Diasporic Entrepreneurship in the Caribbean - Firm Profiles.pdf Vol 2 | Page 26

Agro-processing Firms

9. DEMERARA DISTILLERIES LTD
Company Background:
With over three centuries of expertise in the
art of rum- Demerara Distillers (DDL), Guyana,
is a unique enterprise. No other rum distillery
in the world is able to boast of such a heritage.
It is this experience, which has enabled them
to offer such a variety of high quality awardwinning rums of differing ages, styles and
character – a comprehensive range of over 20
distinct varieties.17
The story of Demerara Distillers Ltd began
in 1670 when every sugar estate had its own
rum still, and a group of sugar cane producers
formed an exporting co-operative. This
early production of rum for sailors was the
beginning of the company. The company grew
from over 300 sugar estates to one company.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, there were in
excess of 200 small distilleries operating in
Guyana, each attached to the existing sugar
plantations, each with its own special blend
of rum. However, following the years of
consolidation and amalgamation, DDL is an
unrivalled distillery operating at Plantation
Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara,
Guyana - wholly owned and operated by
Demerara Distillers Limited.18
Unrivalled Bulk Rum Capacity
The distillery has the capacity to produce in
excess of 26 M liters of pure alcohol annually,
and is the largest supplier of bulk rums and
alcohol from the Caribbean to brand owners
in Europe and North America. The company’s
impressive list of clientele includes companies
such as Diageo, Jim Beam Brands, Hiram
Walker, Allied Distillers, and Corby’s.

17 Demerara Distilleries. “The Demerara Rum Heritage.” .http://
demeraradistillers.com/our-heritage (accessed April 6, 2014).

The El Dorado Brand - An Unrivalled Range
From the launch in 1992 by Demerara
Distillers of their El Dorado range of Demerara
Rums on the local and international market,
the brand has gone improved significantly,
epitomizing the unique quality of the true taste
of Demerara.
It was in 2002 that DDL became the first rum
producer in the world to market a premium
quality aged rum: El Dorado 15 Year Old
Special Reserve. Since then, this spirit has
become the internationally recognized
benchmark for aged rums and the company
has gone on to develop an unrivalled portfolio
of Age Statement Rums.
Demerara Distillers is an internationally
recognized producer of award-winning rums
with a range of over 20 different varieties of
premium, standard and specialty products,
all with the distinctive Demerara ‘stamp’ of
quality and flavor.19
Demerara Distilleries was able to invest in
other sectors and expand the business by
borrowing money from commercial banks.
Demerara Distilleries also benefitted from
the EU trade and development partnership
funding (EU Aid for Trade) with CARICOM
countries during 2009-2012. Currently
Demerara Distilleries is a public company in
Guyana with 9,000 Shareholders.

18 Demerara Distilleries. “The Demerara Company.” http://
demeraradistillers.com/the-company (accessed April 6, 2014).
19 Demerara Distilleries. “The Demerara Company.”. http://
demeraradistillers.com/the-company (accessed April 6, 2014).

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