Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/205467
THE VISIONARY Luis J. Varela: Ron Abuelo The moderate rainfall, cool nights and hot, humid days in Panama not only create the ideal growing conditions for cultivating sugarcane, they are also optimum for barrel-aging rum. That said, maturing rum in oak barrels is significantly more difficult and demanding. It requires constant supervision. No one does it better than Ron Abuelo and the expert distillers at Varela Hermanos. "In the heart and soul of Ron Abuelo resides our passion to produce the best aged rums possible," says Luis J. Varela, third-generation owner of Varela Hermanos. "Abuelo is a great family of fine rums, and through each product we have been able to express our craftsmanship in the time-honored art of rummaking. Each product has a distinctive flavor, aroma and complex profile, but they all share the same DNA, a great heritage and our commitment to excellence." According to Varela, after 100 years in business, the challenges don't get any easier. "I have to admit that the greatest challenge has been to work on developing our organization for the future and building a visionary company that will hopefully last through the following generations." PHOTOS COURTESY OF RON ABUELO VAN GOGH IMPORTS THE HIGH FLYER Toby Beall: Taildragger White Rum Toby Beall is a corporate pilot who developed an appreciation for fine rum on his many trips throughout the Caribbean and Central and South America. After visiting the great rum capitals of the world, Beall made the decision to take matters into his own hands and commit to making world-class rum right in the American heartland—in Plainsfield, IL. Along with his brother Jamey, Beall began crafting small batch Taildragger White Rum using cane sourced in Louisiana for their highgrade cane juice molasses. The result is a silver spirit with a full, brilliant palate and wafting floral aromatics. Taildragger Amber is aged for close to a year in used rye whiskey barrels. "One of our biggest challenges is that rum is still an underdog in the United States, especially in the craft category," says Beall. "That said, the reward is seeing someone who swore off rum fall in love with Taildragger and even drink it neat. They don't often realize what character the spirit can offer. I am excited for the future of rum in this country." PHOTO COURTESY OF TAILWINDS DISTILLING that day weren't made with black strap molasses, which most large producers use, but rather high-quality, so-called "fancy" molasses. By 1993, he had perfected his recipe and began handcrafting Prichard's Fine Aged Rum in a traditional pot still from premium Louisiana cane. "Ours is the first authentic American rum to be distilled in the United States since the early days of the Union's history." One of the newest members of the Rum Fraternity is award-winning singer/songwriter Kenny Chesney. A lifelong devotee of the island lifestyle, Chesney set out to imbue the flavor of the Caribbean in a range of characterladen rums. The base brand—Blue Chair Bay Premium White Rum—is distilled from molasses on the island of Barbados in the Lesser Antilles. "I spend as much time as I can in the islands—soaking up the sun and decompressing. Rum is what I drink, so it was only a matter of time before I got into the business. Do what you know, right? While building the company from the ground up was challenging, when we finally tasted the finished product all the hard work was well worth it. It was the greatest feeling in the world. We're awfully proud of what we've created." Behind every rum there's a story—and at least one Very Important Personality who has invested passion, know-how and a laundry list of emotions. Great rums don't just happen, they're nurtured and hand-carried up the mountainside. To those members of the Rum Fraternity, we say ¡Salud! TAILWINDS DISTILLING november 2013 / the tasting panel / 107 TP1113_066-107.indd 107 10/24/13 9:25 AM