WHILE BARBADOS continues to await the results of recent meetings relating to the threat of the local and regional rum industry, one small liquor producer is smiling.
In the last quarter of 2012, St Nicholas Abbey captured the Distillery Of The Year award and St Nicholas Abbey Rum was named Best Boutique White Rum during the Golden Rum Barrel Awards RumFest in London.
News of this came as CARICOM rum producers awaited a solution regarding the United States’ offer of large subsidies to rum producers in American territories, a move which allows the companies to manufacture and sell their products for far less than liquor from Caribbean Community producers.
In December last year Prime Minister Freundel Stuart pointed out that the issue was a Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) one as the Dominican Republic was also involved and if a solution was not found, would become a World Trade Organization matter. However, Stuart said they were awaiting the results of some meetings before taking any action.
However, producers of St Nicholas Abbey Rum said they were pleased with sales of the product. The rum is sold in England, Canada and Europe.
“Sales are going very well,” one official reported. “We recently went to an awards ceremony in London where we won two awards at the RumFest and we just released a new white rum made from cane syrup. We are really pleased.” (MM)
