Company:Kromanti Distillery and Blending House
Job:
CEO and Founder
Website:
Socials:
@kromanti_rum
How long have you been working in the rum
industry?
I feel as though my journey in rum began as
a child; we always had rum in the house and understood it as something which
welcomed visitors to the house and marked life events such as births, marriages,
and deaths. It was only in the last ten years that I got an opportunity to work
as a Rum Brand ambassador and from that began the journey to educate drinkers on
the missing narrative of rum through the Kromanti Brand.
What has been your biggest career highlight
to date?
I launched Kromanti in 2020, at the height
of the pandemic and to get industry and expert feedback on the rum, we entered
the IWSC (International Wine & Spirits Competition) and won an award in the
Rum category on our first entry. It was a real confidence boost!
Another highlight was winning a grant from
dating app, Bumble. To support Black History Month in 2021, they launched an
initiative which pledged to provide ten black owned businesses with a share of
£50,000 to support them in their recovery post-pandemic. Using the funds, I am
currently in the process of creating a video series which reinforces
connections between the younger and older generations and their experiences
with rum, exploring how it goes beyond being an alcoholic drink.
Can you remember your first rum, and indeed
what it was?
The first Rum I had was a sugar cane rum
called Macoucherie from the nature isle of Dominica, which is near Guadaloupe.
It was a visit to the small rum shop in the rainforest of the island that I
learned to understand the depth of the local rum histories that are held in the
spirit. My drink was infused with a local herb called ‘nani’, which tastes like
aniseed and chosen for me by the shop owner.
What does rum mean to you?
Rum is a warm welcome at a family occasion;
it is the smell of my mother’s kitchen, it’s our history and community.
Where would you like to see yourself in
five years’ time?
Looking ahead, the future is really bright,
we are determined to expand the rum narrative to include perspectives and
voices that haven’t been represented before.
What was your last rum?
My last rum continually changes. I really
love to experience the variety of flavour profiles and stories in this
industry. However, I am a fan of local unnamed rums from the windward islands
in the Caribbean including Grenada, St Lucia, and Dominica. I enjoy slightly
sweeter rums and another local East London rum I’ve tasted lately is called Las
Olas.
Do you have a favourite rum and food
pairing combination?
I love the pairing of rum and good quality
chocolate. Grenada produces a selection of excellent chocolates which pair well
with a nice sipping Rum. I love to sip on Chairman’s reserve which is a St.
Lucian rum, which goes brilliantly with salted dark chocolate.
What’s your favourite rum based cocktail?
I love this question, as I love to tell
everyone that my favourite cocktail is the Ti Punch. It’s a welcome drink on
some Caribbean islands and is presented on a table in the house as separate
ingredients (Rum, Lime & Sugar) that you combine yourself. It tastes
refreshing and reminds me of being home in the Caribbean.
What do you think is going to be the next
big thing on the rum horizon?
I’m not sure that it is really about the
flavours, but I think we are likely to see more intimate opportunities to drink
and talk about Rum collectively. I think we are likely to see more rum-focused
speakeasies, to allow people to get together after these difficult periods of
separation that we experienced under covid.
What’s the one rum you couldn’t live
without?
That’s easy; Kromanti Rum!
Many thanks to Cashain David. Who will be our next Rum Insider? Click back soon to find out!
