The Lucy June Cocktail: Bartenders from Macao Trading Co teach us about a pear purée Brugal Rum cocktail for sipping from summer to fall

The Lucy June Cocktail


Rum doesn’t tend to be first on most people’s lists when approaching the cocktail scene. Its history lends itself to associations with summer parties and wild nights. In fact, high-end rum has only found a home behind bars over the past few years….

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The Salty Bird Cocktail: Welcome summer with pineapple, Campari and black strap rum

The Salty Bird Cocktail


We recently joined Theo Lieberman of NYC’s Milk & Honey to try out his latest creation; a fruity and bitter cocktail ideal for tropical living. Crafted in tandem with Lauren Schell of ,…

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Angel’s Envy Rye Whiskey: Rye re-imagined with a Caribbean rum cask finish

Angel's Envy Rye Whiskey


When it comes to whiskey, experimentation should be done with caution. There’s a reason the rules are in place, but great things can come from coloring outside the lines. Distiller Lincoln Henderson of Louisville Distilling Company…

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GreenBar Collective

We tour the LA distillery home to the world’s largest collection of organic spirits

GreenBar Collective

Cocktail enthusiasts gave a collective cheer when word got out that GreenBar Collective—the LA-based brand known for its collection of top-notch organic licquors and sustainably-crafted spirits—was moving into bigger digs. With more space to accommodate its growing menu of infused vodkas, complex gins and spiced rums (the only exception…

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Brugal 1888

Double-aging and distilling makes for this ultra-smooth sipping rum
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If how quickly our bottle of Brugal’s 1888 Ron Gran Reserva Familiar went is any indication, you’ll keep this tipple within easy access at the front of the liquor cabinet. The perfectly-balanced 1888, one of the smoothest rums we’ve tasted, is the upshot of five generations of experience in one masterful blend. Double-distilled and double-aged (first in American oak barrels followed by Spanish sherry casks), this Brugal projects a light sweetness and isn’t overbearingly smoky or spicy. The aging process brings out the rum’s full flavor without overly complicating the taste, making it an excellent sipping rum.

Topping off the elegantly beautiful bottle design, a weighty gold-toned cap lends a sense of quality that adds to the rich experience of this delicious drink. An annual limited-release rum—the label indicates the lot number and year of production—and at only $50 a bottle, the 1888 reserve is a great value for its exceptional taste. Already selling in New York, 1888 will hit stores around the U.S. beginning mid-September 2011.


DonQ Master of All Skills

Take our culture quiz and compete to win a trip to Puerto Rico to experience the art of rum-making first-hand

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DonQ Master of all Skills

It’s one thing to master making a cocktail, and yet another to actually craft a spirit. Here at CH, we’ve experienced first-hand the skill and art that goes into creating a variety of our favorite drinks. The balance between rigorous dedication to tradition and having an eye on innovation is a principle that resonates just as much in the art and design world as it does in a distillery, which is why we’re excited to be a part of the Master of All Skills project. DonQ Rum, founded 146 years ago in Puerto Rico, offered us and a small group of other great sites the opportunity to work with them on crafting our very own rum. However, before anyone gets to celebrate the creation of our specially produced spirit, DonQ has an even more exciting opportunity for Cool Hunting’s readers.

DonQ tapped Cool Hunting to create a quiz that tests your knowledge of all things cultural, with the opportunity to win an exclusive party for you and 25 of your friends and a trip to Puerto Rico to experience the art of rum-making firsthand. For more information on prizes see the Master of All Skills site, and if you’re ready to take the challenge on, our quiz is waiting after the jump.