Rum Connoisseur Interview of The Week KURT WETTLAUFER Seaspirits Rum Founder
Rum Connoisseur
Interview of The Week
KURT WETTLAUFER
Seaspirits Rum Founder
1. Who is Kurt Wettlaufer?
I’ve had a taste for rum since I was old enough to drink. My passion for rum developed as I took sailing trips to the Caribbean Islands. Then I got busy adulting with college and the corporate world. Then kids, family, dog and of course a boat. I started SeaSpirits Distillery because of my lifelong passion for rum and the limited availability of high quality rum this far north. As I did research I discovered that the vast majority of rum is produced on really old stills with outdated technology. There is something nostalgic about tasting rum the way that pirates and British officers drank it but that is the Kill Devil of old. New Technology helps make a super high quality spirit that pirates of yester year could only dream about!
2. Biggest accomplishment for the rum industry?
I’m just getting started but the biggest contribution I’ve made so far is to bring a high quality rum made locally with modern technology to the northwest. Seaspirits Rums have been received incredibly well and we are expanding quickly to meet demand nationwide.
3. How did you fell in love with rum?
I have always been a fan of rum, but it was not until my first trip to the Caribbean that I fell in love with the spirit. I remember the day distinctly, after a day of windsurfing and sailing I was sitting on the beach drinking barrel aged rum neat with a red stripe while watching the vibrant Caribbean sun sink below the horizon.
4. What is the think that makes you want to continue in the rum industry?
Today is such an exciting time to be involved in the world of rums! In this country, rum is in the beginning stages of its own renaissance. People are realizing that rum is so much more than the few big mass produced brands of rum. There are so many unique rums, each filled with their own personality and spirit and are quite enjoyable, even if you don’t believe yourself being a fan of rum. The United States has seen a premiumization of Vodka, Tequila, and Whiskey, and now it is the time for rum to shine.
5. Favorite Drink?
There are so many great drinks to be made with rum. This is like asking which child do you like better?
On warm sunny days I like a classic mojito
Rum
Mint
Lime
Simple syrup
Club soda
On a Sunday morning after a night out, a painkiller is the way to go
Pineapple juice
Orange juice
Cream of coconut
Spiced rum
Topped with nutmeg
After a nice meal with friends, I like a rum old fashioned
Barrel aged rum
Orange bitters
Hint of simple syrup
I make my drinks to taste depending on the strength of the ingredients. Taste varies among people, so experiment and see what works for you?
This is hard because there are so many good rums to choose from.
Sipping a premium rum for the first time.Any premium rum that you haven’t seen commercials on TV for.b. Likes Scotch Whisky:
Likes Scotch Whiskey? Brugal Siglo De Oro
c. Likes Bourbon:
Likes Bourbon?SeaSpirits Barrel aged, aged in bourbon barrels
d. Like Gin or Vodka:
Likes Gin or Vodka? Try a premium small batch local spiced rum.
e. Likes Cognac:
Likes Cognac? Rum isn’t for everyone
7. Where do you see the rum industry today and in the next 5 years?
Rum is in the early stages of a major renaissance. Rum is the true American spirit and people are returning to it. At The Boston Tea Party the tea was thrown overboard and the molasses was saved to make rum. This love of rum runs deep in the American soul and people are rediscovering it. Five years from today I see rum getting the respect that all high quality spirits deserve. Rum is currently the Rodney Dangerfield of the spirit world. Not for long!
8. What do you think needs to happen to grow the premium category of rum?
Its happening now! The question should be, how can we grow the category faster?
There are a few key things. First, people need to sample premium rum and taste the difference! This is happening slowly and building critical mass and speed.
Next, we need the distributors and the premium rum brands to work together. Currently, there are a few dominant mass producers fighting to keep their market dominance that they have enjoyed for years. We need the distributors to work with the premium brands in competing with the huge producers. The distribution network is changing quickly.
Finally, the tax system for spirits in this country is in desperate need of modernization! This is slowly happening but at the speed of government.
9. Share some (2-3) of your mentors and how they have helped you.
My rum mentors, of course I want to mention the co-owner of Hale Pele Martin Cate, who has shared with me some fine expressions of rum from time to time. Another friend/mentor is Matt Robold, whose enthusiastic love of all things rum got me all wrapped up and definitely made me up my collection!
10. What 3-5 things do you have in your bucket list for the next 12 month?
My bucket list for the next year or so is in expanding my rum vocabulary when it comes to making cocktails, so I’ll reach for something other than my usual suspects. I also want to be able to make my drink recipes more readily available information for when I call out certain rums, like Coruba, to find suitable substitutions in areas where they are not distributed. In a year, I’d love to be picking out my own barrels for BG Reynolds Private Selection, but we’ll see how that goes.
11. Any last words?
Thank you and cheers.
12. How can people learn more about you? Website? Social Media Page?
Stop in for a taste if you are in the Seattle area.
www.seaspiritsdistillery.com
Facebook @SeaSpiritsDis
Instagram @seaspiritsdistillery
