If you haven't been out since last weekend then you probably haven't yet noticed, but a new liquor has recently entered our boozy landscape. Launched in Chicago last year, Kilo Kai Rum officially reached Milwaukee area bars, restaurants and liquor stores Monday, March 10.
I, of course, wasted no time experimenting with the sample they sent us with the press release. Kilo Kai is a spiced rum, so, referencing my limited knowledge of the words "spiced" and "rum" together, I went into it expecting something along the lines of Captain Morgan. In essence, sure, the two share basic qualities, but I found Kilo Kai to be significantly sweeter and smoother than a swig of the ol' Cap'n. Distilled in Curacao, Kilo incorporates palatable amounts of vanilla, banana, cherry, nutmeg and orange peels. This is a rum I'd actually consider drinking on the rocks.
Kilo Kai just got here a few days ago, so, at the moment, it's only available at Cans Bar & Canteen, 1815 E. Kenilworth Pl.
As of Friday, March 21, you can get a taste of the spiced rum at the following bars:
Balzac
1716 N. Arlington Pl.
(414) 755-0099
balzacwinebar.com
Bad Genie Rock Lounge
789 N. Jefferson St.
(414) 273-0555
Buckhead Saloon
1044 Old World 3rd St.
(414) 390-0233
buckheadmilwaukee.com
Cafe Hollander
2608 N. Downer Ave.
(414) 963-6366
Decibel Nightclub/DeepBar Lounge
1905 E. North Ave.
(414) 272-3337
decibelmke.com
G'Daddy's BBC
2022 E. North Ave.
(414) 272-7263
Hi Hat Lounge and Garage
1701 N. Arlington Pl.
Lounge: (414) 225-9330
Garage: (414) 220-8090
Kenadee's
725 N. Milwaukee St.
(414) 431-5556
kenadees.com
Serving suggestions
Here are a few cocktails that Kilo suggests:
Skull & Bones (Your basic rum & Coke)
1.5 oz. Kilo Kai
4 oz. Coke
Lime garnish
Pirate Tea
2 oz. Kilo Kai
I oz. orange juice
1 oz. Coke
Lemon garnish
Kilo Acid Trip
.5 oz. Kilo Kai
.5 oz. vodka
.5 oz. gin
.5 oz. tequila
1.5 oz. melon liqueur
(Shake with ice and strain into cocktail glass)
Kai Chai
1.5 Kilo Kai
1 oz. Peppermint Schnapps
4 oz. hot tea
1 tsp. honey
Here's what I did with what I had at home:
Kilo & O.J.
1 oz. Kilo Kai
4 oz. orange juice
Lime garnish
Kilo & Mango
1 oz. Kilo Kai
4 oz. mango nectar (I had it for a Thai recipe I was trying)
Lemon garnish (to cut the sweetness down a tad)
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
