Witch's Rock Costa Rican Rum

[rumdog007]

I just got a bottle of Witch's Rock white rum. It is triple distilled and, by taste, part of the growing trend towards a neutral spirit. It sells for $15 a 750ml bottle at Bevmo in SoCal as an introduction, special price. It played well with lime, mint and simple syrup for a very agreeable mojito after an extended neat tasting session.

[Edward Hamilton]

I would disagree that there is a growing trend toward neutral spirits. Ten years ago a few companies promoted rums which were distilled three, four or more times in such cutting edge cocktails as the famous 'Rumtini,' which lasted about as long as a bottle of rum at a sailor's party.

In the last few years, more new rums have come to the market that actually taste like rum than those that are simply highly distilled sugar cane spirits. Not to mention the growth of rhum agricole which, although one company touts their famous? rumtini which I've never seen on any menu in the French West Indies, is hardly a neutral spirit.

The vodka segment of the alcoholic beverage industry is growing, fueled by multi-million dollar marketing campaigns, but the interest in bourbon, tequila, whiskey, gin and rum indicates that the trend isn't toward highly distilled neutral spirits but toward well-crafted spirits that deliver quality flavor.

And then there's Absinthe, hardly a neutral spirit, which doesn't look like it's going to go away any time soon.

Even the vodka segment of the spirit industry isn't happy being neutral. What, vodka isn't a neutral spirit? How can that be? Well, just look at the number of flavored spirits on any spirits shelf claiming to be, well, vodka. Even Trump vodka, following the unprecedented success of the initial neutral offering, will soon be available in several natural flavors.

[Tiare]

the interest in bourbon, tequila, whiskey, gin and rum indicates that the trend isn't toward highly distilled neutral spirits but toward well-crafted spirits that deliver quality flavor.



Thank God there is an interest for well-crafted sprits that`s got body and quality flavor ;)

[Dood]

I have to agree with Ed. I think the vodkization of spirits is finally falling out of favor. It's been a long run here in the States, but I do believe that more people are seeking out more fully-flavored liquors as the culture here is moving in a more general direction away from the "white bread world" that was so popular for so long.

It's an exciting time to be a spirits enthusiast!

[Rum Runner]

I would agree that the trend toward "bland is better" is not growing, and has probably matured (so to speak). I think that may account for the explosion of the"flavor me anything" trend that is in full swing.

Whilst the "niche" market for "artisanal" high quality spirits with flavor continues to grow and be strong, It remains shadowed by the "Great White". No harm, No foul there. It's just the way it is.

Some of the market consumers drawn in by flavor will continue to be curious and evolve into new experiences (we hope). Other consumers will achieve what I affectionately term as the "White Zinfandel Status". No harm, No foul there also.

I think the best thing is that those producers who choose to produce high quality products with "soul" and consumers who appreciate them, are seeing a resurgence and market for such products that have long laid dormant to a discerning palate.

[rumdog007]

Your point taken. Did not imply that the trend was in any way dominant in the market, or, in fact the only growth segment. I am sure that this blip on the radar is just that, a blip. Just meant that these past few years are the first times which I had noticed spirits other than vodka marketing rum (Bambu, Witch's Rock), some tequilas, and a few other aged spirits for their "cleaness", number of distillations, and lack of aftertaste as the dominant taglines in their marketing literature rather than character of taste. As a bourbon and gin lover, too, I am awed by the growth of selection. My buddy has quadrupled his scotch collection and is swamped by the number of labels he has yet to try. Being new to the rum scene, I missed the Rumtini trend, thank God, which you mentioned, Ed.

[Rum Runner]

Well said Rumdog.

[Edward Hamilton]

While there are more quality spirits coming, and remaining, in the market, we all have to thank the internet for the ability to find them and for the marketers and retailers to get them to us. The thread about St Vincent Extra Gold (http://ministryofrum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=641) rum is a good example of how things are changing in the spirits world.

The internet is also allowing consumers to become better informed which can only mean that they will become better consumers.

[rumdog007]

Last year, I bought a bottle of the Sunset Gold at the Beverage Warehouse in LA, CA just to try it. I was pleasantly surprised by its smoothness and genuine taste attesting to the lack of caramel to achieve its color. I went back and got the other 3 bottles which they had in stock. I've drunk this rum neat or on the rocks on many occasions. It makes a very slick substitute for any tiki drink calling for a gold rum. It has a strong enough character to hold its own in any drink which I have shaken. I will be looking forward to the new source, Ed!

[RumBarPhilly]

Everything Ed said is true about people wanting a well crafted spirit over a neautral spirit.

However, I believe over 90% of the population is uneducated about liquor. All they know is whats being spoon-fed to them (Cosmos, Sour Apple Martinis, Bacardi Mojitos). And unfortunately due to this, my best selling rum BY FAR is bacardi; nearly 45% of all bottles purchased are Bacardi Superior. The Bambu sells very well too, since many guests ask for Grey Goose and whatever, and I am all about converting drinkers to the rum-side, even if it is from a rum that is TRYING to be a Grey Goose.

I did a blind taste-test of 6 whites a while back and I rated Ron Rio White (our well rum) higher than Bacardi. And unfortunately, until Jay Z raps about Oronoco, itll all be about Bacardi!

[primate77]

I did a blind taste-test of 6 whites a while back and I rated Ron Rio White (our well rum) higher than Bacardi. And unfortunately, until Jay Z raps about Oronoco, itll all be about Bacardi!


yyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeaaaahhhhhhhhh bbbbbooooooooooooyyyyyyyy!!!!

I'd like to see the statistics on what age bracket is consuming the bulk of the alcohol. I'm under the impression that the largest segment is probably the 24-32 crowd, and they're heavily swayed by marketing. Heavy marketing and a heavy push on the distributors of the "big brands" is what will dominate the shelves of the liquor bar in any restaurant and bar.

I'm been taking a good look at the contents of bars as of late, and I see TONS of SKYY vodka and Stoli vodka along with the obigatory bottles of Grey Goose and Kettle One thrown in. For rum, there's about three versions of Bacardi with Silver and 151 being prominent.

It's not what's "good" it's what is marketed well and sells, and what Mindy, the recent college grad with the $53,000 starting salary as an executive secretary with a cool little loft apartment downtown feels "cool" with having in her hand is what sells.

I was blown away last week when I was at a Carrabba's (chain Italian) restaurant, and they actually had MG Eclipse behind the bar as one of their primary rums. That really surprised me.

This whole experiene is really kind of "cool" for me. I'm in my early 40's and really haven't touched hard alcohol since college, 20+ years ago, and you can bet back then it was Bacardi and cheap mezcal, and Gordon's gin and Fleischman's vodka (in the nice big plastic bottle), and having this wonderful eye-opening experience of quality alcohol.

Ah the young will learn - they only need to age a bit!

[RumBarPhilly]

I went to a Cheeseburger in Paradise some months back (first off, it wasnt like the original in Hawaii I went to on my honeymoon, this one sucked), and ordered an Eclipse and Diet.

After taking the order, the server than came back and asked "What was that you wanted again?" So instead of saying Eclipse and Diet, I said Mt Gay Eclipse and diet. He then came back a third time with a diet coke and said "Im sorry, we dont have mt gay gay eclipse, all we have is mt gay" I told him to throw it in a shot glass and Ill toss it into my soda.

Restaurants are TRYING to improve their rum selection, but the proper training still lacks.

[bluewave6]

I went to the Cheese Burger In Paradise around where I work and was quite impressed with the rum selection. They had Barbancourt 8 yr and 15 yr, Cruzan Diamond and SB, Mt Gay XO and Appelton VX and Reserve just to name a few. This was the largest rum selection I have seen in a restraunt in my area. They appear to have a contract deal with Cruzan I am assuming since that was their "standard" mixing rum instead of the usual Bacardi.

[primate77]

bluewave... maybe bars in places (like inside mainstream restaurants) that dont have the expectations of drawing in the young and hip crowd would consider refocusing on better quality liquors for "more seasoned" patrons, who would be more interested in getting that MG and coke rather than the Bacardi and Coke, or maybe even a snifter of some MG XO or other "higher end" rum?

These restaurant bars would probably end up with a more profitable till at the end of the night perhaps?

I know I've been taking notice of what's behind the bar a lot more often lately, and it's often really geared to the twenty-something crowd (no offense to any one of you in that age bracket)!!!:) But the twenty-somethings aren't likely to select Carrabbas or Cheesburger in Paradise as their ultimate drinking destination, are they?

[KINGSTON]

One visit to Bacardi's Web Site and you can see they're after the 20-30 range (my generation).

[primate77]

Well - I guess yours is the age bracket with all the disposable income!!!

I've gotta think about putting shoes on my kids feet, paying for college tuition and a wedding one day, making the mortgage payment, fixing the car...

Why did I ever grow up and get married? It would all be so much simpler if I only could think of which rum to buy next!

[KINGSTON]

Morgage, two car payments, two kids and disposable income, SOME GUYS HAVE ALL THE LUCK!

[bluewave6]

Picked up a bottle (and drank it all) while visiting So Cal last week. The rum was quite smooth and had strong flavor of vanilla, but I would have to agree that it was quite neutral, the only way you could tell it was rum was when drinking it on the rock with lime and you could see the viscosity was thicker than Vodka, otherwise I probably could not tell the difference. Good buy for the price.

[bcarney]

I went to the Cheese Burger In Paradise around where I work and was quite impressed with the rum selection. They had Barbancourt 8 yr and 15 yr, Cruzan Diamond and SB, Mt Gay XO and Appelton VX and Reserve just to name a few. This was the largest rum selection I have seen in a restraunt in my area. They appear to have a contract deal with Cruzan I am assuming since that was their "standard" mixing rum instead of the usual Bacardi.

It was a very sad day in my household when the local Cheeseburger In Paradise closed their doors in February. It was the only restaurant (and I do mean ONLY) in my city of 120,000 people that served a relatively decent selection of rums. There was nothing better than a couple of their mini crab cakes for dinner followed by a Barbancourt 15. Or two.

The best part was that they actually listed them on their drink menu. I much prefer that over having to ask some barely 18 year old waiter/waitress what sort of rum selection a place has.

[bcarney]

I was blown away last week when I was at a Carrabba's (chain Italian) restaurant, and they actually had MG Eclipse behind the bar as one of their primary rums. That really surprised me.


Carraba's, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Outback, and one other big chain that I can't remember offhand are all owned by the same company, so it wouldn't surprise me if what you see in one place is available at another.

I'll have to check our Carraba's. Mt. Gay was the first rum I had that wasn't clear, flavored, or had a Captain on the label.

[RobertBurr]

yes, Kangaroo Holdings and Restaurant Partners also owns Flemings Prime Steakhouse and Roy's Hawaiian Fusion.

[Donut]

I admire the marketing verve of the people at Progressive Brands but Witches Rock rum is not Costa Rican. It might be made from Costa Rican sugar but I would highly doubt it.

I live in Costa Rica and know a bit about the industry here and.

This is just false advertising by them and we should not support this rum.

Thanks.

Daniel

[rumdog007]

Well, the boycott has worked! It's nowhere to be found anymore. BeMo sold the last of theirs 2 years ago at $6.99 a bottle. I believe their website is closed.