August 2020 - Rum In The News

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                                        KOLOA RUM

Bob Gunter, President & CEO of Koloa Rum Company, is asking for your help. In the face of extended travel bans and the slowdown of Hawaiʻi tourism due to COVID-19, a new revenue stream is desperately needed to help craft producers survive the pandemic. On April 30, 2020, Kōloa Rum Company, with support from Hawaiʻi distilleries including Kō Hana Distillers, Koʻolau Distillery, Kuleana Rum Works, Lanikai Brewing Company, Kupu Spirits (Maui Brewing Company), and Pau Maui Vodka, submitted a letter to Governor David Ige, requesting an Executive Order allowing direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping of spirits. Hawaiʻi’s craft spirits industry relies heavily on both tourism and kamaʻaina (local) traffic to sustain their businesses. As Hawaiʻi distilleries have closed their tasting rooms and suspended tours in the face of this health crisis, these closures have left distillers in an increasingly difficult position. During this pandemic, Hawaiʻi distilleries mobilized to shift production to alcohol-based sanitizers to supply local first responders, hospitals, health care providers, and essential businesses at the front lines of the health crises with much needed supplies at significant expense to our businesses, which were already suffering. This struggle has grown from painful to unbearable for many of Hawaiʻi’s craft distilleries, and the lost revenue is substantial. In fact, a recent International Wine and Spirits Record (IWSR) Drinks Market Analysis forecasts that it will take the alcohol industry until at least 2024 to reach pre-crisis levels.  Allowing direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipments will provide a much-needed financial lifeline and allow Hawaiʻi’s distilleries to bring furloughed employees back to work. Several other states have already taken measures to simplify the distribution of alcohol during the pandemic, offering a lifeline that is needed to keep open the small craft businesses. The American Craft Spirits Association is also advocating for “commonsense regulatory changes” alongside craft distilleries, many of whom have lost 100% of their retail sales. Over two months have passed since Kōloa Rum Company initially requested Governor Ige’s support for direct to consumer shipments. Now they need your help. They humbly ask for your support in signing their petition to Governor Ige on change.org. The petition can be accessed at http://chng.it/rp6bN9vXdG.  By signing, you are voicing your support for an executive order that will modify Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes (HRS) to:

  • Permit licensed distilleries within the State of Hawaiʻi to sell and ship the products they produce directly to consumers aged 21 and over within the state;
  • Permit licensed distilleries within the State of Hawaiʻi to sell and ship the products they produce to consumers aged 21 and over in other states that allow in and out-of-state DTC shipments;
  • Allow third-party delivery companies to deliver spirits obtained at a Hawaiʻi distillery directly to consumers aged 21 and over; and
  • Allow distillery employees to directly deliver Hawaiʻi spirits to consumers aged 21 and over.

The distilleries recognize and appreciate the steps their governor has taken to help other industries navigate this public health emergency and to keep Hawaiʻi residents safe, and they urge the governor to act on the above items to provide critical assistance to our state’s distilleries.In celebration of their 10th Anniversary, Koloa Rum Company has recently released a 10-Year Commemorative Edition in their Single Barrel Series. Six (6) individual barrels of their 4-Year Aged Hawaiian Rum were individually selected for this limited release for sale at a limited number of retailers. One barrel yields approximately 180 bottles, each of which are carefully inspected and numbered to ensure the Kaua`i Single-Barrel Rum is of the highest quality, distinctly different and uniquely Hawaiian. It is rumored that the 10-Year Commemorative Edition was bottled at cask strength, a potent 124 proof. Let’s hope there will be a 20-Year Commemorative Edition. www.koloarum.com

                              SEATTLE KRAKEN 

Last month, the National Hockey League announced that the Seattle Kraken will be the next expansion team. Just days later, the franchise announced they had found the perfect sponsor. According to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times, Kraken Rum has agreed to become the official rum sponsor of the new franchise. The team and company also had to work out trademark agreements with the popular rum company because of the shared name. While there has yet to be an official announcement from either party, Seattle CEO Tod Leiweke confirmed the Seattle Times’ report that the partnership is happening. The partnership between the Seattle Kraken and Kraken Rum certainly seems like a perfect match. As soon as the NHL’s newest franchise dubbed themselves as the Kraken, people immediately began uttering the phrase “release the Kraken” all over social media. “I think the mythology of the Kraken is going to be really interesting,” Kraken minority owner Mitch Garber said at the name reveal event. “Especially in an arena that’s being dug more than 50 feet below the ground. I think it will be really, really interesting for the fans.” The partnership is definitely one that may not surprise people, simply because it makes a ton of sense. Come 2021, we’ll see if the Kraken come out of a giant octopus when they take the ice for the first time. https://www.nhl.com/kraken, https://www.krakenrum.com/

                             THOMAS TEW RUM

Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co., a Newport, Rhode Island based craft brewery and distillery has announced an agreement with the Major League Baseball Club New York Mets to have its Thomas Tew Rum brands (Thomas Tew Single Barrel and Thomas Tew Spiced rums) named as the ballclub’s official rum. Exact terms of the deal were not made public.  The first Rhode Island distillery in more than 135 years, Newport Craft was named a top 10 craft rum distillery in the U.S. by USA Today in 2019. “To align Thomas Tew Rum and the Newport Craft line of products with such an historic franchise and passionate fan base is an exciting opportunity for our brand.  The support of the Mets organization is the tip of the spear of the Company’s expansion and growth in the greater New York market,” said Newport Craft CEO, Brendan O’Donnell. “We expect that this partnership will elevate the market’s awareness of the Company’s flagship spirit line and complement its craft beer brand portfolio of Newport Craft, Braven Brewing Company and Radiant Pig Beer Company, each of which are currently enjoyed throughout the City’s five boroughs.” Founded in 1999, Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co. is headquartered in Newport, Rhode Island and distributes its portfolio of craft beers and spirits throughout the United States. www.NewportCraft.com

                     LONDON SPIRITS COMPETITION

At the third annual London Spirits Competition, which took place in London on July 7-8, spirits from all over the world participated. More than 1000 spirits were tasted by a leading panel of top-level spirits buyers with current direct commercial buying responsibility or spirits consultants and experts who are also directly involved in the development of new spirits brands or buying spirits for commercial re-sale. Spirits were judged on the basis of three primary criteria, quality, value, and packaging and then scored on a 100-point scale: Quality Score – up to 50 points;  Value Score – up to 25 points and Package Score up to 25 points. Spirits that scored 90+ points were awarded Gold medals, while spirits that scored 76 to 89 points were awarded Silver medals. The primary reason for using three criteria rather than just one was to focus on the overall drinkability of each spirit. As a result, the judging panel ranked spirits not just by how they taste, but also their overall presentation and appearance in the bottle. In addition, judges assessed spirits on their relative value in relation to their peers, as determined by retail pricing. Rum of the Year Award went to Substation 41 by Australia’s Pinnacle Drinks. Gold Medals were awarded to: Germany’s Neptuns Dark Rhum from Flensburger Spirituosen Manufaktur; Nepal’s Khukri XXX from Nepal Distilleries Pvt Ltd; Myanmar’s Mandalay Export Rum from the Victory Myanmar Group Co. Ltd; United States’ Cutwater Bali Hai Tiki Gold Rum from Cutwater Spirits; United Kingdom’s Banditti Club Spiced Rum from the Glasgow Distillery Company; Spain’s Ron Aldea Familia from Destilerías Aldea, S.L.; Italy’s JAMAICA White Pot Still from Rum Nation International; United Kingdom’s Daymark 1683 from the English Spirit Distillery; United States’ Ipswich “Tavern” Rum from the FreyJay Distillery and United States’ Augustum from Northport Rum Co., LLC. Silver Medal and Bronze Medal winners can be found at https://londonspiritscompetition.com/

                                 RUDE BWOY RUM

Rude Bwoy is the brainchild of Patrick Mitchell and James Larson, who have cultivated both white, gold and flavored rums (along with a vodka), celebrating Mitchell’s family’s centuries-long roots in both Jamaica and Cuba. Mitchell told The Caribbean Journal the story behind the brand. “Our story begins on the Caribbean island of Jamaica, in the West Indies, back in the 1600’s with the Wright family.  The Wrights were living on the south side of the island in the parish of St. Elizabeth in a town named after the family.  At the time, Wright Town stretched from the hills of Spur Tree to the beaches of Treasure Beach and Newell. The Wrights were serial entrepreneurs selling cattle and grew peanuts, onions, melons and scallion and of course sugar. Our more recent Jamaican family was livestock farmers. My grandfather was a cattleman and sold crops from his property as one of the best salesmen in the area.  It was here that the ideas to start producing rum formed. The Wrights were humble people who worked the sugar and cattle for their family.  When opportunities for better pay came to Jamaicans by the building of Cuba’s railroads, some of the elder Wrights headed off to Cuba taking the opportunity. The Wrights that went to Cuba tried hard to stay in connection with their Jamaican family, however back then communication was very thin. Over time, the family spread out, some going to other countries such as England, Costa Rica and to America.  It wasn’t for over a century later that Cuba’s revolution was the forefront of the world, bringing rum right along with it.” Mitchell explained that Rude Bwoy, sometimes also called “Rudie” is an endearing term for ones bredrin, friend, mate, and also sometimes used to identify a youth or child that is a “cool yute”.  The term was born after the emergence of the Ska Music scene when Reggae music was on its way in Jamaica. The brand started when the two cousins (one owned a print shop and one owned a surfing and clothing brand) decided to bring back some of the old recipes and ideas from their families ‘good old days’. Rude Bwoy Spirits begun being crafted in Tampa at a small distillery and over the next four years, the tastes and notes were (as they would say in Jamaica) “twisted and bent up” thru trial and error until the taste of the “Old Days” was in every drop. They currently offer a White Rum, a Gold Rum and a Coconut Rum. Unlike some flavored rums on the market, the Coconut Rum is made with 100% natural ingredients: real cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and honey sugars as well as the best all natural coconut water At 70 proof, it’s also stronger than most flavored rums in the market place and it’s exceptionally smooth with just the right tropical aromatic finish.  Rude Bwoy Coconut Rum was recently awarded a Silver Medal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. https://www.rudebwoybrand.com/

                    SAVILE TROPICAL RUM COCKTAIL

Black-owned spirit brand founder, Dee Tutt, is not letting the pandemic slow her down as she is pushing her tropical rum cocktail back to market. We could all use a vacation, but with challenges posed by the pandemic, the deck in the backyard is a safer bet. After a brief hiatus from the market, Tutt is looking to bring her cocktail creation born from gatherings with friends and family, back to shelves across the country. An all-natural, non-GMO, gluten-free and vegan-friendly cocktail, Tutt has evolved the flavors and ingredients to a mixture that has become a passion project and business. Savîle contains premium rum made from some of the finest sugarcane and a blend of tropical fruits. With 15% alcohol per 6.8 oz. can, its summertime and the sippin’ is easy. “This tropical rum cocktail was born from people. This is a beverage to enjoy with friends, family, or solo, to remind you of that island experience. If you can’t lie on a beach somewhere you can have a little vacation in a can. Everything you need is already included in the can. We use premium rum and our ingredients are all-natural, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly. No surprises!” said Tutt. Originally launched in 2015, Savîle came out of distribution in 2018 to enhance the formula, rebrand from Savîle Premium Rumtini to the new Savîle Tropical Rum Cocktail, and offer new size options, moving away from the original liter bottle. Tutt has already moved many mountains to bring her vision back to life, but she said she is not stopping and is determined to bring Savîle back, better than ever. “There are very few African American women in this industry producing a spirit and you are often discouraged from trying,” Tutt said. “I could have folded years ago when we struggled to raise the funds to keep going, but I believe in this product and I have a passion for what I do. Savîle is a testament to hard work and I will keep going.” https://www.facebook.com/DrinkSavile

                                     COPALLI RUM

Copalli Rum has announced the appointment of industry veterans Elayne Duff and Julie Reiner as Global Ambassadors. These appointments accompany Copalli Rum’s expansion into the New York and Florida markets with Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits. With a dedication to showcasing sustainable production and socially responsible and ethical operations, Copalli Rum is positioned to become a catalyst in the evolution and a premiumization of the rum category. Julie Reiner and Elayne Duff are widely recognized in the industry for their work in reshaping the cocktail landscape. Before Duff founded on-trade consulting consultancy firm, Duff on the Rocks, she was Head Mixologist and Luxury Spirit Brand Ambassador with Diageo and has appeared on the hit show Bar Rescue.  Reiner is the co-owner of award-winning NYC bars Clover Club and Leyenda, and is a published author of at-home cocktail book, The Craft Cocktail Party: Delicious Drinks for Every Occasion. In addition to running their individual businesses, Reiner and Duff will now add Global Ambassadors to their resume. As such, they will lead training and education programs for industry professionals and consumers, while partnering with bartenders across the United States to drive support for Copalli’s zero impact operation and pledge for environmental sustainability. Copalli’s pledge and practice in sustainability and the Copal Tree Distillery’s community support attracted both women to want to join the leadership team, building the new brand from the rainforest of Belize. “We all need to make responsible choices when sourcing ingredients and make a real effort to reduce our carbon footprint.” says Reiner. “I have a policy in life that I only work with brands that I enjoy and believe in,” says Elayne Duff. “The founders of this brand are inspiring and not only believe in creating a quality product, but also taking pride in the use of only natural ingredients, employing sustainable practices, and ensuring that there is support for the local Belize community.” The brand is eager to utilize Reiner and Duff’s expertise in mixology and sustainability to set a new standard and enable bars across the country in taking a step forward towards becoming more eco-friendly. “Environmental principles should be a core value for all tiers in the industry, and we believe our Global Ambassadors share the rewarding satisfaction of crafting great cocktails while remaining socially conscious,” says CEO, Nick Anderson. “Copalli is honored and fortunate to be partnering with Julie and Elayne to tell our brand story. Their incredible backgrounds complement each other and their passion for advocating the mission of Copalli Rum will elevate the conversation with our customers and consumers. We sought discerning mixologists like Julie and Elayne to act as disruptors within the rum category, and create a greater understanding and transparency around ingredients, production process, and age statements.” Copalli Rum is currently available in the U.S. at select in-store and online retailers across the country including California, Florida and New York, and in Europe including the U.K., France, Germany, Italy and more. www.copallirum.com 

                    DEMERARA DISTILLERS LIMITED

The Stabroek News reported that Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) may have to raise the price of some of its rum products as local molasses shortages have seen the company having to import the product for most of the past three years. Before four of the seven sugar estates were shuttered by the end of 2017, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) supplied DDL with all of the product needed for making its prized rum and other products. It was the company’s hope that the three remaining estates would still be able to meet its demand and even when this was not done in the first year, the company was optimistic that production would increase and the issue would be resolved. But GuySuCo has never been able to meet the demand since then due to a number of problems it has encountered, including not getting the necessary funding to efficiently start up its revitalization projects. For the last three years we have not been able to meet our expected amounts and in our last annual report I had said that we were only getting 25% of our requirements and this year it looks like 30%,” DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo told the Sunday Stabroek. Samaroo said that the company has had to turn to importing molasses from other countries and is of the view that “unless GuySuCo gets up in the region of producing about 175,000 tons of sugar cane annually, they will not be able to meet our total requirements.” When DDL began importing molasses from Nicaragua in 2018, Samaroo was optimistic it would only be temporary. “There is this year a deficit which we are trying to fill. I believe that based on the plans of the local sugar company, we should be back to normal domestic supplies as we progress into the next year and subsequent years,” he had told this newspaper then. “At this time, I would say that this is purely an interim arrangement and as a result it would not have any significant effect on our overall cost structure at this point in time,” he added. But the remaining three functional estates have not been able to achieve their targets as sugar production fell below 100,000 tons, even as the corporation acknowledged that there had been “major” mechanical failures at the Albion and Uitvlugt factories. In DDL’s 2018 annual report, Samaroo had explained that the downsizing of the sugar industry had a negative impact on its operations and importation of molasses was necessary to meet the distillery’s production requirements, based on orders from longstanding customers. He noted that the molasses imports came with a high logistics cost. Samaroo pointed out that DDL had explored the option of bidding for the Enmore sugar factory but did not pursue the option as “substantial costs associated with the requisite rehabilitation did not present a viable solution”. The DDL Chairman said that the group continues to pursue every opening to improve international competitiveness and noted that a study undertaken by the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers Association had shown that the regional rum industry faced significantly more red tape than its counterparts in the developed world. https://theeldoradorum.com/