Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) on Tuesday unveiled a limited-edition El Dorado Rum to mark Guyana’s 60th Diamond Jubilee, with Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips warning that the future of Guyana’s globally recognised rum industry depends heavily on sustaining sugar production.
The El Dorado 60th Anniversary Special Reserve Rum was launched at DDL’s Diamond, East Bank Demerara facility. The commemorative blend consists of six historic marques aged between 25 and 55 years and symbolises Guyana’s six peoples.
Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Phillips stressed that molasses, the key ingredient used in rum production, is a direct by-product of sugar, making the two industries deeply interconnected.
“Rum is more than 350 years old in the Caribbean. It is historically tied to the sugar industry, which produces molasses as a byproduct, and molasses, as you know, is the soul of rum,” Phillips said.
“You cannot have rum without molasses. You cannot have molasses without sugar. So when we talk about the future of sugar, we must also talk about the future of rum and the thousands of jobs, the foreign exchange and the cultural identity that depend on it,” he added.
Master Distiller Shaun Kaleb explained that the special reserve was crafted specifically for Guyana’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations and reflects more than three centuries of local distilling heritage.
“The exclusive limited edition 60th anniversary rum that we are here to celebrate and launch today symbolizes our six peoples of Guyana with an exclusive blend of six marks of rum, aged 25 to 55 years,” Kaleb stated.
Only 60 cases of the commemorative release were produced, amounting to a total of 720 bottles.
Meanwhile, DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo said the launch also coincides with 50 years of local ownership of Guyana’s rum industry, noting that sustained investment and innovation helped transform El Dorado into an internationally respected premium brand.
“Today, as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of independence, we are also celebrating the 50th anniversary of the local ownership of the rum industry in Guyana,” Samaroo said.
Prime Minister Phillips also commended DDL for moving Guyana’s rum industry away from bulk exports towards premium branded products, saying the company’s strategic direction allowed Guyana to remain competitive despite declining exports and global trade pressures.
DDL further announced that $100,000 from every bottle sold will be donated to the DDL Foundation, which supports academically promising children facing financial challenges through educational assistance and mentorship. Some 25 children are currently benefiting from the programme.
