Dennis and Bob. Bob and Dennis. Two of Jamaican music’s finest and most beloved artistes. Legends both. Bob, the songwriter, international star and soul rebel supreme; Dennis, the voice, the Crown Prince, your favourite reggae singer’s favourite singer. I can’t imagine my life without them. And neither should you. And it’s February. And Dennis was born in February. And so was Bob….
Christmas is a week away and many of you are scrambling to finish your shopping. Me? I’m eating roasted nuts and sipping rum. My shopping is sorted and there’s not much left to do but wrap gifts, write the cards and put on the bows. Now, if you’ve got a drinker on your list or a rum enthusiast, this installment of my Holiday Gift Guide is for you.
First up, Blackwell Rum. Created by Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records and Island Outpost among many other things, Blackwell Black Gold Rum is your typical Jamaican rum: full-bodied. A dark rum, I first sampled Blackwell Rum on my most recent trip to Jamaica. I spotted the bottle while sitting at Dougie’s Bar at Jake’s Hotel in Treasure Beach one evening and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try something new. I’d heard good things about the rum and was not disappointed.
With its deep, dark, molasses-y look I did expect Blackwell Rum to be sweeter than it actually was. Don’t get me wrong, I did taste hints of molasses with the slightly bitter notes I associate with dark chocolate and coffee but it wasn’t cloying; the finish didn’t overstay its welcome and left me wanting more.
Blackwell Black Gold Rum goes for $29.95 at the LCBO and would make a fine tipple this holiday season. Check the following video courtesy the good people at largeup.com for more info on this fine rum:
First things first: I’ve been slipping. Really, really, slipping. I haven’t been around these parts much lately (life, I tell you, life), other than when I’m here sharing these Bass Kultcha videos–but even that is slipping as my “late-to-the-party-just-getting-around-to-posting-this-ness” can attest. Anyway, I’ll be back soon with my Holiday Gift Giving Guide (hint, there will be rum) and with a few cocktail suggestions too. Not to mention episode 9 of Bass Kultcha is coming up. Well, welcome back to me.
In the aftermath of the first Bass Kultchaevent, we welcome Earl Grey, one of the guest selectors on that night. In this episode we discuss Earl’s upcoming projects, before settling in for an eclectic mix of classic dub, roots, dancehall and a few mashups and genre defying tracks for good measure.
Check out the latest episode of our show over at Studiofeed. This was a particularly high energy session with good vibes bubbling throughout the studio. Also, do you love independent music? Yeah, I know you do. That’s why you need to hit up supportindependentmusic.org and get involved.
First up, 
