Keisha Shakespeare, Freelance Writer
Lascelles Wines and Spirits launched a new brand of rum at the Terra Nova Hotel, Waterloo Road, Wednesday, March 30. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
LAST MONTH Lascelles Wines and Spirits launched its new range of Jamaican rum the Edwin Charley Proprietor's Collection at the Terra Nova Hotel in St. Andrew.
The range includes Foundation, Transformation, Enlightenment and Virtue. Bottled in hand-blown Venetian glass, the inside of each bottle features a sculpture a tribute to one of the stages in the rum making process.
Foundation: An overproof rum
This bottle's sculpture features a stalk of sugar cane to celebrate the beginning of the harvest. The rum is blended with mint, lime and brown sugar, with the ingredients pressed together in a jar to bring out the flavours.
In serving it at the launch, a lime was rubbed around the edge of the glass then dipped in a jar filled with brown sugar. The mixture of mint, lime and brown is poured in the glass and then the rum was added.
Transformation: Blend of pot and column still rum
This rum is aged and then filtered to remove the colour. It features a sculpture of a sugar cane cutter. At the launch, Transformation was mixed with cranberry and grapefruit juice for tasting.
"The grapefruit taste in the rum is not harsh on the tongue. The rum is very simple and light and has a tangy taste at the end that pairs well with the honey-baked ham. The rum is not overpowering," explained Kinsley Smith, Lascelles sales manager.
Virtue: unique single barrel rum
This has been bottled at 49 per cent alcohol volume. It celebrates the magnificence of the oak barrel in which the rum is aged.
Enlightenment: Specially selected marques of rums including several pot still rums
This aged golden rum celebrates the pot still, the traditional method of distilling rum. There were several chasers to choose from to complement the rum. Enlightenment was paired well with smoked marlin with spicy pineapple chutney and grilled chicken wing with guava pineapple glaze.
The spicy notes of the rum enhanced the salty flavour of the smoked marlin and it was enlightening with the fruity flavours of the chicken wing.
Comments from patrons at the launch.
FOUNDATION:
"It's very smooth and has a nice vanilla lime flavour."
Diana Stewart, managing director
VIRTUE:
"Reminds me of a scotch. I prefer the Foundation it's like white rum but not
overpowering."
Ryan Duquesnay, manager
TRANSFORMATION:
"I'm not a rum drinker but I like vodka. However, I am enjoying this because of the way it's served with cranberry juice and grapefruit that gives it a sweet tart taste."
Belinda Levy, general manager
ENLIGHTENMENT:
"It's absolutely lovely and a fine drink from the tradition of the Edwin Charley Collection and I've been a Charley drinker for 45 years."
Jerry Foster, contractor
