Wicked Dolphin Releases and Sells Out of USS Mohawk Sunken Barrel Rum
What’s better than celebrating the third anniversary of the sinking of southwest Florida’s artificial reef Mohawk and at the same time honoring America’s wounded warriors?
All that and a barrel of rum.
Sunken Barrel Mohawk Reserve Rum is a new release from Wicked Dolphin Rum that employs a unique method of recapturing “Poseidon’s part” — or what bourbon makers call “the devil’s cut,” a term that describes trace spirits trapped in the wood of barrels used to age liquors.
Historically those trace spirits were lost in the process, soaked into the barrels. That liquid could be useful in future production — adding complexities of flavor and color — but how to extract it?
Joe Weatherby of Artificial Reefs International — which has sunk reefs from Key West’s Vandenberg to Mohawk and beyond — and some rum-making dive buddies hit on the idea of using the pressure-squeeze of the deep to force the wood to give up its treasure. Where can you find a safe place to hide a few dozen barrels down below? Turns out an artificial reef makes an ideal secret stash.
Wicked Dolphin, based in Cape Coral, Florida, filled five barrels with distilled water and sent them 90 feet down to the USS Mohawk Veterans Memorial Reef, then raised them 72 hours later. The recovered spirit-laced liquid was used to create 200 bottles of Sunken Barrel Mohawk Reserve, the first rum of the deep to come to market.
The limited-edition spirit benefits Lee County’s reefs program and Special Operations Bionic Warriors, which provides sports equipment, coaching and support to wounded or ill special ops veterans.
“We’re proud to be able to create this special rum to honor the spirit of our servicemen, past and present,” says Wicked Dolphin owner JoAnn Elardo. “The Mohawk Reef is a wonderful setting to bring this product to life.”
Many other distilleries, dive groups and artificial-reef programs have already started producing rum via this method. On Dec. 5, Weatherby will sponsor a competition at First Legal Rum Distillery and Half Shell Raw Bar in Key West, Florida. To learn more about the event, go to arireefs.com.
Courtesy of Wicked DolphinThe Devil's Due
Divers with the Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery's barrels of Sunken Barrel Mohawk Reserve.
Courtesy of Wicked DolphinSunken Barrel Mohawk Reserve
Only 200 bottles of the reserve rum were created, and the product sold out within an hour.
Courtesy of Wicked DolphinSold Out!
The Wicked Dolphin's Sunken Barrel Mohawk Reserve rum sold out within an hour of going on sale.
What’s better than celebrating the third anniversary of the sinking of southwest Florida’s artificial reef Mohawk and at the same time honoring America’s wounded warriors?
All that and a barrel of rum.
Sunken Barrel Mohawk Reserve Rum is a new release from Wicked Dolphin Rum that employs a unique method of recapturing “Poseidon’s part” — or what bourbon makers call “the devil’s cut,” a term that describes trace spirits trapped in the wood of barrels used to age liquors.
Historically those trace spirits were lost in the process, soaked into the barrels. That liquid could be useful in future production — adding complexities of flavor and color — but how to extract it?
Joe Weatherby of Artificial Reefs International — which has sunk reefs from Key West’s Vandenberg to Mohawk and beyond — and some rum-making dive buddies hit on the idea of using the pressure-squeeze of the deep to force the wood to give up its treasure. Where can you find a safe place to hide a few dozen barrels down below? Turns out an artificial reef makes an ideal secret stash.
Wicked Dolphin, based in Cape Coral, Florida, filled five barrels with distilled water and sent them 90 feet down to the USS Mohawk Veterans Memorial Reef, then raised them 72 hours later. The recovered spirit-laced liquid was used to create 200 bottles of Sunken Barrel Mohawk Reserve, the first rum of the deep to come to market.
The limited-edition spirit benefits Lee County’s reefs program and Special Operations Bionic Warriors, which provides sports equipment, coaching and support to wounded or ill special ops veterans.
“We’re proud to be able to create this special rum to honor the spirit of our servicemen, past and present,” says Wicked Dolphin owner JoAnn Elardo. “The Mohawk Reef is a wonderful setting to bring this product to life.”
Many other distilleries, dive groups and artificial-reef programs have already started producing rum via this method. On Dec. 5, Weatherby will sponsor a competition at First Legal Rum Distillery and Half Shell Raw Bar in Key West, Florida. To learn more about the event, go to arireefs.com.
