As any US-based distilled spirit enthusiast knows too well, many great bottles don’t make it to our shores for several reasons. One particularly frustrating reason is bottle sizes. Here in the U.S., the government, in the form of the Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) only allow certain bottles sizes for distilled spirits. The allowed sizes50ml, 100ml, 200ml, 375ml, 750ml, 1 liter, and 1.75 liters
Continue reading “Will the U.S. Get Better International Spirits? A TTB Standards of Fill Update”Can the U.S. Recognize Rum Regulations?
As Caribbean rum gains in popularity and rum enthusiasts push back on the “Rum has no rules” trope, a common refrain is “The United States doesn’t recognize rum’s rules.” It’s been said by well-meaning advocates online and at public events such as Tales of the Cocktail. In fact, I’ve said something along those lines myself, previously.
If you’re a proponent of artisanal rum, striving to improve its reputation among anybody who will listen, it’s easy to shake your virtual fist at the faceless bureaucrats in the U.S. government who seemingly don’t care about the rum regulations of Jamaica and other countries.
That frustration is misplaced.
Continue reading “Can the U.S. Recognize Rum Regulations?”Your Guide To Winning $2500 with Minimalist Tiki
As you may have seen recently, Reàl Ingredients has generously agreed to supply the prize money for a fun little contest involving our book, Minimalist Tiki.
In brief, thirteen bartenders and ten bars are featured in the book, along with their recipes that follow the Minimalist Tiki ethos – about 100 recipes in total.
Continue reading “Your Guide To Winning $2500 with Minimalist Tiki”The Six Essential Tiki Rum Categories
Newcomers to Tiki bartending quickly face an uncomfortable question: Just how many rums do I need? With so many recipes calling for Lemon Hart this, Real McCoy that, and DonQ something else, it quickly becomes overwhelming.
Continue reading “The Six Essential Tiki Rum Categories”Can You (Ever) Use Too Much Angostura Bitters?
“Hey Matt, I think I found a bug in your book,” began a recent message from my friend, Mike. ”The Trinidadi Issues recipes calls for 1.5 ounces of Angostura bitters…seems like that can’t be right (?)”
I chuckled. Mike wasn’t the first person who’d messaged me about this recipe, certain they’d found a typo.
Continue reading “Can You (Ever) Use Too Much Angostura Bitters?”High Ester Rum Production with Vivian Wisdom
Often shrouded in mystery and tall tales, terms like “dunder” and “muck” are catnip to rum enthusiasts who crave the magnificent, high ester, funky rums from Jamaica and elsewhere.
Continue reading “High Ester Rum Production with Vivian Wisdom”