RUM ’ S STAYCATION POWER
Varela Hermanos . One program revolved around the release of XII Años Two Oaks with tastings and a masterclass .
Many of the components and some cocktails at Phuc Yea Vietnamese restaurant in Miami are batched for consistency , says co-owner Aniece Meinhold . “ We have a very busy bar and want to ensure each cocktail tastes the same whoever is making it .”
past fall introduced Don Q Gran Reserva XO , a rebranding of Don Q Gran Añejo rum . This follows the launch of Don Q Reserva 7 , a blend of multi-column distilled light rums and single copper column distilled heavy rums , aged for a minimum of seven years in American white oak barrels .
The Ron Abuelo Finish Collection is a trio of double-barreled , aged spirits . Each of these 15-year-old expressions spent their final year finishing in ex-oloroso sherry , ex-Napoleon Cognac or ex-tawny port casks . “ We partnered with RumRatings . com to directly engage with the rum community ,” says Larissa Arjona , export marketing manager for
The Tropi-clea ’ at VASO , a Spanish restaurant in Dublin , OH , is a riff on the Pina Colada , made with lemongrass-infused Bacardi rum , coconut , pina , lychee honey and citrus , and served with a mini bottle of Underberg bitters .
VASO ’ s Raised by the Wolves cocktail pays homage to the Bankers Punch at The Dead Rabbit in New York . It has a split base of rum and Irish whiskey , with port , beets and raspberry and winter spices .
MIX MAGIC At bars and restaurants , rum is a mainstay for cocktails , both classics and culinary . “ We do riffs on classics mostly ,” says Meinhold at Phuc Yea .
Her favorite of rum drink right now is a riff on a Cuban classic called a “ Presidente ,” made by washing Bacardi 4 with brown butter and blending it with Ferrand Dry Curaçao , Dolin white vermouth , a touch of cherry liqueur and orange bitters . “ We have a female service staff and I ’ m clearly female , so we named it “ The Future is Female ,” tipping our hats to Vice President Kamala Harris .”
Cocktails at Phuc Yea are priced at $ 14 each . Many of the components and some cocktails are batched for consistency . “ We have a very busy bar and want to ensure each cocktail tastes the same whoever is making it ,” notes Meinhold .
As for takeaway sales , Phuc Yea ’ s top five cocktails are fully batched and available in a 750-ml . wine bottle format , so all consumers have to do is pour over ice at home .
“ The cocktail menu at Tiki TNT , in large part , shares original rum cocktails that present an island flavor ,” says Thrasher . The most popular rum cocktails are : Missionary ’ s Downfall , featuring Thrasher ’ s White Rum , peach liqueur , mint , lime juice and pineapple ; the F ***, F ***, F ***, which mixes white rum , Calvados , blue Curaçao and pineapple topped with Q ginger beer ; and a Mai Tai made with El Dorado 5 Year Rum , orange Curaçao , orgeat , lime juice and rich demerara syrup . Most cocktails are $ 14 each .
Tiki TNT offers four cocktails for takeout . “ We were actually able to offer existing rum drinks from the menu for take-way so people could enjoy their favorite drinks from
Tiki TNT at home as well ,” notes Thrasher .
“ At Margaritaville Resort Orlando , the most popular rum cocktails would definitely have to be the variation of Bacardi buckets offered at the Salty Rim Bar & Grill , the resort ’ s poolside bar ,” says Thompson .
The Bacardi buckets are priced $ 18 per bucket and $ 14 for a refill , and include three signature cocktails : Ice Cold Lemonade , made with Bacardi Limon , lemonade and triple sec ; the Berry Refresher , a combo of Bacardi Dragon Berry , Bacardi Limon , Bacardi Raspberry and lemon-lime soda ; and Let ’ s Get Tropical , concocted with Bacardi Superior ,
Bacardi Black , and equal parts orange and pineapple juices .
At Reunion Ktchn Bar many of the cocktails are classics or inspired by culinary techniques , says Olivio . For example , the Coconut Pistachio Mai Tai is given a twist with pistachio orgeat made in-house .
44 • Summer 2021 www . cheersonline . com