1. Which Rum, What Cocktail, and Why?
#WhichRumWhatCocktail
Tales of the Cocktail 2014
This argument was proudly started by:

2. #WhichRumWhatCocktail
Jeff “Beachbum” Berry,
@BeachBumBerry

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Martin Cate,
@SmugglersCoveSF

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Alexandre Gabriel,
#PlantationRum

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Philip Duff,
@philipduff

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Rum Back In The Day

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Rum Back In The Day

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Columbus: O. G. Mixologist

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1934: Tiki, baby!

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Tyranny of Choice

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FOMO?

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The Mai Tai

15. “I took down a bottle of 17-year old rum. It was J. Wray
Nephew from Jamaica; surprisingly golden in color,
medium bodied, but with the rich pungent flavor
particular to the Jamaican blends.”
– Victor Bergeron, “Let’s Set the Record Straight About
the Mai Tai”, 1970
#WhichRumWhatCocktail

16. The Original Formula
2 ounces of 17-year old J. Wray & Nephew Rum over shaved
ice.
1/2 ounce Holland DeKuyper Orange Curacao.
1/4 ounce Trader Vic's Rock Candy Syrup.
1/2 ounce French Garnier Orgeat Syrup
Add juice from one fresh lime.
#WhichRumWhatCocktail

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20. 1944-1950: “The success of
the Mai Tai and its
acceptance soon caused
the 17-year-old rum to
become unavailable, so it
was substituted with the
same fine rum with 15
years aging which
maintained the
outstanding quality.”
– Victor Bergeron, “Let’s
Set the Record Straight
About the Mai Tai”, 1970
#WhichRumWhatCocktail

21. Early 1950s:
“The supply of 15-year-old rum was becoming less than
dependable so several other Caribbean products were
tested for the same high qualities of flavor. Red
Heart and Coruba were selected to be used in equal
quantities along with the original 15-year-old to
stretch the supply and maintain the character of the
Mai Tai.”
– Victor Bergeron, “Let’s Set the Record Straight
About the Mai Tai”, 1970
First Adjusted Mai Tai Formula
1 ounce 15-year old J. Wray Nephew Jamaican Rum
1 ounce Coruba - or Red Heart Jamaican Rum
1/2 ounce Trader Vic Formula Orgeat
1/2 ounce Holland DeKuyper Orange Curacao
1/4 ounce Rock Candy Syrup
juice from one fresh lime
#WhichRumWhatCocktail

22. Mid 1950s:
“The mid 1950s signaled the end of a dependable supply of the 15-year old J. Wray
Nephew Rum. This fact as well as problems with consistent quality in the other
Jamaican London Dock Rums caused Trader Vic to make private arrangements,
in the interest of high quality, to blend and bottle a Jamaican rum under his
own label and control. Consistent quality was maintained in both a 15- and 8-
year aging. This rum, though excellent, didn’t exactly match the end flavor of
the original 17-year- old product. This desired nutty, and snappy flavor was
added by the use of Martinique rum.”
Second Adjusted Mai Tai Formula
1 ounce Trader Vic'sJamaican Rum (15 or 8 year old)
1 ounce Martinique Rum (St. James or Trader Vic’s)
1 ounce pre-mixed Curacao, Orgeat and Rock Candy Syrup
juice from one fresh lime
Mix and serve as in the original formula.
#WhichRumWhatCocktail

23. WHAT?!
#WhichRumWhatCocktail

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27. Trader Vic’s Book of Food and Drink – 1946. identical text in 1981 edition; same
text paraphrased in Trader Vic’s 1947 Bartender’s Guide and revised 1972 edition;
and seen here on his 1940s-era menus:
“Martinique Rums: Commonly known as French rums, they are usually heavy in
body, coffee-colored, very similar to Jamaica rums, but in many cases have the
dry burned flavor of the Demerara. This flavor, however, is very faint. The rum
produced in Martinique is, in many cases, shipped to France where it is aged and
shipped as French rum. One of the finest rums is Rhum St. James, made on the
plantations of St. James.”
#WhichRumWhatCocktail

28. Early 1960s:
“Trader Vic decided to produce and
bottle a total Mai Tai rum and also a
Mai Tai flavoring mix under the Trader
Vic label. This was to be for restaurant
use and also for retail sale.
This rum was made to recapture the
characteristics of the original 17-year-
old rum. First he skillfully blended
Jamaican rums and then added
Martinique rum for its elusive and
wonderful nutlike flavor (rhum
traditionelle) and a bit of light Virgin
Island rum for the smoothness of body.
(padding) This combination became the
Trader Vic Mai Tai rum as we know it
today.

29. “After a year, we had used all the
17 year old rum in the world, so
we had to substitute. Now
nobody can substitute 17 year
old J. Wray & Nephew rum. But I
tried and I made a combination
of Puerto Rican rum,
Martinique rum, a high-ester
Jamaican rum, and a Guinnea
rum, and it was pretty close.
And, ya know, after mixing the
rums with the other
ingredients we used in the
drink, you couldn’t tell the
difference. Today, when you buy
a bottle of our Mai Tai Rum, you
have the closest taste to 17 year
old rum you can buy.”
-Frankly Speaking: Trader Vic’s
Own Story. A Candid and
Informal Autobiography, 1973

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The Negroni

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Thank you for your attention!

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- Bonnet Carre Tasting
Room, Monteleone
- 3 to 5pm Saturday
- Plantation Rum portfolio
tasting with Alexandre &
Dave Wondrich
- World premiere of
Stiggins' Fancy Rum!