Rum Connoisseur
Interview of The Week:
 GARY NELTHROPP
Master Distiller Cruzan Rum

1. Who is Gary Nelthropp?

Gary Nelthropp is Cruzan Rum’s Master Distiller, former President of Cruzan Rum, and member of one of the founding families of the Cruzan Rum Diamond Estate distillery. Gary also acts as a key ambassador for the brand, offering his expertise and love of rum around the world. Gary personifies the fine art behind crafting high-quality rum, and carries on his family’s legacy in the rum-making industry.

 

2. What does the rum mean for you? What made you fall in love with rum and when did it happen?

Rum has been an integral part of St. Croix’s history. It is part of our DNA. I was lucky to be born into the Nelthropp family who has been making Cruzan Rum for generations. So, for me it has always been rum.

3. Three essential characteristics that define the rum according to your perspective.

Rum characteristics vary greatly from very heavy bodied to cleaner rums depending on each distillery’s standards. All Cruzan Rum is distilled on the island of St. Croix guaranteeing that our strict standards are met every time. First, our five-column distillation process produces a very clean distillate (low congeners).

Second, our Light and Dark rums are all aged in charred oak barrels. Third, these aged rums are blended to match our standards for each individual product. This produces a very smooth final product that varies in complexity depending on the average age of the rums blended. We love taste tests and are happy to let consumers decide for themselves!

When tasting our Dark rums, you can expect a rich golden color with a deep oaky aroma before it touches your lips. The first sip will have a buttery mouthfeel and sweet honey finish. As it coats the back of your throat, you can embrace the welcoming taste of warm oak and vanilla. Words don’t do it justice! Try it yourself and you will understand why Cruzan rum is a big part of the Crucian way of life.

 

4. What is the most important contribution you have made in the rum industry?

We have introduced a rum standard that is easy on the palate and a product the rum category can be proud of.

 

5. Benefits that the rum industry has given you?

The industry has allowed me to work with my father, brother and sister on the Island of St. Croix and truly make a difference in our community. I could not think of a better way to have spent the last 30 years.

6. What´s another thing you are passionate about, in addition to rum? Why?

I love the ocean, which is a good thing since we are surrounded by it. The water is warm and crystal clear year round. Most of my best memories family outings, sailing, fishing, diving, body surfing, bonfires or enjoying a cocktail usually takes place in or around the water. We are spoiled when it comes to the beauty around us and for me there is no better way to decompress. The simple things in life are sometimes the most important. They sure help to clear the mind.

 

7. What is your favorite place for drinking rum?

Definitely St. Croix!

 

8. Favorite drink + Recipe

There are actually quite a few since rum is so versatile. The Nelthropp family’s go-to drink is the Cruzan Dark and soda. All you need is two parts Cruzan Aged Dark Rum, three parts soda topped off with a freshly squeezed lime. But for me, I can never go wrong with a Cruzan Aged Light Rum and tonic. I like to keep it simple with two parts Cruzan Aged Light Rum and three parts tonic, topped off with a freshly squeezed lime.

 

9. Why is it important to educate the rum consumer?

It’s important to be well informed. Understanding why things tastes the way they do can help people decide which style of rum they like. For me, the most important thing for consumers to remember is they need to decide for themselves on whether something tastes good or not. There is a lot of noise out there, commercials, peer pressure etc., but what is most important is determining how it tastes to you. Everyone has their own unique palate. Rums vary drastically, like ice cream!

 

10. Any tips to train the palate and taste good premium rum?

All of our lab quality control tastings are blind tastings, as it is critical to achieve unbiased results. If you are comparing to other products make sure the taster can’t tell what is in each glass. In tasting a premium product like Cruzan Single Barrel Rum, I encourage you to first give your glass a swirl and notice the golden dark hue that comes from the aging and blending of this complex rum. Next, bring the glass to your nose to embrace the rich, deep heavy oaky wood notes with hints of chocolate roasted nut and cinnamon like aroma. Finally sip our Cruzan Single Barrel Rum neat or on the rocks to fully experience the warm coffee and nutty vanilla finish of one of our most complex rums yet. Repeat as many times as required.

 

11. How can the rum contribute to improve the crisis in some countries?

In 2017, Hurricane Maria hit our home of St Croix pretty hard. We were so inspired by the resilience of our community that we established the Island Spirit Fund, which supports the short and long-term recovery of areas in the US and USVI affected by hurricanes and other natural disasters. A portion of the proceeds from each and every Cruzan bottle sold is donated to the Island Spirit Fund. We have already raised more than $3.6 million and helped many members of our community recover, so why not join our cause next time you’re looking for a rum to enjoy?

 

12. Is the commitment to sustainable development the key of success for the permanence of the rum industry in the world? Why?

I think this is important to all production facilities. As populations grow and natural resources dwindle, we need to be aware of our footprint and what we can do to lessen it. Everyone needs to do their part worldwide – ourselves included. We have implemented a process in our plant that allows us to significantly reduce our water consumption, and sell our fermentation byproducts to be used for animal feed. We have updated the bottles we use across the range to ensure they are produced in an environmentally-friendly way and are 100% recyclable. Additionally, we also do a lot of work through the Island Spirit Fund to restore communities and the natural devastation brought about by weather-related disasters… But we know that this is only the beginning – at Cruzan Rum, we are determined to be known not just for the great rum that we make, but also for the good that we do.

13. Who would like to meet in the rum industry? What would you say to him/her?

The simple truth is my father would be that person. I am the third Nelthropp to run the Cruzan Rum Distillery, and I was lucky enough to have followed in my father’s footsteps. I could not have had a better teacher. He just turned 90 and is still a very valuable resource. I only hope I will be as sharp as he is after 90 years. We have safe and socially distanced dinner together every week and I hope this will continue for many years into the future.

 

14. What are your next goals in the rum industry?

After being President & Master Distiller at Cruzan Rum since my father retired in 2007, I have decided to focus on a more commercial type role (Master Distiller) to get the word out to the rest of the world.

 

15. Plans you have when you leave the rum industry.

No plans yet. I do know that St. Croix will always be home, and if I did move out of the rum business (which is very unlikely) my plans would always include family.

 

16. Why is the role of the bartender important in the rum industry?

They are the connection between our products and the consumer. I look at each bartender as a possible ambassador for our future growth. That is one of the reasons I want to get more involved in the Master Distiller type roll. I hope to get our message out and let bartenders decide for themselves if we are the right rum for them.

 

17. What is your advice for new generations in the rum industry?

Build products that the rum category can be proud of. We are not only competing with ourselves, but the Spirit industry as a whole. Win the taste tests!

 

18. How can people learn more about you? Website? Social media page?

You can always learn more about us on

www.cruzanrum.com

https://www.instagram.com/cruzanrum/

https://www.facebook.com/CruzanRum

While our visitor center is currently closed due to the ongoing pandemic, we would love to welcome you in our home once it’s safe to do so once again!