Edward Hamilton had New Yorkers "Setting Sail for the Islands" with his New York Ministry Of Rum Festival 2008 held at Papillon Bistro & Bar where we had the opportunity to experience 60 delicious rums.

Some guys know how to live; take Edward Hamilton, known to rum aficionados as the man who founded the Ministry Of Rum. Here is a guy who has spent a substantial amount of time sailing around the Caribbean and has drank more rum than probably even Papa Hemingway, and has become a well-respected rum expert; nice work if you can get it. When they say, he wrote the book on rum, he did; he published his book, Rums of the Eastern Caribbean in 1995, and created the Ministry Of Rum that same year. Since then, he has been educating consumers and trade on the nuances of his favorite libation.

Edward Hamilton and Christina J. Jesaitis

The New York Ministry of Rum Festival held on October 20, 2008 created the perfect ambience for an evening of rum tasting upstairs at Papillon Bistro & Bar where the wood floors and long bar helped set the mood. Edward Hamilton assembled an interestingly diverse line-up of products, from high-end players to moderately priced flavored rums; in other words, there was something for every taste and budget.

The boys from Renegade brought batches of artisanal rum with flights of Renegade Jamaica Hampden 1992, Guyana Uitvlught 1995, Guyana Enmore 1990, and Panama Don José 1997, that were very high-end, very different, and definitely are not rums that you that you are going to see at every rum event.

We took a trip to Jamaica and sampled Appleton Estate V/X, Reserve, and Extra 12; we sailed to Barbados and sampled Doorly's XO and Mount Gay where the ladies were pouring Mount Gay Silver, Eclipse, Sugar Cane, and Extra Old; and Ron Barceló of the Dominican Republic offered flights of Ron Barceló Añejo, Ron Barceló Gran Ron Barceló, and Barceló Imperial; Venezuela had a great showing with Diplomático Añejo, Reserva, Reserva Exclusiva, Rum Blanco, and Hacienda Saruro.

New York Ministry Of Rum Festival 2008

Flor de Caña had flights of their Extra Dry 4, Gold 4, Gran Reserva 7, and Centenario 18; Brinley had a selection of flavored rums including Coffee, Lime, Mango, Vanilla, and Coconut; and El Dorado brought their El Dorado 15, El Dorado 3 White, and 5 Gold.

Rounding out the tasting was Vizcaya VXOP Cuban Formula Rum, Cabana Cachaça, Cruzan Single Barrel, Estate Light, and Dark Black Strap; Montecrisco White, Spiced, and 12; Velvet Falernum Liqueur; Alpenz Scarlet Ibis and Alpenz Batavia Arrack, and Castries a peanut rum liqueur.

Martinique Rhum Agricole was well-represented with selections of Depaz Blue Cane Amber Rhum; Neisson Blanc, Neisson Rhum Réserve Spèciale, La Favorite Blanc, and La Favorite Vieux; Clément XO, Clément Cuvee Homere; Rhum J.M. VSOP, and Rhum J.M. 1997.

Paired with tempting hors d'oeuvres that kept coming out of the kitchen at regular intervals, it was a rum-lovers night to be out and about in New York.

To learn more about upcoming Ministry Of Rum events, please visit the website: www.MinistryOfRum.com.

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