Halewood buys into premium rum

HALEWOOD Wines & Spirits, the Liverpool alcoholic drinks distributor, has bolstered its rum portfolio by agreeing import and distribution rights for the Rum Sixty Six brand.

Rum Sixty Six takes its name from the year of Barbados’ independence from the UK, and the island’s coat of arms is printed on the bottle, with the motto ‘Pride and Industry’.

Its ‘Family Reserve’ 12-year-old is distilled, aged and bottled at the historic Foursquare Rum Distillery in St Philip, Barbados. 

According to Halewood, the Foursquare Rum Distillery has an unrivalled reputation under the ownership and guidance of master distiller Richard Seale, whose family has four generations of experience in rum-making in Barbados.

HJ Neill Ltd, a new craft spirits joint venture backed by Halewood, has purchased a significant stake in the Bajan Trading Company, the brand’s owner, which has a connection to the Seale family.

Halewood plans to grow the Rum Sixty Six offering, adding a six year-old and a cask strength 12 year-old to the portfolio in 2017.

Stewart Hainsworth, chief executive of Halewood Wines & Spirits, said: “Rum Sixty Six offers a fantastic platform for Halewood to invest at the premium end of the rum category.  In addition to a compelling brand story, Foursquare has the capabilities to create liquids which are unrivalled amongst golden rums.”

Stephen Wallace, chairman of the Bajan Trading Company, said: “This partnership is a perfect match. We bring unique access to some of the best aged rums in the world, and Halewood brings high level professional support and a significant distribution network that we need to grow the brand together.”