Appleton Estate has launched its Hearts Collection, a limited-release of three pot-still rums aged between 21-26 years.

UK-based cigar and whisky merchant C.Gars has become the exclusive importer and distributor for Key West First Legal Rum for the UK and EU.

Plantation rum is set to release its Extrême No.4 Collection consisting of eight rums to selected global market this October.

The Renegade Rum Distillery in Grenada has begun production after five years of planning and construction.

Belizean rum brand Copalli has launched a limited-edition cacao-infused rum made from ingredients grown at The Copal Tree Distillery.

Distribution company Spirit Cartel has added Jamaica’s sole single estate rum producer, Worthy Park to its portfolio.

Bacardí Spiced has been relaunched in the US nine years after its initial release to capitalise on the rise of the spiced rum market.

Seychelles rum Takamaka has appointed creative agency Pearlfisher to undergo a full redesign of the brand in preperation for a wider international reach.

Black Tot Rum has announced the lineup for its 24-hour online rum event featuring some of the industry’s biggest names.

Caribbean rum producers will continue to benefit from a tariff on low-priced products following the UK’s exit from the European Union on 31 December 2020.

Plantation Rum has decided to evolve its brand name in line with the changing dialogue surrounding racial equality around the world.

Flor de Caña has achieved carbon neutral certification making it the only spirit in the world to be both officially carbon neutral and Fair Trade.

Flor de Caña 25 Year Rum has been awarded a double gold medal at the 2020 awards ceremony of the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Participants from 40+ countries were scheduled to attend the bartending competition finale in Nicaragua that promotes the creative use of sustainable ingredients in cocktails among the global bartending community.

The West Indies Rum Distillery (WIRD) has defended its stance on the recently purposed Geographic Indication for Barbados rum going against the distiller’s historic production methods.

The West Indies Rum Distillery has appealed the implementing of a Geographical Indication for Barbados rum which was put forward by Mount Gay, Foursquare and Saint Nicholas Abbey.

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Ron Matusalem has launched a Spanish grape Tempranillo Solera aged rum called Ron Matusalem Insolito Wine Cask.

The West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers’ Association has enrolled Clement “Jimmy” Lawrence to the board of directors representing the Jamaica rum industry.

Mount Gay master blender Trudiann Branker believes the rum industry is beginning to open up to women but insists she does not want to be remembered for ‘just being a woman’.

Mount Gay Rum’s first female master blender Trudiann Branker says she wanted to showcase traditional Barbadian rum production with her new Pot Still release.

This year’s RumFest hosted some of the biggest names within the industry and saw more than 400 different rum brands represented throughout the event in London.

Bacardí has launched a 10-year-old golden rum called Gran Reserva Diez to the UK market with an RRP £52.

Havana Club has launched two new rums to its Havana Club Professional Editions called Edition C and Edition D.

The Hayman family, best known for its gins, has launched Charles Merser & Co – London’s first rum blending house for more than 100 years.

Campari Group has finalised the acquisition of French spirits company Rhumantilles SAS in a deal worth €60m.

Bacardi India has launched its ‘Bacardí Premium Portfolio’ in India consisting of four expressions including; Bacardí Añejo Cuatro, Bacardí Reserva Ocho, Bacardí Gran Reserva Diez and Bacardí Gran Reserva Limitada.

That Boutique-y Rum Company has launched a new series of continuous rums called Signature Blends which target cocktails.

Diageo has entered into the Cuban rum industry with a joint venture between its European subsidiary and rum producer Corporación Cuba Ron SA.

Colombian rum brand La Hechicera has identified the UK as one of its key markets and targeted 66% sales growth globally.

UK rum brand The Duppy Share has launched a new range of cocktails on tap into the on-trade.

Ronnaporn Kanivichaporn from Bangkok has been crowned Bacardí Legacy champion for 2019 with his cocktail Pink Me Up.

Neptune Rum has announced a new executive management team that will drive the implementation of the brand’s growth strategy and global operations.

Kreol Retail FZE has been appointed as a travel retail distributor of Rhum Clément for select Middle East countries.

Bristol bartender Chelsie Bailey has been named UK finalist in the 2019 Bacardí Legacy Cocktail Competition and will now travel to Amsterdam to compete at the global final in May.

Brugal 1888 has selected two UK bartenders to compete at its first global rum cocktail competition in the Dominican Republic.

Francois Badel of Le Montfort in Rennes, France and Aldrick John Baptiste of The Coco Palm Resort in Rodney Bay Village, Saint Lucia have been crowned Chairman’s Reserve Mai Tai Challenge winners for 2019.

Havana Club has released the fourth instalment in its luxury range of rums – Havana Club Tributo 2019.

Wester Spirit Co has begun commercial rum distillation in Glasgow for the first time in 300 years with the opening of its new distillery in November 2018.

Nusa Caña Rum, an Indonesian white rum brand based in Bali has launched in the UK.

Diplomático has become the first rum brand to be been named Spirit Brand of the Year at Wine Enthusiast’s Wine Star Awards.

That Boutique-y Drinks Company has launched That Boutique-y Rum Company (TBRC) available now in the UK through Maverick Drinks.

Havana Club has unveiled The Havana Club Professional Edition range which has been specifically developed to target bartenders.

London-based distiller Renegade Spirits has begun work on its new $20m rum distillery on the Caribbean island of Grenada.

Havana Club has unveiled a new label for its Havana Club Añejo Especial rum that reflects the vibrancy of Cuba and aims to communicate the "quality and authentic" production process of the rum.

French bartender Ninon Fauvarque, beat 40 contestants at the global final of Havana Club Cocktail Grand Prix 2018 on Friday, June 1 in Havana.

Mangrove Global has launched JAH45, a new rum brand it claims will “disrupt” the rum category. 

Eric van Beek of the Netherlands has been crowned 2018 Bacardí Legacy champion in Mexico with his Cariño cocktail.

Ana Alicia Herrera of Mexico shone in the opening round of semi-finals at Bacardí Legacy 2018, held in Mexico City.

The timing for the launch of Bacardí Añejo Cuatro earlier this month was ‘just right’ according to Bacardí’s Maestro De Ron, Juan Piñera Guevara.

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