VOA标准英语2010年-Haiti's Iconic Rum Maker Back in Produ

One of Haiti's most well known exports and a symbol of national pride is back in business.  Barbancourt's rum was first distilled¹ in Port au Prince in the 1860's by Dupre Barbancourt, a French cognac maker².  The company maintained production through Haiti's turmoil³ of the last century and a half, but January's earthquake was devastating⁴. The factory sustained extensive damage.  After several months of repairs, Haiti's prized rum is back in production. 

Thierry Gardere is the fourth generation owner and manager of the Rhum Barbancourt factory in Port au Prince.  Barbancourt is considered one of the finest rums in the world.  The company has survived dictators and hurricanes.  But, it was the earthquake last January that brought production to a halt.

"The top of them fell down," recalled Gardere.  "That is one that was outside that we are trying to recuperate⁵, to repair also.  And now there are almost four so, things are coming back, slowly but things are coming back."

The earthquake sent large fermenting⁶ vats⁷ and one hundred gallon casks of rum, some aged⁸ fifteen years, crashing to the floor.  Rum spilled everywhere.

"The rum is alcohol, it killed the grass," he added.

Gardere estimates losses at close to $4 million, about a third of his yearly sales. 

"We have about four hundred small farms; small farms who sell sugar cane," he noted⁹.

Barbancourt rum is made solely¹⁰ from sugarcane, not molasses.  In 1862, Founder¹¹ Dupre Barbancourt developed a recipe using a distillation¹² process similar to cognac. He then aged his rum in fine oak casks from France. 

Gardere ordered new casks from Europe to replace those damaged by the earthquake.

"We are preparing them and testing them with water.  Then we are going to put them back on the shelf again and fill them with rum," he said.

Barbancourt produces more than 300,000 cases of rum a year.  About 20 percent is exported to the U.S. 

Gardere says it will take at least four years to recoup his losses, but he is quick to point out that Barbancourt lost more than just business in the earthquake.

"We lost two or more employees who died in their houses.  And a lot have lost families, sons, children or parents.  And I must say that 40 percent of our employees lost their house," he said.

The Barbancourt Foundation, which funds non-profit groups, has also suffered.  The foundation has worked in the Croix des Missions neighborhood that surrounds the factory. 

The foundation put in this basketball court and solar array for electricity.  And a well for water.  After the quake, neighbors took over the company soccer field.  Jean-Marc Clairemont oversees¹³ the sports facility. He called Gardere.

"The field belonged to the Barbancourt Foundation," said Clairemont.  "And after the quake, I was the one who went to him and told him that people were taking over the field.  He didn't do anything.  He called some friends to ask for help in finding them some tents."

There are now 2,000 people living here.  The foundation pays for 24-hour security.  Mauril Desir, who lost her home, is grateful.

"Mr. Gardere did a lot of good things for us.  He allowed us to stay here and provided security for us so that we can sleep in peace without worry," she said.

Gardere says it may take four years for production to get back to pre-earthquake levels.

"Some of them are very aged rum.  It will take time to be back with them.  Some are 15-years-old and three years old," Gardere explained.

Barbancourt is small compared to large rum manufacturers like Bacardi, but the award winning spirit has an international circle of loyal fans.
 

1 distilled   

adj.由蒸馏得来的v.蒸馏( distil的过去式和过去分词 )；从…提取精华

参考例句：

• The televised interview was distilled from 16 hours of film. 那次电视采访是从16个小时的影片中选出的精华。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Gasoline is distilled from crude oil. 汽油是从原油中提炼出来的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

3 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

4 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

5 recuperate   

v.恢复

参考例句：

• Stay in the hospital for a few more days to recuperate.再住院几天，好好地恢复。
• He went to the country to recuperate.他去乡下养病去了。

6 fermenting   

v.（使）发酵( ferment的现在分词 )；（使）激动；骚动；骚扰

参考例句：

• The fermenting wine has bubbled up and over the top. 发酵的葡萄酒已经冒泡，溢了出来。 来自辞典例句
• It must be processed through methods like boiling, grinding or fermenting. 它必须通过煮沸、研磨、或者发酵等方法加工。 来自互联网

7 vats   

varieties 变化，多样性，种类

参考例句：

• Fixed rare issue with getting stuck in VATS mode. 修正了极少出现的VATS模式卡住的问题。
• Objective To summarize the experience of VATS clinic application. 目的总结电视胸腔镜手术(vats)胸外科疾病治疗中的临床应用经验。

8 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

10 solely   

adv.仅仅，唯一地

参考例句：

• Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。
• The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。

11 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

12 distillation   

n.蒸馏，蒸馏法

参考例句：

• The discovery of distillation is usually accredited to the Arabs of the 11th century.通常认为，蒸馏法是阿拉伯人在11世纪发明的。
• The oil is distilled from the berries of this small tree.油是从这种小树的浆果中提炼出来的。

13 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网