Mike Rowe of Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs" loads low wine into a still
Watch “Dirty Jobs'” Mike Rowe get down and dirty making rum with the Newport Distilling Company. The Discovery Channel show airs at 9:00 pm EST on Tuesday, January 11 (check your cable or satellite provider for channel details) and will feature host Mike Rowe learning how to turn bitter black strap molasses into aged rum. I spoke with Newport Distilling Company’s Laura Blackwell about their experience with Rowe and the “Dirty Jobs” crew. Blackwell couldn’t have been more enthusiastic about Rowe’s interest and involvement in making the rum. Rowe was instructed and then participated in every step in the process, so-called dirty in this case because the rum is made from black strap molasses, an extremely viscous syrup created by three boilings of sugar syrup.
If you’d like to watch the show with friends while enjoying a Dirty Mojito made with Thomas Tew Rum, Dirty Pirate Parties are planned at four venues throughout Rhode Island. Parties will be held at Doherty’s East Ave. Irish Pub in Pawtucket, The Spot Underground in Providence, the Mews Tavern in South Kingstown and the Mudville Pub in Newport. A prize, including a bottle of the never released Thomas Tew Barrel #1, will be awarded for best pirate costume at each venue. Visit Thomas Tew Rum on Facebook for details.
If you can’t make it to a Dirty Pirate Party and want to enjoy a Thomas Tew Dirty Mojito while watching “Dirty Jobs,” the Newport Distilling Company provided this cocktail recipe. Here’s a tip I’ve received from cocktail pros, lightly rub the mint leaves (bruise them), don’t crush them to a tasteless paste using a lot of force.
Thomas Tew Dirty Mojito
1.5 oz Thomas Tew Rum
0.5 oz lime juice
2.0 oz simple syrup
1.5 oz club soda
2 mint leaves
from left to right: Brent Ryan, Head Distiller and Owner of Newport Distilling Company; Mike Rowe's dirty shirt; Adam Truesdale, distiller
Thomas Tew Rum with a Thomas Tew Dirty Mojito
