Tourists who have visited India, listing all the curiosities that they had a chance to see and try, often mention Old Monk rum (translated from English – “Old Monk”). Despite the fact that the drink ranks second in popularity among dark rums, until recently it could only be purchased in the country of production and in duty-free shops.
Old Monk began to be imported to Europe only at the beginning of the 2012st century, and small batches have been imported to Russia since XNUMX. The unusual, velvety-chocolate taste of Old Monk is liked even by those who do not like strong drinks: rum is good both in its pure form and in cocktails.
History of Old Monk rum
Most Europeans have a hard time adjusting to India’s hot and humid climate. British soldiers from the units stationed in the Indian principalities in the middle of the 1855th century remembered with longing their native land and fresh cold beer. Therefore, the idea of the Englishman Edward Dyer, who built the first brewery in India in XNUMX, was simply doomed to success. Dyer Breweries advertised its products under the motto: “It’s good, like at home.” Soon, the local population appreciated all the charm of a foreign foamy drink.
Subsequently, Mr. Dyer moved the brewery closer to Shimla, the summer residence of the British military administration, and the old enterprise was converted into a distillery high in the Himalayas, in the city of Kazauli. The current owners of the company claim that even then Dyer began to produce rum, which English soldiers and officers willingly bought.
The founder’s son and heir, Reginald Dyer, joined the military. He showed particular cruelty in dispersing demonstrations in the Punjab in 1919. The case received publicity, because of which Colonel Dyer was forced to resign and leave for England. He could no longer go back: the relatives of the people who were shot on his orders swore to take revenge. It is known that the avengers found and killed one of Dyer’s colleagues in England itself.
Dyer Breweries, left without management and with a damaged reputation, was saved by the association with the Meakin brewing company. Dyer Meakin Breweries was owned by the British until 1949. After India gained independence, businessman N.N. Mohan bought a controlling stake in the brewery on the London Stock Exchange, which he later renamed Mohan Meakin Breweries. Since 1982 the company has been called Mohan Meakin Limited.
Mr. Mohan created a real family empire and led it for 20 years. He built several new enterprises, among them a distillery in Ghaziabad. Here, on December 19, 1954, Old Monk rum, made according to old, time-tested recipes, was first presented to the public.
The drink seems unusual to consumers accustomed to light, light varieties of Caribbean rum. Aged Old Monk is dark and thick. If you twist the glass with it a little, then “tears” will remain on the glass, like from a good Cahors. Old Monk 12-year-old flows the slowest of all along the walls of the glass. Rum is made from natural, environmentally friendly raw materials, without any synthetic additives.
During the existence of Old Monk, neither Mr. Mohan himself, nor the sons and grandchildren who inherited the company, spent a dime on advertising. But the company does not spare money for product quality control and spectacular packaging. The drink is poured into solid bottles with attractive labels, from where a well-fed Buddhist monk smiles cheerfully.
For the convenience of consumers, Old Monk is sold in bottles of 90, 180, 375, 500, 750 ml and 1 liter. The surface of the bottles with the most popular 7-year-old rum is specially made bumpy so that the vessel does not slip out of a sweat-drenched hand.
The current head of the company, Mr. Hemant Mohan, claims that such a high-quality rum as Old Monk does not need ordinary advertising. Anyone who has tried the drink at least once will definitely tell their friends about it. Due to savings on advertising campaigns, the company was able to sell premium rum at the price of a regular one.
One of the most famous admirers of the “Old Monk” is photographer Jan Pereira. For the past 27 years, he has been drinking two glasses of his favorite rum daily, taking a break only twice a year: on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Friends never managed to seduce the master with single malt whiskey, expensive cognac, or at least another brand of rum.
On Facebook, Pereira created the COMRADE group (the Council of Old Monk Rum Addicted Drinkers and Eccentrics). Every day the number of subscribers is growing, among them are just fans of the drink, and famous mixologists. Moreover, this is only the largest community, and there are a great many such groups on social networks. All their activities are based on the enthusiasm of consumers, the company does not sponsor associations of its fans.
Mohan Meakin Limited has participated in the international competition only once. In 1982, Old Monk Very Old Vatted 7-year-old rum under the motto “The drink of the gods and rulers of India” was presented at the Monde World Selections exhibition in Brussels, where it won a gold medal.
Mango Monk Cocktail
Yangdap Lama, Senior Mixologist at Cocktails & Dreams in New Delhi, recommends mixing in a shaker:
- 45 ml of Old Monk 7-year-old rum;
- 10 ml mint syrup;
- 5 ml of lime juice;
- 90 ml of freshly squeezed mango juice (can be replaced with canned juice, preferably with pulp);
- crushed ice.
The cocktail should be poured into a cognac glass and garnished with a sprig of mint.
Types of Roma Old Monk
Mohan Meakin Limited produces 6 types of Old Monk rum with a strength of 42,8%:
- Old Monk White Rum – a young colorless rum with a rich flavor of molasses and hints of vanilla, citrus, coconut;
- Old Monk XXX Rum (Very Old Vatted) is a dark amber rum that has been aged for 7 years in oak barrels. The drink smells of coffee, fruit caramel, vanilla, cardamom. Creamy-chocolate taste with citrus tones turns into a warm spicy aftertaste;
- Old Monk Deluxe XXX Rum is a 7-year-old dark amber rum. The drink has a sharp taste with a fruity-woody tint. Aftertaste – spicy, burning, with dominant pepper tones;
- Old Monk Gold Reserve Rum is a 12-year-old buckwheat honey-colored rum exuding aromas of cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, chocolate and black tea. On the palate, the sweetness of molasses is balanced by almond bitterness with a hint of pepper;
- Old Monk Supreme Rum is a 12 year old dark rum. The glass bottle is made in the form of a colored figurine of a fat Buddhist monk. This type of rum differs from the Gold Reserve variety in a milder taste, which is dominated by chocolate and vanilla notes, and warm peppery tones are only slightly felt in the spicy aftertaste;
- Old Monk Legend is an 18 year old dark rum. The drink is produced in limited quantities. The bottle is shaped like the head of a smiling Buddhist monk. The taste of rum is very mild, with almost no aftertaste of molasses. Hints of cinnamon, cloves, creamy caramel, orange peel and banana are smoothly replaced by an aftertaste with undertones of figs, dried apricots and black tea.