Former Rum Barrel bartender a finalist in Tommy Bahama's Rumologist Contest

Jack Terry, 39
Key West, FL

Jack Terry makes a mean rum drink. After all, he's been doing it for 15 years, honing his mixology skills behind The Rum Barrel Bar with our more than 150 rums from all over the world.

Read The Rum Barrel Rum Bible

Mix all that with a lot of personality and a life's philosophy based on the eternal weekend, and you have a Top 5 Finalist in Tommy Bahama's Rumologist™ Contest.

Terry, one of the Rum Barrel's first bartenders, is vying for $50,000 and the title of Tommy Bahama Rumologist™ with contestants from Osprey, Fla; Orange, Calif.; Seattle, Wash.; and Los Angeles.

See Jack Terry's video submission to Tommy Bahama

"We look forward to continuing our quest of being the foremost experts on rum, as well as the purveyors of amazing rum cocktails," said Rob Goldberg, Tommy Bahama senior vice president of marketing and restaurants in a prepared statement.

Besides being an all-round fun and carefree guy, Terry is also a self-published author of Chasing Ghosts, he has his BFA in acting from NYU, and he worked as a bartender in the late '90s in LA while trying to make it as an actor in Tinseltown. He's currently bar manager at Bagatelle in Key West, and has lived here for a little over two years.

Voting for Jack Terry ends on Oct. 10, so vote now on Tommy Bahama's Facebook page!

We plied Terry with a few questions--as opposed to liquor--about being a mixer, drinker, and big liver of life. Here's what he had to say:


How long have you been a mixologist and drinks connoisseur?

I've been in restaurant business for 17 years and a bartender for 15. It was something I fell into because I wanted to try something new. About six years ago, I was one of the first bartenders at the Rum Barrel when it just opened, and I was like a kid in a candy shop because the Rum Barrel has so many rums. I realized I could play with this stuff. That really took me from being bartender to being a mixologist.


What's your favorite rum and why?

Ron Zacapa XO, a Guatemalan 23-year-old aged rum. It is the best rum. It's unreal. People think rum is Captain Morgan or Bacardi, but this sets the bar. It'll change what you think of rum. It's full of flavor from beginning to end. I give it to scotch drinkers and I say, "You think this is rum? Follow me down the rabbit hole, let's have some real fun."


What's your favorite drink?

If I had one drink left to have, it would be Captain Courageous. It's one I did and it's a great combination of flavors. You're familiar with what's in it, but you don't expect it to taste that good: spiced rum (Kilo or Capt Morgan), aperol, fresh mango, and simple syrup. Of course, when I'm done with my shift and mixing drinks all day, I go for a shot of Jameson and a bottle of Bud Light. When you see me with those, you know I'm done.


What's your process for coming up with a good drink?

I look at what I have and how they play with each other. Is it sweet? Is it bitter? It's knowing what flavors work with each other.


What's your 'fondest' drunken customer memory?

This guy walks into the bar and says, "Oh my God, I'm so drunk." So I said, "Well, I can't serve  you." And he fussed and ranted and eventually left. I just think it's funny that people come to Key West and they think it's an R-rated Disney World, but it's not. We've got rules, too!


Why did you enter Tommy Bahama's Rumologist Contest? Did you expect to get this far?

A friend sent me the link to it and I entered on the last day. I was like, someone wants to pay me to travel the world and sell rum? I'm on it like you won't believe. The fact that I got this far is really mind-blowing. It's so awesome and scary that I get to be here. Tommy Bahama says that life is one long weekend and that's all I do. I'm just trying to promote that lifestyle and I'm lucky enough to live it. It's something I've been training for my entire life. Anyone can study rum and be a rumologist, but it's the joy of living the carefree lifestyle. And that's my lifeline; it's what I've been doing. I can create a whole new generation of rum drinkers and it's awesome to think I can influence people to drink rum.


What do you want to be when you grow up?

Do I have to grow up? *chuckles* I just see every new opportunity as a chance to do something different. I want to be a writer and bar owner and a friend. A nice neighborhood bar owner, who sells novels and sells great drinks. Give me that.

The Rum Barrel joins the new Off Duval Pub Crawl

Rum Barrel Quarterdeck

Key West resident Joe Cortner has spotted innumerable pub crawls on Duval Street, and so the obvious thing came to mind: "A blind chimp could find a bar on Duval, but what about the really great bars elsewhere?"

And so the weekly Off Duval Pub Crawl was born. Its first weekly four-bar hop on Sept. 16 included The Rum Barrel Quarterdeck.

The Rum Barrel Restaurant/Bar was added to the bar crawl early on because it sits just off the beaten path--like the other bars on the bar-hop roster--with an extensive rum and craft beer menu along with its oft-missed, scenic Quarterdeck overlooking historic Old Town Key West, Cortner said.

"It's good to see a pub crawl with a different focus," said JC Picco, Rum Barrel general manager. "Our Quarterdeck has an amazing ambience and great view. We think crawlers will definitely dig it."

Cortner's fast-growing Off Duval Pub Crawl takes participants to some classic Keys bars, new and old, that visitors might not find so easily on their own. In addition to The Rum Barrel, stops include craft beer testing at Krawl on Southard Street; the new Smokin' Tuna Saloon on Charles Street; and one of Mile Zero's only country bars, Cowboy Bill's Reloaded on Greene Street.

Cortner said he'll likely keep the Off Duval Crawl limited to four bars, so participants don't have to rush through their drinks or their good times. The tour lasts for three hours and includes craft beer testing, domestic beers of participants' choice and wells drink cocktails, along with a T-shirt and giveaways for $35.

The Rum Barrel features nightly entertainment on The Quarterdeck. To reserve a spot on the weekly Off Duval Pub Crawl, visit www.kokomojoes.com. 

Yes, we deliver... drinks

You probably know that The Rum Barrel delivers a full choice of menu items anywhere in Key West via Key West Food-To-Go. Now you can order soda along with your tasty meal for $2 a pop.

Totally worth the convenience, don't you think?

Unfortunately, we don't deliver beer or other alcoholic beverages. But then again, if you're at work, you shouldn't be drinking anyway!

Don't forget to check out our Delivery Loyalty Program for free Philly cheesesteak rolls or discounted food or drink at the restaurant/bar.

Featured Drink: Mojito

Simple and classic, the mojito is a bar favorite. Here's the official Rum Barrel recipe, straight from The Rum Bible. Just a little something to celebrate the end of summer (as you weep into your swimming trunks/bikini/tankini/swimsuit/sunburn/mother's arms).

Mojito

2 oz. Light Rum
4 oz. Club Soda or Seltzer
Juice of 1/2 Fresh Lime
1 tsp. Sugar
Fresh mint leaves

Mash mint leaves with lime juice and sugar in old-fashioned glass. Pour in rum with crushed ice. Fill glass with club soda or seltzer. Garnish with a mint sprig.

Interesting Fact: Some distilleries use the fresh juice of sugar cane while others use the by-product of the sugar refining process - known as molasses - as the raw material for the fermentation process.

Got cams?

So you're in Detroit or Cleveland or Timbuktu and you'd rather be in Philly or Key West for the Eagles game. We know.

That's why we've set up live webcams at the Rum Barrel main bar and upstairs on the Quarterdeck stage, so you can view the Philly game action live in the tropics and check out our nightly live performances no matter where you are in the world. Especially if it's cold or storming where you are. :)

It's like you're at The Rum Barrel! And who could ask for anything more?

To view our cams, visit The Rum Barrel homepage and click on the Rum Cam or the Deck Cam.

The Deck Cam's on Tuesday through Saturday from 7 p.m. to midnight when performances take place. To check out who'll be on stage, keep up with our music calendar.

The Rum Cam's on every day from 11 a.m. to midnight. Check out the crowd action on game day and the bar mixin' on a regular day. If such a thing exists in Key West.

Can't wait to see you see us!