It’s August! Also known as, National Rum Month! Not only is August known for beach days, hot nights, and Summer Fridays, but it also gives us 31 days dedicated to the sweet taste of the Caribbean.
With the month coming to a close, we are ‘rummed’ out! But is that ever really possible?? National Rum Day on August 16 really hit us hard, but we bounced back and here we are. Flor de Caña Rum, our rum of choice for the month, provided everything and more! We tipsy toured around New York City with Flor de Caña providing the tipsiness; tasty mojitos, coladas, jungle birds, and various other cocktails, in addition to memorable days and nights out; cut to Caribbean brunches and jazz nights. Flor de Caña had us covered. But more on that later.
Before we get into our Flor de Caña National Rum Day Tipsy Tour, we’d like to first dive into the history of Flor de Caña and its origins:
Back in 1875, a young Italian adventurer named Alfredo Francisco Pellas Canessa, left behind his family in Genoa, and traveled to the exotic country of Nicaragua. When first arriving to Nicaragua, Alfredo invested in the transportation industry, transporting passengers and goods from the East Coast of the US to the West Coast. However, after the construction of the Panama Canal and the US railroad, Alfredo decided it was time for a new adventure, RUM!
In 1890, Alfredo discovered the perfect setting for the Flor de Caña distillery, the base of the San Cristobal volcano, the tallest and most active volcano in Nicaragua. The fertility of the land, the enriched water, and the hot volcanic climate was extremely instrumental in Flor de Caña’s unique and smooth flavor.
Cut to now, after 130 years in business, Flor de Caña is STILL going strong and STILL remains a family business (for five generations!).
The brand’s portfolio of rums is also quite impressive; from its 30-year old aged rum, to its 25-year old aged rum, to its 12-year old, 7-year old, 4-year old, and Flor de’ Caña Spresso, the brand offers a variation of taste for every palette.
Also, after hearing about it’s numerous awards; Global Rum Producer of the Year, World’s Best Rum Distillery, #1 Rum on the Planet, Best New Rum of the Year, and the list goes on, we knew we had to experience the rum around New York City. (Because there’s no better city to offer up exquisite cocktails, made by some of the best bartenders in the world). We knew we would experience it the right way.
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Okay, let’s get into the good stuff! The drinks, the bars, and the good times that were had!..all powered by Flor de Caña Rum.
In honor of National Rum Month and National Rum Day, we hit the streets of New York City for our Flor de Caña National Rum Day Tipsy Tour. We hit up 5 bars and had a Flor de Caña cocktail at each venue.
Here is the rundown:
PEAK at Hudson Yards
FASANO Restaurant
Miss Lily’s 7A Café
Bonito
Cuba Restaurant & Rum Bar
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PEAK at Hudson Yards
We started our Flor de Caña Tipsy Tour from the TOP!..at PEAK Hudson Yards. This stunning restaurant, bar, and event space is located on the 101st floor of 30 Hudson Yards, with sprawling views of all of New York City. It really doesn’t get much better. Well, it got better for us because we had views AND rum!
Our first drink was a Cosmo Colada made with Flor de Caña Rum, Curaçao, Cranberry, Lime, Coconut, Pineapple, and a Rum Floater on top. It was extremely refreshing for summertime, sweet, and also pleasant to look at!
Our second drink at PEAK was the Jungle Bird, made with Flor de Caña Rum, Campari, Pineapple Juice, Lime Juice, and Simple Syrup.
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FASANO Restaurant
The second stop on our National Rum Day TIPSY Tour with Flor de Caña Rum was FASANO Restaurant in Midtown Manhattan. The first New York outpost of the FASANO Group, a restaurant and hotel conglomerate out of São Paolo, Brazil, FASANO did not disappoint. Fine dining Italian fare in an elegant, sophisticated, and warm setting. Barreto, an elegant bar upstairs, offers intimate concerts every Friday and Saturday nights, featuring the best Jazz and Bossa Nova musicians in the city. After one rum drink, we made our way to the music.
My drink at FASANO was a take on ‘The Last Word‘ cocktail. Last Words are usually made with gin, but our guy made one up for me with Flor de Caña Rum. Sounds a little odd, but it was so very good; made with Flor de Caña Rum, Green Chartreuse, Maraschino Liqueur, and Fresh Lime Juice.
After I savored this cocktail, I was invited upstairs to Barreto to check out the live jazz and Bossa Nova tunes. Such an intimate, chic, and inviting space, the music was going all night long to a packed house.
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MISS LILY’s 7A Cafe
The 3rd stop on our National Rum Day TIPSY Tour with Flor de Caña Rum was Miss Lily’s! Talk about a change-up from Saturday night jazz to Sunday brunch at this Caribbean oasis! This lively Jamaican style Diner, Caribbean Rum Bar and Jerk Shack, was just what we needed. With locations in New York City, Negril, Jamaica, and Dubai, this concept needs more. The second I stepped foot through the door, it was a PARTY. The DJ had everyone up on their feet, dancing non-stop. It made me rethink my future boring brunches.
I told the bartender that I wanted a Flor de Caña cocktail, and she said “Ohhh, the good stuff, don’t worry, I got you.” Not going to lie, I’m not sure what was in it, but it was so good that I asked for seconds.
To see the scene, check it out HERE!
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BONITO
Bonito, a high-end Kosher restaurant in the Flatiron District, certified by the Orthodox Union, was our 4th stop on our National Rum Day TIPSY Tour with Flor de Caña Rum. Bonito was elegant, modern, and inviting!
At this point, I needed some coffee! The lovely lovely bartender at Bonito offered to make me an Espresso Martini, switching out the vodka for Flor de Caña Rum. Wow was it good!..and made for a ‘richer’ taste for an espresso martini! And of course, the perfect pick-me-up. I highly recommend!
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CUBA RESTAURANT & RUM BAR
All good things must come to an end! And unfortunately, that end is near 🙁
The final stop on our National Rum Day Tipsy Tour with Flor de Caña Rum was Cuba Restaurant & Rum Bar in Greenwich Village. It’s own Little Havana right on Thompson Street, Cuba Restaurant & Rum Bar transports you back to Cuba! From the Cuban, Latin, and Spanish dishes, to their signature Sangrias and Mojitos, there’s no reason to hop a plane!
With that being said, it was no question that I had to order their signature Mojito with Flor de Caña Rum. Also a fitting way to wrap up our Tipsy Tour!
So this is it! The end of our National Rum Day Tipsy Tour, although, we could’ve kept going! Flor de Caña Rum is served at many many many bars and restaurants around New York City; and we definitely tried to hit up a good variation of them. From Penthouse Rooftop to Italian Jazz Bar, to Jamaican Rum Bar, to Kosher Bar & Restaurant, and to a Cuban Bar & Restaurant, we did it all, and Flor de Caña was there in one way or another, providing the goods! Of course, depending on the year of the rum; some years are more versatile for drinks than others, however, each bartender/mixologist was able to take what they had and create a cocktail for us that was delicious! Whether it was a classic cocktail, a specialty cocktail, or a spin on a classic cocktail by adding the Flor de Caña, it was all very impressive.
So the next time you find yourself ordering a Mojito, Mai Tai, Pina Colada, Jungle Bird, etc, make sure to ask for Flor de Caña. You won’t be disappointed.
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