Two Scottish bartenders talk trends, tiki and trading up
Darrel Douglas – The Rum Shack, Glasgow
• How many rums do you currently stock?
We currently have over 100 rums at our bar.
• What’s the most popular rum in your bar right now?
That’s a hard question. For standard rums it would be Havana Especial (which would be our house pour). But equally as popular would be Red Leg spiced rum and Goslings Dark ‘n’ Stormy. For something more premium we have the Diplomatico Exclusive Reserva; it’s a very beautiful rum from Venezuela.
• Have you noticed any shift in the styles of rum in demand?
People are moving away from the standard [choices]. They are more open to trying new rums as we have many on the bar to choose from. There should be one for everyone and staff are good at helping new rum drinkers find one.
• Do you find customers are asking for rums by brand more nowadays?
To some extent. Mainly people ask for a dark rum, spiced rum or a nice white rum. People mainly only ask for a rum by brand if they are used to buying that brand or you suggested it to them earlier in the night.
• How often do you add a new rum to the bar and how do you choose it?
We try and add a rum to the bar every month as our ‘rum of the month’. But we are currently running out of space on our gantry. We try and spice up the bar when we can. Most people that work at the Shack love rum so when we try rums from other bars that we take a liking to we suggest it and we decide whether we would like it on the bar or not. Also sometimes we’ll add one through word of mouth from customers. We manage to get a few nice rums on the bar that way.
• What’s your personal favourite rum and why?
That’s a very hard one. I have a lot of rums that I like for different reasons. If I had to choose one, I’m thinking La Hechicera. It just works for me. It’s not too sweet, nice balance of flavours, smooth to drink. It can be drunk straight or goes very well with ginger ale. Yup, that would be the one.
Ben Louthean – The Auld Reekie Tiki Bar, Edinburgh
• How many rums does your bar currently stock?
We currently have 103 different rums.
• What’s the most popular rum in your bar right now?
Plantation Pineapple.
• Have you noticed any shift in the styles of rum in demand?
Of late there has been a push towards heavier pot still rums and funky Agricole Rhum.
• What are currently the most popular rum serves?
Classic Mai Tais, Daiquiris, Ting Wrays and the old faithful Pina Colada.
• Do you find customers are asking for rums by brand more nowadays?
Certainly more so these days, as well as people asking for specific styles of rum, ie. British, French and Spanish, as well as rums from specific islands.
• How often do you add a new rum to the bar and how do you choose it?
Every month we try to order a diverse range of rums to cater to all rum fans.
• What’s your personal favourite rum and why?
I do not have a favourite! I choose rums for my mood. Generally I lean towards the French and Jamaican styles so straight up Wray & Nephew, Rhum Barbancourt and Plantation Pineapple are top of the list.
