BANKS Rums, an exceptional blend of unique rums from around the world, held a dinner of Spirited Discovery at Café Henri – the latest Bywater restaurant from owners Neal Bodenheimer, Kirk Estopinal and Nick Detrich – in New Orleans. The evening was hosted by BANKS Rums co-founder Jim Meehan, national brand ambassador Stilo Pimentel, and special guest, published author & New Orleans local, Wayne Curtis.
The newest member of the BANKS Rums family, Stilo Pimentel, is an award-winning barman who has studied under industry greats such as Dushan Zaric, Steve Schneider, and Duane Fernandez, Jr. and has developed bar programs for well-known venues like Cafe Noir and The Standard Hotel East Village. Stilo will work alongside Jim to develop and implement BANKS programs in some of the best bars around the country.
Inspired by the travels of the great 18th century explorer and botanist, Sir Joseph Banks, the uncommonly fine collection of BANKS Rums offer rich rewards for the curious, the spirited, and the brave through a commitment to storytelling and intimate hosted gatherings around a punch bowl.
_____
Upon arrival to the Spirited Discovery dinner, attendees were greeted by Jim Meehan and Stilo Pimentel with a glass of punch, the signature serve of BANKS Rums. Throughout the evening, celebrated guest Wayne Curtis, author of And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails, captivated curious guests with the storied history of rum, a tradition rooted in hundreds of years of practice.
Jim Meehan and Stilo Pimentel carefully curated three cocktails in addition to punch – a BANKS Hemingway Daiquiri, a BANKS Rum and Cola, and a Rum Flip created with BANKS 7 Golden Blend – paired with Chef Alfredo Nogueira’s classic American cuisine. The complex flavors of BANKS Rums – a blend of 20 rums from around the world – were brought to life with each cocktail, allowing guests to discover the versatility of the rum with every sip. At the end of the dinner, Jim also poured a sip of BANKS 7 Golden Blend for attendees to enjoy on the rocks and sharing BANKS Rum’s saying, “BANKS is a pity to mix, but a shame not to.”
Each guest departed with a signed copy of And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails, as well as a copy of Punch: A Voyage of Discovery, which includes BANKS punch recipes by luminary industry leaders David Wondrich, Julie Reiner, and more. Throughout the year, BANKS Rums will continue to gather friends around a punch bowl to celebrate the deep history of blending exceptional rums and the untold stories of the curious, the spirited, and the brave.
