Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/164544
PHOTO: JEREMY BALL THE MEssAgE PHOTO: DANIEL KRIEGER Left to right: Michael Brown, National Sales Mgr, Bien Nacido Vineyards; Steve Gerbac, Winemaker, Rusack Vineyards, which makes a Bien Nacido Chardonnay; Meridith May, THE TASTING PANEL; and Nicholas Miller, VP Sales/Marketing, The Thornhill Company and family co-owner of Bien Nacido and French Camp Vineyards. Celebrating 40 years Jim Meehan (left), consultant for Banks Rum, with Henry Preiss President of HPS Epicurean. Banking on Banks H aving the opportunity to sit down with Jim Meehan—author, bartending legend, consultant and owner of NYC hotspot PDT—during Tales of the Cocktail feels a lot like striking gold. Between his busy schedule and the number of people from all over the world who stop to talk to him as they pass by, facetime with this industry leader is at a premium. But Meehan was sure to make time to sit with THE TASTING PANEL to talk Banks Rum, a brand he has consulted on for everything "from formula to packaging to language on marketing material," he says. "It was my first time doing this sort of nuts and bolts with a brand," continues Meehan, sipping on a Banks Rum Daiquiri at SoBou in the W Hotel French Quarter. Meehan's guidance has ultimately resulted in what he calls a "geeky product"—one that is beloved by the craft spirit and cocktail community, but has legs to break the rum category wide open. "Now we need to take it to the next level," he says. "If you look at other spirit categories, you see premiumization across the board. Logic says that rum, especially white rum, is next. It's made on every continent in the world, yet is still the least-educated category. The big boys are more interested in profit margins than educating and expanding the category, but Banks is going to change that. I wanted to be a part of that change in this category—and we have awoken the giant." —Rachel Burkons For more coverage of Tales of the Cocktail, see page 110. C elebrating the 40th anniversary of planting grapes at the famed Bien Nacido Vineyards and French Camp Vineyards, the Miller family, fifth-generation farmers and proprietors of the world-class properties in Santa Maria and Paso Robles, CA, threw an industry party that was historic. Legendary and up-and-coming winemakers who buy fruit from these prestigious sites poured recent vintages and library wines. Look for the full story in next month's issue. Black Mask Rum Makes Its soCal debut B lack Mask, the new Pacific Island rum backed by an intriguing legend of a Medicine Man, debuted last month in Southern California. Follow the story on page 80. THE TASTING PANEL took to the Los Angeles area streets to introduce BLACK MASK RUM to on- and off-premise buyers. Pictured here at Pasadena's Arroyo Chop House is Scott Simenton, Southern Wine & Spirits' VP of Spirits; Pat Graney, President of International Beverage Holdings Ltd.; and Tim Kellar, Southern CA Sales Manager, Black Mask Rum. 18 / the tasting panel / september 2013 TP0913_001-33.indd 18 8/22/13 9:16 PM