Upcoming US Rum Releases of Interest — April 2024

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Here’s a new list of upcoming rum releases for the US market compiled from TTB label certifications approved in March 2024. These are only label approvals recorded at the US TTB, so none of these are likely to be available yet and it’s anyone’s guess when they might appear in stores.

This doesn’t include every rum label approval, I’ve tried to triage the approvals to the brands that people would recognize, while also including other labels that might be interesting and excluding spiced/flavored products and most cachacas.

The TTB approved 86 rum labels in total this month, 21 are covered here (22 if you count releases with less than 1% ABV).

Continue reading “Upcoming US Rum Releases of Interest — April 2024” →

Upcoming US Rum Releases of Interest — March 2024

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Better late than never, right? Apologies for how late this is. The April report will follow soon after this in a separate post.

Here’s a new list of upcoming rum releases for the US market compiled from TTB label certifications approved in February 2024. These are only label approvals recorded at the US TTB, so none of these are likely to be available yet and it’s anyone’s guess when they might appear in stores.

This doesn’t include every rum label approval, I’ve tried to triage the approvals to the brands that people would recognize, while also including other labels that might be interesting and excluding spiced/flavored products and most cachacas.

The TTB approved 68 rum labels in total this month, 26 are covered here (33 if you count the re-approved remaining Hampden Estate 8 Marks Set labels).

Continue reading “Upcoming US Rum Releases of Interest — March 2024” →

A guide to 2024 Texas Rum Festival after-show events

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If you’re going to be at the Texas Rum Festival this weekend, here’s a quick guide to events happening outside of the main show. These are events that are sponsored by brands or bars and aren’t part of the official show agenda. Some require reservations or the purchase of a ticket, I’ve provided links to registration sites.

Continue reading “A guide to 2024 Texas Rum Festival after-show events” →

First location of new Don the Beachcomber chain opens in Tampa Bay area

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The long-awaited opening of the first new Don the Beachcomber restaurant has happened. Polynesian/Tiki aficionados can now visit the Madeira Beach location as of Friday, 23 February.

It’s located at 15015 Madeira Way, Suite 100, Madeira Beach, FL and is open seven days a week (11-11 Sun-Wed, 11-1am Thu-Sat). Their number is (727) 870-8454 and seating is first come, first served — they’re not taking reservations.

Atomic Grog has great coverage here including photos and menu details.

Marie King, beverage director for Don the Beachcomber, was part of a DtB preview at Inuhele in Atlanta in January. She served Missionary’s Downfall cocktails while other DtB team members sold branded T-shirts and very cool tiki mugs made by Eekum Bookum.

House bars in Michigan

~ Robbie ~ 1 Comment

It’s legal, at least in some Michigan cities, to operate a bar out of your home. I need to do some more reading on this, but I wanted to share this video from three years ago about Frank’s Cafe in Wyandotte, MI.

WXYZ TV news story from 13 Mar 2020 on Frank’s Bar in Wyandotte MI

There’s an article in a local newspapar about it as well. I remember seeing a bar like this on a business trip once, I think it might have been outside Baltimore, MD. That bar was in the basement of a house, but it had also been around for decades and had a lot of character.

Updates: Foursquare and Renaissance releases, Hampden Estate Great House components

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Recent updates in the reference section of this site:

A guide to 2024 Miami Rum Congress after-show events

~ Robbie ~ Leave a comment

If you’re going to be at the Miami Rum Congress this week(end), here’s a quick guide to events happening outside of the main show. These are events that are sponsored by brands or bars and aren’t part of the official show agenda. Some require reservations or the purchase of a ticket, I’ve provided links to registration sites.

Continue reading “A guide to 2024 Miami Rum Congress after-show events” →

Two new episodes of Whiskey Lore correct pervasive bourbon myths

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Drew Hannush’s podcast Whiskey Lore has two interesting new episodes that whiskey history lovers will enjoy. Both poke holes in pervasive myths in the bourbon world: Did Colonel E.H. Taylor have anything to do with the creation and passage of the Bottled in Bond act? And did American cooperage interests push the government into requiring that bourbon be aged in new oak? Hannush found evidence (or actually lack of it) for these claims while researching his new book on Tennessee whiskey history.

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Upcoming US Rum Releases of Interest — February 2024

~ Robbie ~ 1 Comment

Here’s a new list of upcoming rum releases for the US market compiled from TTB label certifications approved in January 2024. These are only label approvals recorded at the US TTB, so none of these are likely to be available yet and it’s anyone’s guess when they might appear in stores.

This doesn’t include every rum label approval, I’ve tried to triage the approvals to the brands that people would recognize, while also including other labels that might be interesting and excluding spiced/flavored products and most cachacas.

The TTB approved 90 rum labels in total this month, 31 are covered here.

Continue reading “Upcoming US Rum Releases of Interest — February 2024” →