You know we've officially made it as a spirits city when a new rum chooses Nashville as its first market outside of Miami when launching a new product. Afrohead Rum is that product, and I can tell you from (multiple) personal experiences that it is a really special spirit. Available in two different expressions, Afrohead is a premium rum from Trinidad that is specially selected and blended from barrels by Toby Tyler, a man known as the "rum savant."
The 80 proof Afrohead is made up of spirits that have been aged for at least seven years in oak, and is smooth and toasty, either as part of a cocktail or served straight up. The more luxurious 86 proof version employs 15-year-old and older rums to create a creamy, toffee-influenced spirit that is meant to be drunk neat like a fine whiskey or brandy. In fact, Tyler named it XO in reference to fine cognacs and brandies that also benefit from extra aging.
On Tuesday, July 28, Tyler is coming to Nashville to launch Afrohead's Unscripted Bartender Series at an event at Amari at 2121 Belcourt Ave.. Beginning at 8 p.m., Amari bartender Wil Shultz will create four different cocktails featuring Afrohead. Tyler will be on hand to answer questions about his products and take patrons on a journey through the Caribbean with his stories of rum and fun.
The series will continue for six more weeks with guest bartenders whipping up four new cocktails, including one that much must include a secret ingredient presented to the bartender the evening of the event. Gimmicky, but fun. Check out the schedule for the rest of the series:
Aug. 4: Wil Schultz, Amari
Aug. 11: Jared Denham, Pinewood Social
Aug. 18: Caleb Kimbley, Sinema
Aug. 25: Andy Knight, Urban Grub
Sept. 1: Ryan Yamada, Embers Ski Lodge
Sept. 8: To be announcedÂ
Afrohead cocktails will be specially priced at $11 at Amari 8 p.m. to midnight every Tuesday from Aug. 4 to Sept. 8.
Over in Melrose, the bartenders at Sinema are also launching a summer cocktail series, beginning this Wednesday, July 22. They are calling the program "Punch & Swizzle" as a remembrance of some old-fashioned cocktails from days of yore. Here's how they describe the drinks:
The punch and the swizzle both predate the cocktail. Swizzle is an island cocktail that originated in the Caribbean, made popular by the famous Trader Vic. The ingredients are combined with an abundance of crushed ice and blended with a swizzle stick. Punches were created by British settlers in the 17th century as they found exotic ingredients during their travels, like rum, citrus and spices.Â
All cocktails on the Punch & Swizzle menu will be specially priced at $6 and feature the flavors of summer in the form of seasonal ingredients. Crushed ice sounds like a pretty good idea right about now.
