Isle of Wight Distillery launches Mermaid Spiced Rum

The Isle of Wight Distillery has announces the launch of 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.

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.

The drink 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.

“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,” Xavier Baker, co-founder of Mermaid Gin, said.

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.

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.

Mermaid Spiced Rum will be available directly from the Isle of Wight Distillery and via wholesalers Enotria, Nectar, Tolchards and the General Wine Company. The 70cl bottle will be available as an off trade exclusive via the John Lewis App for a two week period from 1 March to 14 March. The 5cl bottles of Mermaid Spiced Rum will be available from April.