Speciality Brands adds two brands to spirits portfolio

Spirits distributor Speciality Brands is adding Takamaka to its rum portfolio, alongside signing an exclusive partnership with Chichibu Distillery, taking over from Speciality Drinks.

Boutique rum bottler House of Rum launches in UK

The House of Rum, a new boutique rum bottler has announced its launch, specialising in exclusive single-vintage, single-cask, cask-strength rums.

BrewDog launches first rum cask sale with Whisky Hammer

BrewDog Distilling Co has released its first ever rum casks for sale as part of an annual online auction with specialist spirits auctioneer, Whisky Hammer. 

Plantation Rum launches Sealander expression

Plantation Rum has launched ‘Sealander’, consisting of a blend of rums from Barbados, Mauritius and the Fiji Islands.

Scarfes Bar partners with Appleton Estate Rum

Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London is partnering with Appleton Estate Rum for an exclusive cocktail menu this month.

Dubai’s Ergo takes over The Rum Shack with Takamaka

Ergo at The Dubai Edition is travelling to Mahé in the Seychelles this August, the island home of Takamaka Rum, for a month-long residency at ‘The Rum Shack’. 

Chairman’s Reserve Spice Lab reveals 10 UK finalists

Chairman’s Reserve Rum of Saint Lucia has announced the 10 UK finalists of ‘The Chairman’s Spice Lab’, a program designed to showcase the abilities and understanding of the spiced rum category by bartenders around the world.

Global spirits volume sees 5% growth for 2022

The IWSR Drinks Market Analysis reported that the global spirits category grew 5% in volume in 2022, driven by whisky, rum and brandy. 

Takamaka Rum launches second batch of Pti Lakaz and Grankaz

Takamaka Rum from the Seychelles has released the second iteration of Pti Lakaz and Grankaz, two of the most popular expressions from its St Andre Series.

Chairman's Reserve's Spice Lab opens for entries

Chairman’s Reserve Rum has announced the return of its competition: The Chairman’s Spice Lab.

Bacardi releases Caribbean Spiced rum

Bacardi Rum has announced the launch of its new Bacardi Caribbean Spiced, the brand’s first premium spiced aged product, created with pineapple, coconut, vanilla, and cinnamon. 

Two Shores Rum launches in the UK

Two Shores Rum, the sustainably sourced rum created with pure sugar cane and distilled in Central America, is launching in the UK market.

Matugga ​​launches private cask ownership

Matugga Distillery has launched its private cask ownership programme, Pamoja, to the public, offering people the chance to tap into the emerging market of rum cask ownership.

Diageo to acquire Don Papa Rum for €260m

Diageo has announced it has reached an agreement to acquire Don Papa Rum for an initial €260 million.

Two Drifters’ Gemma Wakeham: “There has to be accountability for sustainability goals”

Since Devon-based husband-and-wife team Russ and Gemma Wakeham launched the carbon-negative Two Drifters rum in 2019, the brand has gone from strength to strength – despite not necessarily doing things the easy way.

Takamaka Rum launches in Taiwan

Trois Frères Distillery, the makers of Takamaka Rum in the Seychelles, has announced that it is launching into Taiwan through boutique importer and distributor Bring The Rocks.

Two Drifters partners with British Airways

UK-based rum brand Two Drifters has announced its partnership with British Airways, where its Signature Rum is available to pre-purchase on all short and long-haul flights through the High Life Shop.

Brands Report 2023: Rum

Big brand Bacardi tops the bestsellers for the fifth year in a row – and manages second on the trending list too.

A rummage through rum styles

As rum grows, diversification is inevitable. Clinton Cawood reports on the innovations in style.

Founder George Frost on the rise and rise of Duppy Share Rum

Duppy Share Rum has announced it has secured £2m in investment as the UK-based brand turns its sights to the US. Drinks International caught up with founder George Frost.

Rum of Sugarlandia

After a week in Sugarlandia with Don Papa, Eleanor Yates explores the history and production of Filipino rum.

Alexandre Gabriel on renaming Plantation Rum: "It's a daunting and lengthy process"

In the summer of 2020, after the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin sparked protests and conversations about racism, Maison Ferrand announced it would be renaming Plantation rum, two years on and the name persists, Drinks International caught up with Alexandre Gabriel for the update.

Spanish Brandy ups appeal

Innovation in the category is aimed at attracting younger consumers, especially through cocktails.

Brugal unveils Andrés Brugal expression

Dominican rum producer Brugal has unveiled its newest and most exclusive expression to date, Andrés Brugal.

JungleBird’s Divyesh Chauhan talks cocktail culture in Kuala Lumpur

Over the last few years, Kuala Lumpur has emerged as a cocktail city to watch. Drinks International caught up with Divyesh Chauhan, co-founder and director of JungleBird, one of the bars putting Malaysia’s capital on the bartending map.

Rum: The White Choice

White rum has long been a star ingredient of cocktails and with consumers now demanding better quality drinks, it is ripe for premiumisation. 

The Balvenie: One Scotch brand's love affair with rum

On 1 July The Balvenie launched the latest in its Stories range, a 27-year-old single malt finished in Caroni rum casks, Drinks International caught up with brand ambassador Alwynne Gwilt to talk about the distillery's unique relationship with rum.

WIRSPA welcomes new members and calls for festival restraint

The West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers' Association (WIRSPA), a grouping of Caribbean rum producers, welcomed several new members at its annual general meeting (AGM).

Plantation to launch charity bottling to support Ukrainian humanitarian aid

Plantation Rum has announced the launch of a limited-edition bottling with all proceeds going to BudmoUA, a charity that delivers meals to those in need in Ukraine run by members of the country’s hospitality industry.

Negroni: Three-Parts Winner

From the bartenders’ handshake cocktail to being sold in cans in supermarkets and restaurants, the negroni continues to dominate menus across the globe. Millie Milliken takes a closer look at the evolution of the Italian classic.

Rhum Agricole: Quality Guaranteed

When it comes to the production of rhum agricole, terroir is key to quality. Oli dodd meets those at the forefront of this lesser-known spirits category.

The House of Angostura launches limited edition rum

The House of Angostura has launched its limited edition Angostura Zenith rum, joining its Private Cask Collection of mature rums.

Mount Gay Silver is first Barbadian rum to be Bonsucro certified

Mount Gay has announced its Mount Gay Silver blend is the first rum to be Bonsucro certified in Barbados.

St Lucia Distillers launches rum experience in Roseau Valley

St. Lucia Distillers has launched its ‘spiritourism project’ the Saint Lucia Rum Experience, a continuation of development for the single rum distillery on the island.

Summer pop-up launches at Shangri-La The Shards’ Gǒng bar

Gǒng at Shangri-La The Shard, London, has partnered with Diplomático Rum and Canaïma Gin this summer, two sustainable, smallbatch Latin American spirits brands.

Flor de Caña launches new reforestation campaign

To celebrate Earth Month, Flor de Caña, a carbon neutral and Fair Trade certified rum, is launching a year-long, global reforestation campaign that aims to ensure a greener future for generations to come.

Destilería Serrallés launches Don Q in UK and Europe

Puerto Rican rum producer, Distillería Serrallés has launched its portfolio of aged Don Q Rums in the UK and European markets.

Ron Santiago de Cuba appoint new global brand ambassador

Cuban rum brand Ron Santiago de Cuba has announced the appointment of Antonio Naranjo as new global brand ambassador.

Bacardi extends bottled cocktail range to the off-premise

Bacardi has announced that it will be extending the availability of its bottled cocktails range, Tails, to the off-trade.

The rise of quality RTDs

Last year’s launch of Panther M*lk, a vegan oat milk RTD made with gin, rum, brandy and overproof spiced rum, shows just how quickly the pre-mixed cocktail industry has evolved since the days of mediocre Gin & Tonics.

World’s first alcoholic oat milk RTD launches in the UK

Panther M*lk, the world’s first ready to drink alcohol cocktail made from oat milk, spirits and liqueurs, has launched in the UK in two flavours.

Brands Report 2022: Rum

The usual crowd have populated this year’s bestselling rum list. In fact, nine of the 10 brands remain a constant, with the first seven in the ranking identical to the previous year. 

Tidal Rum launches crowdfunding campaign

Tidal Rum aims to raise at least £150,000 after launching an equity crowdfunding campaign on the Seedrs platform.

RumFest set for physical event in October

RumFest will return in person with a real life event for 2021 taking place between 15-17th October in London.

Diageo launches RTD brand in partnership with Australia’s Coral Nurture Program

Diageo Australia has announced the nationwide launch of Reeftip Drinks Co., a spiced rum RTD brand that will donate 10 per cent of profits towards regenerating the Great Barrier Reef.

Richard Seale: Rum's Supreme Champion

Foursquare Distillery icon Richard Seale talks about his career and recent achiements with Oli Dodd.

Barbados GI: Heritage matters

Geographical Indicators (GIs) are a hot topic in the global spirits industry, particularly in the Caribbean. Shay Waterworth investigates.

Black Tot launches second Master Blender's Reserve

Black Tot Rum has announced the launched of its second annual limited edition expression Master Blender’s Reserve which will be available from Black Tot Day, 31 July.

Foursquare Redoubtable Named Supreme Champion at International Spirits Challenge 2021

Foursquare Distillery in Barbados has won the coveted International Spirits Challenge 2021 Supreme Champion award for its Redoubtable 14 Year Old rum.

Edrington reports year-on-year profit decline

Edrington has reported that pre-tax profit decreased 21% year-on-year to £178.4 million for the year ending 31 March 2021.