Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/518118
88 / the tasting panel / june 2015 Hog Heaven A two-year-old company hailing from Denver, Squeal Rum first got its start halfway around the world in Poland. Colorado native JP Krause chased down his now wife, Monika, on a trip to Poland years ago, which was made much more difficult due to the fact that Monika didn't speak a word of English! Their bond would soon prove that love knows no specific language and the two were eventually married in 2006 and settled back in Colorado to pursue their distilling dreams. With roots in both Denver and Poland, Squeal, bottled at 90 proof, also hints at the islands with its Spiced Black Rum, a dark entrée. Tasting Notes: "The fresh fennel in the cocktail brightens the dark spices—dark caramel, tobacco and a hint of maple syrup—of the rum, and the honey and pineapple walk together nicely in the drink."—Kevin Galaba "Burnt caramel, honey, orange peel and vanilla lead into a clean finish, leaving you with big notes of butter- scotch. The smooth texture carried over in the cocktail, which had a nice balance between the pineapple and fennel."—Dylan Regan Monika Krause, owner of Squeal Rum; Kevin Galaba, Colorado Bartenders' Guild; JP Krause, owner of Squeal Rum; and Samantha Woods, bartender at Homegrown Tap & Dough. Pine'in for a Squeal ◗ 1½ oz. Squeal Rum ◗ 1 oz. fresh pineapple juice ◗ ½ oz. fresh fennel juice ◗ ½ oz. Domaine de Canton ◗ ¼ oz. honey simple syrup ◗ Mix, shake and pour over rocks or neat (the Squeal team prefers over rocks).