?. Reading up in my: 'Rum- Yesterday and today' recently, the book was published in 1983, I discovered the following.(pages 163-164) Quote- "In 1982 Heubleim sold Felton & son, the company and CONSIDERABLE STOCK OF NEW ENGLAND RUM- Jan 1983 the Boston distillery was still in mothballs pending a decision on its future" Does anybody know what happened to that CONSIDERABLE STOCK ? or does anybody know a contact in the boston area with knowledge of HEUBLEIM or FELTON & SON and or where in Boston this distillery was located. John Reekie Rumsearching again !

Dale... I hope your still watching this forum for an answer to your question. As Ed is off sailing and researching rums, on his return I hope he will pick up and answer your enquiry for you. In the meantime I would like to add some comments. If you scroll down to J.BALLY RUMS:Martinique Rhum Agricole. (posted by Jason Perlow 01st March).and -Clement: 15yr old , is it realy rare now? (posted by Jason Perlow 27feb). both of these touch the topic of Martinique Rhums. Both Clement and Saint-Etienne distilleries, with great history, are within a few mile of La Favorite Distillery. What I know about La Favorite I have learned from Ed's Book-"Rums of the Eastern Caribbean". Also from other readings and studying of a good quality map to find this distillery is just on the outside of Fort de France (North East side). His book shows that they are still producing this fine old rhum,with the same scripted lable. But he did not buy a bottle - at 300ffr (+-$40.00us.) as it is one of the most expensive in the islands. Remember the prices localy are approx 50% less than state side. Also that 33 years is a very long ageing time in the tropics as evaporation is its greatest enemy,and after this amount of time there is not much left to bottle. I dont know how you could have waited 25 years to think about opening a 33year old bottle, But you still only have a 33year old rhum but a very good one at that. This is exactly the sort of rum that does not get exported and is not available in large quantities. Its the type of rum that you have to research then go to the source to find. Some are very good estate family rums or even a resort private lable, both only available at the source. Similar to going to a wineyard and asking whats available from below the counter. What is amazing is when this rhum would have been distilled, as it would have been in 1944 or 1945. This could have been before the wwwII had ended or in celebration of the end of the war. Unlike wines that should improve with age in the bottle, spirits are only as good as when they were taken from the cask and bottled. Therefore the celebration or the waiting for the next special occasion has no great importance. I think its time that you liberated one of your bottles and let it have its freedom by opening & tasting it. Then may be letting the forum know your reaction to the experience. Do you have any other rhums from your 1977 Martinique trip and did you get to visit any of the distilleries. I would be interested in knowing. I hope Ed will fill you in with more interesting information when he returns. John Reekie.

"BuddyC99"......I forgot to mention a site also worth visiting. That is a list and pictures of many rum labels. Petr does not distinguish between present and past, and I wish they were dated at least as to when he got them. But you can tell by the graphics and design as to what is old,and might be out of date. Dont forget that this is a 'collection' and part history and also not totaly up to date with new labels. Click on to the individual labels to expand, then read the small print this is where the real story lives. ie:- multiple brands by the same distillery. Petr Hlousek Rum Labels...... www.rum.cz Good Luck ! John Reekie

Buddy c99.... welcome to the forum with your inquiry . This topic is worth a book or two just in itself. But I have not found one as yet. To start with your list is of lables, brands,distileries etc. But the only three distileries left are Destileria Seralles (Don Q, Captain Morgan etc) , Bacardi ( with multiple brands and bulk rums shipped to their other blending and bottling plants. Also a third distilery at Arecibo (which I think is linked with Bacardi). So you have Brand names and distilery names listed together, (also a couple of brand names that no longer exist). But for the real information that you are requesting ,You need to go direct to the following sourse website. I could not find much information there, but I did not spend much time digging. But it does give some contact addresses, phone numbers. So try.... WWW.pridco.com This is the site for the PUERTO RICO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY. established in 1942 by the Government of Puerto Rico. You are looking for the "RUMS OF PUERTO RICO" department. This department has taken care of all PR Rums business. I suggest that you contact them direct. by phone of mail and ask for management, not just for a leaflet mailed out by reception. Rums of PuertoRico Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company Government of Puerto Rico 660 Fifth Avenue NY.NY. 10103-1599 phone:- 787 765 2900 also a general site to look at ...... WWW.welcome.topuertorico.org A book well worth reading which is the bible to rum enthusiasts..."RUM--Yesterday and Today" by Hugh Barty-King & Anton Massell.(printed 1983.Heinemann-London) Available in some libraryies and by second hand E shopping .....WWW.bookfinder.com This book is well worth the hunt for, with a good chapter on Puerto Rico. With more recent news of Seagrams being sold and various brand names ownership being disputed Puerto Rico rum industry is going through an upheaval. Good luck with the paper, I would be interested in reading it when you have completed it.I can be contacted by email. JOHN REEKIE

ED.....Thank you for all the valuable information from the Ministry of Rum, now its time to enjoy some more wind ,sea, & rum.... enjoy the research. Good searching. I hope you are working up towards a new book soon. John Reekie

Again I am, still working on the answer to our question. But in the meanwhile I would like to put the same Question to Stephan Macha in Germany. Do you know if Havana Club Rums are bulk shipped to europe for bottling and what do the bottles and casses read with regards to distilliation, produced by, bottled by and where.

I am playing telephone tag with the Pernod Ricard Canada salesman who are the Havana Club agents, so have not come up with the answer as yet . I hope to get back to the Forum soon.

I hope you had a good trip to New Orleans and managed to find some interesting rums. Then managed to take some home, Let us know other than Barbados Plantation Rum what else did you aquire? Also would you please read the Plantation rum label and read who the distiller is, who produced it and hopefully where it was bottled. then let us know as this one of the unknown boutique rums. This information helps built what the family background would be. But read carefully as the wording could be deceptive. The rest I agree with Ed as to age and distillation and to your thoughts of this rum. This might also apply to the other Plantation Rums. Private blendings away from the Islands using Island Rums and younger than the labels want you to think they are. Anyway I hope you did get other Rums let us know.

Other than Jamaica- Sangsters Rum Cream, you could look out for St Croix- Cruzan Rum Cream and Trinidad- Fernandes Rum Cream. Some of these might be available to you in NJ or NYC. Or again you could ask friends traveling. By the way all three are available in Ontario at the Ontario Liquor Board Stores. John Reekie

This started in the London Dock Topic. And was going off topic so I have started a new topic. Bolivar Petit Corona started by asking a question re Havana Club in Ontario, Canada. Were all rums in Ontario Bulk shipped then bottled in Canada ?. Followed by his noticing that the bottle of Havana Club 7yr he had was Canadian. I then read the bottom of two Havana Club cartons , 7yr carton was made in Ontario and the Anjo carton was made in Quebec.and both bottles were stamped Made in Canada. The bottle labels (in Ontario liquor stores) state "Distilled and Produced by Havana Club, cuba." They do not say where the bottling took place, or if from bulk shipped rum ( and diluted to bottling strength of 40%-80proof) All part of deceptive labeling World wide Distribution /advertising etc is now part of Pernod Ricard in France for Havana Club of Cuba ever since the Dec 19 2001 FTC approval over Bacardi. I have not had time to research this topic any further but its producing some very interesting answers. When I get the full story,I will let you know (late next week). So I dont think I should say anything out of order today. In my last answer (under London Dock) I said there was a partnership with Havana Club (Cuba) and Paul Ricard in France. I should have said "Groupe Pernod Ricard in France" Gone rumsearching......John Reekie

This thread is getting to tangled. So I will start another with the topic of -"Havana Club 7yr in Canadian Bottles" - This will free up this one for responces on- "London Dock Bonding", where it started. I have gone searching .... John Reekie

I am glad you found the LCBO website. Not to much of interest except to policies unfortunatly no real list of product with prices. This would have been an interesting comparison with the States prices. Anyway some might find the site interesting. I will have to go home to read the bottom of my Havana Club 7 bottle and I will look at the bottom of a Carton again. I think, without checking tonight, that the carton is stamped made in cuba. While the bottle could well be Canadian. With our open trade policy with Cuba, Havana Club distillery could well find their bottles cheaper in Canada. I will check both out tonight. You also have to consider that Havana Club has a trading partnership with The Paul Ricard Group in France, who are promoting Havana Club everywhere except the States. We should have started a new thread. Otherwise The London Docks will get lost in the fog and like all good mystery novels we might never hear or learn the answer. John Reekie