Post #177388 by Rum Numb Davey on Thu, Aug 4, 2005 4:26 PM

Cheers Urban Tiki...Glad to be in the Tiki Matrix. Yep spent my life in wine, whisky, women and song...er, eh...okay the wine and whisky part is true and I embellished on the women and song part. Brad Pitt I ain't and I could not carry a note in a five gallon bucket.

Ah, Porto...one of me favorite elixirs. You can never learn enough about sherry and port so better start researching. I will tell you a great little story (I don’t know any little stories as they all take 20 paragraphs) about my real education in PORT, but another post. I was working in the Bespoke Cask Whisky and Demerara Rum trade in Scotland in 1989-1990. Many Americans have somewhat benign views as to what the English, Irish, Welsh, Scots Gaels, Cornish, Manx, and Hebridean folks drink. It is less about your ethnicity and culture and more about your dole check or CV over there. Example: Many working class Scots don’t drink whisky...it is too dear! They drink the Voddy like Begbie in Irving Welsh’s Trainspotting, eh Rents. Drinking adult libations is honoring tradition, culture, and history. The Tiki craze as a MAIN stream American custom is passed. We honor it by participating in the ritual, collecting the mugs, drinking a bunch, and loving Polynesian Formage. In many ways, I got into the BOOZE biz to honor my Scottish lineage which is quite strong.

I digress (again) my own ancestral “clan” in Scotland that I descend from is the Riding Clan of Johnston/e of Annandale. They were a roguish group of Border Reivers and notorious Bog Trotters and Guerilla Pickers. A real pain on the auld arse for the usurping English Kings, as well as, they can’t get their royal affairs or Kingdom in order –Scottish Kings... (Bruce or Stewarts)

Like the mythical Wandering Jew, there was a great Diaspora of Scots Jacobites, as well, and the Johnston’s certainly fit that bill. My first paternal ancestor to “Amerikay” was named Dr. Arthur Johnston, and he landed in Virginia. One of his Brothers’s landed in Bordeaux to launch a major negociant firm and satellite Claret interests. I still work with them in business TO THIS DAY, although my French wine sales are flat (thanks Bill O’Reilly) currently. http://www.nath-johnston.com/johnston/johnuk.htm
There is also “Cousin” Jean Marie Johnston, who I am working on a Rhum project with (details at a latter date) http://raouljohnston.free.fr/
From the British side of the Clan Johnston/e, we have “Uncle” Esme, who revolutionized modern British Wine Sales by creating Majestic Wine Warehouse. He gave me my start in wine & spirits while I was in Uni at Edinburgh, which led to my career as a Sommelier and Wine & Spirits Broker. http://www.chateaudesours.com/esme.asp
He also introduced me to Gordon Wright, which landed me a job at Cadenhead’s hawking malts and Demerara Rum: http://www.wmcadenhead.com/
From there, Gordon left and started Murray McDavid, I followed: http://www.murray-mcdavid.com/
(By the way, in Scots Gaelic, Clachan a choin means “the Dog’s Ballocks” poking fun at all the Heather and Haggis tired imagery in Malt Whisky marketing. That cracks me up). Got tired of whisky and moved to Port, Sherry, Madera, as I love fortified wines.
Worked for Casa C. da Silva http://www.cdasilva.pt/, which is sold under the name Presidential Port here in USA. Get yourself some of these to keep around the casa, as they are value added buys and premium quality and great bang for the BUCK. http://jackpoust.com/presidential.htm
I was brokering Rum for Ron Barceló (Dominican Republic) and it is beautiful stuff until I lost my importer for it. http://www.ron-barcelo.com/ & http://www.barcelo.com.do/2003/
By the way, Jab...if you are on this thread grab yourself a bottle of Ron Barceló Imperial. You will like it.
I have been brokering lots of Tequila and Mexicano Spirits these days:
http://www.tequila3030.com/, http://www.canicas.com/, http://www.acumbaro.com/, http://www.tequilaxq.com.mx/xq.html, http://www.herenciamexicana.com.mx/

I just introduced a great Mexican Rum that is really gaining market traction in Hispanic Markets called Ron Mocambo Solera (aged 6 years), which I hope to tap into Bacardi’s 1873 Solera in Hispanic Markets in the Southwest.
I have a product line of flavored Tequila Liquors called Chic’s. My flavors are Almond, Chocolate, Lime, and Jalapeño. No website.
Just introduced a Mexican Key Lime Mezcal Lajita Limon (no more worms!)
In addition, I am launching a Mexican Key Lime Liqueur called Otelo. Similar to a French Liqueur de Citron Vert. I love Mexican Key Limes!
My favorite new Mexican spirit brand is Licor de Tunal (Prickly Pear Cactus Fruit liquor). Talk about unique! http://www.lajaula.com.mx/

I also broker Agwa Coca Leaf Liqueur, which I see has been on some of the threads. Mark Wilson of Babco in Ireland is the clever distiller who makes the Agwa in the Netherlands. He is a mad scientist. I also broker his other brand which is Mickey Finn’s Snapp’s. I think that they are awesome Tiki mixers, but be careful at 20 AbV they pack a wallop. I had to lie of Agwa and Bolivian Kisses as they were wrecking me. Same as Absinthe, I was doing way too much last year.
http://www.agwabuzz.com/
http://www.mickeyfinns.ie/

Too many products to list now, but you get the idea I don’t sell Jack Daniels and Stoli. I am a brand builder, who likes to work with unique brands.