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Rum of Biblical Proportions
A Pirate Looks at Flavor — and More
Pat Croce is famous for being passionate and successful.
As president of the Philadelphia ‘76ers for five years, he took the
team from worst to first and broke attendance records in the process.
He’s penned best-selling motivational books, spoken across the United
States, been a judge on the ABC show “American Inventor” and served as
a Tae Kwon Do expert for the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece. But perhaps what he loves most is pirates and rum.
In 2006, he and Jeff Sorg opened a restaurant and bar called the
Rum Barrel in Key West, Fla., right next door to Croce’s pirate museum,
Pirate Soul, which is billed as the largest collection of pirate
artifacts on the planet. In typical Croce fashion, Rum Barrel aims to
be No. 1, as well.
The Rum Bible
“We have over 120 rums,” Sorg says. “It’s the largest collection of
rum in the world. There’s a place out in Vegas that claims that
distinction, but we don’t carry lower-end rums to boost our number.”
So intense is the owners’ rum fanaticism that Rum Barrel has
produced a leather-bound Rum Bible devoted to educating patrons about
the glories of rum. The Rum Bible provides a primer on the history of
rum.
The story of rum running can be found in these pages, as well as a
sampling of rum quotations. Macaulay says: “Well, there’s nothing so
rum it might not be true.” Cowper gives us a ditty: “I pity them
greatly, but I/must be mum/for how could we do without/sugar and rum?”
A fair question. The Rum Barrel’s answer is that we cannot, and it aims to meet the demand. It is a purist’s paradise.
Though the purists are well supplied at The Rum Barrel, Sorg says flavored rums are making waves.
“Flavored rum is fairly new,” he explains. “Most of our rums are
aged sipping rums, but the flavored rums are doing very well. They’ve
really been coming on strong.”
Sorg outlines four ways flavored rums have worked for his
establishment. They are used in specialty drinks, in Mojitos, with soda
or Sprite and with Red Bull.
The Rum Barrel’s signature drink is the Island Barrel. It’s a mix
of Cruzan coconut, pineapple and mango rums, plus cranberry, pineapple
and orange juices, with a splash of grenadine. Sorg believes that any
flavored rum can be joined to one’s favorite fruit combinations to
create a signature splash. Flavor Walks In
Stylish, tasty, tropical and anything but run-of-the-mill, Mojitos
have driven bartenders to catch up on their muddling skills. Sorg says
flavored rums put a new twist on the favorite at The Rum Barrel.
“Using flavored rums to create Mojitos has become very popular,” he
says. The Rum Barrel offers three varieties of the new classic cocktail.
Aside from the traditional Mojitos, Rum Barrel serves Mango
Mojitos, made with Parrot Bay Mango, and Melon Mojitos, made with
Bacardi Grand Melon.
“You can add a flavored rum to any Mojitos,” Sorg notes. “Orange-flavored Mojitos are in demand lately.”
Sorg believes that rums pair extremely well with Red Bull — much
better than vodka does, he says. Rum & Red Bull, Sorg says, is a
smash hit whose time has come.
“They make for a drink with a sweeter tone and taste,” he says.
“It’s far superior. We like Barcardi O & Red Bull and Peachy Red
& Red Bull. Cruzan Mango and Black Cherry are dynamite with Red
Bull.”
Sorg cites Brinley Gold Rum as an example of a flavored rum that
has been around for a while and can succeed with a sophisticated
palate. Made in St. Kitts in the West Indies, Brinley’s line includes
four award-winning rums: Vanilla, Coffee, Mango and Island Spice.
“These are not clear rums,” Sorg says. “The natural flavors are
actually included in the aging process. You can see the fruit. These
are flavored rums you can sip. They have a quality something like
Drambuie. They’re excellent.”
Barrel of Believers
From sipping to slamming, flavored rums have changed the dynamic of
the cocktail menu at The Rum Barrel. As Lord Byron put it: “There’s
nought no doubt so much the spirit calms as rum and true religion.”
Purists and open-minded cocktail consumers are forming a firm belief in The Rum Barrel. NCB
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