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78 / the tasting panel / june 2014 Winter Warmer: Stroh Rum When asked what makes Stroh Rum differ- ent, owner Harold Burstein laughs and says, "Besides being an Austrian rum? We're 160 proof, I think that makes us pretty different." There's no arguing with him there. The truth is that while Stroh may not yet be a household name here in the U.S., it certainly is in Austria, as well as Germany, South Africa and many other countries. Burstein explains, "Here, Stroh is Stroh. We are by far the market leader, and when you talk of Stroh, you're talking about a delicious spirit and a wonderful time. Our consumers use it for baking, but our biggest season is winter. Ski resorts and winter cocktail parties are huge for us." He laughs again and adds, "We do winter." Tasting of butterscotch and vanilla, the rum is wonderful in cold weather cocktails, and if the 80 percent ABV doesn't warm you up, we're not sure what will. However, fear not: Stroh also has a 40 percent ABV offering with the same great taste. "We are a small, fine company," explains Burstein. "In Austria, our recognizable bottle shape and orange label is a familiar friend on the shelf, and we're hoping to expand our business in America." www.stroh.at NICHE WINE AND SPIRITS Superstar Sipper: Blue Chair Bay Rum Mix one part music superstar and one part Caribbean island spirit. Shake, strain and sip aboard a boat while the sun slips behind water, painting the sky as it goes. When Kenny Chesney created Blue Chair Bay Rum, his goal was to create a rum worthy of sharing with his friends and one that captured that exact, beautiful but humbling quality of the islands. And if you ask anyone who has tried Blue Chair Bay, they'll tell you he succeeded. Most fans are aware of Chesney's love for the Caribbean Islands, but with the rum, they are able to experience it along with him. Born on the beach, cre- ated at the Caribbean's last true beachside distillery and aged in oak casks seasoned by the salt air, the Blue Chair Bay Rum portfolio offers White, Coconut, Coconut Spiced and Banana expressions—one for any tropical cocktail you can dream up. Chesney was inspired by the free, anytime, anywhere spirit of the islands and invites his friends, fans and consumers along for the ride with him, sip by sip. www.bluechair- bayrum.com FISHBOWL SPIRITS Harold Burstein. TP0614_072-101.indd 78 5/23/14 9:37 PM