Mmm…Rogue Hazelnut Spice Rum
I received this Rogue Hazelnut Spice Rum for free. It’s not available here. Yet I have it.
I knew of the existence of it because I’m a big nerd and use Wikipedia for everything. Several months ago the boyfriend and I wanted to learn the difference between rum and cachaca as they’re both derivatives of sugar cane. If you haven’t tried cachaca, don’t. . It’s used in a popular Brazilian cocktail called a caipirinha. Anyway, we were researching the differences between rum and cachaca and happened upon information about the Rogue Hazelnut Spice Rum. It’s made in Oregon and not widely available.
I may be allergic to rum but that didn’t stop me from wanting to try this stuff. I love Rogue’s Hazelnut Brown Ale so I figured the rum would be fantastic. But how to obtain it? Perhaps I’ll take that long-awaited trip to Oregon to visit Alison and I’ll smuggle it back with me? Perhaps I’ll ask Alison to covertly mail some to me?
Then I forgot about it. Fast forward to a few weeks ago at work. A group of 12 people came into the restaurant for dinner. We barely had room to accommodate them. Turns out that there is a beer conference in town. The owner and founder of Sam Adams is at the table. We don’t carry Sam Adams…he wasn’t so happy. There were also owners/founders/bigwigs from Brooklyn, Fat Tire, Pyramid and Rogue at the table. One of the Rogue guys asked to speak to a manager at the end of the meal. That would be me. He was very nice and very happy with their dining experience…aside from the not carrying Sam Adams thing. He was also very pleased that we have a Rogue beer on the menu. He went back to the table where they were finishing the meal.
Then I spontaneously remembered the existence of the rum. And did something very unlike me…I went to the table and asked about it. Why I’m not shy in the restaurant is beyond me. Anyhow…the Rogue guy I’d already spoken to introduced me tothe owner and founder of Rogue. They were pretty happy that I knew of the rum at all. The owner referred me to the third Rogue guy at the table. I asked when it would be available in Virginia and how I could go about getting some. It’s only available in 22 states…but he said he’d send me a bottle. I ran off to get my business card. Then I ended up meeting the founder of Sam Adams and apologizing profusely for the lack of it on the menu. The Brooklyn guy was also introduced to me and he said we had a great beer list. But not a perfect one…due to the lack of Sam Adams.
So…that was a few weeks ago. I kind of didn’t really think the rum would arrive. But it did. Now I need to come up with some cocktails to drink.