Lemon Hart 151 - Tiki Drinks and Food

C CincyTikiCraig Tiki Socialite Cincinnati, Ohio USA Joined: Mar 31, 2009 Posts: 467	C CincyTikiCraig Posted posted on Sun, Sep 19, 2010 1:28 AM On 2010-09-18 19:26, Rum guy wrote: Here's the latest from what I consider to be reliable sources at Mosaiq and DDL. As previously mentioned in this thread, when Lemon Hart brand was owned by Pernod it was blended and bottled in the Windsor, Ontario plant. And according to Mosaiq did not contain any tax-break Canadian rum. When I first heard about the sale to Mosaiq my concern was that the product, if ever available again, wouldn't be the same blend because DDL wouldn't allow anyone to use the Demerara Rum name on any product that wasn't bottled in Guyana. This was in response to previous problems they had experienced with misuse of their appellation. So when Mosaiq told me that they had permission to use the Demerara Rum name on the Lemon Hart rum they were going to blend and bottle, which hasn't yet begun, I was skeptical. According to Mosaiq, and confirmed by DDL, there is a contract for DDL to provide bulk rum to Mosaiq to be blended and bottled as Lemon Hart Demerara Rum. So that's the good news for Canada. The US is a slightly more muddled story. DDL has changed in recent years from being a bulk supplier of aged and fresh rum to a company focused on selling their El Dorado brand. I think they have done a good job of this in the past and have no reason to believe they won't continue to do a good job this in the future. In my dealings with DDL it has become obvious that they don't want to sell any brand other than El Dorado including Lemon Hart so the fact that they have contract with Mosaiq bodes well for the future of Lemon Hart. At this point there is no US importer and that will have to be worked out with someone who is willing and able to pay almost $50 a case in Federal Excise Tax per case when the product crosses the border, compared to about half that amount for the more usual 80 proof products, plus another few thousand in miscellaneous fees, charges and stuff that you have to deal with as a spirits importer when you bring a container across an international border. While this forum is quite vocal about their search for, and love of this rum, few other consumers really care about a product that has a relatively small market. I believe there will be some good news in the coming months but if you can find some Lemon Hart 151 you should buy it as the supply will be interrupted even if a new importer agreement was signed tomorrow. Thanks for the insightful update Rum Guy. El Dorado, via updates on their Facebook page, have stated an interest in producing a genuine 151 proof demerara rum. Here in the States, El Dorado might represent our best hope of ever seeing a supply of 151 demerara returning to the market. [ Edited by: CincyTikiCraig 2010-09-19 01:29 ]

On 2010-09-18 19:26, Rum guy wrote:
Here's the latest from what I consider to be reliable sources at Mosaiq and DDL. As previously mentioned in this thread, when Lemon Hart brand was owned by Pernod it was blended and bottled in the Windsor, Ontario plant. And according to Mosaiq did not contain any tax-break Canadian rum.

When I first heard about the sale to Mosaiq my concern was that the product, if ever available again, wouldn't be the same blend because DDL wouldn't allow anyone to use the Demerara Rum name on any product that wasn't bottled in Guyana. This was in response to previous problems they had experienced with misuse of their appellation. So when Mosaiq told me that they had permission to use the Demerara Rum name on the Lemon Hart rum they were going to blend and bottle, which hasn't yet begun, I was skeptical.

According to Mosaiq, and confirmed by DDL, there is a contract for DDL to provide bulk rum to Mosaiq to be blended and bottled as Lemon Hart Demerara Rum. So that's the good news for Canada. The US is a slightly more muddled story.

DDL has changed in recent years from being a bulk supplier of aged and fresh rum to a company focused on selling their El Dorado brand. I think they have done a good job of this in the past and have no reason to believe they won't continue to do a good job this in the future. In my dealings with DDL it has become obvious that they don't want to sell any brand other than El Dorado including Lemon Hart so the fact that they have contract with Mosaiq bodes well for the future of Lemon Hart.

At this point there is no US importer and that will have to be worked out with someone who is willing and able to pay almost $50 a case in Federal Excise Tax per case when the product crosses the border, compared to about half that amount for the more usual 80 proof products, plus another few thousand in miscellaneous fees, charges and stuff that you have to deal with as a spirits importer when you bring a container across an international border.

While this forum is quite vocal about their search for, and love of this rum, few other consumers really care about a product that has a relatively small market. I believe there will be some good news in the coming months but if you can find some Lemon Hart 151 you should buy it as the supply will be interrupted even if a new importer agreement was signed tomorrow.

Thanks for the insightful update Rum Guy. El Dorado, via updates on their Facebook page, have stated an interest in producing a genuine 151 proof demerara rum. Here in the States, El Dorado might represent our best hope of ever seeing a supply of 151 demerara returning to the market.

[ Edited by: CincyTikiCraig 2010-09-19 01:29 ]

Post #554696 by CincyTikiCraig on Sun, Sep 19, 2010 1:28 AM