December 2018 - Rum in the News

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            December 2018- Rum in the News

                                                        MONTANYA DISTILLERS

Montanya Distillers is proud to announce it is now a Certified B Corporation®. The distinction honors the rum distillery’s commitment to social and environmental sustainability. This certification makes Montanya Distillers the first distillery in Colorado to become a B CorpTM and the third in the country. There are more than 2,500 companies from more than 130 industries and 50+ countries that have earned B Corp status, all with a unifying goal to redefine success in business. The performance standards B Corps meet are comprehensive, transparent, and verified. B lab reviews and verifies many indicators such as the sourcing of ingredients, energy efficiency practices, trash and waste, non-GMO claims, employee benefits, community donations, diversity hiring practices, carbon emissions mitigation and more. Unlike traditional corporations, Certified B Corporations measure a company’s impact on all its stakeholders from employees and suppliers to the community, its customers, and the environment. It’s like a Fair Trade Certification, but for the whole business not a single product.

Montanya answered about 200 questions regarding its business and then B Lab verified those answers. The minimum standard needed for certification is 80 points; Montanya received a score of 119. “It is one thing to say you operate a sustainable, environmentally responsible distillery. It is another thing to have B Lab verify your claims in such a rigorous way. It takes the guesswork out for the public, so they can be completely confident in our claims.” said  , Montanya’s co-founder and owner. “I shop using the B-Corp directory because I know what the certification means about a business, its practices and supply chains. I have wanted for years to join the ranks of certified businesses that are a true force for good in the world.

"We did it!” Montanya Distillers, located in Crested Butte, Colorado, is a craft rum distillery in the heart of the rocky mountains. Its distilling process uses old-world artisan traditions, combining science with art. B Lab is a nonprofit organization that serves a global movement of people using business as a force for good. Its vision is that one day all companies compete not only to be the best in the world, but the Best for the World® and as a result society will enjoy a more shared and durable prosperity. 

www.montanyarum.com

                                                     LONEWOLF SPIRITS

Independent craft brewer BrewDog has appointed David Gates as Managing Director of BrewDog Distilling. David brings 27 years of experience in the industry to the burgeoning team, as BrewDog continues in its mission to redefine the spirits industry, establishing a new standard for distillation with craft and quality at its heart. The appointment comes as BrewDog’s Distilling arm, LoneWolf, revealed its plans to expand its spirit range beyond its vodka and gin to encompass whisky and rum, and an evolved strategic position that aligns with the brand’s mission. David will be instrumental in driving forward LoneWolf’s belief in challenging the notion of what spirits can be by putting craftsmanship back into spirits. He brings with him a wealth of experience from his time at Diageo, where he worked for 27 years and departed earlier this year as managing director of Diageo Futures. He was instrumental in driving growth of Diageo’s Premium Core spirits portfolio, which accounts for 50% of the company’s total net sales. During his time as Global Whisky Category Director, he established steady and sustained growth for scotch whisky and as Johnnie Walker Global Brand director, he led the brand in becoming the most profitable international spirits brand in the world. Expanding the core spirits portfolio is at the forefront of LoneWolf’s agenda. BrewDog cofounder, James Watt commented: “David is as obsessed with quality and flavor as we are. His proven success in building an established spirits division makes him a force to be reckoned with in the industry; I’m thrilled to have him on board. I can’t wait to see where David takes LoneWolf. He shares our vision in standing as a marker and custodian of purist, truthful distillation methods, and his fresh, challenging thinking will not only take LoneWolf to new levels, but the entire category.”

www.lonewolfspirits.com

                                                     RUMS OF PUERTO RICO

Along with members of Puerto Rican distilleries and other representatives of the rum industry on the island, the secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DEDC), Manuel A. Laboy Rivera and the Executive Director of Rums of Puerto Rico, Alexandra Salgado Colón, launched the Rums of Puerto Rico promotional campaign, “The rum standard” at the Casita de Rones de Puerto Rico in Old San Juan. The program presented the new advertising campaign and the relaunch of the RumCapital.com website that will serve as a tool to expand the knowledge base of Rum in Puerto Rico. “We are confident that with this campaign, the production, sale, and export of Puerto Rican Rums will continue to grow. With this promotional effort we aim to increase the number of people in the world who know and love Puerto Rican Rum. We will present it at events where we participate, in and out of Puerto Rico, and through the various networks of the government of Puerto Rico that promote the island internationally. The commitment of our administration and Governor Ricardo Rosselló Nevares, is to continue supporting this industry because it is a high quality local product that has gained international recognition,” said Laboy Rivera. On her part, the Rums of Puerto Rico executive director said “It is an honor for me to share the final product of a team effort, carried out with pride and with the satisfaction that it will contribute to the international promotion of Puerto Rican rums and, therefore, the economic development of the island “. Meanwhile, the DEDC Secretary stressed that this industry generates more than $300 million annually to the local economy and represents 700 direct jobs in rum distilleries.

“We are convinced that the Puerto Rican rum industry can increase its contribution to the development of our economy. We will continue to support it because it is a local product of great quality that has gained international recognition. It has enormous possibilities of growth. And we will continue working to make it so. This promotional campaign is part of that effort. And, the best thing is that the protagonists are the hard-working hands, that for decades have taken this industry to the place it now occupies,” emphasized Laboy Rivera. The campaign consists of seven videos, five minutes each, that summarize the history and the process of making each rum. And a one-minute video that summarizes what the Rums of Puerto Rico brand is all about. The videos highlight that the Rums of Puerto Rico are the best in the world, not only due to their flavor, but because their confection is in the best hands and follow processes regulated by law that guarantee the highest quality. Also, the content highlights the years of experience gained in the development of this product; the “creators of a superior spirit.” The campaign emphasizes that the Rums of Puerto Rico are the example to follow – “When it comes to rums, this is the standard rum.”    

www.rumcapital.com

                                                            SAINT JAMES

Saint James recently released its latest vintage rhum, L’Essentiel. The concept of vintage rhums at the SAINT JAMES distillery dates back to 1885 when the first ever vintage rhum was created. Strengthened by this long expertise, Master Distiller Marc Sassier created this sumptuous cuvée by selecting and blending three SAINT JAMES iconic vintage rhums: Vintage 1998 (interesting structure with typical notes of very old rhums); Vintage 2000 (particularly fruity); and Vintage 2003 (woody notes and fern). patiently aged 12 years in selected small Bourbon casks, this rhum has not been modified with “ullage” (topping up casks with eau-de-vie to compensate the natural evaporation, or angels share). A pure expression of the SAINT JAMES Rhums identity and a tribute to an exceptional legacy, L’Essentiel was elected best Agricole Rhum at the 2018 International Rum Conference in Madrid.

www.saintjames-rum.com

                                                              DIAGEO

Diageo has agreed to the sale of nineteen brands, including Myer’s Rum and Parrot’s Bay Rum, in an agreement with Sazerac for an aggregate consideration of $550 million. The net proceeds of approximately £340 million, after tax and transaction costs, will be returned to shareholders through a share repurchase following completion, which will be incremental to the previously announced program of up to £2bn. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to complete early in 2019. Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive of Diageo, said: “Diageo has a clear strategy to deliver consistent efficient growth and value creation for our shareholders. This includes a disciplined approach to allocating resources and capital to ensure we maximize returns over time. Today’s announcement is another example of this strategy in action. The disposal of these brands enables us to have even greater focus on the faster growing premium and above brands in the US spirits portfolio.” The other brands included in the transaction are Seagram’s VO, Seagram’s 83, Seagram’s Five star, Romana Sambuca, Popov, Yukon Jack, Goldschlager, Stirrings, The Club, Scoresby, Black Haus, Peligroso, Relska, Rrind, Piehole, Booth’s and John Begg.

                                                           FLOR DE CAÑA

Fair Trade USA, the leading certifier of Fair Trade products in North America, welcomed Flor de Caña premium rum to the Fair Trade community after certifying that the raw ingredients used in the production of the Nicaraguan rum are produced under rigorous social and environmental standards - covering areas like safe working conditions, protection of fundamental human rights and environmental best practices. Flor de Caña is proud of its partnership with Fair Trade USA to bring Fair Trade Certified rum to the global community by mid 2018. This certification not only raises the bar for the global spirits industry, but also assures consumers that with every purchase of Fair Trade Certified Flor de Caña rum, the workers earn a financial premium called the Community Development Fund. Workers vote together on how to use this money for projects of their choosing. It could be a health clinic, a school, scholarship funds, environmental projects, or anything the community identifies as a pressing need. This is the Fair Trade difference –our everyday choices, empowering others to improve their lives on their own terms. “In the spirits industry, the trend toward environmental sustainability and social responsibility is just beginning,” said Paul Rice, President & CEO of Fair Trade USA. “Flor de Caña is one of the early trailblazers in this space, and is one of just a few spirits companies to adopt Fair Trade practices in their supply chain. We’re excited by this partnership and the ripple effect that it’s poised to create.” Sustainable growth has been a core value of Flor de Caña throughout its 125-year history, with a holistic focus on the environment, employees and Community. Flor de Caña’s commitment to the environment can be seen through the company’s industry- leading practices – the rum has been distilled using 100% renewable energy for over a decade. For the past 12 years, the team at Flor de Caña has planted 50,000 trees annually to help protect the environment.

Since 1913 the company school offers free education to the 600 children of its employees and since 1958 the company hospital offers free medical attention to its employees and their families (over 2,500 births to date). Beyond the employees, Flor de Caña has long focused on the community around them, the people of Nicaragua. For more than 25 years, the brand has been the main donor of APROQUEN, a Nicaraguan non-profit founded in 1991, that has provided over 500,000 free medical services to child burn victims and children with cleft lip or palate. Flor de Caña joins more than 1,300 companies across the globe working to bring over 30 different Fair Trade product categories to market. In addition to rum, shoppers can find Fair Trade Certified coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, produce, seafood, apparel, home goods and much more. since 1998, Fair Trade USA and its partners have delivered over $500 million in financial impact to producers around the world. 

www.flordecana.com.

                                                          ANGOSTURA

The House of Angostura® announced the newest addition to its award-winning Cask Collection, No. 1 Oloroso Sherry. Only 16,200 bottles will be made available in select markets worldwide. This is the third edition from Angostura’s Cask Collection, a range of limited edition which is entirely dedicated to rums matured in different types of casks. The Cask Collection celebrates the House of Angostura’s® rich heritage and artistry in blending some of the world’s finest rums, and is a testament to Don Carlos Siegert, son of the brand’s founder, whose dream it was to make the “smoothest blend in the new world.” “Angostura® Cask Collection No.1 Oloroso Sherry is a masterwork, a one-of-a-kind rum that reaches the highest achievement in the rum world – an exquisite roundness and smoothness without sacrificing personality,” says Angostura’s Chief Executive Officer, Genevieve Jodhan. Bottled at 40% and the first rum that Angostura® has matured in sherry casks, Angostura® Cask Collection No. 1 Oloroso Sherry has been created with a fusion of techniques learned from the old world and perfected in the new world. This silky smooth, complex rum is a beautiful amber with superb clarity. Warm, rounded aromas and a delicate nose of cocoa, molasses, oak and sweet prune inform the well-rounded blend, which offers flavors of woodiness, roasted nuts and hints of sherry, and a medium rounded and oaky finish. “The house of Angostura® has been experimenting with ageing rum in different types of casks and techniques for many years, but this is the first time we have used Oloroso Sherry Casks to mature one of our rums,” says Angostura’s Marketing Executive Natasha Mustapha Scott, “We wanted to explore the results of a rum aged in American Oak with extended time in an Oloroso Sherry Cask — in this case the blend of aged rums was finished for nine more months in Oloroso Sherry Casks.” This is the third rum in the Angostura® Cask Collection. each limited edition introduced into the range offers the recipient a first-time experience, that cannot be replicated after the bottles have been sold. The predecessors of No. 1 Oloroso Sherry, No. 1 First Fill Bourbon (2013) and No. 1 French oak (2015), both won the coveted rum Journal Rum of the Year Award. www.angostura.com.

                                                       MAHALAT SPIRITS

Just in time for the holiday season, Malahat Spirits has announced their new Barrel Club! Since founding the company in 2012, Malahat Spirits have been committed to hand crafting the highest quality spirits using only the finest ingredients they could find. They never imagined that just a few years later they would have a such a large and dedicated group of friends, who are just as excited as they are about the spirits running through their stills and their barrels. As demand for their products has increased, it has become more and more difficult to allocate the most select and small batch offerings. Upon release, the single barrel, cask strength, and experimental blends often sell out very quickly, sometimes before hitting the tasting room floor. This new membership will ensure that our most limited and unique offerings make it into the hands of our biggest fans. The Malahat Barrel Club Annual Membership will include: Four bottles of member exclusive single barrel, cask strength, or experimental spirits; Complimentary tastings for the member and a guest; Priority access to all Malahat releases during 2019; member’s only t-shirt; 15% off all purchases at the Malahat Tasting Room. Due to the limited nature of the spirits we will be releasing to our barrel club, we will be limiting the program to the first 100 members. To purchase this annual membership for yourself or a loved one, visit the Barrel Club Membership page on their website.    www.malahatspirits.com

-------Article written by Mike Kunetka-------