An award-winning Scottish distillery has announced a private cask ownership programme to the public as market demand soars.
Inspired by the success of Scotch whisky, Matugga Distillery is offering people the chance to be "part of Scotland’s distilling history" with the opportunity to tap into the emerging market of rum cask ownership. Renowned whisky expert Charles MacLean MBE has stated that the announcement will "put Scottish rum on the map".
A limited number of casks will be available for an initial investment of £3,300 each. The result will be approximately 350 bottles of 3-year-old rum per ex-Bourbon cask, produced using a 2,000-litre copper pot still by head distiller and leading craft rum expert, Paul Rutasikwa.
Rutasikwa described the move as a “a milestone moment for Scottish rum”. He added: “This is an opportunity like no other to join us on a very special journey.
"Scotland has a little known and very deep rum heritage linked to the Age of Imperialism. Now, in 2023, we’re part of Scotland’s exciting new wave of rum distillers and there’s a real opportunity for us to create history and take Scottish rum worldwide.”
Based in Livingston, Matugga was set up by Rutasikwa alongside his wife Jacine in 2018. Since then, the distillery's artisanal cask-aged and spiced rums have won multiple international awards, including two Gold medals at the Rum and Cachaça Masters.
The pair are now inviting rum enthusiasts on a "journey of discovery", with the name of the private cask programme ‘Pamoja’ translating to ‘Together’ in Rutasikwa's native Swahili.
Rutasikwa continued: “Most rums are aged in tropical countries. However, we have proved right here in Scotland that rum also ages brilliantly in cooler climates.
"Although it takes a bit longer, the end result is as delicious, mature and rounded as anything from the tropics. We’re excited to offer the unique opportunity to invest in one of our coveted casks filled with our new make rum.
"Over the course of three years, our spirit will mature and marry with the oak to produce a truly stunning and unique outcome. This is Pamoja – the spirit of togetherness.”
It follows a successful crowdfunding campaign launched by Matugga in early 2022, which secured the distillery more than £300,000. The money has since been spent on an eightfold increase in production capacity, while also enabling it to grow its team.
In 2021, Scotch whisky accounted for 75 per cent of Scottish food and drink exports, while the global rum market is expected to grow by over 10 per cent between now and 2025. As a result, Rutasikwa states that the time is right for Matugga to become one of the "world’s most-loved rum brands".
He added: “We see real opportunity as more people begin to understand that rum can be premium and super-premium, and appreciate the complexity and versatility of rum. We believe Scotland can be as highly regarded globally when it comes to rum and we’re proud to help drive its rum revolution.
"When people think ‘rum’ we want them to think of Scottish rum alongside the world’s best. And that’s why we are excited to offer people the chance to be a part of Scotland’s distilling history by laying down their own stock of Scottish Rum - distilled entirely from scratch.”
Commenting ahead of the launch of the programme, MacLean said: “This is an exciting project, and given the huge current interest in private cask sales of single malt whisky, I am sure it will have considerable appeal. For many years now, drinks writers have been saying that ‘rum will be the next malt’; recent statistics seem to support this.
“It will certainly put Scottish rum on the map, and given the global prestige of Scotch whisky, it will benefit from the connection”.
More information about the rum cask ownership programme can be found on the Matugga website.
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