Rum

A New System For Rating Rums – Part 1

Is one 4-star rum always as good as another 4-star rum? How much better is a 5-star rum than a 4-star rum? Really, what’s the mathematical value of these stars or barrel or toenail clippings that we reviewers like to use for saying something is good or bad or average, anyway? This is a problem [...]

Filed Under: Rum, Rum Reviews

Pagan Holiday

I have a thing for Thai food. I love the mixture of flavors like basil with spice and cooked fruit. One of my favorite Mojito riffs is to make one with Stiggins Pineapple Rum and basil instead of white rum and mint. It’s delicious. You should try it. So when I needed a recipe for [...]

Filed Under: Cocktail Recipes, Rum

Le Latin

In the Craft Cocktail world, bartenders tend to be creative types. They work hard to build style that is fast, efficient, and pleasant to watch. They work tirelessly on perfecting technique while memorizing hundreds of recipes filled with esoteric ingredients from around the world, and – ultimately – they desire to create a cocktail of their own [...]

Filed Under: Cocktail Recipes, Rum

Lost Spirits Cuban Inspired 151

There are probably some of you asking what the heck I’m doing reviewing a 151. “Isn’t that just drunk juice? Who cares how it tastes?” Bryan Davis at Lost Spirits Distillery has a thing or two to say about that concept though. Here he has carefully crafted a spirit that is more than what most [...]

Filed Under: Rum, Rum Reviews

Tiki Night @ 320 – The Re-Re-Re-Re-Tikiing

I could write a lot about it, or just post this… That’s right. The Earth has completed yet another circle around the Sun God and he demands his offerings of fruit juices and rum. This year we’re doing it more OC style with myself, Kelly Merrell from Trader Sam’s, Michelle Bearden from 320 Main (who [...]

Filed Under: Rum

Pele’s Peak

Piña Coladas are delicious, but boring. Painkillers are far more interesting, but also far more likely to get you into legal troubles. The Pele’s Peak, however, is only likely to get you to order another one. * image courtesy ThirstyInLA.com In 2013, 320 Main had its annual summer Tiki Night. To make things more interesting, [...]

Filed Under: Cocktail Recipes, Rum

Listen To Me Talk Tiki On KCRW

Not too long ago I was asked to stop by local NPR affiliate, KCRW to talk with Evan Kleiman on her show, Good Food about Tiki drinks and rum. I think I only mentioned Jeff “Beachbum” Berry two or three times, and to be honest, the entire interview should have been little more than me [...]

Filed Under: Rum