Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore, Staff Reporter

Wearing black gown with a woven band around the waist representing the fabulous bottle of Ron Zacapa Centenario, Red Stripe hostesses welcomed guests to the launch of Zacapa Rum and dinner reception.

The launch and dinner were held at Mona Visitors' Lodge on Saturday, August 29. With Jamaica being the home of Appleton Rum, guests waited with bated breath to whet their palates with the new luxury rum. After a few palate-cleansing fruit drinks and coconut water it was time to learn, taste and enjoy the sipping rum.

General manager of Red Stripe, Alan Barnes, gave a short welcoming speech. He noted that Red Stripe/Diego recently launched Red Stripe Bold and now Zacapa has arrived on the island. He said Zacapa was here to satisfy the needs of their customers. He admitted that though he was not an avid rum drinker, he would attest that Zacapa was a fantastic rum that had been added to their portfolio.

The world of the rum

Before guests were allowed to taste the rum, Rebecca Quinonez, ambassador for Zacapa Rum, gave a short journey into the world of the rum. She educated guests on how the rum was made, where it was from, and why it was labelled luxury rum.

She said the magic of Zacapa began in the ageing process - it was aged in Quetzal Tenango, which was called the house above the clouds in the high lands of Guatemala. She said it was aged there because of they were able to maintain more of the rum - not losing much due to the length of ageing process.

She also said Zacapa won first place five times in the international Rum Tasting Contest of the Caribbean Week's Rum Festival. Plus, it was the only rum that was retired in the hall of fame as the best tasting rum.

Quinonez gave guests an opportunity to to check out the body and intensity of Zacapa, then finally to try it.

Dinner was infused with Zacapa Rum prepared by chef Oji Jaja. While guests waited on the entrée, they sipped glasses of mojito.