Rum in the News
CRUZAN & CAPTAIN MORGAN
According to the St. Thomas Source, two of the U.S. Virgin Island’s biggest rum producers, Diageo’s Captain Morgan and Beam Suntory’s Cruzan, reached a settlement in a lawsuit involving property damaging ethanol fume fungus. Lawyers representing people affected by the fungus said the rum titans agreed to a cash settlement on December 29th. The scientific name for this fungus is Baudoinia compniacensis. It is also known as whiskey fungus or rum fungus and tends to colonize in places with airborne alcohol like the ethanol fumes produced when aging spirits. It is black and sooty and can sometimes spread miles away from the barrels where the aging occurs. The complaints about the fungus started in 2013 and a year later a lawsuit began with both Diageo and Cruzan. An attorney for St. Croix residents, Warren Burns said, “They dispute all the facts that we’ve alleged, as you’d expect them to. When all is said and done, the settlement will approach, hopefully, nearly $10 million.” A final hearing on the settlement was scheduled for March 30, when a judge will rule whether the settlement is fair. https://www.cruzanrum.com/ , https://www.captainmorgan.com/
DIAGEO & DON PAPA
Diageo has announced it has reached an agreement to acquire Don Papa Rum, a super-premium, dark rum from the Philippines. The upfront consideration is €260 million with a further potential consideration of up to €177.5 million through to 2028, subject to performance, reflecting the brand’s current growth potential. Launched in 2012 by entrepreneur Stephen Carroll, together with Andrew John Garcia, Don Papa Rum is currently available in 30 countries, with France, Germany and Italy being its largest markets. Don Papa Rum has a unique flavor profile, highly distinctive packaging and an authentic brand story rooted in the beautiful island of Negros Occidental, known locally as ‘Sugarlandia’. The rum is distilled and aged on the island in American oak barrels. The combination of the local sugar cane and the oak barrel aging in a hot tropical climate provides the foundation for Don Papa Rum’s long, rich-textured finish, which carries flavors of vanilla, honey, and candied fruits. John Kennedy, President, Diageo Europe and India, commented: “We are excited by the opportunity to bring Don Papa into the Diageo portfolio to complement our existing rums. This acquisition is in line with our strategy to acquire high growth brands with attractive margins that support premiumization, and enables us to participate in the fast-growing super-premium plus segment.” Stephen Carroll, Founder, Don Papa Rum, commented: “Diageo has a strong track record of nurturing founder-led brands. They believe in our unique story and have genuinely embraced our brand idea. We believe this acquisition is a great opportunity to take Don Papa into the next exciting chapter of its development. ”Stephen Carroll will remain involved with the brand, working alongside Diageo to build on Don Papa Rum’s growth potential. The acquisition will be funded through existing cash reserves and is expected to close in the first half of 2023. https://www.diageo.com/, https://www.donpaparum.com/
BROWN FORMAN & DIPLOMATICO
Brown‑Forman Corporation announced last month that it has completed its acquisition of the Diplomático Rum brand and related assets from Destillers United Group S.L. (Spain). The company announced its agreement to purchase the brand in October 2022, giving Brown‑Forman an entry into the growing super-premium+ rum category. “Brown‑Forman’s super-premium portfolio continues growing to meet the preferences of global spirits consumers,” said Lawson Whiting, President and CEO, Brown‑Forman. “Today, we’re pleased to officially welcome more than 100 new employees to Brown‑Forman as we close on our acquisition of the Diplomático Rum family of brands, and add the No. 1 super-premium and ultra-premium rum to our portfolio.” As part of the acquisition, Brown‑Forman added an aging, bottling, and shipping production facility located in Panama to the company. Destillers United Group S.L. will continue to produce and age the unique, carefully-crafted, and complex Diplomático Rum in their original distillery at the foot of the Andes mountains. Diplomático Rum, distributed in more than 100 countries, is a super-premium rum from Venezuela. Diplomático Rum consists of three ranges of complex rums, including the Traditional Range, Prestige Range, and Distillery Collection. In 2018, Diplomático was awarded Wine Enthusiast’s prestigious “Spirit Brand of the Year,” the first-ever rum to win in this category. For more than 150 years, Brown‑Forman Corporation has enriched the experience of life by responsibly building fine quality beverage alcohol brands. Diplomatico will be its first rum brand. Brown‑Forman’s brands are supported by approximately 5,200 employees globally and sold in more than 170 countries worldwide. https://www.brown-forman.com/ , https://rondiplomatico.com/
WORTHY PARK & HALF MOON RESORT
Jamaican rum producer Worthy Park and Montego Bay resort Half Moon have partnered to create a proprietary rum blend. The Special Barrel series, produced exclusively for Half Moon and its guests, is selected from a cask aged 14 years, crafted with entirely local ingredients and distilled using the artisanal pot method. The rum is said to be of exceptional quality, highlighting the best of Jamaica, which is in keeping with the Half Moon brand. In terms of guest experience, Half Moon offers a rum tasting for imbibers to compare the limited-edition Worthy Park rum of which there are only 306 bottles with other Worthy Park blends, as well as various producers from the island. Operations Director at Half Moon, Giorgio Rusconi told Forbes Magazine’s Jillian Dara that the rum selection was made by the Steuart family, one of the three owners of Half Moon. Commenting on the association with Worthy Park, Rusconi says, “considering Jamaica’s legacy as one of the best rum producers, and in our opinion, the best, the next step for Half Moon was to establish a partnership that would manifest a unique experience for our guests”. He emphasized that this partnership with Worthy Park, one of the oldest continually operating Jamaican distillery located in the heart of Lluidas Vale in St Catherine, represents Half Moon’s continued efforts to support local. Continuing, Rusconi argues that Worthy Park is the only distillery in Jamaica that uses solely Jamaican ingredients. The rum label was created using artwork, which hangs in Lester’s Bar at Half Moon, painted by Michael Lester, a Polish sailor who made Montego Bay his home in 1953. The painting, Junkanoo, is one of many that hang on the walls at Half Moon, known as the largest private collector of his art. https://worthyparkestate.com/, https://www.halfmoon.com/
KOLOA RUM & the OAKLAND RAIDERS
Hawaii’s award-winning Koloa Rum Company has partnered with the Las Vegas Raiders in creating a limited-edition Kauai Reserve Five-Year Single-Barrel Aged Rum with commemorative bottle and box, honoring the 45th anniversary of the team’s historic first World Championship that resulted from a 32-14 win over Minnesota on January 9, 1977. Since 2021, Koloa Rum Company has been “The Official Ultra-Premium Rum of the Las Vegas Raiders.” On Saturday, Jan. 7, a presentation was held at Allegiant Stadium during pre-game festivities as the Las Vegas Raiders took on Kansas City. The pre-game presentation featured Christian Howard, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for the Las Vegas Raiders, alongside Bob Gunter, Koloa Rum Company president and CEO and Frank Kibbish, Regional Sales Manager of Koloa Rum Company. Together, they unveiled the official commemorative bottle to select Raiders Alumni who played in the championship game and to the thousands of fans in attendance. Only 300 Single-Barrel bottles will be sold and are available exclusively in the state of Nevada. “As the Official Premium Rum of the Las Vegas Raiders, we’re honored to partner with this legendary organization in creating this special commemorative bottle, celebrating the 45th anniversary of their historic World Championship win,” said Gunter. “This exciting collaboration marks our first commemorative product release and we’re happy that we can bring The Spirit of Aloha to Raiders fans on the ninth island.” Raiders President, Sandra Douglass Morgan said “The Raiders thank the Koloa Rum Company for recognizing and honoring our first of three World Championship victories with this commemorative product release. We look forward to continuing to partner with Koloa to celebrate the rich history of the Silver and Black. https://koloarum.com
GOSLINGS RUM & WAITROSE STORES
British grocer Waitrose customers can now easily discover one of the world’s most renowned rum cocktails without having to mix it themselves. Now on sale at the supermarket, Goslings Rum has launched its Dark ‘n Stormy in a convenient ready-to-drink can. A true taste of Bermuda, it’s the genuine cocktail providing a combination of Goslings Black Seal Rum and Goslings Stormy Ginger Beer. The name is said to have originated when an old salt observed that the rum floating on top of the ginger beer was the “color of a cloud only a fool or a dead man would sail under” The famous, one-of-a-kind rum cocktail is now available in sleek and convenient cans. John Vine, spirit buyer at Waitrose, told Wales Online “Goslings Rum Dark ‘n Stormy is a world-renowned and much-loved cocktail. The new convenient 250ml can will further strengthen our exciting, super-premium ready-to-drink offering. Providing absolute authenticity, provenance and real rum refreshment, we’re confident it will be a popular line with our discerning customers this summer and beyond.” Kirsty Loveday, founder and CEO of Love Drinks, which imports and distributes the Goslings brand in the UK, said: “It’s an exciting time for the rum category with increased consumer interest into the intricacies, provenance, production, serves and heritage behind the spirit. For lovers of the Dark ‘n Stormy or for consumers looking to discover what the rum category has to offer, this launch in Waitrose provides them with the perfect summer solution.” Goslings is Bermuda’s oldest business and is currently run by the seventh generation of the Gosling family. Goslings Rums are Bermuda’s number one export. https://www.goslingsrum.com/, https://www.waitrose.com/
CANDELA & ecoSPIRITS
ecoSPIRITS has announced plans to launch closed loop service in Dominican Republic under a Licensed Operator Agreement with KOI DOMINICANA SRL, the producer of Candela Mamajuana, a premium spiced rum based on a recipe which is native to the region. Like other ecoSPIRITS island markets around the world, ecoSPIRITS Dominican Republic will operate an ecoPLANT 1.0S Lite, deploy a fleet of Ocean Conservation edition ecoTOTEs™ and will join the ecoSPIRITS Oceans Program to fund removal of waste from marine environments. Starting in early 2023, Candela will be the first spirit available in ecoTOTE format in the Dominican Republic, to be joined soon by other spirits producers participating in the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program. Resorts in Punta Cana and Santo Domingo will be among the first venues to receive closed loop spirits service. Mamajuana, a traditional native drink of the Dominican Republic, is a blend of Dominican rum, natural spices, and honey. Candela, meaning “on fire” in Spanish slang, was created in 2016 by Alejandro Russo and his mother Lillian Arinoviche, who wanted to create the finest expression of this local drink to share with the rest of the world. Closed loop distribution in ecoTOTE format will initially start with the popular tourist area of Punta Cana. This glamorous seaside resort town, in the easternmost region of the country, boasts a plethora of hotels and hotel bars including several luxury venues. Closed loop service will next be made available to the nation’s capital, Santo Domingo, which is well known for its energetic nightlife, Latin music, and rum-based drinks. Santo Domingo is the largest city of the Dominican Republic and the biggest metropolitan area in the Caribbean by population. It is the nation’s cultural, financial, political, commercial, and industrial center and it also serves as the chief seaport of the country, with the port handling heavy passenger and freight traffic. Other destinations on the list include La Romana, Puerto Plata, Cabarete, and the Samaná Peninsula. Alejandro Russo, Co-founder, Candela Mamajuana said “We are delighted to be partnering with ecoSPIRITS to bring circular spirits service to the Dominican Republic. We are proud to have Candela Mamajuana, an authentic Dominican product, lead the way into sustainable business practices. We hope Candela Mamajuana becomes an example of eco-conscious values and sets the standards for other brands to follow. We are excited to be operators of the country’s first ecoPLANT, and we look forward to seeing this closed loop technology in action.” www.drinkcandela.com, www.ecospirits.global.
ANGOSTURA
The Trinidad Sunday Express reported recently that Laurent Schun will be the new chief executive office of Angostura Holdings Ltd. Previously, Mr. Schun spent 28 years employed with Pernod Ricard as the CEO of its Caribbean and Central American operations, based in Miami, where he was responsible for 30 territories and 40-plus distributors.
In other news, Angostura announced the launch of a new carbonated beverage flavor, Angostura Chill Ginger & bitters, the fourth addition to the Angostura Chill line. The other flavors include Angostura Chill Lemon, Lime & bitters, Angostura Chill Sorrel & bitters and Angostura Chill Blood Orange & bitters which are currently available across the CARICOM and Australia. The House of Angostura®, which has been producing the world’s most distinctive, and respected bitters since 1824, also offers the only carbonated soft drink made with ANGOSTURA ® aromatic bitters. Angostura® bitters is made with the original closely guarded secret recipe first developed in 1824 by company founder, Dr. Johann Siegert. The brand is manufactured exclusively in Trinidad and Tobago, in the Caribbean, and holds the Royal Warrant of Appointment to the Crown first granted to it in 1955. https://www.angostura.com/
COPALLI
Copalli Spirits, the sales and marketing arm of Copalli Rum, is starting the new year off with two additions to its executive team. Brian Baker has been named Chief Marketing Officer, and Scott Shaw has been named Head of Sales. Brian Baker joins Copalli Spirits bringing two decades of experience in the beverage alcohol industry. He has built a track record of success in helping global brands drive business growth using core value-driven marketing principles while pioneering new sales channels. Baker has held leadership roles at Mayacamas Vineyards, Chateau Montelena and Jackson Family Wines, as well as consulting roles for York Gin and Copalli Rum. He has extensive experience in brand management and brand positioning. Scott Shaw brings dynamic experience leveraging enterprise-wide strategies to drive sales and revenue growth within the beverage alcohol industry. He also has a proven track record of managing Distributor relationships. Shaw has held leadership roles with companies such as Happy Hour Drinks Company, The Dudes’ Brewing Company, Pernod Ricard, Proximo Spirits, and Anheuser Busch InBev. Copalli Rum is a single estate rum, sustainably produced in the heart of the Rainforest of Southern Belize. Crafted at the Copal Tree Distillery, which was designed to have as low a carbon footprint as possible, Copalli Rum is made from only three ingredients: organic fresh pressed sugar cane juice, rainwater and yeast. https://copallirum.com/
RON BARCELÓ
The latest premium release from Barceló is their Imperial Premium 40th Anniversary, a special blend of Barceló Imperial’s past reserves, matured in selected cuts of American oak and French oak barrels, both with different grades of toast, subsequently rested in European vats. 40th Anniversary is the result of the finest spirits derived from the precious juice of Dominican sugar cane, aged for up to a decade in American Oak barrels and then aged two more years in French oak barrels with varying degrees of carbonization. Once doubly aged, the Master Blender, guided by his exert instinct, deliberately lets this complex blend rest in French Oak cooperatives for another ten years, thus achieving a rum with exuberant organoleptic properties. A rum of limited production and numbered of only 15,000 bottles for the whole world, made especially for the delight of collectors of unique moments. The 40th Anniversary edition joins three Imperial siblings:
- Imperial Porto Cask, matured in authentic Tawny 10 port wine casks to provide complexity and unique richness.
- Imperial Premium Blend, special blend of old Barceló Imperial reserves, matured in selected American oak staves and French oak barriques. It is the celebration of Ron Barceló Imperial’s launch.
- Imperial Onyx, the result of the finest selection of rums aged up to ten years in oak barriques with a high toast degree, subsequently filtered from real Onyx stones to obtain a rum with intense, deep notes and a unique character. https://ronbarcelo.com/
LAZY DODO
Lazy Dodo is one of several rum brands from Mauritian producer and distributor Grays. According to the Rum Revelations website, Grays was founded in 1931. It’s part of Terra, a company that goes back to 1838, when the Harel family bought the Belle Vue sugar estate in the Pamplemousses district. They now own 7000 hectares of land in the north of the island, of which 6000 has sugar cane growing on it. The brand name they use for most of their rums is New Grove. Eric Kaye of Homes Cay has had several private releases from Grays. Recently Grays added an old estate bottling to its Lazy Dodo Rum collection, aged for a minimum of 13 years. The Lazy Dodo XO Chronicles has been created to pay tribute to the ‘exceptional quality’ of the local sugar cane fields, the personality of the island, and the legacy of the dodo. The rum has been crafted from locally produced molasses and is non-chill-filtered. It has been aged for a minimum of 13 years in a combination of French oak, ex-Cognac, and ex-Bourbon casks. The new bottling joins the brand’s signature Lazy Dodo Rum, a blend matured in French and American oak for up to 10 years. The Chronicles series will roll out a single estate rum once a year, with each expression sharing new stories of the dodo in remembrance of Mauritius’ national symbol and the island’s ‘true native’. https://grays.mu/activities/spirits/
