How was your weekend? Today is officially my very first day of retirement (ok, maybe retirement for this year). In case you want to extend the weekend for another day, I’ve got a little somethin’ somethin’ for ya. Enjoy (if you’re over 21)!
So a few weeks ago, Privateer – a local new rum distillery in Ipswich, Mass – invited a group of food bloggers over for a rum tasting and lunch. Rum happens to be my hard liquor of choice (hello, sugarcane juice! 
) so I was very excited to see where and how all the magic happens.
Privateer is a brand new premium rum distillery (they are just on their second batch!) but the product has received so much buzz and demand (and already started winning competitions!) that they have just committed to expand beyond Massachusetts in the early 2012!
[Is this for napping after a little too much tasting? Sure looked comfy!]
The event was a bit chaotic since people were arriving at different times and there was no real “tour” schedule. Adam and I caught a quick explanation about the process of fermentation and distillation of sugarcane juice and molasses, which is then aged in oak barrels (don’t quiz me, ok?)… and then got to one of my favorite parts – tasting.
The Privateer Silver Reserve Rum was incredibly smooth drunk straight up (with a mellow burn in the throat as you swallow)…
…and lent itself beautifully to mixed drinks. Seriously, the stuff was so smooth, it could be dangerous! Once mixed with juices and sweeteners it was completely undetectable. There was no burn, no harshness. It’s the kind of stuff that’s so tasty it would sneak up on you if you’re not careful. Now I totally see why the couch is necessary…
A happy consumer of the William Tell cocktail, made with Privateer rum:
I really, really enjoyed trying all sorts of rum concoctions head distiller (turned bartender for the day), Nelse Clark, whipped up for us. Adam and I already decided that we will definitely be replenishing our current rum supply with Privateer (it’s only a few extra $$ compared to Bacardi but it’s so much smoother and we love supporting local companies). But the most memorable part of the trip was talking to Privateer president, Andrew Cabot.
Just by interacting with Nelse and Andrew, Adam and I immediately got the vibe that these are genuinely nice people. And I was really interested to hear about how Andrew started his business. How someone with a software development background (hello, Adam is a software developer!!) was able to get funding for a brand new rum making venture in these economic times (these machines and barrels aren’t cheap!) and how they continue to drive demand for the product. The answers were pretty simple (although not necessarily simple to execute) – he presold the first batch (30 barrels?) to fund all start-up costs and when you make a great product, it will speak for itself (and apparently fly off the shelves).
And how does a software developer even get into a rum business? Andrew is simply not your typical software developer. Every 5 years, he took a year off and did something completely unrelated. He worked in a school one year, traveled the world… and last year, once he heard about the Privateer brand, Andrew decided to figure out how to make a great tasting premium rum (he did his research and realized that there was a gap in that market). “These breaks made me feel alive.” And that, my dear blog friends, is how I feel today (on my very first day of “retirement” for 2011). Alive.
Ready for a tasty drink yet?
Apple Cider Rumtini (largely adopted from Privateer William Tell cocktail) – Serves 1
- 1.5 oz white rum
- 4 oz apple cider
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- juice of 1/2 lime
- dash of cinnamon
- Optional rim: 2 tablespoons of sugar + dash of cinnamon
Instructions:
- Combine rum, apple cider, simple syrup, lime juice and cinnamon. Shake with ice.
- For the (highly recommended) sugar rim, wet an outside rim of the glass with a piece of lime. Combine sugar with a dash of cinnamon in a medium plate or wide-lipped bowl. Dip glass into the cinnamon sugar.
- Serve chilled in a martini glass, or over ice in a highball.
Cheers! 
[This was my Sunday afternoon… oh yeah!]
PS – Just 4 more cocktails to cross off a 30-by-30 item! I better get moving…
Do you have a favorite cocktail recipe?
Congrats on enjoying your job free first day!!!!
I love visiting breweries, wineries and distilleries. That one looks so great! We have a brewery in our city like that, just down to earth, passionate people.
If I wasn’t pregnant, I’d be ALL over that drink! haha
Congrats!!
What a neat visit! I bet you learned a lot too. I’ll have to try that Apple Cider Rumtini- yum!
I’ll be honest, I don’t fit into the over 21 category–yet! Definitely bookmarking this page for when I can legally enjoy this. Looks incredible!
Emily – try it without rum. I bet it would still be delicious… cinnamon sugar rim and all
I very rarely drink any fun drinks but this looks fabulous! Sounds like a great way to celebrate “retirement”
Beautiful cocktail photos! I just made a very similar drink with cider and homemade cinnamon liqueur. Gotta love that cinn/sugar rim!
my bottle of bacardi is almost empty. i know what I will be replenishing it with!
certainly was a tasty drink, i’d love to try your version
now i just need some privateer… danger!
I love rum! I will certainly have to try this drink. And try and get to that distillery in Ipswich!
My favorite drinks lately have been a mixture of herb infused gin or vodka with lime and ginger beer. So good!
Glad to hear you are having a great day
I was thinking about you! And thanks for the info on Privateer – if I see it around, I’ll be sure to support the local economy too.
I recently had an apple cider cocktail that was amazing so this is right up my alley. (It was called the Well Mannered Robot – Whipper Snapper spirit whiskey, Averna Amaro, Velvet Falernum, agave, baked apple bitters, cinnamon sugar.) I’m a huge apple cider fan so anything with cider sounds absolutely delicious to me and has really brought me over to loving darker alcohols more.
Enjoy this time while you figure out the next step. There were lots of moments of doubt but my three months of retirement flew by!
Also, I’ve been enjoying using this rum to make light and stormies!
Sorry I am late to the party—congratulations on your big decision to leave your job!!! Looking forward to hearing how your new and exciting chapter unfolds!
Happy retirement!
Rum tasting?! What an afternoon! Are they open to the public yet?
In August, I went to the Newport Wine Festival at the Yachting Center and I was surprised to see how many local distilleries we have in the area.
This is brilliant!!! Oh my gosh. It’s like a not-girly version of a tini!
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This sounds tasty, but what I really want to know is where you got those bitchen martini glasses? Those are so awsome!
Hehe, I think they are from Crate & Barrel but were purchased many years ago. I was pretty happy to find them in our bar as well
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Genius and classy idea! I usually pour some spiced rum in apple sider and call it a day, but this recipe sounds much tastier!