The Isle of Wight Distillery has announced the launch of its new Mermaid Spiced Rum.
Marrying Caribbean rums from Trinidad and the Dominican Republic with local fruits and spices from the Isle of Wight, . Mermaid Spiced Rum is the second rum in the distillery’s spirits portfolio - and will be available in two sizes, 70cl and 5cl.
The 70cl bottle of Mermaid Spiced Rum will be available as an off trade exclusive via the John Lewis App for a two-week period from March 1-14.
Mermaid Spiced Rum will be available to the trade direct from the Isle of Wight Distillery and via wholesalers Enotria, Nectar, Tolchards and the General Wine Company.
The 5cl bottles of Mermaid Spiced Rum will be available from April. Mermaid Spiced Rum is the fifth edition in the Mermaid spirit range, which includes Mermaid Gin, Mermaid Pink Gin and Mermaid Zest Gin, along with Mermaid Salt Vodka.
In keeping with the distillery’s ethos of minimising waste using ethically sourced and wild-foraged ingredients, Mermaid Spiced Rum is produced in harmony with the Island’s coastal elements.
The Caribbean rums are infused at the Isle of Wight Distillery with their signature botanical rock samphire, fresh white cherries, apricots, honey from their beehives and black salt from the Island’s coastal flood tides. The rum is gently spiced with local holy grass, cassia and vanilla resulting in a smooth yet complex rum with a hint of sea air, delicate caramel notes and vibrant fruity spice.
Mermaid Spiced Rum is crafted from a carefully selected blend of sugar cane and molasses from sunny Trinidad and the Dominican Republic, distilled in column stills and aged between 2-5 years in oak bourbon whiskey barrels.
The unique spirit was inspired by a long history of Caribbean rums landing on Isle of Wight shores. In 1836, wooden sailing ship the Clarendon was driven ashore to the wild South-West of the Wight in a fierce storm.
Voyaging from St Kitts with a cargo of rum, sugar, molasses, coconuts and turtles, the ship and near all of those who sailed in her perished, despite local fishermen’s attempts to save the souls of the shipwrecked. A young woman was washed ashore at her father’s garden in Southsea, inciting stories in local folklore of mermaids returning her home to rest. So great was the disaster, that the now famed lighthouse St Catherine’s Point was constructed, while the ever-industrious islanders saved, sold and imbibed the rum, and repurposed the ship’s timber for an inn, renamed in its honour.
To honour history and folklore, the Isle of Wight Distillery set to creating a spirit with a character of bravery, courage, Caribbean sunshine and wild coastline.
Xavier Baker, Co-Founder of Mermaid Gin, said:
“We are delighted to announce the launch of our Mermaid Spiced Rum and offer customers a slice of tropical coastal charm. After a good few years of research, we’ve created a rum that encapsulates our Island life.
"It now feels right as the rum category is growing in popularity, both in households and in bars and restaurants. We hope this new edition will be as well received as the other spirits in our Mermaid portfolio.
"Mermaid Spiced Rum is a full-strength rum presented in a striking black and clear bottle, with golden rum shining through. The bottle design is based on a Mermaid’s tail and mirrors the design of the gin and vodka bottles in the Mermaid spirits range."
The plastic-free bottle has been crafted from recyclable glass and features a sustainably sourced natural cork stopper and tamper-proof seal made from corn and potato starch, which composts in food waste recycling within 6-12 weeks. The label on the neck of the bottle is crafted from recyclable, biodegradable paper, whilst the bottle is also re-usable and recyclable.
Perfect Serve: Mermaid Spiced Rum Ginger
Fill a glass with ice, add a measure of Mermaid Spiced Rum and top up with Ginger Beer or Ginger Ale. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig and a maraschino cherry.
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