The Kōloa Rum Company is the first licensed commercial distillery on the island of Kaua’i, where the original batch of Premium Hawaiian Rum was distilled and bottled in September 2009. Building on the agricultural legacy of Hawaiian cane sugar, the award-winning Kōloa Rum is distilled using only the finest local ingredients as Hawaiian cane sugar and pure mountain rainwater come together to produce single-batch rums with remarkably rich flavors and smoothness.
Moonlight & Music is Kauaʻi’s premier gala event featuring dinner and dancing under the stars to benefit the critical plant conservation, research and educational efforts of the National Tropical Botanical Garden. This year, Kōloa Rum welcomes master mixologist Matthew Biancaniello — author of Eat Your Drink — to create custom cocktails with Kōloa Rum and ingredients from the NTBG, with a special emphasis on ‘ulu (breadfruit), one of the “canoe plants” that the first Polynesian settlers brought to the Hawaiian Islands. Kōloa Rum will also special one-on-one experiences for high level “Kauwila Table” sponsors to “talk story” with Mr. Biancaniello and also learn about his innovative yet relatable approach to a career in mixology.
I had the pleasure of doing Q&A with National Tropical Botanical Garden’s Director of Philanthropy Heather George and mixologist Matthew Biancaniello about their work together. More on Moonlight & Music can be found online at www.ntbg.org/events/moonlight-music, while Kōloa Rum is at www.koloarum.com.
How would you describe Moonlight & Music at Kaua’i’s McBryde Garden to someone not yet familiar?
Heather George: The Moonlight & Music fundraiser is such a special event here on the islands. Kaua’i’s premier gala event features dinner and dancing on the grass under a full moon at one of the most picturesque botanical gardens in the world. All event proceeds benefit the critical plant conservation, scientific research, and educational efforts of NTBG.
How long has this year’s gala been in the works for?
Heather George: 2019 will be the 12th year of Moonlight & Music at McBryde Garden. Our committed group of volunteers kicked off planning for this year’s event as soon the last decorations came down from last year! We are so grateful for our committee who dedicates so much time and energy into making this event a success.
How did Kōloa Rum come into the fold as a presenting sponsor?
Heather George: Kōloa Rum has been an absolute dream to partner with. Not only do we share our headquarters locations here on Kaua’i, but our missions also align, and we’ve been impressed by their commitment to local agriculture and the preservation of open space on Kaua’i. In fact, recently, Bob Weist, owner of the Kōloa Rum Company, joined NTBG as a Trustee. We are honored by his personal involvement and look forward to working — and toasting — together for years to come.
Gala aside, what else are you working on at NTBG?
Heather George:National Tropical Botanical Garden is a non-profit institution, dedicated to discovering, saving, and studying the world’s tropical plants and sharing what is learned. Our network of five botanical gardens, five preserves, and research facilities encompasses nearly 2,000 acres with locations in Hawaii and Florida. Thousands of species from throughout tropical regions have been gathered through field expeditions and collaborations to form an unparalleled living collection.
Many of the species in our collections are threatened and endangered, or have disappeared from their native habitats. In our preserves and beyond our gardens, NTBG is working to restore habitats and save plants facing extinction. Most recently in May 2019, the NTBG team received national attention for the drone discovery of Hibiscadelphus woodii, a species of hibiscus last seen in 2009 and believed to be extinct, growing on a remote cliffside on Kaua’i.
It’s this kind of discovery that brings a renewed commitment to our work, and our team is thrilled about the potential of drone technology for finding more of these precious species, even in the most remote and treacherous environments.
Matthew, what do you wish more people knew about the life of a mixologist?
Matthew Biancaniello: There is a lot of work that goes into planning an evening before showing up to mix the drinks. For myself, this entails making infusions, foraging ingredients, going to the farmers market, tending to the garden, making syrups and even prepping for the small details – like making ice! Most importantly, I do everything I can to keep evolving and pushing to be greater.
Finally, Matthew, do you have a drink of a choice when it comes to Kōloa Rum?
Matthew Biancaniello: My drink of choice is a liqueur I created using Kōloa White Rum, infused with fresh passion fruit, meiwa kumquats and buckwheat honey.
