Rum in the News
FARADAY RUM
Faraday West Indies Rum, a new blended rum that recently won a gold medal at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition, is proud to announce its launch in select markets including New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky. Faraday is also available for purchase online at faradayrum.com. Faraday West Indies Rum is named for the cable ship Faraday, which laid the first transatlantic telegraph cables between Europe, the United States, and the West Indies, ushering in a new era of global communications. The ship, in turn, was named after Michael Faraday, the 19th century British scientist who is referred to as the Father of Electricity. The warm water routes of the ship Faraday are reflected in the rum blend: three small-batch rums from artisanal distilleries in Caribbean nations which bring their own distinctive style and tasting notes, with no added sugars, colors, or flavors:
- A 5-year-aged mellow pot and column-stilled rum from a Barbados family-owned business that dates to 1926
- A 5-year-aged smooth column-stilled rum from an environmentally friendly, self-sufficient operation in Dominican Republic that uses locally sourced sugarcane
- A fresh, earthy column-stilled rhum agricole from Martinique, made with an efficient steam-powered engine installed in 1906
The result is a masterfully crafted 42.5% ABV rum that’s delicious on its own and adds depth and warmth to cocktails. Faraday’s founder, Owen Hyland, lives in the coastal town of Rye Beach, New Hampshire, where the Faraday began its journey, and this fine spirit is a tribute to the legendary ship and its crew. “Our promise is that this is a unique rum like none you have tasted,” says Hyland. “It’s authentic, made by artisans who have been at it for a long time, and brought to you by someone who has a true appreciation and passion for the product.” https://faradayrum.com/
KLYR RUM
KLYR Rum, an American-made silver rum disrupting the category, is proud to announce the purchase of Holy Water Distillery, a craft distillery located in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania. Twelve times distilled, filtered eighteen times, sugar free and gluten free, KLYR is an innovative, fresh take on rum that speaks to American ingenuity. Launched in 2021 with Holy Water Distillery, KLYR Rum has experienced strong growth and increasing demand as the brand expands in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Florida and Las Vegas and is now the preferred rum of choice for the MLB’s Philadelphia Phillies.
“This is an exciting time for KLYR Rum and we continue our upward momentum by the day, making our acquisition of Holy Water Distillery the next step in our expansion,” said Amish Patel, CEO of KLYR Rum. “We are fortunate to have a partner in the award-winning team of Holy Water Distillery to bring a game-changing brand into a rum category in need of innovation.” https://klyrrum.com/
ROMERO DISTILLING
Romero Distilling Co, Calgary’s first rum distillery based on the largely untold history of rum running in Alberta, has continued to make waves globally after racking up numerous awards recently. The brand’s Dark Rum earned a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2021, Silver Medal at San Francisco 2022, and Gold at the Frankfurt International Trophy 2022. Romero’s Dark Rum also bested competitors and won the overall Best Canadian Spirit in the Frankfurt International Trophy Competition. The Frankfurt medal testifies to the quality of Romero’s product and the care that its team puts into its production. “As Canada’s premier craft rum producer, Romero is dedicated to constant advancement through determination, hard work, and innovation. This is evident as seen through the brand’s impressive medals and recognitions in the international arena,” says Tom Romero, co-founder of Romero Distilling Co.
Dark Sugarcane Spirit, one of its top-rated, has won Best in Class at the Alberta Beverage Awards 2021. Dark Sugarcane Spirit is distilled in a hybrid copper pot still and contains fancy molasses, blackstrap molasses, cane sugar, and select spices. It features a proprietary accelerated maturation process that uses “once used” bourbon barrels, adding depth and complexity typically only found in much older spirits. Dark Sugarcane Spirit, which is excellent for sipping neat or in premium cocktails, begins with sweet notes of butterscotch and vanilla that melt away to reveal a cascade of spices, followed by a warm smooth finish. https://usa.romerodistilling.com/
TANDUAY
Four Tanduay Rum products received top honors at the 2022 SIP Awards, the only wines and spirits competition where the judging panel is comprised of consumers. “The consumer is your biggest judge, which is why the SIP Awards remains steadfast in our goal of providing one of the most reliable measures of beverage quality rating in the world,” said the SIP Awards in its website. Tanduay Distillers, Inc. Executive Vice President Kyle Tan, who oversees the company’s export business, said that they are grateful for the recognition from both consumers and critics alike. “This goes to show how we pay much attention to the quality of our rums and we are proud to say that all its ingredients are sourced from the Philippines where the tropical weather contributes to its fine tastes. We would like to thank the SIP Awards, especially the consumer judges, for recognizing the quality of our rums. This gives our international expansion a big boost,” said Tan. Especia Spiced Rum and Tanduay Asian Rum Silver both received the SIP Competition’s Platinum Award. Another favorite in international contests, Tanduay Double Rum, received the Silver and Innovation Awards. Finally, Tanduay Asian Rum Gold also received the Silver Award from the contest. https://ph.tanduay.com/
KILL DEVIL RUMS
Kill Devil is a brand of Scottish independent bottler Hunter Laing & Co. Ltd. The rums are not processed, filtered and no additives are added. The barrels are aged in the Scottish climate and then the rum is bottled in Scotland. Their newest offerings include:
Trinidad 15 Year Old from the Trinidad Distiller’s distillery. It was distilled from molasses in 2006 and has enjoyed 15 years of Continental aging. This rum is drawn from a single cask.
Caroni 24 Year Old. It was distilled from molasses in 1998 and experienced both Tropical and Continental aging, with the last 4 years in Scotland. This rum is drawn from a single cask.
Jamaica 23 Year Old from the Long Pond Distillery. It has a total of 23 years of aging, both Tropical and Continental. This rum is drawn from a single cask.
Jamaica 21 Year Old from the Clarendon Distillery. It was distilled from molasses and has benefited from 21 years of aging, both Tropical and Continental. This rum is drawn from a single cask.
Jamaica 14 Year Old from the Clarendon Distillery. Like the 21 Year Old, it was distilled from molasses and has matured from 14 years of aging, both Tropical and Continental. This rum is drawn from a single cask.
Guyana 24 Year Old from the Uitvlugt Distillery. It was distilled from molasses in 1997 and has enjoyed 24 years of Tropical aging. This rum is drawn from a single cask.
The Kill Devil series showcases the quality and diversity of rum from the Caribbean and further afield, single casks are specially selected for shipment to Scotland, to be carefully and traditionally bottled by hand. The single cask bottlings are presented in gift tubes and the rums are bottled at 46% or at natural cask strength, also referred to as navy strength in the rum world, not chill-filtered and without coloring. https://hunterlaing.com/range/kill-devil/
P1 OFFSHORE RACING AND PAPA PILAR
P1 Offshore announced a new partnership with Papa’s Pilar, the ultra-premium rum brand inspired by the adventurous spirit of Ernest Hemingway, for a series of multi-event activations at this year’s flagship powerboat racing competitions. 2022 O1 Offshore Event Schedule:
- P1 Offshore Thunder on Cocoa Beach Grand Prix May 21-22
- P1 Offshore Sarasota Grand Prix July 2-3
- P1 Offshore St. Pete Grand Prix Sept 3-4
The new partnership will see Papa’s Pilar named as the official rum of the P1 Offshore series for the 2022 racing season, bringing their storied brand and award-winning rums to offshore powerboat racing fans. The partnership will include a pop-up activation at the P1 Village, a new fan-engagement zone with unique experiences and vendors, being introduced at the P1 Offshore Sarasota Grand Prix and carried forward through the season. Inherently connected to the water as the rum brand is named in honor of Ernest Hemingway and the Pilar, his prized fishing boat, Papa’s Pilar rum pairs perfectly with the P1 Offshore lifestyle. “Hemingway had many passions, but his one true love was his boat, Pilar. He spent much of his time out on the water and lived a lifestyle where he was never a spectator. Papa’s Pilar was crafted to honor that sense of spirit. We consider ourselves citizens for the ocean and we’re excited to partner with P1 Offshore to continue honoring Papa’s legacy while engaging with racing fans and boating enthusiasts who share that same adventurous spirit,” said Jessie Behar, Director of Consumer Strategy & Engagement for Papa’s Pilar. “We are thrilled to be associating with Papa’s Pilar and are eager to develop compelling and fun engagement together with our lifestyle brands,” said Tim Ramsberger, CEO & President, Powerboat P1 USA. “We look forward to helping continue the rapid growth and reach of Papa’s Pilar through our expanding entertainment platforms.” https://p1offshore.com/, https://www.papaspilar.com/
OUTLAW RUM
Beginning in the famed dunder pits of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago a specialist premium grade rum has been distilled in column stills, to the finest specification. Never destined for a life in the Caribbean, the spirit was a sailed over sea and through storm, to rest in the heart of Malt whisky country, where its unique cask maturation process rubs shoulders with the whisky elite. Utilizing the very best wood management and specific cask selection, the spirit evolves its unique nose and taste profile. Quarterly bottlings of the flagship “Outlaw Rum” with Bi-annual bottlings of special release editions, span region and taste profiles - creating a range of premium aged rums that truly embody the spirit of craft and enterprise. The most current releases are:
Outlaw Rum Flagship Blend: this smooth blend takes its wood influence from first-fill American oak single malt whisky casks but retains the distinct qualities of its Trinidadian origins. Vanilla and citrus notes come forward on the palate to complement the rum’s sweet fruitiness. In body, it is creamy and buttery, with spicy hints and subtle woody notes.
Limited Releases, #03 Bourbon and #05 Islay: this limited-edition rums develop their complex flavor and character from a unique distilling and maturation process. From Port of Spain to the Cabrach in Speyside, these premium rums have been aged in ex-bourbon casks that previously held single malt whisky. https://outlawrum.co.uk/
BUNDABERG RUM and MR BLACK ROASTERS
Bundaberg Rum and Australian coffee roaster Mr Black have teamed up to launch a limited-edition Rum-Barrel Aged Coffee Liqueur. This is the first collaboration between the two Australian brands. Mr Black’s signature coffee-based spirit was rested for three months in European and American Oak casks, previously containing Bundaberg flagship rums. Tom Baker, Mr Black Founder, told Spiritzine “I was like the proverbial kid in the candy store raiding the warehouses of a 140-year-old rum distillery in search of special casks for this project. We also convinced them to give us two barrels of their top shelf Master Distillers Edition which coincidentally had won World’s Best Rum back in 2018. It is extraordinary stuff; we used it all in the final blend. The fruit and spice notes of aged rum just sing with Mr Black. The end result is an extraordinarily decadent blend of coffee and rum, but still with our characteristic Mr Black balance and refinement. A real treat.” Bundaberg Rum Marketing & Experience Manager, Duncan Littler, said “Not only has it been fantastic to collaborate and craft this exceptionally delicious new rum and coffee liqueur, but we’ve also had a lot of fun doing so. The Australian spirits industry is thriving at the moment and we’ve been thrilled to work with the Mr Black team to push the boundaries of Australian distilling even further.” https://www.bundabergrum.com.au/, https://mrblack.co/au/
NATIONAL RUMS OF JAMAICA
The partly state-owned National Rums of Jamaica Limited is looking to expand sugarcane cultivation, which is expected to generate employment for displaced sugar workers in Clarendon. Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr, hailed the move during a tour of the company’s Clarendon Distillers Limited last month. Mr. Charles, who is Member of Parliament (MP) for Clarendon Southeast where the facility is situated, told journalists that “what’s important for me as [an MP] is that these types of operations provide employment opportunities at various levels; [so] it’s good to see that National Rums is investing in this area.” During the 2018/19 crop season, the Clarendon-based Monymusk Sugar Factory ceased operations, which resulted in the jobs of hundreds of employed residents being made redundant. Minister Charles advised that some of these displaced workers “will be absorbed in the activities and expansion at Clarendon Distillers.” He further noted that others may be incorporated in the Government’s efforts to boost the production of other crops and vegetables on lands that are not being used. “The ‘Grow Smart, Eat Smart’ campaign will employ a very specific and strategic method of utilizing every inch of land as best as possible, with soil fertility analysis, clean seeds, and finding the best ways to have the best result,” the Minister added. He commended the distillery’s management and staff on the facility’s production output and contribution to the community, having over 300 persons in its employ and producing some nine million liters of alcohol. Incorporated in 1980, National Rums of Jamaica Limited is jointly owned by the Government of Jamaica, West Indies Rum Distillery Limited of Barbados, and Demerara Distillers of Guyana.
MOUNT GAY
Mount Gay Distilleries Ltd, is now Bonsucro certified. A global membership organization, Bronsucro promotes sustainable sugarcane production, processing and trade around the world, operating across all sugar cane products and derivatives including sugar, molasses, and bagasse. Mount Gay Managing Director, Raphael Grisoni, explained that the certification is another proud moment for the company which is already ISO 9001:2015 and FSSC 22000 V5.1., certified. He said, “Mount Gay became a member of Bonsucro in 2020 and we sought to attain Chain of Custody (ChoC) V5.1. Certification in this financial year (2021-22). I am pleased to announce that we have been successful. “For the past four years, 100 per cent of our imported molasses has been Bonsucro certified. So, achieving certification was a natural progression for the company as it tied in perfectly with our commitment to the sustainability of the communities producing this product for us. “It also further reinforced Mount Gay’s pledge to protect not only sugar cane and its by-products, but also the land and water we use in our production and, of course, the welfare of our employees, as we play our part in creating a more sustainable future for this valued crop and all involved.” Grisoni added the certification was another landmark in the company’s history as it celebrates 319 years of existence and revealed “Our work does not end here. This is an ongoing process for us and we continue now by focusing on achieving Bonsucro certification for our sugarcane estate in St Lucy by year-end or early 2023. “None of this is possible without our team members and I extend sincere thanks to all involved, admirably led by Twanna Waterman and her Deputy Thandeka Best, who worked arduously to accomplish this fantastic accolade.” Waterman explained that the entire certification process took just over a year, “In order to receive the ChoC certification we had to monitor our operations and ensure that they complied with the traceability criteria for this standard, which was then followed by an audit. The traceability allows for the Bonsucro certified molasses, which is produced under the strictest sustainable standards, to be followed through our supply chain to our customers. “This is a major accomplishment for Mount Gay as sustainability is a key feature in our operations and so, any efforts we can make to ensure that we are assisting with the sustainability of the industry we embrace openly. It is great all around for our staff, for the product and for the brand, as we want to be around for the next 300 years and beyond. “We believe that we cannot take a short-term look at the industry and that is one of the great aspects of the Bonsucro certification. It does not allow you to rest on your laurels. It encourages us to ensure that we continue our sustainability efforts on a daily basis, which is extremely important to us at Mount Gay.” Bonsucro supports a community of over 270 members in over 50 countries, from all processes in the sugarcane supply chain, including farmers, millers, traders, buyers and support organizations. Membership is also open to other sectors linked to the use of sugar or its byproducts including alcohol, biofuels and bioplastics industries. https://www.mountgayrum.com/
