Rum Is The New Scotch

I was invited by Appleton Rum to be one of their judges of the Appleton Estate Reserve Bartender’s Challenge. New York City is known for its fantastic nightlife and I’m always excited to try the latest cocktails. The bartender’s challenge is a fun idea Appleton developed to celebrate cocktail making. These are some of the country’s most talented mixologists and I can’t wait to see the new recipes they come up with!   Appleton is the rum that needs nothing. It makes a Dark and Stormy smokin’ delicious. And all those delicious Tiki drinks are made with rum.

One of my favorite Bahamian drinks that you can only get in Nassau is a “Rumdum.’ Delicious and deadly. So, why skimp. Make all your cocktails with the best alcohol your bartender has.  For 260 years, Appleton Estate has been perfecting the art of rum making – since 1749. Appleton Estate rums are estate distilled and estate produced — Jamaican Rum.   Appleton Estate rums are small batch copper pot distillation.  Appleton Estate rums are masterfully blended.   Appleton Estate rums are hand-crafted, premium blended and aged in the finest quality oak ­    so you are probably think? So, what? Well, I got the chance to meet the hottest and most talented bartenders the USA has to offer and drink all sorts of delicious Rum drinks. Here’s what happened.  Participants were challenged to create an original Appleton Estate Reserve cocktail with a harmony of ingredients inspired by their favorite published song.  Each Appleton Estate Reserve cocktail was judged not only on taste and originality but,  presentation, creativity and inspiration from song to cocktail.

The regional challenges took place in four U.S. Markets: New York, Boston, San Francisco, and Miami.  With the successful completion of the Regional Remixology Bartender Challenges, Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum is pleased to host the finals of the Appleton Estate Reserve “Remixology” Bartender Challenge in New York City on August 31st. Finalists from each market are competing in New York with aspirations to be crowned champion. Judges, Willy Shine , Aisha Sharpe, Contemporary Cocktails, Andy Seymour, founder of Liquid Production, Dushan Zaric , owner Chef of Macao Trading Co., along with guest judge, me, Kelly Killoren Bensimon of  The Real Housewives of New York City. The judges will  decide which challenger will win a trip to Jamaica, October 20th – 26th, to represent the United States in the Bartenders Challenge Global Showcase . Appleton Estate Reserve is to be mixed into different drinks. They are timed, judged by creativity, originality, and tested on rum knowledge.  ­

The winner was Brian Miller,  who lured me with his sarong, great bartending skills, knowledge of rum history, rum drinks,  and his hilarious tiki dancers that tookt the bar out of New York City and into the Caribbean.

Thank you Appleton for teaching me about tasting Notes:

-Delicate scents of brown sugar, honey and holiday spice with orange peel and vanilla highlights

-Palate:  Sweet, honeyed and satiny, melded tastes of marzipan, caramel and brown sugar with a long, tangy and biscuit finish 

And, thank you Appleton Rum for having me as a judge. Macao is an awesome restaurant, and I am definitely going back for drinks.

Cheers!!!