The Musings of Ron Kapon

Cruzan In Spirit

On occasion being Ron Kapon's assistant offers some really great opportunities to learn about spirits, as well as meeting the people who work hard spreading the word about their fun products.  I recently was able to attend a Cruzan Rum event in NYC preceding a Kenny Chesney concert at Madison Square Garden, an event Cruzan sponsored.  With Cruzan Rum I learned a lot about a brand I only knew slightly and also met a number of people who clearly get to have fun doing their jobs. 

If you have a brand strategy it's hard to improve on good taste, good people and fun.  My introduction to Cruzan Rum not only included the three, it offered an impression greater than the sum of its parts.  Usually that is the goal of a cocktail artist, creating a magical experience combining oft-times disparate ingredients into harmony on the palate.  The people at Cruzan Rum, if not all artists behind a bar, without exception seem to understand and apply this dynamic. 

Two of the recipes I tried (ahem) liberally were:

Cruzan Vanilla Slip
1½ Cruzan 2yr Light
½ Cruzan Vanilla
Top Ginger Ale  
Build over rocks in a highball, and garnish with a lime wedge.
 
Cruzan Raspberry Breeze
1 Cruzan 2yr Light
1 Cruzan Raspberry
Fill half and half Cranberry juice and Sprite/7up
Build over rocks in a highball, and garnish with a lime wedge.

These two are nice and simple fun, and the Raspberry Breeze in particular tasted really light and refreshing in the heat.  Duly refreshed I decided to sample some Rum and Cokes (a personal favorite) with both the new Cruzan Black Cherry and, separately, their Single Barrel Estate Rum.  As I like to trust my instincts in different settings I tried these two again at home.  The Black Cherry's fruity flavor carries over nicely with the sugars and carbonation of the Coke; a great drink for the beach and those hot days in the sun.  The Single Barrel Estate Rum, though not often done in the Americas, is strong enough on its own to be enjoyed in a snifter, neat, or with a slice of orange as Cruzan itself suggests.  I can see it fitting in easily at an esplanade cafe in the evening, or on the back of a private deck cruising.

If rum is on your personal menu or if you think it just might be worth it to satisfy a new curiosity, I recommend Cruzan top-down and, most certainly, bottoms up!  As an aside --and an end to this piece-- I recommend visiting Cruzan Rum's website; it offers a lot of the experience, though one should explore the taste as well.

Bulleit Well Over From Broadway

Guest Post from Mark Owen ( also under the new category link Mark Owen)

First, a special thanks to Ron Kapon for cajoling me into actively participating on his site as a guest  writer.  I look forward to being here more.

Thanks to "Frontier Whiskey" Bulleit Bourbon I had the great pleasure of experiencing the Kentucky Derby for the first time in New York City, hosted at the friendly Park Avenue Country Club.  Now, one would normally find it mildly suspicious to experience any southern staple event so far north of the Mason Dixon, but Bulleit Bourbon provided a wonderful southern oasis  in the middle of the Yankee Metropolis, if only for a few hours.

Upon arrival I and a friend (a member of New York's Finest) were greeted at the door by the first of many Southern Belles we were to see that evening.  All guests were given a Bulleit Cocktail Menu that could be worn around the neck; a thoughtful idea that left one's hands free for both cocktails and dinner.  It also made it hard to lose, though I did get some curious looks going home on the subway.  (Please note: click on each thumbnail for a larger view, right click on image and choose "View Image" to fit to screen)

The main menu was of three cocktails: the Bartender's Bulleit Mint Julip, the Bulleit Orange Cruiser and the Bulleit Bourbon Lemonade (listed in picture at left).  Due to the busy diligence of both the Park Avenue Country Club's staff as well as the Bulleit folks who were brought in, I managed to not only sample all three but to compare them in different orders.  My personal favorite of the evening was the Orange Cruiser which was not only easy to drink but easy to look forward to again immediately.  The Mint Julip was also very nice and I must say that it just felt appropriate to sip the Lemonade while the horses ran the derby. 

As an event it is easy to  say that it was a success.  Everyone seemed to have a good time and it felt like a classic southern social very quickly.  I met a number of people and enjoyed great unreserved conversations- so unlike the Big Apple!  The Derby "air" was present for us all.  Many folks wore their Derby finery and the giant screens at the Country Club brought the track to us in size if not in fact.

Among the fun, Bulleit also had a lottery of prizes for the guests.  One young woman won a very fine high-end custom Bulleit Mountain Bike (I must say her gentleman-friend seemed rather excited!).  Everyone went home with something, even if it was only a fond memory for an evening of fun hosted to perfection.  If this is the brand Bulleit wants to achieve they are well on their way.  "Explore Your Frontier Responsibly" is a fine motto, especially as Bulleit managed to create a new frontier in New York City.

Even though my horse didn't "come in" I had a grand ole' time, thanks to Bulleit.

-Mark Nathaniel Owen