KBE Drinks, the premium world beer and cider company, has announced the arrival of its spirits portfolio with the launch of Makai Spiced Rum.
KBE is targeting the premium end of the market as consumers increasingly seek out more premium brands and different flavours. The UK Rum category is worth £420m, the third largest rum market in the world, and spiced rum has been one of the key growth drivers.
Their new Makai rum means ‘towards the ocean’ in Polynesia and this spiced rum has a blend of pot and column-still rums which deliver flavours of rich, dark molasses elevated with a unique blend of Polynesian spices, including Vanilla, Ginger, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves and tropical fruits.
Shaun Goode, Chief Operating Officer at KBE Drinks, comments, “We’re so excited to be entering the spirits category and are very confident that Makai will be extremely well received by the trade and consumers alike. We think there is a clear gap in the market for a more modern rum brand that plays into the premium cues that consumers are looking for and Makai certainly fits the bill.”
To round off their new spirits portfolio, KBE Drinks are to be exclusive UK distributors for Blackland, a Texan-based distillery which includes their Pecan Brown Sugar Bourbon and Mistral, the first rosé dry gin from Provence in France. Their portfolio now also includes Nemiroff, a Ukrainian vodka, and Codigo 1530, a range of tequila’s that includes a Rosa expression, which is a first within the UK.
