* Rum lovers in the Mid-Atlantic, rejoice!! Potomac Wine and Spirits has their website up, and their cane spirits catalog is super!! Check it out: www.potomacwines.com
* Blackwell Fine Jamaican Rum is now in the USA! Check out my review on the 'Savor This Premium Rum' link!
* Rum Events in Key West during MOTM, November 3 - 5 were a HUGE success!! check out the pictures on the 'Events & Calendar' link!
* Mix and savor the Atlantico Rum Banana Boat on the 'Featured Cocktail' link!
* Check out DonQ Pasion Passion Fruit Rum on the 'Flavored Rum' link!
Paul Artrip ‘The Rum Daddy’ www.therumdaddy.com is a well-known rum expert, bartender/mixologist, and rum aficionado with friends and connections in the United States and Europe. He is a proud member of Rum XP in the USA, and The Academy of Rum Aficionados/UK Rum Experience.
His extensive spirits collection includes over 300 rums, rons, rhums, and cachacas. Paul’s love of spirits ‘spilled’ over into his business, where he created Spirited Adventures, LLC, a brand ambassador, hospitality industry, and mixology consulting firm. Paul’s efforts and events in brand marketing and exposure bring significantly increased publicity and marketing opportunities for cane spirits to the public. Paul’s client list includes dozens of rum distilleries as well as other premium spirits, importers, bars, restaurants, and non-profit organizations. He is a sponsor for the Mel Fisher Celebrations in Key West. He also writes for private publications and Chilled Magazine.
Paul has served as a judge for the 2010 Rum XP Competition in Miami, the 2009 International Rum Competition in Miami, the 2008 Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, the 2007 and 2008 UK RumFest in London, England. the 2006 and 2007 International Cane Spirits Festivals in Ybor City, Florida, and is a repeating judge for the Barritt’s Ginger Beer Mixology Contest.
Paul has performed tasting events and seminars for both established and new products in New York, Connecticut, Washington DC, Virginia, Atlanta, Coral Gables, Florida, Miami, Key West, and London, England. Paul represented Bacardi USA as the moderator at ‘The Long Legacy of Cuban Rum’ Seminar at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans 2009, performed brand ambassador consultations for Cockspur Rums (Hood River Distillery, Oregon, USA) during 2007 and 2008, and represented Cockspur in Miami at the 2008 Gifted Rums Magazine release event. Paul also presented American artisan rums at the Rum Renaissance Miami's inaugural event in May 2009, again in 2010, and again in London, England in 2008. Paul started with tequila mixology, earning the Grand Prize Winner status in the charity-focused Margaritaville Tequila ‘Conky-Tonkin’ Concoction Contest’ in Key West 2005.
Paul combines his love of teaching with his desire to support the spirits industry. “I continue to be an enthusiastic student of spirits, constantly striving to learn. I thoroughly enjoy this journey, this exploration of the alchemy of fermentation, and love to share this journey with others.”
