BAJAN SUN
Bajan Sun Magazine
JULY 2014
Crafting Liquid Pleasure For Almost 4 Centuries
all Barbadians.
Barbados Rum is more than just rum, more than just a collection of
leading brands and much more than a means of increasing sales and
exports. It is about reclaiming a part of our history and heritage, inspiring
pride by demonstrating our Rum as the result of a historically industrious
Barbados. It is about cultivating an appreciation and a sustainable future
that moves beyond our bars and rum shops and into an entire culture that
transcends national boundaries and exemplifies the distinction of
Barbados, its heritage and its people.
Based on current global market demands and trends, national
competitiveness is now more integral to a country’s economic
development than ever before. Much of this is contingent on how
effectively government, trade support institutions and businesses coalesce
to ensure that local brands compete on a global landscape. To successfully
sell their products and services, local brands must effectively compete
against foreign imports to penetrate domestic markets whilst establishing
their place in regional and global export markets.
The measure of this success depends heavily on the ability to understand,
embrace and facilitate a culture of entrepreneurship, innovation, and brand
worth when it comes to natural resources. For countries like Barbados, our
rich heritage, cultural and human assets must be strategically exploited if
we are to secure a flourishing future for our people.
To create this kind of successful future we must cultivate and propagate
our home grown potential to exploit the unexplored and untapped
advantages of supplying Barbadian brands to the rest of the world. There is
no more apt an example of an undervalued and untapped local natural
resource than Barbados’ Rum.
Barbados Rum Brands include:
Foursquare Rum Distillery: ESA Field White Rum; Old Brigand Rum; ;
R.L Seale 10 Year Old Rum; Foursquare Spiced Rum; Doorly’s 3 Year
Old White Rum, Doorly’s 5 Year Old Rum; Doorly’s X O; Doorly’s 12
Year Old Rum
St. Nicholas Abbey: St. Nicholas Abbey White Rum, St. Nicholas
Abbey 10 Year Old and St. Nicholas Abbey 15 Year Old Rum
Just as Scotland is known for Whisky, France for Champagne and
Cognac, Jamaica for Blue Mountain Coffee; Barbados must take
ownership as the ‘Home of Rum’.
Part of this ownership is branding the rum shops and watering holes of
Barbados with the official Rums of Barbados Marque. The Marque is a
symbol of authenticity, certifying that the product that bears this marque
has undergone the strictest standards and guidelines to ensure the highest
quality and right to bear the brand. The Rums of Barbados Marque
identifies and authenticates the premium rums produced exclusively in
Barbados.
However it is also imperative that we establish the attributes that
differentiate the Rums of Barbados from all others in order to protect the
integrity of our Rums. This protection will be achieved by establishing a
Geographical Indicator (GI) which is a global trademark that will
distinguish the rums of Barbados from all others. In so doing we will
effectively increase demand for authentic Rums Of Barbados and
ultimately revenues for local producers by increasing exports and
satisfying the needs of more conscious and discerning customers.
A collaboration between the Barbados Investment and Development
Corporation (BIDC) and the Bajan Association of Rum Shops (B.A.R.S
Inc.), the purpose of this momentous Strictly Bajan Rum Shop Tours’ –
The Rums of Barbados Edition being held on Saturday, 28 June 2014, is to
increase the public’s awareness of Barbados’ Rums, as well as instil pride
in our high-quality rums and rum products. By having the Marque on the
rum shops it signifies to patrons (local and visitors alike) that Barbados’
rum has value and is to be appreciated at all levels.
Mount Gay Rum Distilleries: Mount Gay Silver, Mount Gay Eclipse,
Mount Gay Black Barrel, Mount Gay Extra Old, Mount Gay1703
West Indies Rum Distillery: John D. Taylor Falernum, Cockspur
Spiced Rum, Cockspur 5 Star Fine Rum, Cockspur Old Gold, Cockspur
V.S.O.R.
Barbados is home to many national brand