#BarFaithBottleTalk: Grander 8 Year Rum @granderrum. This is a Spanish-style rum from the Central America country of Panama. Grander rum comes from the Ingenio San Carlos distillery (same place that produces Panama-Pacific rum) and is aged for 8 years before being bottled. Grander proudly promotes the lack of any added sugar or other additives in their products, which is notable considering the popularity of the practice of adding sugar, particularly in "Spanish-style" rums. While I usually prefer pot-still (heavier, more flavorful&funky) rums, this is a delicious column-distilled rum both for mixing and sipping. 😋
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"Spanish" rums refer to the common traditions of rum distillation and production in the Spanish colonized regions of the Caribbeans, Central, and South America. One of the distinctive traits of "Spanish style" rums is its usage of a column still for distillation. Compared to the pot still (literally a pot-like container that is heated up to separate the fermented alcohol), the column still is much more efficient for separating alcohol and essentially performs like multiple distillations using a pot still, also making it easier to distill to a higher alcohol %. The higher % the alcohol, the less congeners and esters (organic chemical compounds that produce FLAVOR) remain, giving you a "smoother" but less flavorful product.
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For example, vodkas are column distilled to 95% ABV, essentially stripping out the majority of all flavor). Rums aren't distilled to quite as high, but what you have is a 'cleaner,' lighter rum devoid of funky 'weird' flavors. For Grander, 8 years spent in used bourbon barrels adds back a nice layer of complexity and warmness, cutting out any harshness and astringency in the spirit. Beyond the 8 year, Grander also now has a 12 year rum that I'd love to try out!
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Have you tried both pot and column distilled rums? Which do you prefer? .
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[archived in #BarFaithRums]
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This is the 6th Street Swizzle, a drink by Phil Ward from the @deathandcompany book. Swizzles are a style of drink originating from the Caribbeans, and would traditionally be stirred/mixed together using a "swizzlestick" called "le bois lélé."
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This completely nature-made stirrer actually comes from (cut) dried branches of a tree native to the islands. For what it is, it's really freakin expensive here (~$20) and totally unnecessary to own. 🙄 But, it's fun. 😄 I splurged and finally gifted myself after contemplating for way too long. If you're buying one, I recommend only buying it in person, because each stick varies widely in the length and thickness of the branches, given it’s a completely natural product.
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To use this fun tool, all add your ingredients to a glass filled with crushed ice. Submerge the bois lélé under the ice, hold the rod part in between your palms and rub your hands together to spin the stick while gently moving it up and down. I've yet to master this tool without making a huge mess 😅, might be because my ice is not finely crushed enough. Oh well, the drink is good.
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6th Street Swizzle
• 1.5oz agricole rhum (I used La Favorite, see #BarFaithLaFavorite)
• 1oz lime juice
• .75oz cane sugar syrup
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
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Add all ingredients in a glass with lots of crushed ice. "Swizzle" together using a long spoon or rod, or if you're fortunate enough to own one, a bois lélé. Top with more crushed ice.
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#BarFaithBottleTalk: @chdistillery Rubin Bitter Grapefruit Aperitif. OMG I have found my bitter soulmate. ❤️ So, this is a very bitter, very unique grapefruit liqueur/amaro made at a craft distillery in Chicago. I discovered this at a bar last month, and it absolutely blew my mind. 🤯😍 I’ll say, this strong flavor is not for everyone, but personally...I am a grapefruit FIEND and adore this. I grew up regularly eating several grapefruits each day, peeling it like an orange, and never even thought of it as bitter til later in life when I heard others describe it as such.
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Anyway, if you've seen my rave and obsession about the @giffardusa Pamplemousse liqueur (#BarFaithGiffardPamplemousse), this is like its bitter aggressive cousin. It has a comparable level of "freshness" that actually tastes like real fresh grapefruits, but it lacks the sweetness and has a biting bitterness that reminds me of grapefruit pith (in the best way possible). The aftertaste is extremely long and lingers, and overall I am just enamored by the magic of this spirit. If you are in the Chicago area, are a grapefruit fan, and are able to get ahold of this, DO IT. This will absolutely work magic in cocktails. Fantastic!
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[archived in #BarFaithAmari]
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#BarFaith #BarFaithRubin #grapefruit #grapefruitlove #amaro #aperitivo #aperitif #pamplemousse #chdistillery #chicago #craftspirits #homebar #homebartender #craftcocktail #craftcocktails #drinkstagram #mixology
#BarFaithBottleTalk: Diplomatico Planas. @DiplomaticoRum is most well known for their Reserva Exclusiva rum, which is often regarded as a higher end "sipping rum." While that one does have its fan base, I really think the true treasures in their line actually lie in their other two rums, the Planas and the Mantuano. I first tasted these at a spirits festival (all side by side) and was surprised by how much I enjoyed the Planas. These are relatively new expressions, launched early last year as the replacements of the Blanco and regular Reserva. Whether you like or dislike the Reserva Exclusiva, this is a fantastic one worth checking out.
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The Planas is a "white rum," though this is somewhat deceiving as it's actually a blend of rums barrel-aged for up to 6 years. The clear color is just due to the charcoal-filtering process that removes color, and the rum itself is rich and flavorful (and at a whopping 47% to help extend the flavors even further!). It's far from the cheap, astringent white rums you may have tried in the past; drink it blind, and I don't think you would suspect this to be clear at all with its strong woody tones and rich flavor.
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In addition to the fantastic depth of flavor, the Planas has minimal added sugar compared to the Reserva Exclusiva (which to be honest I personally find much too sweet, but to each their own!). Diplomatico actually publishes nutrition info on their website, which gets a 👍🏼 from me for transparency, and for reference, the Planas has .25g of sugar per 100ml, while the Reserva Exclusiva has 3.5g. If you like Plantation 3 Stars, this is definitely up the same alley.
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Have you tried any Diplomatico rum?
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[archived in #BarFaithRums]
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The Hemingway Daiquiri has become a cocktail classic, known as a twist on a daiquiri with the addition of grapefruit and maraschino liqueur. It's fondly attributed to Ernest Hemingway, known for being an impressive drunk who ordered it doubly strong, a further variation then referred to as a "Papa Doble." Well, that's a fun story and all, but quite a gloried version of reality. 😉
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The scene: 1930s Havana. After moving to Cuba to focus on his writing, Ernest Hemingway started frequenting the La Florida bar, where he met the famed respected bartender Constante. Constante was an artisan mixologist (by today's terminology) and his portfolio of masterful creations included a family of daiquiri riffs (no. 1-4), each crafted for balance, thoughtfully utilizing different modifiers as well as formats of ice (cracked, shaved, etc).
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The analogy: Imagine someone walking into a craft cocktail bar today and demanding the bartender make a carefully crafted house original, except dictating the spec ratios and making substitutions. 😱 Yeah. 😐Hemingway may have been a masterful novelist, but he was no mixologist and optimized his drinks to quench his undying thirst and alcoholism. So what was the original "Hemingway Daiquiri" / "Papa Doble"? 4oz white rum, 1oz lime juice, .5oz grapefruit juice, 1 barspoon of Maraschino liqueur, and served like a slushy with blended/powdery ice. 🤨
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Sooo yeah, that's not what I made. How do you make Hemingway Daiquiris?
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(Modernized) Hemingway Daiquiri
• 2oz rum (Plantation 3 Star)
• .75 oz fresh #grapefruit juice
• .5oz fresh lime juice
• .25oz Luxardo maraschino liqueur
• .25oz simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water)
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Shake all with ice cubes and strain.
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