Forbidden Island RUMFEST 2008 IS ON!

Aloha!

Forbidden Island is pleased to announce RUMFEST 2008, our second annual month-long celebration of all things rum. Throughout February, we’ll be introducing rare and exclusive new rums, rum events, tastings and more.

First, get yourself acquainted with our rum collection with our new, more detailed rum menu, featuring more information, notes, and new tasting flights. Join our new Kill-Devil Club: Pick up your checklist at the bar and keep track of your favorites. Try them all and be immortalized with a brass plaque behind the bar!

And don’t miss these events:

February 7th- Rum & Chocolate Pairing.

A perfect match for dessert- or anytime! Sugar cane and cacao beans thrive in the same growing regions of the world- taste super premium chocolates matched with rums from the same countries. Experience how different styles of rum pair with milk & dark chocolates. Tickets are $20 and on sale at Forbidden Island beginning January 15th. Advanced tickets are REQUIRED.

Last day to buy Rum & Chocolate Tickets is Sunday Feb. 3rd. At FI only. $20

February 14th- Valentine’s Day with romantic tunes from the ol’ softie himself, DJ Jab, special drinks for two menu, and more!

February 21st @ 7:00pm- Forbidden Island and Gosling’s Rum present “It was a Dark & Stormy Night”.

Come on down to FI and enjoy a specially priced Dark & Stormy made with Gosling’s Rum and Martin’s brutally strong housemade ginger beer! (while supplies last!). Plus savor a dram of Gosling’s rare Family Reserve Old Rum, pick up some cool Gosling’s goodies, and listen to the sweet sounds of DJ Tanoa. The perfect way to face those dark winter nights.

February 27th at 7:00pm: RUM 201: Advanced Rum with Edward Hamilton.

Forbidden Island is pleased to welcome back Edward Hamilton, internationally known rum expert and the author of four books on rum. Edward will be teaching an “upper division” course on rum to build on the class he taught at Forbidden Island last year. But don’t worry, Rum 101 is not a pre-requisite for this class! Ed will discuss in detail the differences in rum blends and styles, featuring navy and demerara rums, identifying the differences between molasses vs. sugar cane rums, and more. Of course, there will be a matched tasting with the class, featuring some of the finest rums in the world. Tasting tickets are available in advance for $30, but supplies are limited, so hurry in. ** TICKETS WILL NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR FOR THIS EVENT. IT IS SOLD OUT** Don’t miss this very special event!

Stay tuned in the coming week for more announcements about our new rums.

Mahalo!

[ Edited by: martiki 2008-01-14 10:50 ]

[ Edited by: martiki 2008-01-21 15:51 ]

[ Edited by: martiki 2008-02-01 10:46 ]

[ Edited by: martiki 2008-02-12 10:30 ]

[ Edited by: martiki 2008-02-25 09:32 ]

wow!!
and all on weekdays :(

there are not many times I wish I lived somewhere else than So. Cal.
but your special events always make me feel that way.

Cheers
Jeff(bigtikidude)

Excellent... I'm well on my way to some kind of advanced degree in Rum-ology.

Martiki, how can we obtain tickets for Rum 201?

[ Edited by: RikiTikiTavi 2008-01-14 14:22 ]

how do I purchase tickets? Also what time is the event on the 7th?

XOXO Baby Doe

Tickets are on sale at FI starting right now, and are already selling.

Rum 201 is limited to 40, and Rum and Chocolate is unlimited.

Rum and Chocolate is a "self-guided" event so it starts anytime you come in with a ticket on the 7th. But tickets for that must be purchased in advance so I know how much chocolate to buy!

-martin

Aloha!

As part of our Rumfest 2008 celebration, we are pleased to announce that Forbidden Island is now offering for sale one of the rarest and most historically significant rums in the world: British Royal Navy Imperial Rum.

This unique rum is among the last remaining stocks of rum that represented over 300 years of Royal Navy tradition. The association of rum with the British Royal Navy began in 1655 when the British fleet captured the island of Jamaica. With the availability of domestically produced rum, the British changed the daily ration of liquor given to seamen from French brandy to rum. The daily ritual was as follows: at six bells, the boatswain's whistle signaled "Up Spirits" and the crew assembled for their daily "tot" (as the ration was called). The rum was poured into a special bowl inscribed to the King and tots were dispensed with great ceremony.

While the ration was originally given neat, or mixed with lime juice, the practice of watering down the rum began around 1740. To help minimize the effect of the alcohol on his sailors, Admiral Edward Vernon directed that the rum ration be watered down before being issued, a mixture which became known as grog in honor of the grogram cloak Admiral Vernon wore in rough weather. The addition of lime juice, which helped to prevent scurvy, earned the British the nickname “limeys.”

According to Royal Naval legend, after his victory at the Battle of Trafalgar, Admiral Horatio Nelson's body was preserved in a cask of rum to allow transport back to England. Upon arrival, however, the cask was opened and found to be empty of rum. The pickled body was removed and, upon inspection, it was discovered that the sailors had drilled a hole in the bottom of the cask and drunk all the rum, in the process drinking Nelson's blood. Thus, this tale serves as a basis for the term “Nelson's Blood” being used to describe rum.

By the early 1900s, the ration had been reduced to one-eighth of a pint. Because the quantity was reduced, the Sea Lords demanded that quality standards increase. Rum brokers experimented with blending and the formulas eventually became closely guarded secrets. They carried over the older rum blend in a technique akin to the Solera system for sherry or in the old Cognac Houses. This created a layered, rich, noble rum.

Although the American Navy ended the daily rum ration on September 1, 1862, the ration continued in the Royal Navy. On January 28, 1970 the "Great Rum Debate" took place in the House of Commons, and on July 31, 1970 the last pipe of "Up Spirits" in the Royal Navy was heard and is referred to today as "Black Tot Day."

After Black Tot Day, the remaining stock silently aged in bonded underground warehouses in Jamaica under the authority and supervision of the British Government who owned the old stock. Until recently, the final stores of this special rum have been reserved for important naval and Royal functions. It was last served by the Crown at the wedding of Prince Andrew, a Royal Navy Officer. This rum, commissioned over 50 years ago, has been kept in its original Imperial gallon containers. Measuring 4.54 liters, the demijohns are handmade ceramic jars, encased in hand-woven wicker baskets designed to transport well on the high seas.

Forbidden Island is fortunate to have acquired a demijohn of this rum, and is pleased to offer this taste of history to our guests. F. Paul Pacult of the prestigious Spirit Journal gives this rum five stars, his highest recommendation. Experience for yourself the last drops of three centuries of tradition.

(credit to wikipedia and rum numb davey for the writeup)

Wow! That's cool! Can you tell us what a taste of this piece of history will cost?

RUM 201 is SOLD OUT! Thank you!!