 I know I previously mentioned the hintings of autumn, especially today, but obviously that is just wishful thinking on my part. It is very much still summer, and what better way to enjoy the heat than with a bright, beautiful rum cocktail.Â
While rum is typically attributed to the Caribbean, it also played a huge role in colonial America. It was the most popular spirit in the country prior to the American Revolution and had a major impact on the early economy, trade establishments, and even the events leading up to the war. Because of this, it is often referred to as America’s original spirit. Rum also had a hand in the early years of America’s cocktail culture. Eventually, due to trade restrictions and taxes, the components to make rum became difficult to acquire, which resulted in the surge of popularity for whiskey for over a century, but recently, rum in America has started to make a comeback. We even have a local distiller that’s making their mark on the world of rum.
Meet Case 1 Rum from Old Line Spirits. Old Line is a local craft distillery located in Baltimore City, but it is the result of an incredible journey taken by its two founders, Mark McLaughlin and Arch Watkins. Both now-retired Navy aviators, these two initially met while stationed at the same naval air station in Washington State. Over time, they were assigned to different stations around the world, but eventually both settled independently in the Mid-Atlantic region, and each moved into aviator positions within a Navy Reserve squadron. They also ended up being neighbors in Baltimore. They discovered a mutual love for whiskey and craft distilling, and decided that their true calling was to own their own distillery. After many years, lots of paperwork, purchasing a unique American Single Malt recipe from a retiring distiller, and a brief stint using the facilities at Middle West Distilling in Columbus, Ohio to create their earliest products while finishing out their facilities in Baltimore, Old Line finally opened their doors to the public in February 2017.
The Case 1 Rums from Old Line are really beautiful expressions of a traditional spirit created with a modern approachability that makes them delicious even to those unfamiliar with rum. The Original 84-proof is aged between seven and eleven years in used bourbon barrels and has warm, rich notes of vanilla, butterscotch, and coconut. A touch of dryness on the finish rounds out the profile and makes it ideal for mixing cocktails or sipping on its own. The 114-proof Navy Strength is the more punchy version. With the same rich vanilla base profile, it is the preferred strength of both the American and British navies and is also sippable on its own or a great way to amp up your favorite rum cocktails.Â
Now, a classic daiquiri is rum, lime juice, and simple syrup, shaken and served up. Contrary to popular belief, a daiquiri is not traditionally a frozen drink. The classic version is actually quite delicious and refreshing. They’re also super easy to make and modify to your liking. This week, I want to give you a fresh, fun twist to try. The Orange Daiquiri is exactly what it sounds like.Â
2 oz. Case 1 Rum (or other gold rum)
.5 oz. Orange juice
.5 oz. Lime juice
.5 oz. Simple syrup
For this recipe, you can use either strength of the Case 1 rum depending on how boozy you want your drink to be. Pour all ingredients over ice into a shaker, shake it until it’s cold, and serve up. It’s easy, refreshing, and is great for both brunch and happy hour.Â
As always, if you have questions, comments, or suggestions, shoot me an email at [email protected] and I will be happy to help. I would also encourage you to go visit the team at Old Line and experience their products in person. They have a beautiful tasting room and it’s definitely worth the trip into the city. Have a wonderful week, and remember your barstool at Haley’s Home Bar is always open-cheers!Â
Cheers!
Haley
