Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/589641
184 AN EVANGELIST IS A ZEALOT WHO SEEKS TO CONVERT OTHERS TO HIS or her religion. Some employ aggressive tactics, while others are more subtle in their approach. Eric Glass, president of Rumson's, falls into the latter camp. His religion is making rum—and once you sample one of his four gospels, you'll be a resolute devotee. The clean-shaven, soft-spoken co-founder of this young but rapidly growing Salem–based business dons horn-rimmed glasses as well as a black baseball cap and polo shirt bearing his trademark boxer-and-crossbones logo. And he loves what he does. If Rumson's slogan doesn't convince you ("Life Lived, Life Enjoyed"), their products will. There is a flavor for every palate. "I convert people with this one," the aptly named Glass says, as he hands me—a connoisseur of Glenlivet, Balvenie, and Oban—a tumbler of his Grand Reserve. It is a clear amber spirit distilled, bottled, and pack- aged in the 3,000-square-foot office/warehouse space off Canal Street. This 80-proof nectar can flavor classic cocktails like piña coladas, daiquiris, and mojitos, but to truly savor its fullness, sip it straight or on the rocks. The floral bouquet is prodigious and plenteous. It tastes of molasses and caramel—rummy in the middle with a smooth, oaky, earthy finish. It is comparable to Zacapa and Diplomático, but Rumson's is less sweet and not nearly as hot. The full-bodied Grand Reserve, like all of Rumson's offerings, is made from blended Trinidadian rum whose chief ingredient is blackstrap molasses. (Rum made from sugar cane tends to be hotter and not as complex.) Being a blend, it is comprised of assorted vintages aged five to 23 years. You will not see a number on the front of the bottle, though, as with top-shelf scotches. What you will find is the brand's logo: the aforementioned boxer and crossbones. In fact, it was the logo that spawned the business, and not the converse. Glass worked in the consumer healthcare industry for 15 years. He quit his job in February 2012. Real- izing that it was no longer what he wanted to do, the Salem State University and Bentley MBA grad went to distilling school. The decision to be a rum maker com- bines three of Glass's passions: spoofy romanticized pirate movies like the Pirates of the Caribbean series, the Bahamas, which he frequents every year, and his dogs—boxers named Goliath and Rumson. The logo was designed in 2009 with the help of Glass's brother-in-law, graphic designer Keven Cintron. In place of the signature white skull of the pirate flag All operations are run out of a Salem warehouse. Opposite, Steve Orne (left) and Eric Glass are two of the three-person team. is man's best friend. Glass quips that a young boy, who recently saw the logo emblazoned on his Mini Cooper said, "Look at that! He makes dog poison!" Though not the drink of canines, it is quickly becoming the "poison" of rum aficionados on the North Shore. Rumson's was officially launched last December, but has already received the adulation of critics as well as some prominent awards. The Grand Reserve, for instance, won a double gold medal for best aged rum last August from The Fifty Best. Rumson's Aged Rum won gold in the same competition. The aureate accolade bestowed upon the Aged Rum is merited. This smooth, lighter-colored libation begins with spice and pepper flavors and builds to an oaky, caramel finish with a touch of raisins. The center of the palate enjoys a protracted ascent