This past Thursday was the first ever Regimental Rum Tasting presented at The Queen’s Battery Barracks on Signal Hill…. and it was a hit!
RANL and Parks Canada have partnered up to present this event every Thursday night at 6 pm until the end of August and is a fun learning experience, both for the guests and the presenters.
This year is the anniversary of the war of 1812 and soldiers from the fortress on Signal Hill were part of the fight. Since rum was a part of the rations for the military and Newfoundland has traded for rum for a long time…. we thought, “What better way to teach people a bit about our history, a bit about the rums we now make here, and about some of our local foods that can be paired with rum. Bathed in sun and shrouded in fog, Signal Hill was the perfect backdrop.
Andrea Maunder of Bacalao, the official bar wench for the event, supplied some tasting of her food from Bacalao, while Rock Spirits and Collingwood Wines and Spirits provided the rum.
After mustering at the Visitor’s Centre, guests were marched to the start of the path that leads up the hill and back in time.
Corporal McGrath of the Hill’s fortress 
told everyone about life at that time and set the scene for the trip they were about to take.
And with that they were off up the trail to the Battery.
When everyone arrived at the barracks, Andrea was there to greet them and tell them a little more about the history of rum in Newfoundland and the tasting began.
Tasting five Newfoundland rums with three savory dishes and two sweet dishes, guests were regaled with the details of the distinct flavours of each rum and how the paired food was matched them. Amid much laughter and chit chat, CBC filmed the crowd, as they tasted and compared.
When all the treats had been tasted, Corp. McGrath brought everyone to attention and everyone gathered out on the hill as shots were fired 
to let the sentries below know we were all coming down and to hold fire.
Call 765 8483 to book your place for the Regimental Rum tasting on Thursdays till end of August.
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