One part of Uncle Ron's community that Don Rons and Ronas are proud of is Los Primos..... Los Primos:
Los Primos began in 1997 when Jeff and Amara Goodspeed set out to find some instruments for Cuban music schools, which were experiencing a real shortage.
The first exchange trip was in 1998 when 12 young musicians from the Amadeo Roldan Conservatory landed in Nova Scotia and went straight to Acadia University. They took part in the popular summer jazz camp directed by Jeff. They were a hit with everyone. The Nova Scotia music students were so inspired by the young Cubans that the effect is still being felt today. The teachers had never had such young players with that kid of proficiency on their instruments. For more follow this link to Los Primos.
Supporters
Uncle Ron is supported by many. This can be seen during Uncle Ron's Night were many pitch in and contribute to celebrate sugarcane's nectar.... below are a few....
PUBS
The Rumba at the InterContinental in Boston has always treated the Academy well. Pictured here is John after a great tasting ( John's suggestions will be featured this year at Uncle Ron's Night).
THE HIGHLANDER PUB
At The Highlander Pub in Ottawa the bar tenders are great. Well informed, great attitude and service and make you feel at home. We talked about the samples and how they break them out on the menu to light and floral, fruit and spicy, rich and rounded, peaty and smoky .
One of the bartenders has a Whiskey blog: http://whiskywhiz.com/ We also talked about Uncle Ron’s Academy and asked were we could sample rum in Ottawa. Really nowhere he said. Ottawa is not a rum town! But then he suggested two whiskys that were aged in RUM casks!!!! So that happened….
What a great thing to do on the way or on the way back from supper in the Byward Market… stopping at the Highlander and trying a couple…. here are pics of the Whisky aged in Rum Casks:
 |
| The Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask |
 |
| The BenRaich 15 Year Old Dark Rum Finish |
Stayner's Wharf
Celtic Corner
Rumba Rum and Champagne Bar in Boston's Intercontential, the menu...
When in Miami Beach a great place to sample rums is Havana 1957 At Washington and Esponola .... they have 70 or 80... strange they don't have any from Cuba.....
Distributors
Atlantic Wine and Spirits representing The Kirkwood Group's Flor de Cana.. one of Rona and Rona's favs.
Charton-Hobbs. Suppliers of Uncle Ron's 2006 Night #1 Rum and consistant top finisher Goslings.....
Corby Distilleries Ltd. They have the magic that is in the Rum Pot.. Lambs.. and of course Havana Club who all Ron and Ronas enjoy...
Beam Global Spirits and Wine.... What can we say... They supply two time winner Cruzan Black Strap and last year was the top finisher of locally sourced rums... and other Cruzans have been top finishers as well...
A new supporter is Kriskott Distributors Limited... who represent Diamond Estates Wine and Spirits Ltd. They have a wack of rums Uncle Ron's stocks... Iceberg Rum, Screech (been in the top 5), Rhum Barbancourt, we believe they have Antigua's English Harbour as well....
PMA Canada Ltd. What can Dons and Donas say... Appleton's and one of Uncle Ron's new favs... Sailor Jerry... Coruba
Speciality Stores
Premier Wine and Spirits (Nova Scotia)... They carry last year's winner...ZAYA and Santa Teresa 1796 check out their product list...
Bishop's Cellar (Nova Scotia)They carry some fine rums including Bacardi 8 year old, El Dorado 15 year old, Pussers and more..... check out their listings...
Of course there is the NSLC ( Nova Scotia)... you can do a search on their web site for rums and what stores carry them.
Harvest Wines and Spirits (Nova Scotia)... we picked up the Rogue Spirits Dark Rum there... and they had a few other's as well... Watch their web site for when they move to a new location.
Bauer Wines and Spirits (Boston's Newbury St.) Great service great all round...
Cloud Nine in the Calgary Airport... both in the concourse and in the Gate area..
The Sherbrooke Liquor Store in Edmonton, Alberta is highly recommended by Don Ron Bill... And don't forget to watch for the launch of an Uncle Ron's Academy in Edmonton.
A great selection of Rum is to be found at I Love( heart) Liquor.... at 1632 Collins Ave. Miami Beach, Fla. But first you ccan sample from the line up at Havana 1957.... see above at Pubs....
Links To Rum Reviewers, Blogs and Web Sites.
Uncle Ron is very fortunate to be part of a world of people who enjoy rum... Many of these folk have taken the time to not just savour but share. The Academy has provided “links” to many of these. In particular to those who take the time to write reviews. Their links can be found throughout the blog... These rummy writers are:
The BilgeMunky, Because Pirateyness is Next To Godliness.
National Area Food and Drink Examiners explore topics and share their insights.
The Rum Dood spreading the gospel of good drinking.
The Rum Daddy. Premium Spirits Marketing and Consulting.
The Ministry of Rum. Dedicated to the Understanding and Apprecistion of the Noble Spirit- Rum.
The Rum Howler Blog (and Now Whisky too).
El Machete's Rum Reviews is dedicated to the honest reviews of the sophisticated and versatile sugar based spirit.
The Art of Drink is currently one of the top cocktail and drink weblog on the Internet
Capn Jimbo's Rum Project Forum Is Rum Appreciation by and for the Compleat Idiot
The Rum Club takes taste and curiosity adds passion and knowledge.
Rum Reviews... Is Your Guide to Great Rum
Scottes' Rum Pages is about rum in all forms and attempts to taste and learn about as many good ones as possible.
