Growing up I never knew what to get my older sister and her husband. Many years they got a bottle of rum. They weren’t surprised but it was something they enjoyed. Daylight savings time and the world series are sure signs that the holidays will be upon me again this year before I know it.

What I’ll give for gifts this year will undoubtedly include rum. Or, if you’re like me you’re hoping someone close to you will make a bottle of rum part of their gift to you this holiday season. What better way to give a little hint than to leave your computer browser open to the Ministry of Rum website where someone else can see what you’re thinking about for the holidays.

If you’d like to suggest a rum to be added to the list, take a look at the Rum Lovers forums to see how you can add your suggestions to the list.

Thursday, May 3rd the Today Show will broadcast a short RUM 101 segment which I recorded at the Forbidden Island bar in Alameda, CA a few weeks ago, in the last half hour of the show. There will also be a live studio tasting of several rums. If you miss the live broadcast, this segment will be archived on msnbc.com.

I’m on my way to Venezuela to continue the research at the Santa Teresa distillery in Venezuela. Next week I’ll share some photos and notes on this award winning rum distillery.

A new Forum for rum lovers is now operational on the Ministry of Rum website. There is still a lot of work to be done integrating all of the new features of the new website so your patience will be rewarded. If you have a favorite username, register it before someone else uses it.

I plan to continue to post articles about my travels here on this site for at least the forseeble future no one really knows how technology will change our directions on the internet.

Over the last ten years Ministry of Rum.com has evolved with the internet. In the next week or so, a completely new site will replace the old site complete with a new MySQL database. There will be a few problems since I’m far from being a proficient software developer but I think you’ll find the new site easier to use and more informative than ever before. Converting the filemaker Pro 4.0 database records over to MySQL has been a challenge but I’ve been able to incorporate several new features that should greatly improve your online experience.

Trades are now able to edit their accounts and keep more up to date lists of the rums which they sell.
Rum Lovers are now able to sign up on line to recieve periodic emails about events and maintain a list of their favorite rums. Although none of the information provided in the registration process will be made public or shared, rum lovers will have the option of using their Ministry of Rum username to log in to the new rum forum which will be online in the near future.

Take a test drive here.

Wednesday, Feb 7th, I’ll be sharing my insights into what it takes to make good rum. Among the topics covered will be the basics of rum production from growing the sugar cane through fermentation, distillation, aging and bottling what have become some of the best spirits in the world.

Join me at The Forbidden Island for an evening of rum appreciation.

The 2007 Ministry of Rum Tasting Competition will be held in New Orleans concurrent with the fifth anniversary of Tales of the Cocktail on Wednesday and Thursday July 18 and 19 from 11am to 1 pm and 3 to 5 pm at Arnaud’s Restaurant.

New Orleans is the perfect city to celebrate food and drink. If you would like to apply to be a judge at this event or produce sugar cane spirits and would like to expose your product to a panel of industry professionals send me an email and I’ll send you more information.

See you in the big easy.

I returned to a chilly Chicago last night from the sunny island of Culebra, Puerto Rico. A month in the islands is never enough. In the coming days I’ll post more about that trip. One of the highlights was passing within about 4 miles of Montserrat on Jan 8 as a small eruption was in progress.

I am pleased to announce that the 2007 Ministry of Rum Tasting Competition will be held in New Orleans concurrent with the fifth anniversary of Tales of the Cocktail. New Orleans is the setting for this celebration of gastronomy and libations and will be the most spirited event of the summer. Seminars led by industry leaders, fine dining and the opportunity to meet scores of writers, and industry movers and shakers combine to make this a memorable event and 2007 is proving to be the even more fun than previous years. To have your name added to the mailing list for Tales of the Cocktail and the Ministry of Rum Tasting Competition visit the Ministry of Rum website.

The Tales of the Cocktail website will be updated after Jan 1.

Demerara Rum Cream Liqueur is the latest Rum of the Month on the Ministry of Rum website.

Rich dairy cream blended with aged Demerara Rum adds a decadent dimension to holiday cocktails, or sip it warm or chilled.