Down here in Texas

[fwstroker]

Hello to all my fellow rum lovers!

I'm actually new to the rum game, but I’m proud to say that my rum collection has now grown to 34 bottles. I originally started collecting tequilas, but decided to expand my knowledge of spirits and try something different. I’m sure glad I did. I never knew how flavorful and complex rums could be.
I guess I got off to a good (or bad) start (depending on how you look at it) by stumbling onto two bottles of the completely palm woven bottles of Ron Zacapa Centenario. From then on I was hooked!

So thanks to everyone here for sharing their knowledge of this wonderful spirit with new members like myself.

Chris (Fwstroker)

[Milicent]

Welcome. Glad to see you posting. This is a great forum and I look forward to hearing more from you.

[Tiare]

Welcome to the best and friendliest forum in the world! I myself have learnt so much on rum here and so will you..:)

[Dood]

Man...Texans and Canadians...all over the place here... :)

Welcome aboard!

[Lew Barrett]

Howdy, friend!

[angelsword]

Man...Texans and Canadians...all over the place here... :)

Rum and Texas. YEEHA!

[primate77]

Well, I do know there is a GREAT VODKA made in Tejas... Tito's Handmade Vodka is incredible and an absolute steal at $20 for a 750ml bottle!!!

I was a Tejas resident for 9 years, welcome!

[angelsword]

A couple of other Texas vodkas are Savvy and Dripping Springs. I recently noticed that there will be at least three Texas rum makers in the Tampa competition coming up later this month: Railean, Treaty Oak, and Temptryst.

[tym2relax]

Thanks for the Texan Vodka tips. Got to check that out!

Texan Rum? I'd be interested to hear more about how they do in the upcoming tastings.

[RobertBurr]

Well, I do know there is a GREAT VODKA made in Tejas... Tito's Handmade Vodka is incredible and an absolute steal at $20 for a 750ml bottle!!! I was a Tejas resident for 9 years, welcome!

Have you noticed? Tio's handmade vodka got so friggin' popular, now it's made in vast industrial quantities by Archer Daniels Midland. It's still very well made, but not in small batches in the kitchen of a trailer park in Amarillo.

"Tell them a good story, a real good story... and they'll buy your booze 'til the cows come home." --Bob Uppendown

[primate77]

Have you noticed? Tio's handmade vodka got so friggin' popular, now it's made in vast industrial quantities by Archer Daniels Midland. It's still very well made, but not in small batches in the kitchen of a trailer park in Amarillo.

Bummer! Did not know. I think it tastes great, regardless of where it's made, but the story was certainly better when he was small time. So, Tito sold out, and the only thing made in the trailer park now is probably... meth!

[RobertBurr]

Bummer! Did not know. I think it tastes great, regardless of where it's made, but the story was certainly better when he was small time. So, Tito sold out, and the only thing made in the trailer park now is probably... meth!

yes meth! And Archer Daniels Midland will eventually take over production of that as well.

Still, Texas is ahead of the curve on spawning new micro-distilleries. I hope we can find ways to support all these start-ups that are worthy.

[tym2relax]

yes meth! And Archer Daniels Midland will eventually take over production of that as well.

Still, Texas is ahead of the curve on spawning new micro-distilleries. I hope we can find ways to support all these start-ups that are worthy.

I like the notion of supporting US micro-distilleries. Is there a thread on this? If not, may be a good idea.

[Hank Koestner]

Welcome to the forums.

[primate77]

I like the notion of supporting US micro-distilleries. Is there a thread on this? If not, may be a good idea

Agreed! I just hope my next experience with one is better than with the Rogue Hazelnut Rum I recently purchased!!! LOL

So Robert, how does Tito's still get away with putting "handmade" on their label then if it is mass-produced by ADM?

There is a huge ADM facility 45 miles from me and another 90 miles from me... wonder if Tito's is made there (right next to Pabst Blue Ribbon)?:eek:

Well, I hope this doesn't happen to Hanger One Vodka (another goodie) - please don't tell me it already has...:(

[RobertBurr]

So many businesses are changing due to the embracing of new technologies. I can see the day when small distillers like Daniel at Temptryst or Phil Prichard are allowed to sell directly to their customers via internet orders.

Look how the record business is evolving. Creators of music are eliminating all those layers between themselves and their listeners, consumers, fans. Amen.

Smaller distillers that cannot sustain the high levels of production and significant investment in multi-state promotion, marketing, distribution might be able to find their own fans and supply them directly, easily and efficiently.

It won't happen overnight, but it will happen eventually for those that build their reputation on producing quality product.

[JMac]

Man...Texans and Canadians...all over the place here... :)

Welcome aboard!

Not yet but be worried if a Tim Hortons opens near you eh?

As for Texas; forgive the ignorance but I thought bourbon was king in the southern US. My brother in law and his friends love their Maker's Mark and George Dickel.

I was surprised to read in the Forum that Temptryst was distilled in Texas.

[ecarterw]

Titos shouldn't be just ADM stuff. It should be back to original producton methods right about now. I was out at the distillery talking with Tito a few months ago and he had tons of new equipment. Should all be up and running by now.
11 stills, and 5 bottling lines, mostly bought used from Brown-Forman, all extremely large. Should solve batch consistentsy problems that have palgued him since the beginning.
Savvy and Dripping Springs I know are just ADM, but with proprietary water. Mosty unfiltered hill country mineral water, as opposed to Tito's plain filtered city of Austin water.
For the record, I drink very little plain vodka, but Dripping Springs makes the best damn vodka tonic I've ever had.

[angelsword]

Aren't they all redistilling the 40% they buy from ADM?

And a big WELCOME to you Carter. party2.gif

[ecarterw]

ADM Ethyl 95%, then redistilling I believe and cutting to 40%ABV with their own water. Tito's production methods have changed several times, so don't take my info to be the absolute word.