http://rumcouncil.com/
It seems like some so called experts have gotten together.
New Rum Site
Note to Distillers
Whores'We are interested in hearing from you. We are aware of no brand or bottle that does not seek nor need greater awareness both by consumers and the industry as a whole. Our mission is to help you realize that additional exposure.
The founders of the International Rum Council are always looking for new rums to promote, review and write about. We would like to visit your facility, then leverage our media and readers to tell them about your rum and the story behind your brand. We believe that the knowledge of rum begins at the source.'
in goes your eye out
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Capn Jimbo
- Rum Evangelisti and Compleat Idiot
- Posts: 3550
- Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:53 pm
- Location: Paradise: Fort Lauderdale of course...
- Contact:
When the ship is sinking - the rats leave in groups...
What a joke. This "international" council is made of the same old, same olds of professionals and wannabees as always. Apparently if you can't make it on your own, you organize. Robert Turncoat Burr created a very loose organization which as the PR expert he is, he called the "Rum XP" panel (XP for ex-spurt). He proposed this as yet another "service" to distillers, who would ostensibly pay for the "panel" to evaluate their spirits and make suggestions.
The list included some top names and some bottom names as well. To my knowledge the "panel" has never done much at all beyond gracing the Burr Bothers home page. A few do show up in Miami to act as "judges". Nice little closed club, eh?
Back to the "International" uh "Council. My guess - knowing the cutthroat nature of rum promotion, some of these distant parties really can't get to Miami and/or wish to use their hallowed reputations to make a few more shekels.
So what does this clearly commercial group propose?
1. "Events" that already occur, and a couple of Windjammer theme cruises, one featuring Dave Russell (who broke up with his loving partner). Dave started as a wannabee, now he's facking cruise director.
A note: South Florida is the capital of the cruise industry. Our largest cruise ship carries nearly 7,000 drunken idiots at a time. And the themes abound: one-eyed-optomotrists? There's a cruise for you. The theme matters little.
2. "Publications": three of the four are three old websites we sadly already know of, and some guy pushing a cookbook that proposes that rum is "equal to other spirits in gastronomy." Tell that to the wine industry.
3. "Travel": Let the boyz say it best: "All five founders of the International Rum Council are pleased to be hosted by the Martinique Ministry of Tourism as they proudly show us the island, people, culture, craft and quality of Martinique Rhum Agricoles. Yup. Just like the Artic Bozo was "pleased to be hosted" by the DDL in Guyana to "learn about the culture of Guyana". Speaking of Martinique, when's the last time you french kissed a rectum? The Preacher must be going mad as he considers Martinique his private preserve.
4. "Public Speaking": yup, the usual recycled information with tidbits about the history of rum, glasses (you're welcome), styles (you're very welcome), etc. We are to believe that the "councli" has specially authorized information and such unique expertise as to be paid to come to your fair city and speak about rum from these far away and mysterious islands from a place known as, where was it again? Oh yes, a chain of islands named after the Carib Indians. For money, of course. At the least, I'm glad the esteemed council has finally recognized the notion of styles. Maybe.
In sum...
Blah, blah, blah. And blah.
Same old, same old. Naturally, I sent the following missive to the boyz...
Bottom Line
It's deja vu all over again. The first big promoter was the Rum Queen, who first promoted the Preacher who then sued her and went off on his own. Next up: Turncoat Burr who attended both the Queen's and Preacher's events, then fell out (violently) with the Preacher and started rolling his own. Now the Council Boyz who first appeared in part, on Burr's "Rum XP" panel, now established a panel, er "council" of their own.
And so it goes, round and round - clockwise - like a flushing toilet...
What a joke. This "international" council is made of the same old, same olds of professionals and wannabees as always. Apparently if you can't make it on your own, you organize. Robert Turncoat Burr created a very loose organization which as the PR expert he is, he called the "Rum XP" panel (XP for ex-spurt). He proposed this as yet another "service" to distillers, who would ostensibly pay for the "panel" to evaluate their spirits and make suggestions.
The list included some top names and some bottom names as well. To my knowledge the "panel" has never done much at all beyond gracing the Burr Bothers home page. A few do show up in Miami to act as "judges". Nice little closed club, eh?
Back to the "International" uh "Council. My guess - knowing the cutthroat nature of rum promotion, some of these distant parties really can't get to Miami and/or wish to use their hallowed reputations to make a few more shekels.
So what does this clearly commercial group propose?
1. "Events" that already occur, and a couple of Windjammer theme cruises, one featuring Dave Russell (who broke up with his loving partner). Dave started as a wannabee, now he's facking cruise director.
A note: South Florida is the capital of the cruise industry. Our largest cruise ship carries nearly 7,000 drunken idiots at a time. And the themes abound: one-eyed-optomotrists? There's a cruise for you. The theme matters little.
2. "Publications": three of the four are three old websites we sadly already know of, and some guy pushing a cookbook that proposes that rum is "equal to other spirits in gastronomy." Tell that to the wine industry.
3. "Travel": Let the boyz say it best: "All five founders of the International Rum Council are pleased to be hosted by the Martinique Ministry of Tourism as they proudly show us the island, people, culture, craft and quality of Martinique Rhum Agricoles. Yup. Just like the Artic Bozo was "pleased to be hosted" by the DDL in Guyana to "learn about the culture of Guyana". Speaking of Martinique, when's the last time you french kissed a rectum? The Preacher must be going mad as he considers Martinique his private preserve.
4. "Public Speaking": yup, the usual recycled information with tidbits about the history of rum, glasses (you're welcome), styles (you're very welcome), etc. We are to believe that the "councli" has specially authorized information and such unique expertise as to be paid to come to your fair city and speak about rum from these far away and mysterious islands from a place known as, where was it again? Oh yes, a chain of islands named after the Carib Indians. For money, of course. At the least, I'm glad the esteemed council has finally recognized the notion of styles. Maybe.
In sum...
Blah, blah, blah. And blah.
Same old, same old. Naturally, I sent the following missive to the boyz...
Moi: "My dear friends, who with the exception of author Grooms I know well. As you are well aware The Rum Project is more than well established, and entirely non-commercial. We are known for a commitment to pure and unadulterated rum and entirely honest labeling (in the fashion of American bourbon and of Scotch and Irish whisk(e)ys.
Rum is not yet "the noble spirit" of the MOR. But it surely can be.
Although many of you accept rum for whatever is in the bottle, you are certainly aware that a growing number of afficianados prefer rums of relative purity and honesty.
Although our view is not the dominant one in the world of anything goes rum, it is a significant one. Accordingly, if you are honest with yourselves you would enhance your "council" by including a well spoken and recognized advocate for this growing and important viewpoint.
If you have the cajones, I have the time. What say you?"
Bottom Line
It's deja vu all over again. The first big promoter was the Rum Queen, who first promoted the Preacher who then sued her and went off on his own. Next up: Turncoat Burr who attended both the Queen's and Preacher's events, then fell out (violently) with the Preacher and started rolling his own. Now the Council Boyz who first appeared in part, on Burr's "Rum XP" panel, now established a panel, er "council" of their own.
And so it goes, round and round - clockwise - like a flushing toilet...
Last edited by Capn Jimbo on Sat Mar 30, 2013 10:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
And they firmly subscribe to the Ed Hamilton modus operandi. That being if there is an opposing opinion then delete it, bury it, sing 'lalalala with fingers in the ears and pretend it never happened.
Their Facebook site 'Caribbean Rum' received a very skeptical view on their self nominated council. That view was summarily deleted and a new announcement then posted with comments disallowed.
Whores. cowards, untrustworthy, money seeking anti rum dogs and wankers.
The sad thing is...they'll probably succeed in gaining some modicum of credibility when in fact they have none.
Just because someone has been drinking rum for 10 years or more and has spoken regularly about it doesn't make them an expert. I've been having sex for about 25 years now and speak about it a LOT but I'm still a dud root.
Their Facebook site 'Caribbean Rum' received a very skeptical view on their self nominated council. That view was summarily deleted and a new announcement then posted with comments disallowed.
Whores. cowards, untrustworthy, money seeking anti rum dogs and wankers.
The sad thing is...they'll probably succeed in gaining some modicum of credibility when in fact they have none.
Just because someone has been drinking rum for 10 years or more and has spoken regularly about it doesn't make them an expert. I've been having sex for about 25 years now and speak about it a LOT but I'm still a dud root.
in goes your eye out
Who in the hell is the rum queen?
*******
Capn's Log: "The Rum Queen" is Dori Bryant, who used to work for Playboy Enterprises - but not recently. Look up "The Polished Palate". She was the first to organize first Tequila, then Rum Festivals in the US and was quite successfull. Her Rum Festival in Tampa was quite the event, and open enough to even invite us as judges.
The Preacher was one of her early presenters before he decided to sue her. Big Burr and his snot-nosed, smartass of a son used to attend. Big Burr would schmooze the distributors with his future fest in mind, while dingbat was reputed to strut around, demanding freebies by glaring and castigating the tablemasters "Do you know who I am!?". Sure, an arse.
Dori was nice, engaging and energetic but not a business partner that could be trusted. Her very successful string ran out, and she sold out to a big corporation. She was/is very close to Diageo and in the case of rum, Zacapa.
*******
Capn's Log: "The Rum Queen" is Dori Bryant, who used to work for Playboy Enterprises - but not recently. Look up "The Polished Palate". She was the first to organize first Tequila, then Rum Festivals in the US and was quite successfull. Her Rum Festival in Tampa was quite the event, and open enough to even invite us as judges.
The Preacher was one of her early presenters before he decided to sue her. Big Burr and his snot-nosed, smartass of a son used to attend. Big Burr would schmooze the distributors with his future fest in mind, while dingbat was reputed to strut around, demanding freebies by glaring and castigating the tablemasters "Do you know who I am!?". Sure, an arse.
Dori was nice, engaging and energetic but not a business partner that could be trusted. Her very successful string ran out, and she sold out to a big corporation. She was/is very close to Diageo and in the case of rum, Zacapa.
It seems to me that a lot if not the majority of the freebies come from the small Caribbean countries and there rum producers. Yet when it comes to protecting this free source of wealth in terms of rum knowledge resources for your website or living the freebie crowd still tow the line of the big three who are far less generous as they have the sales and advertising to back them up so the are not so reliant on the publicity or the rum bloggers/critics.
Talk about not seeing the wood for the trees and slowly cutting your own throat.
Talk about not seeing the wood for the trees and slowly cutting your own throat.
Nooooooo, Diageo and the other two are big bet hedgers. The Caribbean rums whore themselves out and aren´t innocent lambs but Diageo is right in there with them.
The major difference is that in the majority of cases Carribean rum is well made with a good to great quality where the big three's agenda is to pump out lowest cost crap, bottle it with pretty labels, give it a bullshit backstory and sell it for way over what the rotgut is worth.
But this site is for calling out the bullshit and making a big deal over the now accepted disgraceful behaviour of reviewers, distilleries, promoters and marketers in the rum industry.
As a true fan of rum it is essential to yell BULLSHIT! when we see it.
The major difference is that in the majority of cases Carribean rum is well made with a good to great quality where the big three's agenda is to pump out lowest cost crap, bottle it with pretty labels, give it a bullshit backstory and sell it for way over what the rotgut is worth.
But this site is for calling out the bullshit and making a big deal over the now accepted disgraceful behaviour of reviewers, distilleries, promoters and marketers in the rum industry.
As a true fan of rum it is essential to yell BULLSHIT! when we see it.
in goes your eye out