Comments on: Visiting Brugal http://rumdood.com/2009/11/09/visiting-brugal/ Rum, Cocktails, & Mixology Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:01:32 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Arctic Wolf http://rumdood.com/2009/11/09/visiting-brugal/comment-page-1/#comment-2174 Arctic Wolf Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:11:16 +0000 http://rumdood.com/?p=406#comment-2174 Thanks Matt. Your information is in line which what my sources have told me. I also know that the importer I have been talking to is not all that credible, which is in a way, far more important information. Great work! Thanks Matt.

Your information is in line which what my sources have told me. I also know that the importer I have been talking to is not all that credible, which is in a way, far more important information.

Great work!

]]> By: Matt Robold http://rumdood.com/2009/11/09/visiting-brugal/comment-page-1/#comment-2158 Matt Robold Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:36:43 +0000 http://rumdood.com/?p=406#comment-2158 Adam: Thanks for the info. This is something I'll definitely be looking into and covering in the future. Yoav: Don't hate me because I'm awesome. Well, actually, that's a pretty good reason. Go right on ahead. ;) Arctic Wolf: Matusalem is not distilled by Brugal. In fact one of the Brugal execs from Spain mentioned that he had just barely heard of Matusalem the week before I got there. Matusalem's country of origin is a bit hazy. My understanding is that it is distilled in the Free Trade zone and not in the DR proper, though these sorts of distinctions can get a bit confusing. At the moment I believe only Brugal and Barcelo have distillation operations working outside of the FTZs in the Dominican Republic - and I'm not 100% sure on Barcelo. Adam: Thanks for the info. This is something I’ll definitely be looking into and covering in the future.

Yoav: Don’t hate me because I’m awesome. Well, actually, that’s a pretty good reason. Go right on ahead. ;)

Arctic Wolf: Matusalem is not distilled by Brugal. In fact one of the Brugal execs from Spain mentioned that he had just barely heard of Matusalem the week before I got there. Matusalem’s country of origin is a bit hazy. My understanding is that it is distilled in the Free Trade zone and not in the DR proper, though these sorts of distinctions can get a bit confusing. At the moment I believe only Brugal and Barcelo have distillation operations working outside of the FTZs in the Dominican Republic – and I’m not 100% sure on Barcelo.

]]> By: forrest http://rumdood.com/2009/11/09/visiting-brugal/comment-page-1/#comment-2157 forrest Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:27:28 +0000 http://rumdood.com/?p=406#comment-2157 Awesome article-- think i'll pick some Brugal up and re-read it--it'll be like being there... Awesome article– think i’ll pick some Brugal up and re-read it–it’ll be like being there…

]]> By: Kevin (Cocktail Enthusiast) http://rumdood.com/2009/11/09/visiting-brugal/comment-page-1/#comment-2142 Kevin (Cocktail Enthusiast) Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:54:10 +0000 http://rumdood.com/?p=406#comment-2142 Sounds like an amazing experience. I'm a fan of Brugal and am glad to see some distribution in the states. The Extra Viejo is a great deal for a very decent, versatile rum. Sounds like an amazing experience. I’m a fan of Brugal and am glad to see some distribution in the states. The Extra Viejo is a great deal for a very decent, versatile rum.

]]> By: Arctic Wolf http://rumdood.com/2009/11/09/visiting-brugal/comment-page-1/#comment-2140 Arctic Wolf Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:46:34 +0000 http://rumdood.com/?p=406#comment-2140 Hi Matt Great article. I was recently talking to an importer in my area who is planning to bring in some Brugal. He makes the claim that Brugal makes the rum used by Matusalem in their three products, Platino, Classico, and Gran reserva. I noticed in your Gran Reserva review that you seem to confirm that the Matusalem is made from rum actually distilled in the Dominican. My sources however seem to point in a slightly different direction. I have been led to believe by credible sources that Matusalem is actually a mix of off island rums which are blended in the Dominican free trade zone so it may be technically called "Dominican" but really isn't. Since you were there talking with the Brugal people, maybe you can clarify for me whether they are the distillers of the rums which go into Matusalem, or whether my credible friend is on to something. Hi Matt
Great article. I was recently talking to an importer in my area who is planning to bring in some Brugal. He makes the claim that Brugal makes the rum used by Matusalem in their three products, Platino, Classico, and Gran reserva. I noticed in your Gran Reserva review that you seem to confirm that the Matusalem is made from rum actually distilled in the Dominican. My sources however seem to point in a slightly different direction. I have been led to believe by credible sources that Matusalem is actually a mix of off island rums which are blended in the Dominican free trade zone so it may be technically called “Dominican” but really isn’t. Since you were there talking with the Brugal people, maybe you can clarify for me whether they are the distillers of the rums which go into Matusalem, or whether my credible friend is on to something.

]]> By: Yoav http://rumdood.com/2009/11/09/visiting-brugal/comment-page-1/#comment-2132 Yoav Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:42:20 +0000 http://rumdood.com/?p=406#comment-2132 How do we know you were really there? Not a single photo of you in the DR! Really! I know stock photography when I see it. Now fess up! How do we know you were really there? Not a single photo of you in the DR! Really!
I know stock photography when I see it. Now fess up!

]]> By: Adam http://rumdood.com/2009/11/09/visiting-brugal/comment-page-1/#comment-2118 Adam Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:03:41 +0000 http://rumdood.com/?p=406#comment-2118 Cool, thanks Matt. While I'm usually all in favor of using local sources, the situation with the cane plantations in the DR is really terrible. Brugal makes a great product -- it would be awesome if they would step forward and do something proactive about the plight of the workers. (Check out <i>The Price of Sugar</i> for more details; <a href="http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/09/28/movies/28suga.html" rel="nofollow">good NYT review here</a>. Cool, thanks Matt. While I’m usually all in favor of using local sources, the situation with the cane plantations in the DR is really terrible. Brugal makes a great product — it would be awesome if they would step forward and do something proactive about the plight of the workers. (Check out The Price of Sugar for more details; good NYT review here.

]]> By: Steven http://rumdood.com/2009/11/09/visiting-brugal/comment-page-1/#comment-2109 Steven Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:21:39 +0000 http://rumdood.com/?p=406#comment-2109 Hi Matt, Oh yes, what a wonderful relaxing vacation I had in the DR back in 95. Drank Brugal rum cocktails the whole time, even see it now on the local store shelves here in upstate NY. Thanks for bringing back such fond memories! Hi Matt,
Oh yes, what a wonderful relaxing vacation I had in the DR back in 95. Drank Brugal rum cocktails the whole time, even see it now on the local store shelves here in upstate NY.
Thanks for bringing back such fond memories!

]]> By: Karen http://rumdood.com/2009/11/09/visiting-brugal/comment-page-1/#comment-2093 Karen Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:35:46 +0000 http://rumdood.com/?p=406#comment-2093 Bravo Matt! Bravo Matt!

]]> By: Matt Robold http://rumdood.com/2009/11/09/visiting-brugal/comment-page-1/#comment-2062 Matt Robold Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:05:11 +0000 http://rumdood.com/?p=406#comment-2062 The sugar trade, itself, wasn't really discussed while we were there beyond the fact that Brugal's molasses is all made from Dominican sugar cane. The manufacture using only local sugar sources is somewhat rare in the rum trade. But to your question, no, they didn't go into any detail about the sugar trade. The sugar trade, itself, wasn’t really discussed while we were there beyond the fact that Brugal’s molasses is all made from Dominican sugar cane. The manufacture using only local sugar sources is somewhat rare in the rum trade. But to your question, no, they didn’t go into any detail about the sugar trade.

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