By Rhonda Meredith

All landlubbers are welcome to attend the International Talk Like a Pirate Day celebration on Saturday, September 19 at the Buccaneer Bar nestled within the Eagle Point Distillery located at 341 5th Street (just 4 blocks south of the intersection of FM 646 & FM 517) in sunny San Leon.

The distillery will open at noon on this special day and offer a single tour at 1 p.m. only. They will close to prepare for their widely anticipated event, and then re-open at 5 p.m. The International Talk Like a Pirate Day Party will be in full force from 5 to 10:30 p.m. The Bilge Pumps will be providing live musical entertainment beginning at 6:30 p.m. It’s going to be one heck of a pirate party with prizes for the Best Dressed

Pirate and the Best Pirate Talker categories. Guests must be 21 years of age or older with valid ID to enter the distillery. Since 2005, Eagle Point Distillery is the home to RAILEAN® Handcrafted American Rum™, the first and only rum certified “MADE in USA.” The distillery produces RAILEAN White Rum, RAILEAN Reserve XO, RAILEAN Small Cask, RAILEAN Spiced Rum, RAILEAN “El Perico” 100% Blue Agave Silver, and RAILEAN “El Perico” 100% Blue Agave Reposado, 100% Blue Agave Anejo, RAILEAN Vodka, and the new RAILEAN Coconut Rum. The highly anticipated Railean Light Whiskey should be available for the holidays.

The International Talk Like a Pirate Day “parrrty” also coincides with the one-year anniversary of the expansion of their facility. To meet growing demand for its liquor, a 3600-square-foot building was constructed next to their original space and half of the space is home to a visitor’s center, a gift shop, and the Buccaneer Bar. It’s all top shelf RAILEAN liquor and premium grogs (cocktails) served at the Buccaneer Bar. And the price is more than right at $4 and $5 a glass. Enjoy creative drinks such as a “Talk Like a Pirate Rum Punch,” the “Scurvy Dog Margarita,” a “Bloody Pirate,” and the “Dark & Stormy.”

The other half of the new building is for barrel storage and the relocation and expansion of the bottling line. Railean’s original distillery building is used for the manufacturing of products and the operating of stills and fermenting equipment.

The visitor area offers cool air conditioning for the hot months and roll-up garage doors to be opened when the weather is gorgeous out and not quite as hot. It is a great place for private events such as happy hour get-togethers, bus tours, book clubs, Harley clubs, and bachelor/bachelorette parties, and the like. It is also the home-base for tours given by Kelly Railean, a master distiller and the company’s founder and namesake.

The enthusiastic Railean explains how she got into the distilling business, and discusses fermentation, distillation theory and operation of the still, dark versus white rum, spirits distilled from agave, barrel aging, and the bottling process.

The tour will definitely open guests’ eyes to the work, tender loving care, and countless hours that are put into literally handcrafting each bottle. It’s very informative and highly recommended. You can sample the RAILEAN spirits and keep a souvenir shot glass to put in your treasure chest.

Tours are $5 per person and take approximately an hour. Guests must be 21 years of age or older with valid ID to enter the distillery. To make a tour appointment, contact Kelly at (713) 545-2742 or send an email to [email protected].

Remember, you do have a choice between consuming imported, mass-produced rum or RAILEAN® Handcrafted American Rum™ that is distilled, bottled, and labeled on a local street by a local resident and can be purchased in local stores, restaurants and at the distillery. The distillery is closed to the public Sunday through Tuesday, but group tours and private events are available. Tastings and retail sales are available (and tours by appointment only) on Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. Weekend hours are Friday from 3 to 9 p.m. for retail sales and a 6 p.m. tour, and Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. for retail sales, and tours start at 1, 3 and 5 p.m.

See the RAILEAN ad in this issue for the current events and musical entertainment schedule, or visit www.railean.com for more information. Aye aye!

Join the Railean Pirate Guild

Avast! Enjoy a pirate’s life not just one day, but throughout the year, too, when you join the Railean Pirate Guild!  For a mere $20 membership fee, your inner pirate will receive a lifetime of benefits including a 14-ounce S.S. pirate mug, a membership badge with a unique pirate name, access to exclusive events such as barrel samples and new product launches, and 5% off all purchases at the Railean Distillery gift shop and Railean Buccaneer Bar. In the spirit of camaraderie, the Railean Pirate Guild meets monthly at the Railean Buccaneer Bar on the first Thursday. Contact the distillery for the full set of guild guidelines. Members must be 21 years or older.