Geek Spotlight: Adam Kanter of Rittenhouse Square’s Rum Bar

Guest Post by Sean Kennedy

Photo lovingly stolen from Meal Ticket

Rum Bar’s Adam Kanter. The guy travels around the world researching rum and all of the different techniques used in creating it. If there is anyone more suited to the title Rum Geek, I don’t know ‘em. He even makes custom bitters in his basement (which are excellent, by the way), like some sort of mad scientist.

At a recent visit to Rum Bar, I took the time to ask him a bunch of questions about his adventures, rum, and geekery in general, check it out:

What is your most memorable/fun Rum research adventure. Where did you go, what did you find out and how is it influencing your bar?

Adam: My most memorable rum adventure, is not the most exciting of adventures. I’ve been to rum festivals and excursions all around the world, but perhaps it was my first ever rum distillery tour at the West Indies Rum Refinery (WIRR) in Barbados, where they make Malibu and Cockspur rums.

This was the single event that sparked my interest in the spirit. It was then I wanted to learn to make my own rum. As my interest evolved, so did the concept of Rum Bar. I will be returning to WIRR in 3 weeks for my first time back. I am excited!

Comics? Have any favorites I should know about?

Adam: I’m not much of a comic fan. Comics-turned-movies are great, as long as they’re done well. I wouldn’t know if they were similar to the original comics, since I don’t read ‘em. Watchmen was one of my favorites.

Okay, well what about video games?

Adam: I like to play word games on my phone and computer. I need to always have my mind focusing on something or I go crazy! I do have XBox 360, Wii, and plenty of older consoles. My wife plays ‘em all. My favorite system would have to be Super Nintendo. Simple 2 dimensional games, yet with memory capability to play long lasting games. I was an avid Zelda player back in the day!

That said, I’m a super geek when it comes to TV and movies. I DVR over 12 different shows a week with my current favorites Dexter, The Event, Outsourced, and Hell’s Kitchen (or Kitchen Nightmares, whatever season is on). For movies, my DVD collection is somewhere in the 500 range. I’ve got mountains and mountains of movies, in alphabetical order of course!

Since finding out that you made your own bitters in the basement, I’ve been dying to know what goes in to making them yourself. Could you elaborate a bit on the process for me?

Adam: The bitters are very simple to make as long as you get the proper ingredients. I always start with 2 separate infusions for the bitters. One infusion uses bitter barks and spices. I typically use quassia, wormwood, and elderflower, though I try new spices all the time. For my other infusion, I use whatever the flavor of bitter I am making.

Citrus fruits are the easiest and give the most vibrant flavor thanks to the zest. Flavors I’ve done are orange, lime, grapefruit, floral, chocolate, and tropical. Not sure what I’ll make next, depends on what cocktails I come up with… what they are lacking.

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So now you all know, Adam is as big a geek as they come. Go show him some support and down a couple drinks in the name of geeks everywhere. There’s no better place than a bar dedicated to Rum, the official drink of pirates everywhere to get your drink on. Don’t make me repeat myself, get over to the Rum Bar on 20th and Walnut soon, and order up something delicious!

If anyone reading this hasn’t been to the Rum Bar within the last month, I highly recommend you amend that decision as soon as humanly possible. Adam hired a new chef, Luis Lara. He completely revamped the menu, bringing all sorts of new delicious meals to the table.

Rum Bar
2005 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-4400
(215) 751-0404
www.rum-bar.com