THE journey of a premium rum from the Caribbean all the way to West Fife has seen it pick up two prestigious prizes.

Rumburra Scotland Ltd landed the Lux Life ‘Best Rum Award for 2020’ while the Kelty-based company also scooped the organisation’s Customer Service Excellence Award at the same time.

Owner Garry Wilson set up the venture three years ago with wife Shona and friend Stephen Macintosh.

They are delighted that their premium rum product, which twins the 'best of Barbados with Scotland’s finest water', has attracted such success.

“Within three years, we have picked up two awards and have been nominated for a third – our customer base is growing exponentially, we are creating a real, substantial rum family,” he said.

“Our market has changed in the last year, seeing more investment and emphasis in online sales."

He added: “Our message is all about creating a lifestyle image. Born in Barbados, raised in Scotland, enjoyed in front of a roaring fire – splendid ice-olation.”

Although his first planned trip to Barbados last year couldn't go ahead, Garry said that capturing the taste and spirit of the sunshine island has been key.

He said: “Myself, Shona and Stevie also enjoy a malt whisky and it was important to us that we had a rum that possessed a slight but unique whisky note and our ageing process delivers this, taking away some of the sweetness normally associated with rum and offers a nice peppery bite.

“What gives me pleasure, when we’re working farmer’s markets, is our conversion rate. We offer our Orach samples, cocktail samples as well as hot apple rum and convert many non-rum drinkers to rum enthusiasts. It’s never a hard sell for us – selling something you’re passionate about and love – it’s not selling, it’s sharing.”

Key to their success has been creating a strong brand and local link to a Caribbean story, with a focus on the story of the 17th century Scottish privateer, Captain William Kidd.

He hunted pirates and was wrongly convicted and hung as a pirate in 1701 with evidence proving his innocence being hidden from the court. 

The story goes that when Kidd was captured, his silver and gold was recovered but his loot of exotic rums were never found and lost to fable until they were washed up on the wet shores of Burra in Scotland. 

Rumburra is now promoting an ongoing campaign to gain a pardon for Captain Kidd.