Was just advised that the Big Three managed to lobby our dear government for even more money. I guess billions wasn't enough. The TTB - faithful servants to the public, er the major corporations - made the following changes in recent ruling 2014-5, et al:
This current gift/ruling had to do with the idea that the Three are bringing in rum they already made elsewhere, but claim that they are making changes enough to have spirits made elsewhere qualify for subsidies (as though they originated in the USVI and Puerto Rico). This would be under a clause that "substantial changes" occur in the islands.
In other words, token changes should not qualify for subsidies. But here's what our appointed arsehole regulators decided:
- 1. In the first case, the companies proposed that foreign distilled rum was brought into the island to be redistilled and then exported to the US. Subsidies were denied as this was considered a "token change". Good so far.
But natch, The Big Three wouldn't give up, so...
2. In the second case, the companies were importing foreign rum, then claimed they were making "substantial changes" in the form of mixing the foreign rum with rum made in the islands, as well as other "changes" including aging in barrels, use of oak chips or filtration. In this case the TTBA's (TTB Arseholes) held that as long as the foreign rum is mixed with local rum, and undergoes just two processes, it qualfies!
I might add that what is called "rum" insofar as these softball regulations doesn't even have to be 100% rum! In fact, just 90% does it! Did you didn't know that - I sure didn't. To me this allows yet another gaping loophole, eg for GNS from any source to be added to the rum - obtain the subsidies - and still be labeled "rum".
Flat Ass Bottom Line
In not much over a year, the massive subsidies have already severely damaged Caribbean rum. Local shelves are now dominated by Big Three and generic crap - literally - 95% of the shelves, including the key eye level shelves. The subsidies are now increasing as the Big Three have figured out to launder even their foreign made product through the USVI and PR to qualify for even more backbreaking subsidies.
And we pay them to do it!
Friends, if rum as we knew it isn't actually dead, it seems to be in the death throes. The terrific local selections of just five years ago are now almost gone. It is just sickening. Today I spoke to yet another Total Wine genius who knew squat about the rums. The simple truth...
He didn't have to. There's no longer anything to know.
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http://www.ttb.gov/rulings/2014-5.pdf
