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We have come a long way since our first post back in October of 2012. We still have a long way to go. Since I tend to really like to visit distillers and write their story and their passions here, is what me keep writing. Winter in Chicago is no help....
Let's add this crazy illness I have - I called my Dr on New Years Eve, they were nice enough to send meds to me without coming in as they were STACKED deep!! I have come back, except for a cough and bad sinuses. I apologize. It makes it hard to do anything that requires concentration. I AM coming along, but it's slow. I usually bounce back, but suffer with sinuses all winter. I will be fine, believe me..
TW%2Blogo.jpg I would like to talk about things happening around the industry and make some recommendations.
First, got good info that Tailwinds will be releasing a new batch of barrel aged rum in February. I love that stuff and am waiting with baited breath.














Next, fans of Firefly Distillery will be interested in hearing that the wine end of the business has been sold off. Here is the news as I received it:
It's with bittersweet emotions that Jim and Ann Irvin announce that their property and Charleston's only winery, Irvin~House Vineyards, has been sold to the Freiwald family. The new winery is named Deep Water Vineyard.
The Irvin family wish to thank everyone from around the world who made a special trip to their "little piece of heaven" and became a part of the vineyard family. They wish the Freiwald family well as they carry on the legacy of being Charleston's only estate winery.

Tastings and gatherings at the winery and Firefly Distillery will continue as normal. Our 'Sippin Saturdays' will now be called 'Wine Down Weekends'.
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The offshoot is that Firefly will move. The only information I have is "Closer to Charleston." I will try to keep in contact and will pass that info out to you as soon as I hear. Jim Irvin is so much fun to listen to, he is that teacher you had in school that seemed just to tell story after story, yet you find out later -- He was teaching you!
If you are a subscriber to Liquor.com, you already know that they are featuring recipes for favorite drinks. It's a great page and it features us there too so well worth the look. A great source of more info, more drinks and a widespread coverage of so many distilled spirits!







As far as Rick The Rum Runner goes, this blog has exploded, in particular in 2015. Many more hits and they keep coming.
The USA is still the prohibitive #1 source of readers but there has been a change to the next country that follows RTRR. The Ukraine used to be #2, they have sunk to #4. Most likely due to the political unrest in that country. Face it when your country is at risk, craft rum will slip. The #2 and 3 holders are Norway and France. Norway has shot up recently (I have no idea why) and got past France who used to be #3. To give you an idea, this week Norway is posting readers 6:1 to readers from the US! All I can say is WELCOME Norwegian readers!
Winter is a great time for warm drinks and rum warms well.....
Till next time -- I am
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