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Famed Caribbean Rum Undergoes Renaming Following Controversy Over Slavery Connections
A well-known Caribbean rum has undergone a rebrand due to concerns related to its “hurtful” connections to slavery.
Maison Ferrand, a spirits manufacturer, altered the name of its rum from Plantation to Planteray. This month, bottles displaying the updated name will be distributed internationally.
The organization initially committed to renaming the beverage in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, which flared up following the killing of George Floyd in 2020.
Global demonstrations triggered broad-ranging debates on systemic racism and the ramifications of colonial history, leading to a slew of brands being scrutinized for potentially offensive affiliations.
But delays were caused by trademarking the new name in 120 countries, the company said.
Alexandre Gabriel, the rum’s creator and master blender, said at the time: “We understand the hurtful connotation the word ‘plantation’ can evoke to some people, especially in its association with much graver images and dark realities of the past.
“We look to grow in our understanding of these difficult issues and while we don’t currently have all the details of what our brand name evolution will involve, we want to let everyone know that we are working to make fitting changes.”
The new name comes from the word “plant” to reference the sugar cane origin of the rum and “ray” to refer to “the sun, being open to people, the heritage and savoir-faire of rum”, according to a post on the brand’s Instagram account.
It was revealed by the business proprietor in a media gathering at the West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados this month.
“Starting today, the transformation from Plantation to Planteray gets underway,” expressed founder Gabriel.
“Trademarking a name that embodies our brand philosophy in 120 countries was a drawn-out progression. Rest assured, our rum, which we’ve been creating with pride for over 25 years, remains unchanged. It will continue to be made with an equal level of proficiency, dedication, and attention, just under a new name – Planteray Rum.
“We sustain our firm commitment to producing the same notable rum from Barbados and the finest rum terroirs across the globe.”
Nizlopi Recalls Ed Sheeran’s Work Experience Days and the Making of the JCB Song
‘We’d get big, rugby-playing men coming up to us in tears and saying “I miss my dad” – or “I love my dad and I’ve never told him”’
John and I began songwriting together when we were 13. After university, we both moved back in with our parents in the Midlands and began writing an album. One day while my dad was cooking, I asked, “What should I write a song about?” He casually said, “Diggers.” He used to drive a Massey Ferguson digger for his father’s groundworks company and would pick me up from school in it. Compared to a bully at school, my dad felt so warm, safe and loving. In 90 minutes, I had penned down a song about these contrasting experiences.
Working at London youth centres, I used to commute from Leamington Spa a few times a week. The garage sound that was popular at the time inspired me. I had a rhythm in my head and it went like, “I’m Luke, I’m five and my dad’s Bruce Lee.” When I combined this double-timing rhythm, it felt magical.
People were a bit taken aback by the song’s quirkiness. One line that got many laughs was “The engine rattles my bum like berserk.” By the end, the audience would be laughing and nodding along. We included the song in our debut album and in early 2005, started to compile the hand-drawn video. We published it online in 30-second increments as the artist progressed. Soon, HMV wrote to us asking about the song’s release as customers wanted to purchase it.
It was No 1 just before Christmas 2005. In late January, we played a sold-out show at Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London. And it turns out, Ed Sheeran was there. Ed would have been about 14 then. He just kept writing to us: “Could I do work experience with you?” He was very intense. He just wanted to rap-battle us all the time because Eminem’s 8 Mile had just come out. It was Ed’s vision and his gift to be a pop star, but at that stage it wasn’t what I was about.
We had been playing to 200 people a night with a certain vision, mission and purpose – then suddenly this one song just goes boom and we’re at Hyde Park playing to 20,000 people. It’s damaging to the integrity of a living system to grow that quickly. It caused a lot of rupture, stress and conflict and was part of what broke up the band. It’s almost like if a child is growing at a steady rate and that child grows 300ft in six months – it’s probably gonna hurt and it might even kill the child.
I taught Luke to play guitar so it’s my fault, really. When he played the song to me, I was going, “Er, JCBs? Er, really?” Once we’d played it a few times, changed a few things musically, I still thought it was a bit naff. I guess I didn’t quite get it until we started playing it live.
It was then that you’d get big, rugby-playing men coming up to you in tears, going: “I miss my dad” or “I love my dad and I’ve never told him.” Luke was very good at orchestrating the audience into a kind of choir. It’s a funny song because obviously it’s about Luke when he was five with his dad, but it’s amazing how many dads are builders and work in construction and let their sons sit in their diggers.
We used to take work experience kids: they got a week in the studio and a week on the road. Ed Sheeran stood out. I remember him being very enthusiastic, always asking questions. I do remember, in Bristol, him just drinking our rider. It was a full-on gig for me and I was like: “I could really do with a cold beer.” All gone. I said to Luke: “We can’t have him on tour.” In 2006, he opened a show for us in Norwich, not far from his home town, and he had the whole audience in the palm of his hand. I said: “Oh, we’ve created a monster here.”
I don’t think we believed we had a hit until we started doing things like Richard and Judy. When you’re a creative, you spend most of your time saying to aunties and uncles: “It is a proper job.” When you’re on Top of the Pops and you’re No 1, they get off your back for a while.
The JCB Song is almost totally separate from Nizlopi now. Luke and I had always talked about what we wanted – we wanted to be as big as U2 – but when we started tentatively going up that ladder, both of us had very different reactions. It put a lot of pressures on us. I think we forgot for a while that the band was a friendship, and that we were friends who played music together, not musicians that became friends.
Unreleased Nizlopi material is available on Patreon via www.lukeconcannon.com
Experience a Four-Course Wine Dinner at Breaker Featuring a French Vintner Representative: The Dish Special Edition
Four culinary experts from The Breakers, inclusive of its wine director and executive chief of restaurants, are the powerhouses behind an opulent wine dinner happening this Wednesday at the resort hotel.
The extravaganza set to begin at 7 p.m. in The Breakers’ Magnolia Room, will regale attendees with a four-course dinner which will be married with commendable wines from the respected French vineyard Château Cos d’Estournel located in the Bordeaux region.
To ensure exclusivity, the seating at this event is capped and would-be attendees are required to book their spot in advance. The event will be under the patronage of Charles Thomas from Cos d’Estournel who will be the guest of honor.
The maestros behind the curtain orchestrating this grand event are pair of master sommeliers Virginia Philip, also the wine director, and Juan Gomez, both from The Breakers.
Joey Tuazon, the esteemed chef at The Breakers’ HMF, alongside the resort’s executive chef of restaurants, Anthony Sicignano, take the culinary stage.
The wine dinner kicks off following a wine reception replete with passed hors d’oeuvres, starting dynamic with a seared sea scallop dish that features crispy rice, a spiced yogurt ginger crème, and a delectable tomato confit.
Turning up the taste a notch, the second course is HMF’s take on the “pot pie” – an exquisite blend of corn, leeks, the pungent Roquefort, and blueberry jam.
The culinary journey proceeds to a third course highlighted by a tantalizing wood-grilled cut of tender beef tenderloin, served with a dash of truffled parsnip purée, roasted varieties of salsify, the earthy chanterelles, and a bold syntax of red-wine currant sauce.
The final act of the culinary experience presents itself in the form of decadent chocolate truffles for dessert.
Several wine pairings during the evening will include, among others, Cos d’Estournel Bordeaux Blanc 2018; Les Pagodes de Cos d’Estournel 2016 in magnum; and Château Cos Labory Red Bordeaux 2018.
The Wednesday wine dinner at The Breakers is $525 a person.
For more information or to make a required advance reservation, call (561) 659-8980, ext. 7949.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Four-course Breakers wine dinner focuses on French house
Discover the World’s Best Whiskey: A Top-Rated and Affordable Bourbon
Jim Beam and Jack Daniel’s have long been leaders in the American whiskey market. In terms of sales, there simply isn’t a touch on them. Last year, as reported by The Spirits Business, Jack Daniel’s sold 14.6 million cases, whereas Jim Beam sold 16.7 million, ranking them as the two top selling whiskey brands globally. This is a crown that one of the pair has held for a minimum of five years. However, this popularity doesn’t translate as strongly to the bar scene as it used to.
Each year, Drinks International, a news platform for the liquor industry, surveys top 100 bars across 33 countries to discover the drink orders of consumers. The chosen bars consistently feature on renowned lists such as World’s 50 Best Bars and Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards. Following the survey, Drinks International publishes its conclusive Brands Report, providing an insight into the purchasing habits and trending brands in the world’s best bars.
Topping the list for the second consecutive year is Maker’s Mark, one of our beloved cost-effective bourbons, famed for its red-wax-dipped top. Jim and Jack, formerly the go-to brands for a “shot and a beer” or mixed drinks, have made room for slightly pricier counterparts. This shift indicates an openness among consumers to pay a little more for a superior pour, or the patrons of these surveyed bars are simply more willing to spend more.
Related: 2024’s Best Cheap Whiskies for A Budget-Friendly Bottle
Regardless, the titanic twosome of America’s whiskey finds itself in the seventh and eighth positions, in spite of their well-established reputation in the worldwide marketplace:
Maker’s Mark
Bulleit
Michter’s
Woodford Reserve
Buffalo Trace
Wild Turkey
Jim Beam
Jack Daniel’s
Rittenhouse
Four Roses
The growth of Maker’s Mark and other brands has begun to impact Jim Beam’s numbers, which sold about 300,000 fewer cases last year than they did the year before. It’s worth noting that Jack Daniel’s grew by 7.9 percent last year, but the brand has also stepped into the craft marketplaces with the release of an American Single Malt and the continuation of its successful, experimental Distillery Series. Maker’s Mark, meanwhile, sold 200,000 more cases in 2023 than they did in 2022, an increase of 5.3 percent, although it had a bigger 2022, growing 11.1 percent from 2021.
According to Drinks International’s annual American whiskey trends report, that trend should continue. Instead of relying on business data, this report is more subjective, since the bars themselves decide what climbs up the rankings. And while Maker’s might see competition from Michter’s, Jack and Jim don’t even make the list:
Michter‘s
Maker’s
Bulleit
Woodford Reserve
Buffalo Trace
Angel’s Envy
Blanton’s
Wild Turkey
Elijah Craig
Eagle Rare
Regardless, it seems like consumers are willing to spend a bit more on whiskey than they have in the past—and Jim and Jack are being left behind.
Company Renames ‘Plantation Rum’ Following Criticism Over Slavery Associations
Maison Ferrand changes brand to Planteray rum after acknowledging ‘hurtful connotation’ of old name
A popular Caribbean rum has been rebranded after concerns were raised that its name was associated with slavery.
Maison Ferrand, which markets itself as one of the world’s premier boutique producers of fine spirits, has changed the name of its Plantation rum to Planteray rum.
The original name was criticised in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 for its links to the transatlantic slave trade. The change was promised in June 2020 and the company said trademarking the new name in 120 countries had caused delay.
The announcement was made by the Maison Ferrand owner, Alexandre Gabriel, at a press conference at the West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados this month.
He said the new name “pays homage to sugar cane, the plant that gives birth to the rum, and the sun’s rays that are essential for sugar cane growth and ripening”.
The announcement did not address the racism complaints made about the original name, and there were no official social media posts about the rebranding.
The move was welcomed by Rachelle Ferron, the head of entertainment at ITV’s Good Morning Britain, who wrote a piece for the Guardian in 2022 in which she cited the brand in a critique of “businesses [that] still feel the need to use ‘plantation’ as a selling point despite its links to historic colonial exploitation”.
Ferron said: “This is a welcome advancement, and I am proud that I was integral to this long-overdue change, but there is still work to do and I would urge any company to remove associations with slavery from their branding. This was my own little protest but that’s how wider change often starts.”
A Maison Ferrand spokesperson said the company would not be commenting further on the rebranding.
Announcing the decision to change the drink’s name in June 2020, Gabriel, the rum’s creator and master blender, said: “We understand the hurtful connotation the word ‘plantation’ can evoke to some people, especially in its association with much graver images and dark realities of the past.
“We look to grow in our understanding of these difficult issues and while we don’t currently have all the details of what our brand name evolution will involve, we want to let everyone know that we are working to make fitting changes.”
In a 2022 interview for the magazine Drinks International, Gabriel said the inspiration for the original name was his childhood in rural France.
He said the word plantation was “a French farming term”and the name was chosen “without any malice and never with any intent to make anyone feel marginalised”.
This is not the first time a rum producer has changed the name of a product because of criticism about an association with slavery. Two years ago, the Danish company 1423 World Class Spirits rebranded its Ron Esclavo rum to Patridom after criticism of the original name, which means slave rum, and the firm’s claim that it was “an homage to the slaves who paid a high price in the history of sugar cane and rum”.
Ferron called on other rum producers to rebrand products linked to slavery. She criticised Diageo for retaining the Captain Morgan brand, named after Sir Henry Morgan, a privateer and plantation owner who owned more than 100 enslaved people.
A Diageo spokesperson said: “Captain Morgan rum was created around 80 years ago and acquired by Diageo in 2001, and there has never been any legal or financial link between the brand and Henry Morgan, who lived in the 17th century.”
Analyzing the Best and Worst Beer Logos
Beer enjoys immense popularity around the globe and has done so for hundreds of years. With a plethora of beer brands available, beer enthusiasts are certainly not left wanting. The vast range of beer types, each with its unique look, scent, and flavor, makes marketing and branding extremely crucial.
Logos play a pivotal role for each beer brand. A number of beer brand logos have achieved iconic status, potentially ranking among the top logos of all time, adding immense value to their brand identity. Nonetheless, some logos fall short, either due to a lack of alignment with the brand’s image or simply because they aren’t visually appealing. Let’s delve into some beer logos that are at both ends of this spectrum.
An interesting backstory about a craft brewery ties back to rock ‘n’ roll roots. The brewery was established by Logan, the son of Lead Zeppelin’s vocalist, Robert Plant, in 2011. In 2022, it was taken over by Heineken. It even partnered with the American desert rock group, Queens of the Stone Age.
Beavertown’s logo uses a sans-serif font in crisp, legible block capital letters set in white. The logo sports a modern, slightly unconventional look. The skull, a key component of the logo and also the ‘o’ in Beavertown, has become a trademark symbol for the brand. The sketchy, cave drawing-like appearance of the skull contributes to the logo’s edgy aesthetic.
The popular tequila-infused pale lager is produced by a Slovakian subsidiary of Heineken, but its branding relies heavily on Mexican design. However, it doesn’t do so in a corny way, for an end result that is actually quite understated.
The name of the beer is written in red lettering with black stripes going across horizontally, and the letters are all surrounded by white to give them more emphasis. The letters are serifed but in quite an attractive way, while there are three red circles above them, each giving some quick information about the beverage. The phrase “Tequila flavoured beer” sometimes goes at the bottom in green cursive writing, using another colour from the Mexican flag.
This might be a controversial choice, but I’ve never thought much of Budweiser’s logo. The iconic American-style lager has been a popular choice for well over a century, but their logos throughout history have left a lot to be desired.
For me, the current logo, despite a nice retro nod, is just a bit plain and boring. It does what it needs to, but there’s nothing to set it apart from other logos which might have two or three colours – white and black and something else – and a classic, cursive-style typeface. It’s just a tad dull.
The Brooklyn Brewery logo, established in Brooklyn, New York City, in 1988, is laudable. Brooklyn takes a subtle approach to its marketing, relying primarily on word-of-mouth and philanthropic efforts. However, its logo, designed by the renowned graphic designer Milton Glaser, makes a quiet but significant impact.
The logo has a roundel design encompassing a large, cursive ‘B’ at its center with ‘Brooklyn Brewery’ etch around it. It is sandwiched between two circles beside the ‘B’. The most recognized color palette for the logo is black and green, although it is adaptable enough to accommodate various color variations for different Brooklyn beers.
Beck’s, a German brewery, has a rather mundane logo. Its broad serif letters fail to leave a lasting impression, and the utilization of black and white in the color scheme is lackluster. The key emblem, the other main component of the logo, is inspired from Bremen’s coat of arms, where the brewery is located and pays homage to St. Peter, the city’s patron saint.
Similar to many long-standing beer brands, there’s no glaring issue with their logos. The issue lies in their lack of depth and dynamism. However, a brand like Beck’s doesn’t need to rely on its logo for recognition, owing to its established reputation in the beer industry.
Some of Corona’s adverts might have divided opinion last year, but I do think its logo itself is quite a good one. This Mexican beer brand is best known for its Corona Extra pale lager, but it boasts a range of other beers as well as hard seltzers, too.
Its logo consists of its name in a bold, gothic-looking font, and it’s in a nice blue colour – something that feels quite unusual for big-name lagers. Under the lettering is a yellow medallion that says “the finest beer” in Spanish, while the crown above the lettering is a classy, elegant touch.
No matter your thoughts on the beer logos I’ve both praised and pilloried here, why not take a trip down memory lane and check out some of the beer labels we enjoyed back in 2015? Or, for an alcohol-free experience, take a look at our favourite Dry January ad campaigns this year.
Discover the Wine and Peanut Butter Pie Pairing That Takes You to Flavortown
Gone are the days when pasta dishes and fancy charcuterie boards are the only foods worthy of a wine pairing. Identifying the ideal wine match for your cuisine can significantly enhance the taste of your food. Why not upgrade your favorite snacks or even your regular dessert? We consulted a sommelier about the wine that best complements the flavors of peanut butter pie, enabling peanut butter enthusiasts to enjoy the ultimate dessert experience.
Doreen Winkler is a consulting sommelier responsible for creating wine lists for numerous restaurants, including the new Mishik in New York City. She has previously shared her expert knowledge with us, suggesting surprising yet welcome wine pairings for various dishes. For instance, she recommended the best grilled cheese and wine combination and shared ideal wine and snack pairings. So, which wines should fans of sweet and savory desserts stock up on? Winkler recommends an aged sweet vintage Pedro Ximenéz sherry from Spain for Peanut Butter Pie.
Read more: Popular Vodka Brands Ranked From Worst To Best
Many of us wouldn’t know where to begin when it comes to pairing a wine with something like peanut butter pie. Doreen Winkler’s suggestion for Pedro Ximenéz sherry might surprise some people. This is among the sweetest wines available. For a number of us, this may seem too sweet to pair with a dessert as rich and sugary as peanut butter pie. However, Pedro Ximenéz sherry has unique notes that complement the distinct combination of flavors in peanut butter pie.
“The notes of chocolate, coffee, nuts, and dried fruits will perfectly complement the richness and sweetness of a peanut butter pie and elevate it to the next level,” Winkler told us. Pedro Ximenéz sherry is made with a process called “asoleo,” which means that the grapes used for the wine are dried out in the sun. This process helps to make the wine particularly sweet and it also brings out the grapes’ acidity and warmth. That flavor profile paired with the classic sweet and salty flavors of a peanut butter-y dessert? That’s our new favorite after-dinner treat.
Read the original article on Mashed.
How to Mix Pineapple Juice and Vodka for Tropical Treats Anytime
The cold winter months can get the best of anyone. From perpetually gray skies to the trifecta of wind, rain, and snow, it is no wonder that many people plan a warm weather getaway during winter. Unfortunately, a vacation isn’t always an option — but that doesn’t mean you can’t enter a state of tropical relaxation. If you are seeking a quick and easy reprieve that is reminiscent of a trip to the equator, we’ve got you covered: All you need to do is combine pineapple juice with a splash of vodka.
Pineapple juice and vodka are a winter-blues-crushing match made in paradise for many reasons. Pineapple juice is full of vitamins, antioxidants, and enzymes — namely, bromelain — that Healthline states may boost your immune system and reduce inflammation, keeping your body healthy and feeling good during cold and flu season, not to mention that it tastes just like liquid sunshine. Meanwhile, the addition of vodka cuts the intense sweetness of pineapple juice with its clean, crisp flavor. It also, like other alcoholic beverages, acts as a vasodilator, giving you a warm and fuzzy feeling. (Though, beware, it may actually cause a drop in body temperature despite the sensation of warmth.) The result is a mouth-watering cocktail that feels as good as it tastes and is easy to throw together at a moment’s notice, in whatever ratio best suits your preferences.
Read more: 13 Liquors Your Home Bar Should Have
Given that this cocktail combination is so bare bones, it is important to invest in the very best options for both your vodka and your pineapple juice mixer. We have previously shared our opinions on the best-tasting vodkas available, ranging from household names like Grey Goose to more unconventional picks like Haku vodka. You don’t necessarily need to select the most expensive bottle at the store; just seek out a brand that has a reputation for a smooth mouthfeel and bright, neutral taste. If you want to add more complexity to the drink, you can also explore flavored vodkas, or infuse your own at home.
When selecting pineapple juice, the fresher, the better. Owning a top-notch juicer can be helpful as you can prepare the juice yourself. Alternatively, you can blend pineapple pieces and strain the resulting mixture to extract the juice, all without needing a special gadget. If you find it more convenient, Dole’s store-bought pineapple juice, packed only with pure pineapple juice and vitamin C, often comes highly recommended. Exploring other pineapple-based beverages, such as tepache, pineapple soda, or even kombucha, could also be an exciting option if you enjoy those flavors.
For more information, feel free to read the full article on Tasting Table.
Exploring the Price Tag on Rare Whiskey: $2.8M Too Much? | By Nancy Eshelman
whiskey in decanter, generic
Two things happened the other day.
First I read an article about Mike Daley, a billionaire from Bucks County who spent $2.8 million on a bottle of whiskey. The article called it a “record price” and noted that the buyer holds one of the country’s largest private collections of whiskey.
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From Rugby Legend to Luxury Rum Entrepreneur: My Journey in Pursuing a New Career
Alun Wyn Jones, a legend from Wales, has transitioned from the scrum to dealing with bottles of rum after his retirement.
The ex-skipper of Dragons is often referred to as one of the most exceptional locks of his era, having played for his nation a record-breaking 158 times.
During his illustrious career, Jones clinched the Six Nations title five times, among which three were Grand Slam triumphs.
Merely two months ago, the erstwhile hero of the Ospreys decided to hang up his boots and start his new venture of selling rum.
Mimosa Rwm Espiritu takes a pinch of Caribbean rum and coffee to create a smooth liqueur.
Brewed in Wales, a bottle will cost drinkers between £30 to £40.
The branding contains the date 1865 with cities Liverpool and Patagonia taking centre stage.
Its story comes from the ship named Mimosa that carried Welsh settlers from Liverpool to Patagonia in Argentina 158 years ago.
The spirit aims to “celebrate the pioneering spirit of the people who embarked on this new life and adventure.”
Patagonia also has a special place in Jones‘ heart as it is where he won his first ever Wales cap in 2006.
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Mimosa can be enjoyed in espresso martinis, an old fashioned, a hot toddy or on the rocks.
Drinkers can even liven up an iced coffee with a shot of the 29 per cent alcoholic beverage.
The ex-rugby star has been busy promoting his new business on Instagram.
And fans are excited to taste the rum, one said: “Can’t wait to try.”