Why is it every year (OK maybe not EVERY year) right around this time, do I get sick?? Starting from New Year's Eve and right though Monday -- I basically just wanted to lay on the couch and moan (moaning often feels good). Well in the last few days (its Wednesday the 6th of January as I write this), things have gotten decidedly better. Still, my illness interferes. I cant taste too well yet and THAT affects my passion. I have two great looking and well spoken for samples of rum to taste. I have learned to wait until my sinuses are clear and my taste buds are much more alive. So to avoid past mistakes. I remember tasting Cedar Ridge while my head was full of, well, what head-colds fill your head with, and I mentioned it. I even said I could not really taste it all that well. I gave my opinion and while I shared good news, still sounded sure about it. Well I got comments saying I should have waited. You know, even though I did re-taste and wrote about that too, I should have waited -- so Manatawny Stillworks? Sorry guys -- I promise: Once I can detect taste better -- I will be tasting and commenting upon the samples you sent.... Thank you all for the patience.

Still, we can talk rum, cant we? While laying (and moaning) I tried to keep up with emails ans got an interesting lead from Toby Beall over at Tailwinds Distillery. He popped a story from cocktailwonk.com onto FB, that caught my eye. Entitled "Can Rum Survive Its Moment In The Sun?" and written by MPIETREK, there is a HUGE amount of information and some real, pertinent questions. Here is a teaser: