20 personalities decipher the last 10 years, and provide food for thought for the next 10.
How has the rum market changed over the last 10 years?
The rum market has changed a great deal over the last twenty or twenty-five years. In 1999, we launched Plantation with three vintages that presented rum from a very particular angle. A lot of people thought we were crazy. At the time, 99% of rum was drunk either with orange or as a mojito.
We decided to show rum in all its typicality, authenticity and quality. It took us years, and other producers did the same. For us, the last ten years are simply the logical continuation of what has been happening for the last twenty-five years. Fortunately, for rum producers who are interested in its heritage, its authenticity and the specific characteristics of each island and each country, more and more consumers are showing a particular interest in quality rums. Many people now think of a great rum as a great malt, a great spirit.
This is an opportunity for producers like us, with Plantation and Stade’s, and also for all the distilleries that have been rooted in their terroir for centuries, as well as for those that are setting up shop now with the aim of offering very authentic rums.
What’s going to happen in the rum market over the next ten years?
I’m no soothsayer and I have absolutely no idea what’s going to happen in the next ten years. But I can tell you what we’re going to be doing over the next ten years! More than ever, we’re going to continue working and creating exceptional rums rooted in their terroir, with unique fermentations, distillations using ancestral stills or special stills.
But we also take great care with our aging, whether it’s tropical aging or double aging, according to the traditions and heritage of the rums we draw inspiration from to create our expressions. If we’re lucky – and we hope we are – those who put their trust in us and those who share our passion will continue to share with us the superb taste adventure that rum and authentic rums offer. This has always been our mission, and we intend to continue along this path.
Do you have any news you’d like to share with us?
What a question! Of course, that’s what drives us every day – to create! You may be aware that we recently restored the oldest still in the history of rum, the Rockley, which had been lying dormant in our distillery for years. The famous boilermaker, David Pym of John Dore, identified it as the oldest rum still in the world, dating from around 1780. We have repaired it, and it will soon be producing rum again.
In addition, we are preparing to celebrate 130 years of the West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados, a moving moment that pays tribute to the rum dreamer George Stades, whose footsteps we are following. And don’t forget to look out for our next editions, with new origins to come!
What do you think of Rumporter?
We love Rumporter, it’s a real quality magazine dedicated to rum. It treats the subject with passion and, above all, with a high level of rigour, and that’s what we love about it. We look forward to every new issue. Congratulations to the whole team for their exceptional work over the last 10 years.
At Ferrand, we believe that pleasure comes from knowledge and tasting, and Rumporter fulfils this mission. Each country and distillery is unique, and Rumporter succeeds in conveying its passion and taste experiences through each issue. We applaud them for their excellent work.
