Rum Journal

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Rum Journal: A Haven for Rum (and Cigars) in the Bahamas

Above: a roller at Graycliff (All photos by CJ) This edition of Rum Journal heads to Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, for a voyage deep into the world of rum and cigars — two pleasures that frequently go hand in […]

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Rum Journal: A Refreshing Cocktail from Aruba's Bucuti & Tara

There’s nothing pleasant about “sand in your shorts” unless Marina Perez is mixing up a cocktail of the same name at Aruba’s Bucuti & Tara Beach Resorts. Originally created upon the request of an exceptionally sandy guest, fresh off of […]

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Rum Journal: Jamaica's Blackwell Rum

Rum and music are woven deeply into the fabric of Jamaican society. So it’s only natural that one of the country’s newest exports combines a strong tradition from both worlds. Jamaica’s Blackwell Rum is the brainchild of legendary reggae music […]

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Rum Journal: The Science and Art Behind Guatemala's Ron Zacapa

Above: Lorena Vasquez Making Guatemala’s Ron Zacapa 23 is as much a science as an art. And its story starts, naturally, with chemistry. Lorena Vasquez always had a gift for identifying aromas and flavours, even as a child. As she grew […]


Rum Journal: How Gosling's Rum, Born in Bermuda, Became a Legend

It’s called a “roof wetting.” Whenever the roof of a new building is completed in Bermuda, its owner holds a ceremony, and christens it. Only one thing is used to perform the ceremony, however: Gosling’s Rum. The history of Gosling’s […]


Rum Journal: From the Dominican Republic, a Rum With a Cuban Soul

Above: an advertisement for Matusalem from 1957 (Photo: Ron Matusalem) JUST 10 YEARS after Don Facundo Bacardi Masso began operations in Santiago de Cuba, Benjamin and Eduardo Camp, brothers from Spain, along with a third partner, Evaristo Alvarez, opened a […]

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Rum Journal: Trinidad's Zaya

This week’s Rum Journal takes a look at Zaya, an aged rum from Trinidad. Zaya Gran Reserva has had a rather varied history. It began life in Guatemala, distilled by Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala, where two rum standards, Ron Zacapa, […]


Rum Journal: A Fresh Take on Rum and Coconuts at Dominica's Rosalie Bay Resort

This week’s Rum Journal travels to the island of Dominica and the Rosalie Bay eco-luxury resort for a decidedly fresh take on a coconut rum cocktail. 21-year-old Dominica native Aziz Roberts has practiced his craft at the Rosalie Bay since […]


Rum Journal: Toasting Bacardi's Birthday

Above: a Bacardi ad from 1902 (Photo: Bacardi) Just like Haiti’s Barbancourt, which Rum Journal tasted last week, another major player in the rum world is celebrating its sesquicentennial. It was 1830 when Don Facundo Bacardi Massó, a wine merchant, […]

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Rum Journal: Haiti's Rhum Barbancourt

Above: Barbancourt’s distillery This week’s Rum Journal takes a look at the best-known rum out of Haiti, which is, in fact, a rhum. In the world of cane spirits, the letter “h” says a lot — signifying the difference between […]


Rum Journal: A Special Rum Cocktail from Grenada's Mount Cinnamon

This week’s Rum Journal travels to Grenada, the birthplace of a special rum cocktail. The Mount Cinnamon resort on Grand Anse Beach is the mixing studio of bartender Sheldon Vincent. Vincent, who began his career at La Dolce Vita restaurant […]


Rum Journal: A Conversation with Atlantico Rum’s Aleco Azqueta

The story of Ron Atlantico begins in the Dominican Republic. But even before that, it began at Georgetown University. It was there that co-founders Aleco Azqueta and Brandon Lieb were classmates, and soon after colleagues at Bacardi. Azqueta then went […]