JOHN REEKIE

CJ and others . Just before your friend rushes off to Cuba. Here is a Mystery Adventure --There was a rum that I heard about from a book by James A Michener; 'Seven days in Havana'. When he was researching for his book -"Caribbean". This secondary book talked about the research in 1988, that Mitchener was doing, where he comes across a building in El Cerro (I think) with 'Boyoy" over the door,and a row of cast swans as a balcony railing(see chapter heading illustaration in the "Caribbean". On further investigating and knocking on the door, he goes on to say that he had found -"La Famosa Destilleria Boycoy", and was then introduced by the lone manager, to a card board box printed like a treasure chest and it contained a sphearical pottery bottle -"La Isla del Tesoro" (Treasure Island), He was then informed -"That we make a little of this each year - Gifts for important people like generals and today you are a general". Now some years later having not heard about 'Boycoy',in cuba. Other than its name crops up in Puerto Rico sometimes, so I thought that they had moved there. But it was just recently that I read in a travelogue,for Americans traveling in Canadian cruise ships. That states that part of their tours is to "The Boycoy Distillery". But I could not check the travelouge's reference and a have forgotten where it was on the web. I would like to know if anybody knows about "Boycoy Destileria" and what rums they have. Cj ask you friend to inguire, when he gets to Cuba, he might just find an old bottle in a treasure chest marked -"La Isla del Tesoro" on a dusty back shelf in old Havana! EDD do you know anything about "La Isla Del Tesoro"

CjBohl... Yes finding that Bristol Spirits Web Site was a gold mine. I think I will start a new 'Post' with the information. I think the Rum members and rum suppliers should see what a site on rum products should look like, and what sort of information we look for and deserve. Lambs-1939 or Lambs-1949. Outside of -Lambs, United Rum Merchants. I dont think anybody on this side of the Atlantic has ever seen a bottle of these two rums. Well we can all look at 'Petrs Pages'for a photograph. Try> www.rum.cz/ascii/galery/eur/uk/united_rum/img/uk_8.jpg - Photo shows 39 bottle and a 49box...strange? I only know that Lambs always was known for their Navy Rum which was a traditional British blend from various places in the tropics. The rum was brought to Britain and matured/blended together and the bottled. What sets Lambs-1939 and Lambs-1949 apart from others. Is that the Lambs-1938 would have been one of the last batches of rums,to be blended together, shipped to Britain before the start of the last war and it survived in Dunbarton (Scotland). During the war years all tropical distillerys were utilised in producing alcohol for the war effort and amunition production. It was also during the war that the Rum Rations to the British Forces was kept up, although sometimes delayed. This was promised to all the forces, that they would always get their rum. Some what like the US Forces promise of Coca cola, often wonder why the two forces were alway friendly together. While it was the War of Independence that was started when the British taxed rum.!.. After the war production of rum started up again and then you got Lambs-1949. Sorry thats all I can add.

Cj ...More Bristol Spirits info! ...I dont know how, but through someones links I came across 'Bristol Spirits ltd-Classic Rums', web site. What an entertaining site, I wish more rum bottlers /distillers/ and or blenders, would put out informative pages like these. Each page explanes the different 'stills' and histories, nine pages in all. What is missing is what transpires between distilation and botteling .but maybe they will expand on their information with out giving away their trade secrets. The more we pay for good rums, the more we deserve to be informed on the production of that rum. Any way I am adding this to your Post, so that other people can pick up on some good rum information, although I know that you have already been in touch with Bristol spirits, and intend to buy some of their rums. Bristol Spirits Limited .UK. http:// home.btclick.com/bristolspirits/ Keep rumsearching!

Cj ... while everbody has been enjoying their Cuban Cigars and Havana Club . ...did we ever go off on a tangent! I think that respected its own topic, I thought the topic was -What rums to buy in Great Britain, to bring back to the states. Looks like you are enjoying your self with the hunt and getting some where. Its wonderfull to hear of someone out shopping with an open shopping basket, researching what to buy, then filling the basket with what they realy want. and not with just any five or seven year old. Bristol spirits -I have not found any Web site for them but here is there phone number, North of Bristol . Tel +44 - 1454 299880 Fax +44 - 145294572. Look up Export News On Line > www.uken.co.uk/5-37.htm This will give you a sheet with owners name and full adress. Look up 'Petrs Pages' for enlargements of some Bristol spirits Classic Rums.- > www.rum.cz/ascii/gallery/eur/uk/bristol/img/uk-78.jpg Some Classic Rums are available in the states through Internetwines > WWW.Internetwines.com also through Stephan Macha ( eGullet new member) in Germany > www.Macha-weine.de/shop see other topics. Bristol Spirits is the Blender - Classic Rum is the brand,- if this helps. No more time will contact you soon re your other proposed purchases. always RUMSEARCHING l

CJ ...You have raised an interesting situation, which I will add my thoughts to. On returning to the States, instead of rums easily available in the States. So why not bring back rums that anybody would be envious of, but are more or less impossible to find in the States. Forget H15 at 跌, wait for your traveling friend and aquire one at ๠-贄. We do not know your circumstance and how much you intend to bring home. But maybe you should make it a 'case of rum' and pay the taxes and duty, its well worth it. I think a returning American is allowed the first five bottles anyway. My suggestion is to find British -imported, barrel aged, blended, married, finished and bottled Caribbean rums. You have already found Cadenheads of Scotland, do you know that they have a store in 'Covent Garden' in the center of London. Well worth a visit if you can get there. Maybe discuss that they do the shipping for you, to the States to one of their agents, saves you the bother of lugging it around, breakage etc. To any body in the forum, William Cadenhead, in Scotland, bottles 15 different rums from individual Caribbean stills, all of diferent maturities and each bottling slightly different from the previous one.-Wonderfull Rums!. A limited amount and selection of these rums can now be found in the States. Also another Scotish rum from -Gordon & mcPhail, Demerra distilled in 1974, then shipped to Elgin Scotland -bottled in 2002, cask no.99-100,46%(Thats 27 years in oak).I have a bottle of this fine rum. Then there are the -Bristol Spirists 'Classic Rum's -6 rum bottlings aged 10 to 23 years. All from individual Stills in the Caribbean. These are becoming available in the states, here in Canada I will never be able to get them. United Rum Merchants ,thats Lambs, put out a -'Special Consignment -1949 Limited Edition -Distilled in 1939'. (but still only a 10 year old rum. cost $$$) Thomson's 'Estate Mark 1989 -Barbados from WIRR'. and Thomson's 'Estate mark 1980 -Demerara from the Diamond Distiller. Are two other examples of British importing ageing etc and bottling. Holsons various rums ,-Holsons 9 yr old/46%, barbados from WIRR. - Holsons 11 yr old/46%, Versailles still, Demerara. -Holsons 16 yr old/46%, Enmore Distillery , Demerara. Then the -'Holsons West Indies Rum British Navy Rum'-Distilled 18th September 1940. Bottled 20th September 1993 -53 years in oak. What I have been trying to say is why bring back rums from mega bottlers available anywhere. Find the true rums(out of the islands that is ).But at the same time watch out for the British cheap dark young blends of navy rums. Being in Britain , with the European Open Market, you should be able to hunt down some exceptional rare French rums, thorogh the agents. Also in London there are a couple of Pubs/bars specialising in rums with up to a hundred or so rums, I am told, but unfortunatly I have no reference to these. Ask around for them,it would be a wonderfull experience if you found them. Can anybody in the forum give any information to CJ. also let us know what experience you have in one of these 'Rum Pubs' CJ -Good luck, I would be interested to find out how this ends up.

Kristian & Brija.. Now we know, one likes rum the other does not. So its hard for you to discuss the merits of glasses , between your selves, that's why Kristian turned to 'egullet'. Also one of you would be drinking a 'snifter of rum' and maybe Brija would be drinking a tall strawberry rum mixed drink, with crushed ice,sugar syrup, lime juice, grated nutmeg & angostura bitters. Glasses... It all depends on the drink I will be drinking or serving, but for sipping, comparing, discussing, and trying a new rum;...I have twelve glasses at home that are 'scotch nosing glasses'- they consist of thin clear glass with a short stem, a tulip bottom (like a snifter), tapering up to a straight cylinder (1.25"dia at the top to allow for aromas and noses). The whole glass is 5.24" high. the glass also comes with a small lid, which is supossed to keep in the aromas while you try the next glass. This is a great glass for swirling to release its aromas and to contain the fumes that can be 'nosed' to the best effect.. this sort of glass also is good to check the 'legs' or viscosity of the spirit in the glass. With the short stem to the glass, one can either hold the glass with out warming it.Or one can hold it to warm and release the fumes, either way is convenient. I do not think a thick cut glass glass is as versitile for warming, checking colour & clarity or legs. Simplicity is often best Other than the previously mentioned variations of glasses, depending on the drink its to contain. I also,have twelve glasses that I keep in a padded wooden box with a shoulder strap, that I will carry with me to different boats when I go visiting and rum tasting. They are stemless, thick bottomed, like an oversized shot glass with a trumpet shape, starting at the bottom- 1.5"dia, 3"high, 2"dia, at the top, where the glass is only regular thickness of a glass. These are also very comfortable to hold in the hand. I find they are very convenient for storage in a box, do not fall over on a boat, and large enough to just swirl or to take a small 'ti-punch', or just with a squeese of fresh lime juice. So these are my glasses, but its consistency that matters, when tasting & comparing various spirits to have the same glass, what ever the glass!. Have you ever noticed that Designers of spirit bottles change the diameter of bottles so that you are always looking through a different thickness of alcohol. This can make a dark rum look amber and a gold/amber rum look darker. I will hold a bottle up to the light, tip it side ways to fill the top of the neck, just below the neck foil. This is where all bottles are the most consistently similar and the true colour, clarity & viscosity can be considered. All before one has bought the bottle or left the liquor store. Same with glasses be consistent, at the time of serving serve in identical glasses. Which ever glasses you use. Hope this was helpfull. John -The Rum Searcher

Just stopped by to read your interesting coments from both of you , will comment later. Also will coment on what glasses I use. In the mean time look over in "wine and beer" you will find some interesting threads on glasses . sorry got to go. John Reekie.

Kristian .... You must have opened your half bottle of Kaniche Guadeloupe by now and have decided what gualities it has. Please let us all know how you liked it.As far as your better half is concerned as to liking rum, try mixing up a simple sweet fruity drink with rum and if she likes it try the identical drink but with a very dfferent rum as a comparison. Then try another sweat drink with the same rums but without the fruit juice, masking the flavours of the rum. In time she will enjoy rums like you do and you will have lots to discuss together. If She still does not enjoy mixed rum drinks, you will have, when you drink all thoes mixed drinks that she did not want. Oh yes, the glasses I use I will get to that.--- Lets hear about the Kaniche.

Kristian...I have bought both Kaniches, The Martinique and the Guadeloupe. I find they are an interesting blend of French tradition, aged in cognac barrels, but designed for an English woody & fruity taste market. If they contain any pot still rum, who knows. If they are a blend of cane syrup, cane juice and or mollasses fermentations and distilling, we also do not know. If they were shipped to France in bulk for ageing in old cognac barrels, or aged/blended in the Islands, again we do not know. Some bottles labeled 'French Rum' can either be from French Islands, in The Caribbean, Indian or Pacific Oceans. They can also be a combination of these inported rums, into France the Country, blended /aged /then bottled, for export, in France and be called 'French Rums'- I do know we will see a lot more Designed Cliche Rums, like these, in the future.There are various rums climbing in popularity now that I believe, were market designed. and will gain their place in the stores. Enjoy the experience of slowly removing the cork wrapper. (if it was a vintage rum and French, there would be a date showing when the rum was bottled on this covering.)Easing out the cork with a gentle rocking/twisting motion, On removing the cork, sniff the aroma first in the bottle then in the glass after pouring. Some sailors will take the first pour of a bottle and pour it in the sea/river/lake/toasting the rum maker- family & friends- and of course -'Life'. Check its colour and clarity. What the viscosity is like in the glass. Enjoy the tasting, the delayed swallow, the breathing through the mouth and the quiet after taste. Followed by reconfirming and repeating the whole experience. Take a new glass, dust it off with a cloth, pour a small quantity of your last best rum, and repeat the whole exersise and compare the two rums. Enjoy your new and past rums!. I will finish what I have to say on glasses soon.

Kristian to continue. As Edd has said - on a boat a non stemmed glass with a wide heavy base (Tumbler) is most practical, also it has to be easier to store when sailing. Which only defines what Edd on Trident,His Boat (now in Grenada), finds best for himelf. But if in Northern Europe it might be that a thick short stemmed tulip, cut glass,(snifter) is the best glass for sipping rum. So its hard to generalise which glass is best, and there is no definitive answer to your guestion, except enjoy. To plagiaize Edd's rum quotation -"The best GLASS FOR RUM is the one containing rum , that is in your hand". It also depends on how one is enjoying rum, from straight sipping up to 16oz hurricane rum punches. Although the amount of alcohol does not change much, only the quantity of ice and mixes increase. So the glass requirements change accordingly. And the glasses I use, for sipping rum. -I will let you know more tomorrow.

If its a tumbler or a snifter, -it only matters that you have similar glasses and not mix glasses ( I have a set of twelve glasses, enough for my friends when we sit down to try different rums (( a lot of rums- no freinds or a lot of friends not many rums)).. When compairing one rum to another its using glasses that are similar so that the nose, the legs, the colour, are all compaired with the same standards.Visual and smell, after that its all in the mouth and the glass does not matter any more. Other than reconfirming what one has already experienced. With regards to cut glass glasses. This stems from a time when glass was just 'thick'and not very clear. So to disguise the glass decorative cutting became popular. Spirits were also not well filtered and the cut glass designs added a sparkle and hid the cloudy spirit.

Yes there was a few mistakes in my reply to "Rum tasting in Toronto"- But I was so excited to find Edd Hamilton's site. Yes Bolands information in E.H.s book was totaly correct, I took a group for a walk from Jolly Harbour with the promise that this was going to be a rum experience. What I had not mentioned to my Post Office management friends was that we were going to the Post Office for Rum!. what a suprise, the photographs show some prize purchases with the Bolands Post Office sign behind them. Callwood of Cane Garden Bay, Tortola -I had to look at the bottle! To check the spelling, then I found a fantastic article by the BVI Tourist Board in a back copy of "BVI Welcome", their magazine. The web site is- www.bviwelcome.com search- articles/rum for a four page artical about the Callwood family history and distillery myths etc. The photo of the Still, was prior to hurricanes Luis and Maralyn going through the islands. So when I was there a year later the Still was down and the area totaly over grown. But typical of caribbean the undergrouth could be quickly cleared and the Still could be patched with clay. What I would like to find out has anybody been there recently and is the Still back in use, or are they buying run offshore and aging and blending only. John Reekie always rum searching.

joy Lewis, I did not check out my responce for the web site I gave, but its Luis Ayala's site- www.rumshop.net The new November, Rumshop Newsletter is now published look for page 7. or scroll through index for 'News" - 'Cane & Cask'. Hope you can find it .I will be there!. John Reekie.

The sale is not complete as yet. As "The Canadian Competition Bureau clears Pernod Ricard's acquisition of Seagram". 23 October 2001 ---"After the FTC decision, Pernod Ricard still confident in the completion of the Seagram deal". Two other Press releases--- London/Paris.Reuters- "Diageo would offer Malibu to save deal"---Washington.AP-" FTC to block Seagram deal". I am just using the titles, as each one is a page long. but the meaning is relevent. The FTC voted 5-0 to ask a federal judge to grant a preliminary injunction that would prevent the sale going through. The concern, creating "a dangerous likelihood of reducing competition and higher prices". They all hope to wrap things up by the new year, at which time we will find out what they intend to sell off and what brands will fall. I am interested to find out what Distilleries/brands Seagrams had under its wing,(12-15 WI distilleries) some were by ownership and others were as brand distribution agents. References: www.pernod-ricard.com/archive www.news.excite.com /business-food-seagram-diageo www.news.excite.com /seagrans-liquors-sale see also: www.vivendiuniversal.com (Seagrams) www.diadeo.com (Pernod Ricard's joint partner) John Reekie jr_rumsearching@hotmail.com

References not shown!. I hate reading something, with a reference to other material, only to find that the actual reference was not included.-- The "Wine Enthusiast Magazine" connection is www.winemag.com Look for issues of --May 2000(5pages) and August 2001(8pages).

CUBA LIBRE! CUBA LIBRE! Shouted the barman in the old American Bar on Calle Neptuna in Habana in August 1898. This was at the end of the Spanish American War when America, on the side of Cuba, helped them gain independence from Spain. So the story unfolds.-- This was after an American Lieutenant ordered "a tot of Bacardi rum". (He might have been ordering an ordinary tot of rum, or any other Cuban name brands, we do not know, but the story goes that it was Bacardi.) In the same bar, the story goes on, some other Americans Officers were drinking the new syrup & soda drink, named Coca-Cola. (I find it hard to believe they were drinking Coke by itself, for in thoes days the U.S.Navy was still "wet" up untill 1910. Why would sailors on shore leave go into a Cuban bar to drink Coca-Cola by its self! The Lieutenant mixed his rum with some coke and the first "RUM AND COKE was made!.(or was it the first BACARDI AND COKE). The Barman shouted "CUBA LIBRE" in a form of a toast and the Americans thought it was the name of the drink!...Well so the story goes, as told by "Rum, yesterday & today", by Bacardi in their various ads in the 1960's and in "Family Spirits" the Bacardi Saga by Peter Foster. In the mid 60's Bacardi approched Coca-Cola about a joint venture in marketing of Bacardi and Coke but was playing down the Cuba Libre side as the drink was called since the turn of the century. Castro's revolution of 1959 had seen Bacardi leave Cuba and the Americans were no longer on good terms with the new Cuban government. The first Ad appeared May 1966 in Life magazine "Things go better with Coke". Family Spirits say the story in the ad was different-- " It was a U.S.cavalry sargent , pouring from a bottle of Bacardi into a civilians glass of Coke" beneath the photo the caption reads --"so thats how RUM AND COKE was invented the photo and ad shows no reference to Cuba or the date and the uniforms are non discript. End of Story. 1862 Bacardi established -Santiago, Cuba. 1886 Coke invented -Atlanta, U.S.A. 1891 Coca-Cola trademarked-Atlanta, U.S.A. 1895 Spanish American War - Cuba. 1910 Cuba Libre invented -Habana, Cuba. 1943 Lord Invader in Trinidad writes the calypso "RUM AND COCA-COLA". 1959 Cuban Revolution - Bacardi leaves Cuba. 1966 "Bacardi and Coke" advertisment appears in Life Magazine May 20th. So the Story goes.--And at the tender age of eight I was baptised to the delights and horrors of Rum and Coke, in Barbados, when I arrived home on a Sunday after noon, Drunk!.-- But that's another story!!. ref: "Family Spirits" The Bacardi Saga, by Peter Foster, 1990. Published by MacFarlane Walter & Ross Toronto, Canada. ISBN 0-921912-02-1. "Rum,Yesterday and Today". "The Spirit of the Bat", By Alejandro Benes,1999. www.cigaraficionado.com/drinks/spirits Also this site has four other good articals on rum. The Sister publication -Wine Enthusiast Magazine also has some Rum articals. JOHN REEKIE jr_rumsearching@hotmail.com

This is RUM SEARCHER, after my writing yesterday,I did some research and will answer some of my own questions. I mentioned that I had not read any "CLASSIC RUM" lables, which made me think of 'Petr's Pages. (www.rum.cz) Here I found ten "CLASSIC RUM" lables,which on reading gave a lot of information. Yes they come from United Kingdom,but from what city?. Yes they are distilled rums from various Caribbean islands and countries. There is one Guyana+Guadeloupe blend, one Trinadadian rum, one Bajan rum, two Jamacian rums, & four from Demerara in Guyana rums. Eight of these rums claim to be from single stills, (three of them are distilleries that Cadenheads in Scotland use) Most are 46%abv, aged 10-23yrs, all in 70.cl bottles. I would like E.H. to comment on the claim that these come from individual stills or estates, is this true. The lables also claim that - " Selected and bottled from the wood by Bristol Spirits Ltd"- Well the first part is true of any rum that I know! But it does not say where it is aged, one persumes in place of origin. If it was transported in wood or stainless steel, I persume in large stainless steel shipping tanker containers. If further aging or finishing or marrage blending took place in wood before bottling, I do not know. Or were they aged/blended/etc/and bottled in there place of origin. I still have not learned if Bristol Spirits come from Bristol, E.H. any clue on this or who is importing/distributing in the States. Anybody who has the Peters Pages CD of rum lables might be able to read the fine print and history of the rums and to see where Bristol Spirits Ltd are located. JOHN REEKIE

New names on the market, -MONYMUSK 8yr. -PORT MORANT 10yr. & 18yr. -ROCKLEY STILL 13yr. -VERSAILLES 15yr. All rums under the label "Classic Rums" by Bristol Spirits?.By the Names I would guess that there are three Jamaican rums,one Barbados rum and a french island rum. Who are Bristol Spirits? What is the story of their rums? A new company from Bristol England, maybe part of Harveys Sherry, who have vast cellers in the docklands of Bristol and are utilising their great tradition of importing/ aging/ blending/ bottling/ distributing/ marketing. Could it be another British importing company that has had a long tradition of spirits,Liverpool or London. Are they Scotish aged rums like a "Cadenhead" or "Gordon & McPhail"? Is it a company in the States, buying and marketing, aged rums directly from various Caribbean distillers. Purchasing in the barrel or in the bottle. I have not seen a bottle yet so have not read any lables, nor do I know who the agents are. I do know they are available through www.internetwines.com . Our Liquor Control Board of Ontario (L.C.B.O.) is not an open market so I doubt we will see any "Classic Rums" in Toronto. Maybe, with luck I will find them at the Toronto "Cane & Cask" rum show in November. John Reekie

HAVANA CLUB Trademark Case . The World Trade Organization Ruling!. Look up- www.Findarticles.com Food & Drink Weekly August 13, 2001. This one page article by Food & Drink Weekly explaines a lot.

I am still looking up some facinating facts on Cuba Libre, will reply soon.

Appleton Estate 21 Year Old. -Sighted in various locations! It has even got to Ontario ,Canada, this last summer. This is a wonderful blenders/aging art of the rum industry. For you rum lovers in the States I found this letter re marketing & distribution, which announced that Brown-Forman Corporation is now the agents for Appletons, Coruba, and Wray & Nephew in the U.S. For ref click -www.findarticles.com (follow) Food & Drink Weekly - Sept 10th,2001. This should help distribution and make it easier to find. Good Searching. John Reekie jr_rumsearching@hotmail.com

The trend, and delight, for ever older and older rums has become a distillers market. In Scotland it is said that they could never run out of aged scotch. Is this true in the Caribbean. Some rum distillers might have a few thousand barrels of old rum. But with "The Angels Share", each year this keeps on evaporating, while it matures into even better reserve rums. An artical in a Trinidad paper By Raffique Shah "Caroni's aged rum stock valued at up to T&T Ů billion." Printed Sept 24, 2000. Raffique points out that only 20% comes from old stock mixed with new alcohol. Followed by being cut with distilled water so that only 4% of old stock is actualy in a bottle of old rum. What ever it claims to be -5yr,-8yr,-15yr,-21yr,-etc, is the quantity of old rum in a blend actually less as the claimed bottle age incresses?. Also why can some distillers/bottlers claim that their rums contain rums -"up to 8yrs old"- while others clain that the -"youngest rum in blend could be 8yrs old"?. Like Scotch its time we had a standard in the Rum Industry to promote the product honestly in an international market. For Raffique Shah: look up www.trincenter.com/Raffique/Sept/caroni. I look foward to your coments as I go home to sip a 21yr old from Jamaica. John Reekie jr_ rumsearching@hotmail.com

E.H.-- Having read from your Ministry of Rum Site that you were involved as a technical advisor for the Swedish, Matine Productions in their soon to be released video documentary -"The Story of Rum". I would like to know when it is to be released, how it is to be distributed, ie through your Yahoo shop web site; and what it is going to cost. Hope you can let us all know how this adventure turned out.

"RUM AND COCA-COLA"..... "CUBA LIBRE" (also known as Bacardi & Coke) Come from two different Islands! Come from two time periods! Have two totaly different back grounds! Only conection is RUM + COCA COLA. I have not looked up all my reference but will be glad to get back to this site later. But take RUM AND COCA-COLA, In Trinidad the during the last War, The American forces with 'Land Lease" ( where the British Goverment gave in each colonial island long lease arangements for US Bases in exchange for Food and Arms/planes/ships etc) The Coca-Cola Company had a contract that allowed them sole distribution of Coke, and to get the conract Coca-Cola agreed that Coke would be available to any front line personel within twenty four hours, so Coke was bottled all over the world during the war. Unlike the British and other navies/forces, the Americans forces had been dry for approx twenty years. So here was the Americans in Trinidad, on leave,looking for R&R and finding they had the Coke and the Trinadians had the girls and the Rum. The Calipso was writen by Lord Invader using an old tune from Martinique,"L'Annee Passe". Morey Amsterdam was stationed in Trinidad in 1943, and had heard it there. On returning to America, he rewrote the song and had it performed by the Andrew Sisters to become one of the wars great raly songs. Lord Invader then sued M.A. and the Andrew Sisters and years later won the plagiarism case. For more details see "CALYPSO CALALOO-Early Carnival Music in Trinidad" by Donald Hills, University Press of Florida ,1993. pages 234-240 Cuba Libre is another story invented in Cuba approx eighteen years later, which I will get to on another day . John Reekie jr- rumsearching@hotmail.com

This is a wonderfull suprise. First I find Edward Hamiltons forum (from a link at his home site,MINISTRY OF RUM, that I read as often as I can. But I also find this fantastic forum "eGullet.com", with wonderfull conversations on rum. I will be replying to some of the questions in due course. My biggest suprise ,following a scroll to the bottom of the page, was to find a RUM TASTING IN TORONTO.(Ontario,Canada) Which happens to be my home town. I have talked to the organisers of the upcoming "CANE & CASK" rum tasting show,see Luis Ayala's page at http://www.rumshop.net/canecask. for details of dates/times/prices/location/contact & numbers. I am looking forward to meeting Edward at this show having enjoyed, learned and experienced many (some!) of his haunts, like a walk to Bollands Post Office, Antigua. Or a taxi ride to Westerhall, Grenada. Or a walk along Cane Garden Bay beach to Calwells Distillery (I believe no longer Distilling but- just blending/bottling from Coroni.(T&T). I have a lot to say about this form of Tasting and feel that The distillers/distribution agents and our Ontario Liquor Board ( Who controls Distribution/ Public sales,hospitality sales/all pricing and what can be carried or not.) have to carry the costs for putting on a show like this and not the public. Except in this case the public is asked to pay the majority of the entrance fee while the trade only pays a less than a third. Also its the public who will be buying the drinks eventualy, and turning the profits back in to the agents,distillers and the L.C.B.O. Also The Rum drinking public in Canada are quite well educated and usualy tell the barmen what the would like only to be told "never heard of that, its not available." I spent three wonderfull nights at the bar at Hotel 1829, in StThomas where I found FIFTEEN Premium Sipping rums to sample and do my own rum tasting with the hotel owner. If I went to any bar or restaurant in Toronto I would only find 2 bar rums, 3 backshelf rums and maybe, if lucky an uppershelf rum. So I am looking forward to this Rum Tasting with the hope that the restaurant industry and the L.C.B.O. learn about the wonders of rum. Looking forward to meeting you Edward. John Reekie jr_rumsearching@hotmail.com