www.cheersonline.com
17
JUNE 2014
|
Casa Dragones Gabriel Orozco, Limited
Edition, all served in Champagne flutes.
Six tequila flights, such as the horizontal
Milagro flight ($55), with single-barrel
blanco, reposado and añejo, allow flip-
flop-wearing guests to compare aromas
and flavors.
Don't look for tequila served alongside
a sangrita chaser, though. As a result
of his travels and conversations with
producers, Walling is convinced that it's
unnecessary as a palate cleanser.
Rums sipped solo are served in cobalt-
blue Caribbean glassware that matches
the ocean backdrop. Selections range
from a $6 pour of Sailor Jerry to $500
for a serving of Appleton Estate 50 Year
Old Rum. ree rum flights, priced from
$25 to $44, let patrons explore offerings
from producers including Bacardi and
Matusalem.
Guests can select any spirit to build
their own cocktails, or pick from the list
of 13 libations on the menu. As with all
beverage concepts onsite—even at the
nearby high-volume pool bar—cocktail
ingredients are fresh and from scratch.
"Our bartenders can mix up even a basic
Margarita that exceeds expectations,"
says Walling.
Other tipples include the Smokey
Margarita ($12), with Del Maguey Vida
mezcal and Grand Marnier; the Tiki
Old Fashioned ($12), with Atlantico
Reserva rum muddled with a sugar cube
and stirred with Bitterman's Tiki Spiced
bitters; and the Coconut Cooler ($11),
with 1800 Coconut tequila, muddled
watermelon and club soda.
ARE YOU EXPERIENCED?
Staff at the Rum + Tequila Experience
undergo ongoing tasting and training
sessions from distributors and producers.
ey also have access to a handy binder
of tasting notes sheets to help them
convey a spirit's character to guests.
And to distinguish themselves from
servers at the Omni Amelia Island
Plantation Resort's larger poolside bar,
the Experience team wears a slightly
different uniform.
Walling admits that this resort concept
is artisanal—and purposely not for
the masses. It also poses its challenges,
including the expense of many of these
difficult-to-source bottles, and crowd flow.
at's why the Rum + Tequila
Experience has limited hours: Tuesday
through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
with extended hours for holidays and
special events. But for vacation goers who
want to soak up the sun while imbibing
on high-quality rum and tequila, it's the
hottest spot on the pool deck.
Kelly Magyarics, DWS, is a wine, spirits
and lifestyle writer and wine educator in the
Washington, D.C. area. She can be reached
through her website, www.kellymagyarics.
com, or on Twitter and Instagram @
kmagyarics.
The Rum + Tequila Experience bar at Omni's Amelia Island Plantation resort in Florida, offers
a selection of 100 tequilas, 60 rums and 10 mezcals.
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